§ 15-2909. Water resources management strategy; hearings.

Upon receipt of the statewide water resources management strategy from
the department of environmental conservation, the council shall promptly
publish once a week for three consecutive weeks in newspapers of general
circulation notice of public hearings thereon. Public hearings shall be
conducted in each of the substate areas represented in the statewide
strategy, and shall be in accordance with regulations adopted by the
department, subject to modification by the council. Such regulations
shall, at a minimum, require a hearing on the record with sworn
witnesses and shall afford interested parties a reasonable opportunity
to sponsor witnesses and to question witnesses sponsored by others,
including department staff, consistent with the need to conclude the
hearings expeditiously so that a state water resources management
strategy can be adopted in a timely manner. The hearings shall not be
considered part of an adjudicatory proceeding, as defined in subdivision
three of section one hundred two of the state administrative procedure
act, or as part of a rule-making proceeding held under subdivision one
of section two hundred two of such act.