This article examines the core concept of "standing" to challenge deci-sions from the Chilean Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Agency (Superintend-encia del Medio Ambiente or SMA) as provided by laws N° 20.417 and 20.600, both which establish that only the ones “directly affected” by the decision can appear before the Envi-ronmental Court. The application of this criterion for individuals and NGO’s in judgments given by the Second Environmental Court is analysed. Furthermore, the concept of stand-ing is considered in light of the broader concept of environmental justice, including the need to guarantee a timely and appropriate involvement of those "affected" from initial stages of the administrative proceedings, and not limiting their intervention exclusively to judicial review.