(a) At the time and place fixed by the chair for the meeting of the board and for consideration of the objections to proposed drilling filed by coal seam owners pursuant to section seventeen, article six, chapter twenty-two of this code, the well operator and the objecting coal seam owners present or represented shall hold a conference with the board to consider the objections. Such persons present or represented at the conference may agree upon either the drilling location as proposed by the well operator or an alternate location. Any change in the drilling location from the drilling location proposed by the well operator shall be indicated on the plat enclosed with the notice of objection filed with the chair by the director in accordance with the provisions of section seventeen, article six, chapter twenty-two of this code, and the distance and direction to the new drilling location from the proposed drilling location shall also be shown on such plat. If agreement is reached at the conference by the well operator and such objecting coal seam owners present or represented at the conference, the board shall issue a written order stating that an agreement has been reached, stating the nature of such agreement, and directing the director to grant the well operator a drilling permit for the location agreed upon. The original of such order shall be filed with the division within five days after the conference of the board at which the drilling location was agreed upon and copies thereof shall be mailed by registered or certified mail to the well operator and the objecting coal seam owners present or represented at such conference.
(b) If the well operator and the objecting coal seam owners present or represented at the conference with the board are unable to agree upon a drilling location, then, unless they otherwise agree, the board shall, without recess for more than one business day, hold a hearing to consider the application for a drilling permit. All of the pertinent provisions of article five, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code shall apply to and govern such hearing. Within twenty days after the close of a hearing, the board shall issue and file with the director a written order directing him or her, subject to other matters requiring approval of the director, to:
(1) Refuse a drilling permit;