If, in the opinion of the Board, the applicant fails to establish the three requirements of Section 12,¹ it shall reject the application. It shall notify the applicant of the rejection and the reason for its action. In the absence of appeal as provided by this act, the decision of the Board shall be final.

If the Board denies a permit on the basis that there is no unappropriated water available in the amount applied for but finds that the other requirements were complied with, the applicant may file an amended application and apply for a lesser amount. Such amendment shall be in writing and sent by certified mail no later than fifteen (15) days after notice of denial of the original application shall have been mailed by the Board. Upon receipt of the amended application, the Board shall approve the application for the lesser amount at its next regularly scheduled meeting if such amount is sufficient. Such amendment shall not be deemed a waiver of the right to appeal from the action of the Board in denying the permit on the original application. Time for perfecting an appeal shall begin to run upon the mailing of notice of either the denial of the permit or approval of the amended application, whichever is later.