§ 55-0111. Special groundwater protection areas; designation.

1. The commissioner shall review all petitions of nomination for
special groundwater protection areas. If a petition complies with all
the requirements of section 55-0109 of this article, the commissioner
shall certify such compliance and approve the petition. The
commissioner shall determine within thirty days of receipt of the
petition, the completeness of the petition and respond to the petitioner
of his findings. The commissioner shall have ninety days from the date
of receipt to certify in writing to the petitioner that a petition has
been approved, approved with modifications, or disapproved. If a
petition is disapproved, the commissioner shall include in the
notification to the petitioner the reasons for disapproval and allow the
petitioner to resubmit the petition. Any petition resubmission shall
reinitiate the review process. If the commissioner does not respond to
the petitioner within the time prescribed, the petition shall be
considered to be approved.

2. Once a petition has been officially approved, the designated
planning entity shall be eligible for such funds to develop the plan and
comply with all the requirements of this article for a period not to
exceed three years.