B.__Any person may provide the department with written comments concerning the application within 30 days after the public notice in subsection 3, paragraph A.

C.__The department shall provide the Attorney General and the Governor's Office of Health Policy and Finance with copies of all comments from persons submitted under paragraph B.

D. The department may hold a public hearing regarding an application in accordance with rules adopted by the department.

E. The parties to a cooperative agreement may withdraw their application and thereby terminate all proceedings under this chapter as follows:

(1) Without the approval of the department, any party or the Superior Court at any time prior to the filing of an answer or responsive pleading in a court action under section 1848, subsection 2 or prior to entry of a consent decree under section 1848, subsection 9; or

(2) Without the approval of the department or any party at any time prior to the issuance of a final decision under paragraph G if a court action has not been filed under section 1848, subsection 2.

F. The department shall issue a final decision to grant or deny an application for a certificate of public advantage under this section no less than 40 days and no more than 90 days after the filing of the application. The department shall issue a preliminary decision at least 5 days prior to issuing the final decision. The preliminary and final decisions must be in writing and set forth the basis for the decisions.__The department shall provide copies of the preliminary and final decisions to the applicants, the Office of the Attorney General, the Governor's Office of Health Policy and Finance and all persons who requested notification from the department under subsection 3, paragraph B.

5.__Standards for approval of a certificate of public advantage. The department shall issue a certificate of public advantage for a cooperative agreement if it determines that the applicants have demonstrated by a preponderance of the evidence that the likely benefits resulting from the agreement outweigh any disadvantages attributable to a reduction in competition