(a) Further action may not be taken by the Secretary under this subtitle without completion of the statement required under § 14-506 of this subtitle, and its being made available to the public, and until the county government, where the proposed facility is to be located has certified to the Department that all necessary local approval has been or is reasonably expected to be extended for commencement of construction.

(b) Not more than 60 days after the statement is completed, the Department shall hold at least one public hearing in the county in which the facility or any part of it is situated to solicit the views of the public about the permit application. Prior to the public hearing the Department shall make the statement available to the public. In addition, any comments on the statement prepared by the Department or any other State department, any proposed permits to be issued by any State agency to the applicant, any conditions proposed by the Department prior to granting a permit, and any other pertinent information shall be made available to the public prior to the hearing.

(c) The Department shall give notice of the public hearing by furnishing the same to the appropriate State and local government units as well as publishing notice in a newspaper of statewide circulation and in a newspaper published in or having general circulation in each affected county.