Any municipality or governing body having an interest may submit a protest to any application. Any person having an interest may submit a protest to any household goods application. All protests must be in writing and set forth the nature and grounds of the protest. Protests to permanent authority applications must be served on the commissioner, the applicant, or the applicant’s representative if applicable, within 30 days of the date of publication in the Weekly Bulletin. Failure to serve notice of protest within the said time periods on all parties may, in the commissioner's discretion, bar a protestant from taking part in the proceeding.