Review of oil conservation commission decision; appeals.

The secretary of energy, minerals and natural resources may hold a public hearing to determine whether an order or decision issued by the commission contravenes the public interest. The hearing shall be held within twenty days after the entry of the commission order or decision following a rehearing or after the order refusing a rehearing. The hearing shall be a de novo proceeding, and the secretary shall enter such order or decision as may be required under the circumstances, having due regard for the conservation of the state's oil, gas and mineral resources, and the commission shall modify its own order or decision to comply therewith. If a rehearing before the commission was granted, the record of the rehearing shall be made part of the record of the hearing before the secretary. If the application for rehearing was denied, the record of the hearing before the commission or the oil conservation division shall be made part of the record of the hearing before the secretary. Orders and decisions of the secretary may be appealed by any party to the original hearing or the rehearing before the commission or by any party to the hearing before the secretary held pursuant to this section, in accordance with the procedure of Subsections B, C and D of Section 70-2-25 NMSA 1978, except that the appeal shall not be a de novo proceeding and shall be limited to a review of the record of the hearing held pursuant to the provisions of this section.