Article 1. Preliminary Determination of California Water Code >> Division 14. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 3. >> Article 1.

At the hearing the department shall determine and express by order whether or not the petition and notice complies with this part.

The department shall hear all competent and relevant testimony offered in support of or in opposition to the sufficiency of the petition and the publication of the notice.

The hearing may be adjourned from time to time, not exceeding 30 days in all.

If the department determines that any of the requirements of this part were not complied with, the petition shall be dismissed without prejudice to the right of the proper number of persons to present a new petition covering the same matter or to present the same petition with additional signatures if additional signatures are necessary to comply with the requirements of this part.