1. (1) Required contents of petition for party status:

   1. (i) fully identify the proposed party together with the name(s) of the person or persons who will act as representative of the party;
   2. (ii) identify petitioner's environmental interest in the proceeding;
   3. (iii) identify any interest relating to statutes administered by the department relevant to the project;
   4. (iv) identify whether the petition is for full party or amicus status;
   5. (v) identify the precise grounds for opposition or support.

2. (2) Additional contents required for petitions for full party status:

   1. (i) identify an issue for adjudication which meets the criteria of section 624.4(c) of this Part; and
   2. (ii) present an offer of proof specifying the witness(es), the nature of the evidence the person expects to present and the grounds upon which the assertion is made with respect to that issue.

3. (3) Additional contents required for petitions for amicus status:

   1. (i) identify the nature of the legal or policy issue(s) to be briefed which meets the criteria of section 624.4(c) of this Part; and
   2. (ii) provide a statement explaining why the proposed party is in a special position with respect to that issue.
4. (4) Inadequate petition. If a potential party fails to file a petition in the form set forth in this subdivision, the ALJ may deny party status or may require additional information from the filer.

5. (5) Supplementation of petitions. Where the ALJ finds that a prospective party did not have adequate time to prepare its petition for party status, the ALJ shall provide an opportunity for supplementation of the petition.

   (c) Late filed petitions for party status.

6. (1) Petitions filed after the date set in the notice of hearing will not be granted except under the limited circumstances outlined in paragraph (2) of this subdivision.

7. (2) In addition to the required contents of a petition for party status, a petition filed late must include the following in order to receive any consideration:

   1. (i) a demonstration that there is good cause for the late filing;
   2. (ii) a demonstration that participation by the petitioner will not significantly delay the proceeding or unreasonably prejudice the other parties; and

   3. (iii) a demonstration that participation will materially assist in the determination of issues raised in the proceeding.

      (d) Rulings on party status.

      Rulings on party status will be made by the ALJ after the deadline for receipt of petitions for party status and will be set forth in the rulings on issues provided for in section 624.4 of this Part.

8. (1) Full party status. The ALJ's ruling of entitlement to full party status will be based upon:

   1. (i) a finding that the petitioner has filed an acceptable petition pursuant to paragraphs (b)(1) and (2) of this section;
   2. (ii) a finding that the petitioner has raised a substantive and significant issue or that the petitioner can make a meaningful contribution to the record regarding a substantive and significant issue raised by another party; and
   3. (iii) a demonstration of adequate environmental interest.

9. (2) Amicus status. The ALJ's ruling of entitlement to amicus status must be based upon:

   1. (i) a finding that the petitioner has filed an acceptable petition pursuant to paragraphs (b)(1) and (3) of this section;
   2. (ii) a finding that the petitioner has identified a legal or policy issue which needs to be resolved by the hearing; and

   3. (iii) a finding that the petitioner has a sufficient interest in the resolution of such issue and through expertise, special knowledge or unique perspective may contribute materially to the record on such issue.

      (e) Rights of parties.

10. (1) A full party has the right to:

    1. (i) participate at the hearing in person or through an authorized representative;
    2. (ii) present relevant evidence and to cross-examine witnesses of other parties;
    3. (iii) present argument on issues of law and fact;
    4. (iv) initiate motions, requests, briefs or other written material in connection with the hearing, and receive all correspondence to and from the ALJ and to and from all other parties which is circulated to the parties generally;
    5. (v) appeal adverse rulings of the ALJ; and
    6. (vi) exercise any other right conferred on parties by this Part or SAPA.
11. (2) A party with amicus status has the right to file a brief and, at the discretion of the ALJ, present oral argument on the issue(s) identified in the ALJ's ruling on its party status but does not have any other rights of participation or submission.

12. (3) A potential party has the same rights it would be entitled to if its petition for party status were granted.

    (f) Loss of party status.

    Upon determining that the party or its representative has failed to comply with the applicable laws, rules or directives of the ALJ and has substantially disrupted the hearing process or prejudiced the rights of another party to the proceeding, the ALJ may revoke the party status of the offending party.

Participation in the hearing may be as a full party or as amicus, depending upon the demonstrated compliance with the criteria set forth in subdivisions (b) through (d) of this section. Non- parties who wish to have their comments recorded will be permitted to submit oral or written comments during the legislative portion of the hearing, or as otherwise provided by the ALJ, as set forth in section 624.4 of this Part. Such statements will not constitute evidence in the adjudicatory hearing, but will constitute comments on the DEIS, if one exists, and may be used by the ALJ as a basis to inquire further of all parties and potential parties at the issues conference.

(a) Mandatory parties.

The applicant and assigned department staff are automatically full parties to the proceeding. However, in the case of a water supply rate dispute only the municipalities involved in the dispute are mandatory parties.

(b) Other parties.

By the date set in the notice of hearing, a person desiring party status must file a petition in writing which includes the requirements of either paragraphs (1) and (2) or paragraphs (1) and (3) of this subdivision.