TITLE 3

Agriculture

Regulatory Provisions

CHAPTER 22. Nutrient Management

Subchapter IV. Complaints, Hearings and Appeals

§ 2260. Complaints; investigations; enforcement.

(a) The Commission shall establish by regulation a process whereby any person may file a complaint with the Commission against any person for a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or any regulations promulgated pursuant thereto.

(b) The Commission shall establish by regulation the procedure for investigating any complaints brought before the Commission and the manner in which those complaints shall be resolved.

(c) The Commission shall, when requested, keep confidential the names of complainants, and shall not investigate or respond to anonymous complaints.

72 Del. Laws, c. 60, §  1

§ 2261. Hearings; procedural requirements.

(a) For purposes of this section, the Commission may create a hearing panel that will be subordinate to the Commission and comprised of individuals selected by the Commission. The Commission or hearing panel shall examine all complaints meeting the criteria of § 2260(a) of this title brought before it for violations of this chapter or Commission regulations within 60 days of receipt of the complaint. The Commission or hearing panel shall conduct a hearing on any matter that on its face presents a colorable claim that a violation has occurred.

(b) The Commission or hearing panel shall send 10 days’ notice of any hearing to all named parties, together with a recital of the complaint or issue brought before the Commission or hearing panel. It shall be sufficient to send such notice to the attorneys of those who are represented by counsel.

(c) When a hearing panel presides over a hearing, the hearing panel shall prepare a proposed order for the consideration of the Commission that shall include:

(1) A brief summary of the evidence and recommended findings of fact based upon the evidence.

(2) Recommended conclusions of law.

(3) A recommended decision.

(d) When a proposed order by a hearing panel is submitted to the Commission, a copy shall be delivered to each of the parties who shall have 20 days to submit in writing to the Commission exceptions, comments, and arguments respecting the proposed order.

(e) The Commission shall make its final decision based upon the entire record of the case and the recommendations of the hearing panel, if applicable. The Commission’s decision shall be incorporated into a final order which shall include:

(1) A recitation of the evidence before the commission.

(2) The Commission’s findings of fact.

(3) The Commission’s decision and a brief statement of the reasons for its decision.

(4) The manner in which the Commission construed the law and applied it to the facts.

(5) Any remunerative action a violator must take, including any fine, revocation, suspension, or modification to any certificate.

(f) The Commission shall have the power to compel the attendance of witnesses whose testimony is related to the alleged violation under review and the production of records related to the alleged violation under review by filing a praecipe for a subpoena through the Attorney General or a Deputy Attorney General with the Prothonotary of any county of this State, such a subpoena to be made by any sheriff of the State; failure to obey said subpoena will be punishable according to the rules of the Superior Court.

(g) All decisions of the Commission pursuant to this subsection shall be final and conclusive unless a party to such hearing shall appeal pursuant to the provisions of § 2263 of this title.

72 Del. Laws, c. 60, §  184 Del. Laws, c. 245, § 5

§ 2262. Certification appeals.

All decisions of the Commission pursuant to § 2243 or § 2245 of this title shall be final and conclusive unless within 15 days after notice thereof, the person who was denied a certificate or whose certificate was not renewed shall appeal to the Commission for a hearing on the matter. The Commission shall hold a hearing within 60 days of receipt of the appeal and develop a record on the case upon which they shall base their decision on the appeal. The Commission may uphold, modify or reverse their decision to issue or renew the certificate.

72 Del. Laws, c. 60, §  1

§ 2263. Appeals to the Secretary.

(a) All decisions of the Commission pursuant to this chapter shall be final and conclusive unless within 15 days after notice thereof, the Secretary receives an appeal for a review of any Commission decision. Such appeal shall state the nature of the appeal, the reasons therefor, and the remedy sought. The Secretary may uphold the action of the Commission, remand the decision back to the Commission for further consideration, or repeal the action of the Commission. The Secretary may appoint a hearing officer, who shall hold a hearing pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act. The Secretary’s decision shall be based solely on the record developed by the Commission at the hearing unless the Secretary finds that additional evidence should be taken. If the Secretary finds that additional evidence should be taken, the Secretary may take the additional evidence or remand the cause to the Commission for completion of the record.

(b) All decisions of the Secretary on appeals brought pursuant to this section shall be final and conclusive unless within 10 days after notice thereof, a party appeals to the Superior Court of the county in which the violation occurred. In every appeal from a decision of the Secretary, the cause shall be decided by the Court on the record without aid of the jury and may affirm, reverse or modify the Secretary’s decision. The findings of fact made below shall not be set aside unless the Court determines that the record contains no substantial evidence that would reasonably support the findings. If the Court finds that additional evidence should be taken, the Court may take the additional evidence or remand the cause to the Secretary for completion of the record. If the Court finds that an error of law has been made, the Court shall reverse or modify the Secretary’s decision and render an appropriate judgment.

72 Del. Laws, c. 60, §  170 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1