§22C-9-5. Rules; notice requirements.
(a) The commission may propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code, to implement and make effective the provisions of this article and the powers and authority conferred and the duties imposed upon the commission under the provisions of this article.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of §29A-7-2 of this code, any notice required under the provisions of this article shall be given at the direction of the commission by personal or substituted service or by certified United States mail, addressed, postage prepaid, to the last-known mailing address, if any, of the person being served, with the direction that the same be delivered to addressee only, return receipt requested. In the case of providing notice upon the filing of an application with the commission, the commission shall, within 14 days of the filing of an application, submit for publication notice of the application notice to be published as a Class II legal advertisement in compliance with the provisions of §59-3-1 et seq. of this code, and the publication area for the publication shall be the county or counties wherein any land which may be affected by the order is situate.
In addition, the commission shall mail a copy of the notice to all other persons who have specified to the commission an address to which all such notices may be mailed. The notice shall issue in the name of the state, shall be signed by the one of the commission members, shall specify the style and number of the proceeding, the time and place of any hearing and shall briefly state the purpose of the proceeding. Each notice of a hearing must be provided no fewer than 20 days preceding the hearing date. Personal or substituted service and proof thereof may be made by an officer authorized to serve process or by an agent of the commission in the same manner as is now provided by the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure for service of process in civil actions in the various courts of this state.
A certified copy of any pooling or unit order entered under the provisions of this article shall be presented by the commission to the clerk of the county commission of each county wherein all or any portion of the pooled or unit tract is located, for recordation in the record book of the county in which oil and gas leases are normally recorded. The recording of the order from the time noted thereon by the clerk shall be notice of the order to all persons.
