HEARING ON PERMIT APPLICATION

(a) In this section, "local government" has the meaning assigned by Section 26.001. (b) The commission may hold a public hearing on a permit application for a subsurface area drip dispersal system if the commission determines that a hearing is necessary and in the public interest. (c) The commission shall hold a public hearing on a permit application for a subsurface area drip dispersal system if a hearing is requested by a local government located in the county of the proposed disposal site or by an affected person. (d) The commission by rule shall provide for giving notice of the opportunity to request a public hearing on a permit application. The rules for notice shall include provisions for giving notice to local governments and affected persons. (e) Before the commission begins to hear the testimony in a contested case as defined by Chapter 2001, Government Code, evidence must be placed in the record to demonstrate that proper notice regarding the hearing was given to affected persons. If mailed notice to an affected person is required, the commission or other party to the hearing shall place evidence in the record that notice was mailed to the address of the affected person included in the appropriate county tax rolls at the time of mailing. For the purposes of this subsection, the affidavit of the commission employee responsible for the mailing of the notice, attesting to the fact that notice was mailed to the address included in the tax rolls at the time of mailing, shall be prima facie evidence of proper mailing. The commission may not proceed with receipt of testimony in a contested case until the requirements of this subsection are complied with.