(a) The chief clerk shall deliver or mail to the applicant, the executive director, the public interest counsel, and the Alternative Dispute Resolution Office, copies of all documents filed with the chief clerk in response to public notice of an application.     
      (b) The commission may designate an agency office to process public comment under this subsection.      
        (1) If the application and timely hearing requests are considered by the commission, the designated office will prepare any required response to public comment, no later than ten days before the commission meeting at which the commission will evaluate the hearing requests. The response shall be made available to the public and filed with the chief clerk.       
        (2) If the application is approved by the executive director under Chapter 50, Subchapter G of this title (relating to Action by the Executive Director), any required response to public comment should be made no later than the time of the executive director's action on the application.       
      (c) The Office of Chief Clerk or the executive director shall hold a public meeting when there is a significant degree of public interest or when otherwise appropriate to assure adequate public participation. A public meeting is intended for the taking of public comment and is not a contested case under the Texas Administrative Procedure Act. The applicant shall attend any such public meeting held by the Office of the Chief Clerk or the executive director. The executive director shall respond to public comment either by giving an immediate oral response at the public meeting or by preparing a written response. The response shall be made available to the public.     
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §55.253 adopted to be effective October 20, 1999, 24 TexReg 9015; amended to be effective May 14, 2020, 45 TexReg 3079