(a) Before offering tide and submerged lands for leasing under this chapter, or whenever any person files a written application with the Secretary requesting that lands be offered for leasing under this chapter, accompanying the same with the required fee, the Secretary shall hold a public hearing as provided in this section.
(b) Before granting a lease or inviting bids on any tide and submerged lands, the Secretary shall cause written notice describing the area under consideration and other pertinent information to be transmitted to:
(1) State Highway Department;
(2) Cabinet Committee on State Planning Issues;
(3) Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control;
(4) Department of Health and Social Services;
(5) State Geologist;
(6) The applicant, if any, requesting the hearing;
(7) Prospective applicants or bidders, by publication in 2 or more publications of general circulation in the oil and gas industry; and
(8) The public, by publication of the notice once each week for not less than 2 weeks in a newspaper of general circulation throughout the State and in addition in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the lands lie or the county or counties contiguous to the area under consideration for bidding.
(c) The notice shall set forth the place of hearing and shall set its time at not less than 20 days following the date of the last newspaper publication.
(d) The Secretary may appoint 1 of his or her employees to conduct hearings authorized under this section. An officer or employee of each interested State agency, board or commission named in subsection (b) of this section may question any witnesses appearing before the Secretary or the Secretary's representative, and any interested person may offer evidence and otherwise be heard.
Structure Delaware Code
Chapter 61. MINERALS IN SUBMERGED LANDS
§ 6102. Jurisdiction to lease.
§ 6105. Filing of records of drilling; confidential nature of records.
§ 6106. Unlawful disclosure of information; penalties; jurisdiction of offenses.
§ 6107. Public hearings; notice.
§ 6108. Determination of whether lease is in the public interest.
§ 6110. Form of lease or permit.
§ 6111. Exclusive right to drill and remove minerals.
§ 6114. Rental for leased land.
§ 6116. Cessation of production.
§ 6117. Slant and adjacent drilling.
§ 6118. Restoration of visible lands to original condition.
§ 6119. Pollution and contamination prohibited.
§ 6120. Extension of lease where permits required.
§ 6121. Commencing of operations for drilling.
§ 6123. Assignability of lease.
§ 6124. Protection against drainage.
§ 6126. Cancellation of lease; judicial proceedings.
§ 6127. Lease shall conform to all laws, rules and regulations.
§ 6128. Notice of offer to lease; bid award; fee.
§ 6130. Proceeds to General Fund.
§ 6131. Discriminatory bidding requirements prohibited.
§ 6132. Retention or protection of fill.
§ 6136. Jurisdiction over matters affecting health and safety.
§ 6137. No permit or lease to violators of this chapter.
§ 6138. Rules, regulations, orders.
§ 6140. Delegation of authority.
§ 6142. Violations; enforcement; civil and criminal penalties.