Hearing Officer Script Outline
Art Glass Public Hearing
July 19, 2016
• Introduction
◦ Welcome
◦ Structure of meeting
▪ Intro to the proposed rule (George Davis)
▪ Q&A session (questions only please)
▪ Comment session (counted as a formal comment that DEQ will need to consider)
▪ Plan to end at 8:30
◦ Overall rulemaking process
▪ Legislature makes laws
▪ Legislature delegates power to EQC to make rules
• 5-member citizen panel
▪ Temporary rules
• Emergency basis
• No public notice requirements
• Can only last 180 days
▪ Permanent rules
• Must hold hearing and have public comment period
• DEQ must consider comments received and respond in writing in document to EQC
• EQC will meet in Sept or Oct to vote
◦ Housekeeping
▪ This meeting is being recorded & broadcast by phone & video
▪ Phone / webinar users can listen and see, but need to submit comment online
▪ Bathrooms
▪ Blue cards to sign up to make an oral comment
• Fill out and hand in at end of Q&A
• We’ll call people in order to make their comments
▪ Laptops to submit written comment or sign up for GovDelivery email updates
My name is Joe Westersund and I will be serving as the DEQ’s hearing officer. The purpose of this hearing is to take public comment on the proposed action to adopt permanent rules to regulate manufacturers of colored art glass.
The Proposed Rulemaking Announcement provides a link to DEQ’s rulemaking website. If you want to receive future email notices about this or any other DEQ rulemaking you can sign up for the GovDelivery email notification service on the web page for this rulemaking. All documents related to this rulemaking, including the staff report that will be submitted to the EQC, will be posted on the web site for this rulemaking. We are trying to reduce paper usage and encourage people to use email for submitting comments and the DEQ website for reviewing documents.
The agency will review issues raised during the public comment period, and the hearing officer’s report will contain responses. In addition to the opportunity to present oral comments at this hearing, anyone may submit written comments until 5 p,m. on Friday, July 29th, which is the close of the public comment period. DEQ will not review or consider comments received after that time unless the agency decides to extend the comment period for everyone.
I will begin the hearing in about five minutes, giving you an opportunity to fill out your registration cards. Are there any questions about how the hearing will be conducted?
HEARING
(TURN ON RECORDER)
Pause, then begin
At this time I would like to begin the hearing. The hearing will be recorded to maintain a permanent record. Today is _______________, the time is ______________ a.m./p.m., and we are at LOCATION. My name is _______________. With me are _______________ with DEQ’s ________________ Program. I am the presiding officer for this hearing and as such I am taking comments on behalf of the Environmental Quality Commission.
If you haven’t done so, those wishing to provide testimony must sign in on the sign in sheet or if on the phone indicate that you would like to testify.
The purpose of this meeting is to take public comments on the proposed rules for the ________________ Rulemaking rule adoption. The job of presiding officer is to hear and acknowledge comments and not to defend the proposed rules. After the hearing, we will prepare a written presiding officer’s report summarizing both written and verbal comments. That report will be available with the final Staff Report posted on our DEQ rulemaking website, which is listed in the Proposed Rulemaking Announcement. The deadline date to submit comments on the proposed rules is Friday July 29th at 5 p.m.
You may also submit written comments until the comment period ends through the DEQ comment web page for this rulemaking. The web address for that page is posted: (place on sign-up table or in a visible place in the room).
After reviewing the comments, the Department may consider revisions to the proposed rules. The Department's final recommendation for rule adoption will be made at the EQC meeting scheduled for September or October. The Commission will use its own discretion in deciding whether to adopt all, part or none of the proposed rules, postpone adoption, or hold additional public hearings.
I would like to begin taking comments. If anyone has prepared a written statement or other documents, it would help to summarize them orally and then introduce written material into the record. Written comments are given the same weight as oral comments.
(IF APPROPRIATE) - At this point, no witnesses have signed up to comment. If anyone arrives to comment within the next half hour, we will turn the tape recorder on. Otherwise the hearing will be adjourned. (AGAIN, IF APPROPRIATE) - It is now TIME. No one attended the hearing and no one provided comments – this hearing is adjourned.
(AT END)
Thank you for coming and providing us with your comments. The hearing is adjourned.
(RECORDER OFF)