Whenever the commission is required or empowered to conduct a hearing pursuant to any provision of law, such the hearing may be held and conducted by the commission or by any member of the commission or by any qualified employee or representative of the commission as the commission chairman chair may determine. If the hearing is conducted by a single commissioner or qualified employee or representative, such the commissioner, employee or representative shall report his the findings of fact and conclusions to the commission together with a transcript of the hearing and all exhibits. Such The findings of fact and conclusions shall become a part of the record. The commission shall is not be bound by such the findings or conclusions when acting upon such the record, but shall take such action, issue such orders and make such decisions as if it had held and conducted the hearing itself.

When the commission elects to hold multiple public hearings on any matter under this chapter, all hearings held within a 45-day period are considered one hearing for administrative purposes.

Sec. 5. 12 MRSA §685, 2nd ¶, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 508, is amended to read:

The commission shall establish and maintain at least 2 regional field offices, one in Greenville and one in Ashland, designed principally to provide assistance to the public on permit applications and to carry out such other functions of the commission as appropriate. These field offices shall must be established in locations chosen to provide the maximum benefit to the public residents of the unorganized and deorganized areas while minimizing costs. Historic levels of permitting activity, the convenience of access and the availability and cost of office