Any person deeming that the granting of an application would be detrimental to his rights may protest in writing the proposal set forth in the application. The protest shall set forth reasons why the application should not be approved and must be filed in triplicate with the state engineer not later than ten (10) days after the date of the last publication of the notice referred to in Article 1-5 [now 19.27.1.12 NMAC]. The state engineer shall mail one copy of the protest to the applicant. The applicant may file with the state engineer, in triplicate, answers to such protests. The state engineer shall furnish all protestants with a copy thereof by mail.
N.M. Admin. Code § 19.27.1.14