Before the Department makes any finding of the existence of an imperative and unavoidable public necessity, or grants any estate, interest or right in a nature preserve or disposes of a nature preserve or of any estate, interest or right therein, as provided in § 7308 of this title, it shall give notice of such proposed action and an opportunity for any person to be heard at a public hearing in the county in which the preserve is located. The public hearing shall be published at least once in newspapers with a statewide circulation and general circulation in the county in which the nature preserve is located. The notice shall set forth the substance of the proposed action and describe, with or without legal description, the nature preserve affected, and shall specify a place and time not less than 30 days after such publication for a public hearing before the Department on such proposed action. All persons desiring to be heard shall have a reasonable opportunity to be heard prior to action by the Department on such proposal.

61 Del. Laws, c. 212, § ?2;