N.D.C.C. § 57-57-09 — Public hearing by petition - Hearing board - Presiding officer

The owner or agent of the owner, board of township supervisors, or board of county
commissioners may petition the state forester for a public hearing to take testimony and hear
evidence on whether lands shall be entered or continued under this chapter. Upon filing of the
petition, the state forester shall set the matter for public hearing at a time as the state forester
sees fit in the county in which the land is located, but not later than ninety days from the date of
the filing of the petition. The state forester, the county auditor, and the local assessor of the
township in which the lands are located constitute the hearing board. The state forester is the
presiding officer of the hearing and shall give thirty days' written notice of the hearing to the
owner or agent of the owner, board of township supervisors, and the board of county
commissioners. The hearing may be deferred not more than sixty days after notice to the parties
involved.