Okla. Stat. tit. 17, § 17-159.16: Power to issue or refuse certificate - Protests

The Commission shall have power to issue said certificate as

prayed for, or to refuse to issue the same, or to suspend or revoke

the same, or to issue it for construction, operation, or acquisition

of some portion only of the proposed water transportation line.

No certificate shall be issued until the expiration of forty-

five (45) days from the date of the first publication of notice, nor

shall any certificate be issued without hearing unless no protest is

filed to the granting of the certificate by any interested party

within such forty-five day period. In the event such protest is

filed, then the Commission shall set the matter for public hearing;

however, in the event no protest is filed, the Commission, at its

discretion, may issue the certificate forthwith or set the matter

for public hearing on its own motion.