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SPONSOR: Sen. Townsend & Rep. Romer & Rep. Gray
Rep. Berry
DELAWARE STATE SENATE
153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY
SENATE BILL NO. 346
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO APPEALS TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL
APPEALS BOARD.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
1 Section 1. Amend § 6007, Title 7 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and
2 insertions as shown by underline as follows and redesignating accordingly:
3 § 6007. Establishment of Environmental Appeals Board.
4 (c)(1) A simple majority of the Board shall constitute constitutes a quorum. A simple majority of those members
5 of the Board present shall be is required to override the decision of the Secretary.
6 (2)a. The Board shall schedule, but not necessarily conduct, a hearing on the merits of an appeal within 30
7 days following the receipt of the appeal. In any event, the
8 b. The Board shall conduct, but not necessarily complete, complete the hearing on the merits of the
9 appeal within 180 120 days following the receipt of the appeal unless the parties agree otherwise. Chairperson tolls
10 this period under paragraph (c)(5) of this section.
11 (3)a. The Board may verbally announce the decision at the conclusion of the hearing.
12 b. A written decision shall must be mailed to the parties by certified mail within 90 60 days after the
13 completion of the hearing.
14 (4)a. If the Board fails to conduct complete the hearing or within the time period required under paragraph
15 (c)(2)b. of this section, the decision of the Secretary is a final decision for all purposes, including an appeal under §
16 6009 of this title, 121 days after the date of receipt of the appeal.
17 b. If the Board fails to issue the written opinion as required, with the time period required under
18 paragraph (c)(3)b. of this section, the decision of the Secretary shall be is a final decision for the purposes of
19 appeal. all purposes, including an appeal under § 6009 of this title, 61 days after completion of the hearing.
20 (5) Upon the written request of both parties, the Chairperson may toll the running of the 120-day period under
21 paragraph (c)(2)b. of this section by a letter that states the number of days the period is tolled.
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22 Section 2. Amend § 6008, Title 7 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and
23 insertions as shown by underline as follows and redesignating accordingly:
24 § 6008. Appeals to Board.
25 (a) Any (1)a. Except as provided under subsection (e) of this section, any person whose interest is substantially
26 affected by any action of the Secretary may appeal to the Environmental Appeals Board within 20 days after receipt of the
27 Secretary’s decision or publication of the decision.
28 b. The grant of a permit on subaqueous lands may be appealed by any person whose interest is
29 substantially affected.
30 (2) The Board shall conduct a public hearing for all appeals in accordance with Chapter 101 of Title 29.
31 Deliberations of the Board may be conducted in executive session. Each member who votes shall indicate the nature of
32 his or her their vote in the written decision.
33 (b)(1) Whenever a final decision of the Secretary concerning any case decision, including but not limited to any
34 permit or enforcement action action, is appealed, the Board shall hold a public hearing in accordance with Chapter 101 of
35 Title 29. The record before the Board shall must include the entire record before presented to the Secretary. Secretary, as
36 follows:
37 a. If all or part of the record was transmitted to the Secretary by e-mail, that email may be a part of the
38 record.
39 b. Except for public comments submitted by e-mail, e-mail communication that does not involve the
40 Secretary is not part of the record and is not required to be produced for any appeal.
41 (2) All parties to the appeal may appear personally or by counsel at the hearing and may produce any
42 competent evidence in their behalf. The Board may exclude any evidence which is plainly irrelevant, immaterial,
43 insubstantial, cumulative or unduly repetitive, and may limit unduly repetitive proof, rebuttal and cross-examination.
44 The burden of proof is upon the appellant to show that the Secretary’s decision is not supported by the evidence on the
45 record before the Board. The Board may affirm, reverse or remand with instructions any appeal of a case decision of
46 the Secretary.
47 (e) There shall be is no appeal of a decision by the Secretary regarding any of the following:
48 (1) Consistency with the federal Coastal Zone Management Act. to deny
49 (2) The denial of a permit on any matter involving state-owned land land, including subaqueous lands, except
50 an appeal shall lie on if the sole ground of the appeal is that the decision was discriminatory in that the applicant,
51 whose circumstances are like and similar to those of other applicants, was not afforded like and similar treatment.
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SYNOPSIS
This Act revises the procedures before the Environmental Appeals Board as follows:
• Streamlines the appeal procedures to avoid unnecessary delays in the permitting process.
• Addresses a ruling from the Superior Court in 1986, Worldwide Salvage, Inc. v. Env’t Appeals Bd., 1986 WL
3650 (Del. Super. Ct. Jan. 30, 1986), which held that there is no right to appeal to the Environmental Appeals Board
decisions by the Secretary to grant permits relating to subaqueous state lands. Like House Bill No. 456 (153rd General
Assembly), this Act allows persons substantially impacted by the grant of a subaqueous lands permit may appeal to the
Environmental Appeals Board.
• Eliminates any appeal of a finding by the Secretary regarding consistency with the federal Coastal Zone
Management Act because there is a federal process for these appeals and a state appeal process would conflict with the
federal appeals process.
This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative
Drafting Manual.
Author: Senator Townsend
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