2. Procedural Background

Notice of the filing of the application appeared on the Commission's Daily Calendar of December 20, 2000. On December 26, 2000, Del Oro filed an amended

application to correct an error in the earlier filing. Notice of the amended application appeared on the Commission's Daily Calendar on December 29, 2000. A protest to the application was received on January 11, 2001. On January 25, 2001, Del Oro filed a reply and moved to strike the protest. A response to the motion to strike, authorized after the fact by the ALJ, was filed on January 31, 2001. A hearing on the protest was conducted on April 11, 2001. The application was deemed submitted on April 13, 2001, when protestant waived final written argument.