<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".20-4" citation="COMAR 26.13.07.20-4" title_num="26" subtitle_num="13" chapter_num="07" heading="Administrative Procedures—Public Comments.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Public Comments and Requests for Public Hearings.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>During the public comment period provided, any interested person may:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Submit written comments on the draft permit; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Request a public hearing, if no hearing has already been scheduled.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A request for a public hearing shall be in writing and shall state the nature of the issues proposed to be raised in the hearing.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The Secretary shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Consider all comments in making the final decision; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Answer all comments as provided in §D of this regulation.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Obligation to Raise Issues and Provide Information During the Public Comment Period.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>All persons, including applicants, who believe any condition of a draft permit is inappropriate or that the Secretary's tentative decision to deny an application, terminate a permit, or prepare a draft permit is inappropriate, shall raise all reasonably ascertainable issues and submit all reasonably available arguments and factual grounds supporting their position, including all supporting material, by the close of the public comment period, including any public hearing, under Regulation .20-2 of this chapter.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>All supporting materials shall be included in full and may not be incorporated by reference, unless they are already part of the administrative record in the same proceeding, or consist of State or federal statutes and regulations, EPA documents of general applicability, or other generally available reference materials.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Commenters shall make supporting material not already included in the administrative record available to the Secretary.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Because a comment period longer than 45 days will often be necessary in complicated proceedings to give commenters a reasonable opportunity to comply with the requirements of this regulation:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Commenters may request longer comment periods; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The Secretary shall freely establish longer comment periods under Regulation .20-2 of this chapter to the extent they appear necessary and as required by Regulation 20-2D(5) of this chapter.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Reopening of the Public Comment Period.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>If any data, information, or arguments submitted during the public comment period, including information or arguments required under §B of this regulation appear to raise substantial new questions concerning a permit, the Secretary may take one or more of the following actions:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Prepare a new draft permit, appropriately modified, and prepare a new tentative determination under Regulation .20-1A of this chapter;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Prepare a revised statement of basis, a fact sheet, or revised fact sheet and reopen the comment period; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Reopen or extend the comment period to give interested persons an opportunity to comment on the information or arguments submitted.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>If the comment period is reopened under §C(1)(c) of this regulation, the Secretary shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Limit the scope of comments that may be considered to the substantial new questions that caused the reopening of the comment period; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Assure that public notice for the reopening of the public comment period issued according to Regulation .20-2 of this chapter defines the scope of the reopening.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The Secretary may, in the circumstances described in §C(1) and (2) of this regulation, elect to hold further proceedings.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>The Secretary shall issue public notice of actions taken under §C(1) or (3) of this regulation under Regulation .20-2 of this chapter.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Response to Comments.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>At the time that any final permit is issued, the Secretary shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Issue a response to comments, including a response to any comments on a proposed final determination submitted in accordance with Regulation .20-1E(2)(b) of this chapter; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Specify which provisions, if any, of the draft permit have been changed in the final permit decision, and the reasons for the change.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The Secretary shall include in the administrative record for the final permit decision:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>All materials in the administrative record for the draft permit under Regulation .20-1D of this chapter; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>All new materials supplied during the public comment period, new points raised, and documents cited in the response to comments.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>If new points are raised or new material is supplied during the public comment period, the Department may document its response to those matters by adding new materials to the administrative record.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>The Secretary shall make the response to comments available to the public.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>