(a) At any time before the public notice of the opportunity to request a hearing on a permit application, the applicant may request that consolidated applications be processed separately as determined by the executive director. The executive director shall process the applications separately if the applicant submits a timely request under this subsection.
(b) At any time after the notice of opportunity to request a hearing but before referral of the matter to the State Office of Administrative Hearings, the executive director may separate the applications for processing on a showing of good cause by the applicant that the applications should be processed separately. For purposes of this subsection, “good cause” includes a change in the statutory or regulatory requirements governing a permit or a substantial change in the factual circumstances surrounding the applications for permits.

(c) After an application has been referred to the State Office of Administrative Hearings, the applicant may have the applications processed separately only on a showing of compliance with commission procedural rules regarding the withdrawal of applications.