(a) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, at least thirty days before approving or denying an application under § 22a-32, 22a-39, 22a-174, 22a-208a, 22a-342, 22a-361, 22a-368, 22a-403 or 22a-430, subsection (b) or (c) of § 22a-449, § 22a-454 or Section 401 of the federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 USC 466 et seq.), shall publish or cause to be published, at the applicant’s expense, once in a newspaper having a substantial circulation in the affected area notice of the commissioner‘s tentative determination regarding such application. Such notice shall include: (1) The name and mailing address of the applicant and the address of the location of the proposed activity; (2) the application number; (3) the tentative decision regarding the application; (4) the type of permit or other authorization sought, including a reference to the applicable statute or regulation; (5) a description of the location of the proposed activity and any natural resources affected thereby; (6) the name, address and telephone number of any agent of the applicant from whom interested persons may obtain copies of the application; (7) a brief description of all opportunities for public participation provided by statute or regulation, including the length of time available for submission of public comments to the commissioner on the application; and (8) such additional information as the commissioner deems necessary to comply with any provision of this title or regulations adopted hereunder, or with the federal Clean Air Act, federal Clean Water Act or federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The commissioner shall further give notice of such determination to the chief elected official of the municipality in which the regulated activity is proposed. Nothing in this section shall preclude the commissioner from giving such additional notice as may be required by any other provision of this title or regulations adopted hereunder, or by the federal Clean Air Act, federal Clean Water Act or federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The provisions of this section shall not apply to discharges exempted from the notice requirement by the commissioner pursuant to subsection (b) of § 22a-430, to hazardous waste transporter permits issued pursuant to § 22a-454 or to special waste authorizations issued pursuant to § 22a-209 and regulations adopted thereunder.

(b) For the purposes of this section, “application” means a request for a license or renewal thereof or for any permit or modification of a license or permit or renewal thereof if the modification is sought by the licensee.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title or any regulation adopted pursuant to this title, the following applications are exempt from the provisions of subsection (a) of this section: (1) An application for a minor permit modification for sources permitted under Title V of the federal Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 in accordance with 40 C.F.R. § 70.7; or (2) an application for a minor permit modification or revision if the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection has adopted regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, establishing criteria to delineate applications for minor permit modifications or revisions from those applications subject to the requirements of subsection (a) of this section.

(d) Not later than thirty days after the date on which the commissioner publishes or causes to be published notice of the commissioner’s tentative determination regarding an application under Section 401 of the federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 USC 466, such applicant may submit a written request to the commissioner to conduct a hearing on such application in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54. The commissioner shall grant any such request provided such request is submitted in writing and filed in a timely manner. Any person that is aggrieved by the commissioner’s final decision on such application may appeal such decision to the Superior Court, in accordance with § 4-183.