(a) If the commission proposes the acquisition of real
property necessary to enable it to meet its responsibilities as the
nonfederal sponsor of the GIWW, or if the commission proposes to participate
in the cost of a project to beneficially use dredge material that
requires the acquisition of an interest in real property, the commission,
through the department, will hold a public hearing to receive evidence
and testimony concerning the desirability of the disposal plan, the
proposal to use the real property as a dredged material placement
area under an existing disposal plan, or the beneficial use project.
(b) The department will publish notice of the plan,
proposal, or project and the date, time, and place of the public hearing
at least once a week for three successive weeks before the hearing
in a newspaper of general circulation of each county in which any
part of a proposed dredge material disposal site, channel alteration,
or beneficial use project would be located.
(c) The department also will:
(1) publish notice of the hearing in at least one edition
of the Texas Register; and
(2) post notice of the hearing on the department's
website.
(d) The department will display the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers' environmental documents and findings at the public hearing.
(e) Comments, testimony, or evidence may be given in
person or in writing during the public hearing or may be submitted
in writing to the department during the prescribed public comment
period.
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