(1)
(a) The department shall provide an opportunity for the applicant, any affected state, the U.S. environmental protection agency, any interested state or federal agency, person or group of persons to request a public hearing with respect to a permit application. Such request for a public hearing shall be filed with the department within 30 days after the circulation of the public notice of the complete permit application and shall indicate the interest of the party filing the request and the reasons why a hearing is warranted.
(b) The department shall hold a public hearing on a permit application or a group of applications if requested by the U.S. environmental protection agency, any affected state, on the petition of 5 or more persons or if the department deems that there is a significant public interest in holding such a hearing.
(c) The department shall promulgate by rule procedures for the conduct of public hearings held under this section. Hearings held under this section are not contested cases under s. 227.01 (3) .
(2)
(a) Public notice of any hearing held under this section shall be circulated in accordance with the requirements of s. 283.39 (1) .
(b) The form and content of such public notice shall be established by departmental rule.