1. (a) The department shall conduct a public hearing for a completed hatchery permit application. The commissioner shall notice the public hearing after acceptance of the hatchery permit application, not less than 25 days before the date of the public hearing. At the commissioner's discretion, the hearing may be noticed before the PNP coordinator issues a determination that the draft basic management plan is complete under 5 AAC 40.190. The hearing will be held under the following sequential procedures:

   1. (1) the commissioner will make an introductory statement;
   2. (2) the applicant will make a presentation of the draft basic management plan, which must include the proposed hatchery plans describing the information required to be included in a basic management plan under 5 AAC 40.185 and other relevant facts or information that may be of interest to the department or the public;
   3. (3) The department will present the draft basic management plan for the proposed facility, including expected production and management, and will make copies of the draft basic management plan available for public review and comment at the hearing; and
   4. (4) the commissioner will open the floor for public testimony and questions on all aspects of the proposed facility.

2. (b) The department may respond to a comment, and shall respond to a specific objection, offered by a member of the public at the hearing conducted under this section not later than

   1. (A) 10 days after a public hearing for a salmon hatchery permit application;
   2. (B) 30 days after a public hearing for a shellfish hatchery permit application.
3. (c) The department may accept written comments for 15 days after the hearing, and may respond in writing, within 10 working days after receipt, to a specific objection received within that time.

(Eff. 3/31/85, Register 93; am 6/11/2025, Register 254)

Authority: AS 16.05.020, AS 16.05.092, AS 16.10.410, AS 16.12.020