1. (a) Upon receipt of a petition, the presiding officer shall assign the proceeding a unique docket number.

2. (b) The presiding officer shall issue an order of notice for a hearing, containing the following information:

   1. (1) Identification of the parties to the proceeding as of the date of the order;
   2. (2) A short statement of the subject matter identified in the request for hearing;
   3. (3) The statutory authority for the proceeding, and any applicable department rules;
   4. (4) Whether the hearing will be a prehearing conference, hearing on motions, or a final hearing;
   5. (5) The name of the presiding officer for the proceeding;
   6. (6) The date, time, and place set for the hearing; and
   7. (7) A statement that each party has a right to have an attorney represent them at their own expense;

3. (c) The order of notice shall be delivered to:

   1. (1) All known parties to the proceeding by certified mail;
   2. (2) Any affected municipality by ordinary mail; and
   3. (3) The office of the attorney general by ordinary mail or by electronic mail.
4. (d) Unless otherwise provided by statute, the date and time for the initial hearing in a proceeding shall be set at least 10 days from the date of the notice, unless the parties agree to a longer or shorter period.
5. (e) All hearings shall be held at the John O. Morton Building, 7 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH unless the presiding officer shall for good cause, after motion, notice and opportunity to heard, set a different location for the conduct of some or all of the proceeding.

6. (f) Good cause shall include:

   1. (1) The need to conduct a view of a specific location relevant to a hearing;
   2. (2) The convenience of the parties, attorneys, public officials, or witnesses to a proceeding; or
   3. (3) Any other factor that would suggest that time or resources would be conserved if the hearing were held at an alternate location.

Source. #4174, eff 12-1-86; EXPIRED 12-1-90 New. #5563, eff 1-28-93, EXPIRED: 1-28-99 New. #7927-A, eff 7-26-03