§ 99.15 Request to participate in hearing.

(a) The Department and the Lead Agency are parties to the hearing without making a specific request to participate.

(b)

(1) Other individuals or groups may be recognized as parties, if the issues to be considered at the hearing have directly caused them injury and their interest is immediately within the zone of interests to be protected by the governing Federal statute and regulations.

(2) Any individual or group wishing to participate as a party shall file a petition with the presiding officer within 15 days after notice of the hearing has been published in the Federal Register and shall serve a copy on each party of record at that time, in accordance with § 99.5(b). Such petition shall concisely state: