Section 141-A. Pre-application procedures

1.  Any  person  proposing to
  submit an application for a major steam electric generating facility may
  consult with, and seek agreement with, the staff of the  department  and
  the  department of environmental conservation as to any study or program
  of studies made or to be made to support such application. If the  staff
  of  the department, the department of environmental conservation and the
  person proposing to file an application can agree as to the  studies  or
  program  of studies to be conducted, they shall enter into a stipulation
  setting forth the agreement. Nothing  herein,  however,  shall  bar  any
  party  to  a  hearing  on  an  application,  other  than  any party to a
  pre-application agreement, from timely raising objections at the hearing
  to the methodology and scope of any stipulated  studies  or  program  of
  studies in any such agreement.
    2.  In  order  to attempt to resolve any questions that may arise as a
  result of consultation pursuant to subdivision one of this section,  the
  board  shall  designate  a  hearing examiner who shall mediate any issue
  relating to the methodology and scope of  any  studies  or  programs  of
  study   to  which  the  staff  of  the  department,  the  department  of
  environmental conservation and the person seeking to file an application
  cannot agree. If  the  parties  can  agree,  they  shall  enter  into  a
  stipulation  setting forth the agreement. Nothing herein, however, shall
  bar any party to a hearing on an application other  than  any  party  to
  such  a stipulation from timely raising objections at the hearing to the
  methodology and scope of any stipulated studies or program of studies in
  any such agreement.
    * NB Expired January 1, 1989
    * NB Operative with regard to applications filed on or before December
           31, 1988