621.250.  Appeals from decisions of certain environmental commissions to be heard by administrative hearing commission — procedure. — 1.  All authority to hear contested case administrative appeals granted in chapters 236, 256, 260, 444, 640, 643, and 644, and to the hazardous waste management commission in chapter 260, the Missouri mining commission in chapter 444, the safe drinking water commission in chapter 640, the air conservation commission in chapter 643, and the clean water commission in chapter 644 shall be transferred to the administrative hearing commission under this chapter.  The authority to render final decisions after hearing on appeals heard by the administrative hearing commission shall remain with the commissions listed in this subsection.  For appeals pursuant to chapter 236, chapter 256, section 260.235, or section 260.249, the administrative hearing commission shall render a final decision rather than a recommended decision.  The administrative hearing commission may render its recommended or final decision after hearing or through stipulation, consent order, agreed settlement or by disposition in the nature of default judgment, judgment on the pleadings, or summary determination, consistent with the requirements of this subsection and the rules and procedures of the administrative hearing commission.

  2.  Except as otherwise provided by law, any person or entity who is a party to, or who is aggrieved or adversely affected by, any finding, order, decision, or assessment for which the authority to hear appeals was transferred to the administrative hearing commission in subsection 1 of this section may file a notice of appeal with the administrative hearing commission within thirty days after any such finding, order, decision, or assessment is placed in the United States mail or within thirty days of any such finding, order, decision, or assessment being delivered, whichever is earlier.  Within ninety days after the date on which the notice of appeal is filed the administrative hearing commission may hold hearings, and within one hundred twenty days after the date on which the notice of appeal is filed shall make a recommended decision, or a final decision where applicable, in accordance with the requirements of this section and the rules and procedures of the administrative hearing commission; provided, however, that the dates by which the administrative hearing commission is required to hold hearings and make a recommended decision may be extended at the sole discretion of the permittee as either petitioner or intervenor in the appeal.

  3.  Any decision by the director of the department of natural resources that may be appealed as provided in subsection 1 of this section shall contain a notice of the right of appeal in substantially the following language:  "If you were adversely affected by this decision, you may be entitled to pursue an appeal before the administrative hearing commission.  To appeal, you must file a petition with the administrative hearing commission within thirty days after the date this decision was mailed or the date it was delivered, whichever date was earlier.  If any such petition is sent by registered mail or certified mail, it will be deemed filed on the date it is mailed; if it is sent by any method other than registered mail or certified mail, it will be deemed filed on the date it is received by the administrative hearing commission.".  Within fifteen days after the administrative hearing commission renders a recommended decision, it shall transmit the record and a transcript of the proceedings, together with the administrative hearing commission's recommended decision to the commission having authority to issue a final decision.  The final decision of the commission shall be issued within one hundred eighty days of the date the notice of appeal in subsection 2 of this section is filed and shall be based only on the facts and evidence in the hearing record; provided, however, that the date by which the commission is required to issue a final decision may be extended at the sole discretion of the permittee as either petitioner or intervenor in the appeal.  The commission may adopt the recommended decision as its final decision.  The commission may change a finding of fact or conclusion of law made by the administrative hearing commission, or may vacate or modify the recommended decision issued by the administrative hearing commission, only if the commission states in writing the specific reason for a change made under this subsection.

  4.  In the event the person filing the appeal prevails in any dispute under this section, interest shall be allowed upon any amount found to have been wrongfully collected or erroneously paid at the rate established by the director of the department of revenue under section 32.065.

  5.  Appropriations shall be made from the respective funds of the department of natural resources to cover the administrative hearing commission's costs associated with these appeals.

  6.  In all matters heard by the administrative hearing commission under this section, the burden of proof shall comply with section 640.012.  The hearings shall be conducted by the administrative hearing commission in accordance with the provisions of chapter 536 and its regulations promulgated thereunder.

  7.  No cause of action or appeal arising out of any finding, order, decision, or assessment of any of the commissions listed in subsection 1 of this section shall accrue in any court unless the party seeking to file such cause of action or appeal shall have filed a notice of appeal and received a final decision in accordance with the provisions of this section.