Minerals Development Act 2017
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Oral hearing and mining licence | ||
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70. (1) If the Minister is required to consider one or more objections in accordance with section 69 (3), the Minister may, if he or she considers it necessary that an oral hearing be held concerning one or more of those objections, request the Mining Board to conduct such a hearing and to provide written recommendations based on such hearing to the Minister. | ||
(2) After receiving the Minister’s request, the Mining Board shall— | ||
(a) conduct an oral hearing for the purpose of evaluating the objections referred to it by the Minister, and | ||
(b) provide written recommendations based on such hearing to the Minister within 75 days after the day that the request is received or such longer period as the Minister may specify. | ||
(3) Only the Minister, the applicant for the mining licence and the persons who made the objections being evaluated are entitled to appear, be heard and adduce evidence at the oral hearing and may do so personally or be represented by counsel or a solicitor. | ||
(4) The Minister shall decide whether to grant the licence within 14 days after the day that he or she receives the recommendations of the Mining Board or such longer period as the Minister may specify in a notice to the persons who made the objections considered by the Board and to the applicant. |