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For 112 applications, the public comment period ends 20 days after the final public notice is published. This is an important date for those who want to object to an application because it serves as the cutoff date for a party's participation in the administrative process. If no objection is received before the 20-day period expires, the Division may act on the application without a formal Board hearing. Letters of objection will be forwarded to the applicant within 10-days of receipt. THE ROLE OF THE CITIZEN Any citizen may become involved in the reclamation permit application process either as a party or a non-party. According to Rule 1.1(34.1) of the Construction Materials Rules and Ruie 1.1(38.1) of the Hard Rock/Metal Mining Rules, "party" means "a person or entity who demonstrates that they are directly and adversely affected or aggrieved by the conduct of a mining operation, proposed mining operation, or an order of the Board and whose interest is entitled to legal protection under the Act." Under the rules, "aggrieved" is defined as "suffering actual loss or injury, or being exposed to potential loss or injury, to legitimate interests. Such interests include, but are not limited to, business, economic, aesthetic, governmental, recreational, or conservational interests." A non-party is anyone who does not meet the statutory definition of a party, or who submits written statements supporting or objecting to an application during the public notice period but requests to remain anon-party or fails to fulfill party requirements (2) and (3) listed below. A non-party may participate in the process by speaking during the public comment period of a Formal Board Hearing or through commenting on an application, as noted above. To participate as a party at a Formal Board Hearing, a person must (1) Submit a letter of objection or protest to the Division within twenty (20) calendar days after the last date for the newspaper publication of notice of the application pursuant to Section 34-32-114 and 34-32.5-114 of the Acts. Note that this letter must be received by the Division within twenty (20) calendar days of the last date of the newspaper publication. In that letter, the interested parties should provide the name, mailing address and telephone number and explain how they are aggrieved by the proposed mining activity. Although neither the Acts nor the rules requires a potential party to establish in writing that they are aggrieved by a mining operation, a person may lose their party status at any time if they are challenged on this issue and cannot prove that they comply with the definition contained in Construction Materials Rule 1.1(4). It is therefore recommended that before preparing for a hearing, parties first explain in their objection letter how they are aggrieved by the mining operation. (2) Attend the Pre-hearing Conference or execute a proxy, as required by Rule 2.7.3(4); and (3) Attend the Formal Public Hearing, as required by Rule 2.8.1(1).