(1) Except as otherwise provided in ORS § 536.390, whenever any state agency or public corporation of this state which has received a copy of a state water resources statement as provided in ORS § 536.350, proposes to exercise any power, duty or privilege referred to in ORS § 536.370 (1), it shall first file with the Water Resources Commission a notification of the proposed exercise. The notification shall be in such form and shall contain a description of the proposed exercise and such other information as the commission may require. The notification shall be a public record in the office of the commission.

(2) Within 30 days after the filing of the notification as provided in subsection (1) of this section, the commission shall notify the state agency or public corporation of the intention of the commission to review the proposed exercise of the power, duty or privilege, if:

(a) The commission, in its discretion, determines that a review should be undertaken; or

(b) A protest against the proposed exercise is filed with the commission within 25 days after the filing of the notification as provided in subsection (1) of this section by any person, state agency or public corporation of this state or agency of the federal government.

(3) The commission, in its discretion, may hold a public hearing on the proposed exercise of the power, duty or privilege. The commission shall determine the time and place of the public hearing, and shall give written notice thereof to the state agency or public corporation whose proposed exercise of a power, duty or privilege is being reviewed and to each protestant under subsection (2)(b) of this section, if any, at least 10 days prior to the hearing. Notice of the hearing shall also be published in at least one issue each week for at least two consecutive weeks prior to the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation published in each county in which the proposed exercise of the power, duty or privilege is to take place or be effective.

(4) After the commission has notified the state agency or public corporation of the intention of the commission to review the proposed exercise of the power, duty or privilege as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the commission shall undertake the review and proceed therewith with reasonable diligence. At the conclusion of the review the commission shall make a determination approving the proposed exercise, approving the proposed exercise subject to conditions specified in the determination or disapproving the proposed exercise. A copy of the determination by the commission shall be delivered to the state agency or public corporation whose proposed exercise of a power, duty or privilege was reviewed and to each protestant under subsection (2)(b) of this section, if any. [1955 c.707 § 14]