1. Any person, firm or corporation claiming the exemption herein provided pursuant to subsection C of Section 2902 of this title shall file, each year for which the exemption is claimed, an application therefor with the county assessor of the county in which the new, expanded or acquired facility is located. Such application shall be on a form or forms prescribed by the Oklahoma Tax Commission and shall be filed before July 1, 1993; and, thereafter subsequent years of application for the exemption shall be filed on or before March 15 of the calendar year in which the facility desires to take the exemption.

Provided, for those person, firms or corporations qualifying pursuant to subsection C of Section 2902 of this title, the exemption from ad valorem taxes shall continue in effect for the four (4) following years upon application as long as all requirements in subsection C of Section 2902 of this title are met; and

2. Such application shall be examined by the county assessor and approved or rejected by the county assessor in the same manner as provided by law for approval or rejection of claims for homestead exemptions. Any applicants rejected by the county assessor whose applications were received before July 1, 1993, may protest any rejection to the county equalization board which shall conduct hearings to protest in the manner prescribed pursuant to Title 68 of the Oklahoma Statutes. In the event the county equalization board has adjourned and so is unable to conduct a review of the county assessor's rejection in tax year 1993, the board shall hear the protest in 1994. Provided, applicants must appeal within thirty (30) days of rejection. The applicant shall not be required to pay the tax until appeal is heard by the county equalization board. In the event payment is determined to be due by the county equalization board, the company shall pay said tax, but no interest or penalty shall be assessed or due. Approved applications shall be filed by the county assessor with the Tax Commission no later than August 1, 1993. Incomplete applications and applications filed after such date will be declared null and void by the Tax Commission.