[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 212 (Friday, November 3, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51149-51154]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-23877]



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 Rules and Regulations
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents 
 having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed 
 to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published 
 under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 212 / Friday, November 3, 2017 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 51149]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary of Agriculture

7 CFR Part 1


Rules of Practice and Procedure Governing Formal Rulemaking 
Proceedings Instituted by the Secretary

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is adopting a final 
rule to establish rules of practice and procedure governing formal 
rulemaking proceedings instituted by the Secretary. This final rule 
applies to rulemakings that are not subject to the rules of practice 
and procedure for the promulgation of, or an amendment to, marketing 
orders or research and promotion orders.

DATES: This final rule is effective on December 4, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rupa Chilukuri, Trial Attorney, Office 
of the General Counsel, telephone: 202-720-4982, email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: USDA is issuing this final rule to establish 
rules of practice and procedure for formal rulemakings to implement 
certain statutes under the Secretary's purview in a new subpart P under 
7 CFR part 1.
    The Agricultural Marketing Service has rules of practice and 
procedure to formulate marketing agreements and marketing orders under 
7 CFR part 900. Those rules of practice and procedure are applicable to 
proceedings under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as 
amended (50 Stat. 246). In addition, rules of practice and procedure 
also exist for proceedings under the Cotton Research and Promotion Act, 
as amended (7 U.S.C. 2101-2119), the Egg Research and Consumer 
Information Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 2701-2718), the Pork Promotion, 
Research, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4801-4819), and the 
Potato Research and Promotion Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 2611-2627). 
Those rules appear under 7 CFR part 1200.
    This new subpart largely reflects language in 7 CFR part 900 and 7 
CFR part 1200. For purposes of efficiency and modernization, this 
subpart also includes: A provision requiring that interested persons 
notify the Administrator of their intent to participate in the hearing, 
a provision requiring pre-hearing submissions of direct testimony, and 
a provision allowing the notice of hearing to include alternative 
procedures.

5 U.S.C. 553, 601, and 804

    This final rule establishes agency rules of practice and procedure. 
Under the Administrative Procedure Act, prior notice and opportunity 
for comment are not required for the promulgation of agency rules of 
practice and procedure. 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(A). Only substantive rules 
require publication 30 days prior to their effective date. 5 U.S.C. 
553(d). Therefore, this final rule is effective upon publication in the 
Federal Register.
    Furthermore, under 5 U.S.C. 804, this rule is not subject to 
congressional review under the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement 
Fairness Act of 1996, Public Law 104-121. In addition, because prior 
notice and opportunity for comment are not required to be provided for 
this final rule, this rule is exempt from the requirements of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.

Executive Orders 12866 and 13563

    This rule does not meet the definition of a significant regulatory 
action under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning 
and Review, as supplemented by Executive Order 13563. Because this rule 
is not a significant regulatory action, it has not been reviewed by the 
Office of Management and Budget.

Executive Order 13771

    Additionally, because this rule does not meet the definition of a 
significant regulatory action it does not trigger the requirements of 
Executive Order 13771. See OMB's Memorandum titled ``Interim Guidance 
Implementing Section 2 of the Executive Order of January 30, 2017 
titled `Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs''' 
(February 2, 2017).

Executive Order 12988

    This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, Civil 
Justice Reform. This rule is not intended to have retroactive effect. 
This rule will not preempt any State or local laws, regulations, or 
policies, unless they present an irreconcilable conflict with this 
rule. There are no administrative proceedings that must be exhausted 
before parties may file suit in court challenging this rule.

Executive Order 13132

    This rule has been reviewed in accordance with the requirements of 
Executive Order 13132, Federalism. The review reveals that this rule 
does not contain policies with federalism implications sufficient to 
warrant federalism consultation under Executive Order 13132.

Executive Order 13175

    This rule has been reviewed in accordance with the requirements of 
Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal 
Governments. The review reveals that this regulation would not have 
substantial and direct effects on tribal governments and would not have 
significant tribal implications.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This rule contains no information collections or recordkeeping 
requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.).

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1

    Administrative practice and procedure.

0
Accordingly, Subpart P is added to Part 1 of Subtitle A of Title 7 of 
the Code of Federal Regulations to read as follows:

PART 1--ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS

Subpart P--Rules of Practice and Procedure Governing Formal Rulemaking 
Proceedings Instituted by the Secretary
Sec.
1.800 Words in the singular form.
1.801 Scope and applicability of this subpart.

[[Page 51150]]

1.802 Definitions.
1.803 Institution of proceedings.
1.804 Notification by interested persons.
1.805 Docket number.
1.806 Judge.
1.807 Direct testimony submitted as written documents.
1.808 Motions and requests.
1.809 Conduct of the hearing.
1.810 Oral and written arguments.
1.811 Certification of the transcript.
1.812 Copies of the transcript.
1.813 Administrator's recommended decision.
1.814 Submission to Secretary.
1.815 Decision by the Secretary.
1.816 Filing, extension of time, effective date of filing, and 
computation of time.
1.817 Ex parte communications.
1.818 Additional documents to be filed with hearing clerk.
1.819 Hearing before Secretary.

    Authority:  Pub. L. 89-554, 80 Stat. 378, 5 U.S.C. 301.

Subpart P--Rules of Practice and Procedure Governing Formal 
Rulemaking Proceedings Instituted by the Secretary


Sec.  1.800  Words in the singular form.

    Words in this subpart in the singular form shall be deemed to 
import the plural, and vice versa, as the context may require.


Sec.  1.801   Scope and applicability of this subpart.

    Except for proceedings covered by 7 CFR part 900, and by 7 CFR part 
1200, the rules of practice and procedure in this subpart shall be 
applicable to all formal rulemaking proceedings.


Sec.  1.802   Definitions.

    As used in this subpart:
    Administrator means the Administrator of the Agency administering 
the statute involved, or any officer or employee of the Agency to whom 
authority has heretofore been delegated, or to whom authority may 
hereafter be delegated, to act for the Administrator.
    Department means the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
    Federal Register means the publication provided for by the Federal 
Register Act, approved July 26, 1935 (44 U.S.C. 1501-1511), and acts 
supplementing and amending it.
    Hearing means that part of the proceeding that involves the 
submission of evidence.
    Hearing clerk means the Hearing Clerk, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Washington, DC
    Judge means any administrative law Judge appointed pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 3105 and assigned to conduct the hearing.
    Party means:
    (1) Any employee or contractor of the Department acting in an 
official capacity; or
    (2) A person who intends to cross examine a witness at the hearing 
and has notified the person named in the notice of hearing by specified 
dates of his or her intent to participate in the hearing as a ``party'' 
pursuant to Sec.  1.804.
    Proceeding means a proceeding before the Secretary arising under a 
statute in which the Secretary uses formal rulemaking procedures as set 
forth in this subpart.
    Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States, 
or any officer or employee of the Department to whom authority has 
heretofore been delegated, or to whom authority may hereafter be 
delegated, to act for the Secretary.
    Witness means any person who:
    (1) Has notified the person named in the notice of hearing by the 
specified date of his or her intent to participate in the hearing as a 
witness pursuant to Sec.  1.804; and
    (2) Who submits written direct testimony on the proposed 
regulations pursuant to Sec.  1.807; and
    (3) Testifies orally at the hearing.


Sec.  1.803  Institution of proceedings.

    (a) Filing and contents of the notice of hearing. A proceeding 
under this subpart shall be instituted by the Secretary or designee 
through filing the notice of hearing with the hearing clerk.The notice 
of hearing shall state:
    (1) The legal authority under which the rule is proposed.
    (2) The scope and nature of the hearing, including witness 
instructions for testifying, including the means and timing of the 
submission of pre-hearing documents, and scheduling, as necessary.
    (3) The terms or substance of the proposed rule or a description of 
the subjects and issues involved.
    (4) The time and place of such hearing.
    (5) The final date for notification of intent to participate as a 
party or witness in the hearing pursuant to Sec.  1.804.
    (6) The person to whom notification of intent to participate as a 
party or witness is to be provided pursuant to Sec.  1.804, and the 
means by which such notifications are to be provided.
    (7) Any alternative procedures established pursuant to paragraph 
(d) of this section.
    (b) Giving notice of hearing. (1) The Administrator shall give or 
cause to be given notice of hearing in the following manner:
    (i) By publication of the notice of hearing in the Federal 
Register.
    (ii) By posting of the notice of hearing to the USDA Web site.
    (2) Legal notice of the hearing shall be deemed to be given if 
notice is given in the manner provided by paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this 
section.
    (c) Record of notice. A copy of the notice of hearing published in 
the Federal Register pursuant to paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section 
shall be filed with the hearing clerk and submitted to the Judge at the 
hearing.
    (d) Alternative procedures. The Administrator may establish 
alternative procedures for the proceeding that are in addition to or in 
lieu of one or more procedures in this subpart, provided that the 
procedures are consistent with 5 U.S.C. 556 and 557. The alternative 
procedures must be described in the notice of hearing, as required in 
paragraph (a)(7) of this section.


Sec.  1.804  Notification by interested persons.

    (a) Any person desiring to participate as a party or witness at the 
hearing shall notify the person named in the notice of hearing, as 
prescribed in the notice of hearing, on or before the date specified in 
the notice of hearing. A person may be both a party and a witness.
    (b) The notification must clearly state whether the interested 
person is participating at the hearing as a party, witness, or both.
    (c) If a party or witness will be participating with or through a 
representative or counsel, the notification must so state and provide 
the name of the representative or counsel.
    (d) Persons who fail to comply with this section and any specified 
instructions in the notice of hearing shall be deemed to have waived 
their right to participate in the hearing. Failure to comply with this 
section shall result in the exclusion of any filed written testimony.


Sec.  1.805  Docket number.

    Each proceeding, immediately following its institution, shall be 
assigned a docket number by the hearing clerk and thereafter the 
proceeding may be referred to by such number.


Sec.  1.806   Judge.

    (a) Assignment. No Judge who has any pecuniary interest in the 
outcome of a proceeding shall serve as Judge in such proceeding.
    (b) Power of Judge. Subject to review by the Secretary, as provided 
elsewhere in this subpart, the Judge in any proceeding shall have power 
to:
    (1) Rule upon motions and requests;

[[Page 51151]]

    (2) Change the time and place of hearings, and adjourn the hearing 
from time to time or from place to place;
    (3) Administer oaths and affirmations and take affidavits;
    (4) Examine and cross-examine witnesses and receive evidence;
    (5) Admit or exclude evidence;
    (6) Hear oral argument on facts or law; and
    (7) Do all acts and take all measures necessary for the maintenance 
of order at the hearings and the efficient conduct of the proceeding.
    (c) Who may act in absence of the Judge. In case of the absence of 
the Judge or that Judge's inability to act, the powers and duties to be 
performed by the Judge under this subpart in connection with a 
proceeding may, without abatement of the proceeding unless otherwise 
ordered by the Secretary, be assigned to any other Judge.
    (d) Disqualification of Judge. The Judge may at any time withdraw 
as Judge in a proceeding if such Judge deems himself or herself to be 
disqualified. Upon the filing by an interested person in good faith of 
a timely and sufficient affidavit of personal bias or disqualification 
of a Judge, the Secretary shall determine the matter as a part of the 
record and decision in the proceeding, after making such investigation 
or holding such hearings, or both, as the Secretary may deem 
appropriate in the circumstances.


Sec.  1.807   Direct testimony submitted as written documents.

    Any person desiring to participate as a witness at the hearing 
shall submit direct testimony as written documents as prescribed by the 
following:
    (a) Direct testimony by a witness, including accompanying exhibits, 
must be submitted as specified in the notice of the hearing pursuant to 
Sec.  1.803. Exhibits constituting part of such direct testimony, 
referred to in the direct testimony and made a part thereof must be 
attached to the direct testimony. Direct testimony submitted with 
exhibits must state the issue(s) to which the exhibit relates; if no 
such statement is made, the Judge, at the hearing, shall determine the 
relevance of the exhibit to the issues published in the Federal 
Register.
    (b) The direct testimony submitted shall contain:
    (1) A concise statement of the witness' interest in the proceeding 
and his or her position regarding the issues presented. If the direct 
testimony is presented by a witness who is not a party, the witness 
shall state the witness' relationship to the party on behalf of whom 
the testimony is proffered; and
    (2) Facts that are relevant and material.
    (c) Copies of all direct testimony, including accompanying 
exhibits, must be submitted as prescribed by the notice of hearing.
    (d) Upon receipt, direct testimony shall be assigned a number and 
stamped with that number and the docket number.


Sec.  1.808  Motions and requests.

    (a) General. (1) Parties shall file all motions and requests with 
the hearing clerk except that those made during the course of the 
hearing may be filed with the Judge or may be stated orally and made a 
part of the transcript.
    (2) Except as provided in Sec.  1.816(b), such motions and requests 
shall be addressed to, and ruled on by, the Judge if made prior to 
certification of the transcript pursuant to Sec.  1.811 or by the 
Secretary if made thereafter.
    (b) Certification to Secretary. The Judge may, in his or her 
discretion, submit or certify to the Secretary for decision any motion, 
request, objection, or other question addressed to the Judge.


Sec.  1.809   Conduct of the hearing.

    (a) Time and place. The hearing shall be held at the time and place 
established in the notice of hearing. If the Judge subsequently changes 
the time or place, the Judge shall file a notice of such changes with 
the hearing clerk, and the Administrator shall give or cause to be 
given notice in the Federal Register in the same manner as provided in 
Sec.  1.803. If the change in time or place of hearing is made less 
than five days prior to the date previously established for the 
hearing, the Judge, either in addition to, or in lieu of, causing the 
notice of the change to be given, shall announce the change at the time 
and place previously established for the hearing.
    (b) Appearances--(1) Right to appear. Any interested person shall 
be given an opportunity to appear, as a witness, with or without, 
authorized counsel or representative, and to be heard with respect to 
matters relevant and material to the proceeding, provided that such 
interested person complies with Sec. Sec.  1.804, 1.807, and any 
alternative procedures included in the hearing notice pursuant to Sec.  
1.803. In addition to compliance with any witness instructions set 
forth in the notice of hearing, any witness who desires to be heard in 
person at any hearing shall, before proceeding to testify do so under 
oath or affirmation.
    (2) Appearance with or through counsel or representative. (i) A 
witness may appear with counsel or a representative if the witness 
identifies the counsel or representative in the notification submitted 
pursuant to Sec.  1.804.
    (ii) The counsel or representative shall, before proceeding with 
the witness testimony, state for the record the authority to act as 
such counsel or representative, and the names, addresses, and 
occupations of such counsel or representative.
    (iii) The witness or his or her counsel or representative shall 
give such other information respecting the witness' appearance as the 
Judge may request.
    (3) Debarment of counsel or representative. (i) Whenever, while a 
proceeding is pending before the Judge, such Judge finds that a person, 
acting as counsel or representative for any party or witness, is guilty 
of unethical or unprofessional conduct, the Judge may order that such 
person be precluded from further acting as counsel or representative in 
such proceeding.
    (ii) Except as provided in paragraph (b)(3)(iii) of this section, 
an appeal to the Secretary may be taken from any such order, but the 
proceeding shall not be delayed or suspended pending disposition of the 
appeal.
    (iii) In case the Judge has ordered that a person be precluded from 
further action as counsel or representative in the proceeding, the 
Judge within a reasonable time thereafter shall submit to the Secretary 
a report of the facts and circumstances surrounding such order and 
shall recommend what action the Secretary should take respecting the 
appearance of such person as counsel or representative in other 
proceedings before the Secretary. Thereafter the Secretary may, after 
notice and an opportunity for hearing, issue such order respecting the 
appearance of such person as counsel or representative in proceedings 
before the Secretary as the Secretary finds to be appropriate.
    (4) Failure to appear. If any interested person, who complied with 
Sec. Sec.  1.804, 1.807, fails to appear at the hearing, that person 
shall be deemed to have waived the right to be heard in the proceeding 
and such failure to appear shall result in the exclusion of that 
person's written testimony.
    (c) Order of procedure. (1) The Judge shall, at the opening of the 
hearing prior to the taking of testimony, note as part of the record 
the notice of hearing as published in the Federal Register.
    (2) Evidence shall then be received with respect to the matters 
specified in the notice of the hearing in such order as the Judge shall 
announce.

[[Page 51152]]

    (d) Evidence--(1) General. The hearing shall be publicly conducted, 
and the testimony given at the hearing shall be reported verbatim.
    (i) Every witness shall, before proceeding to testify, be sworn or 
make an affirmation.
    (ii) When necessary, in order to prevent undue prolongation of the 
hearing, the Judge may:
    (A) Limit the number of times any witness may testify to the same 
matter or the amount of corroborative or cumulative evidence.
    (B) Limit cross examination of a witness by time, scope, or as 
appropriate, provided that the Judge announces the time limit at the 
beginning of the hearing, prior to the taking of testimony.
    (iii) The Judge shall exclude from the record evidence which is 
immaterial, irrelevant, or unduly repetitious, or which is not of the 
sort upon which responsible persons are accustomed to rely.
    (2) Objections. If a party objects to the admission or rejection of 
any evidence or to any other ruling of the Judge during the hearing, 
such party shall state briefly the grounds of such objection, whereupon 
an automatic exception will follow if the objection is overruled by the 
Judge. The ruling of the Judge on any objection shall be a part of the 
transcript. Only objections made before the Judge may subsequently be 
relied upon in the proceeding.
    (3) Upon proper motion, the Judge may accept direct testimony 
submitted pursuant to Sec.  1.807 into evidence without a witness 
reading the direct testimony into evidence. Such direct testimony shall 
become a part of the record subject to exclusion of irrelevant and 
immaterial parts thereof. A party shall be deemed to have waived the 
right to introduce pre-hearing written direct testimony and documents 
if such party fails to present a witness to introduce those documents. 
The witness introducing direct testimony and documents shall do so 
under oath or affirmation and shall:
    (i) State his or her name, address and occupation.
    (ii) State qualifications for introducing the direct testimony. If 
an expert, the witness shall briefly state the scientific or technical 
training which qualifies the witness as an expert.
    (iii) Identify the direct testimony and documents previously 
submitted pursuant to Sec.  1.807 of this subpart.
    (iv) Submit to direct and cross examination determined to be 
necessary and appropriate by the Judge.
    (4) Cross examination. For purposes of this section, the 
Administrator's or his or her representative's interest shall be 
considered adverse to all parties. The Judge may:
    (i) Require the cross-examiner to outline the intended scope of the 
cross examination, which shall generally be limited to the scope of the 
direct testimony.
    (ii) Prohibit parties from cross-examining witnesses unless the 
Judge has determined that the cross-examiner has an adverse interest on 
the facts at issue to the party or witness.
    (iii) Limit the number of times any party or parties having a 
common interest may cross-examine an adverse witness on the same 
matter.
    (5) Proof and authentication of official records or documents. An 
official record or document, when admissible for any purpose, shall be 
admissible as evidence without the presence of the person who made or 
prepared the same. The Judge shall exercise discretion in determining 
whether an official publication of such record or document shall be 
necessary, or whether a copy would be permissible. If permissible such 
a copy shall be attested to by the person having legal custody of it, 
and accompanied by a certificate that such person has the custody.
    (6) Exhibits. (i) All written statements, documents, charts, 
tabulations, or data offered into evidence at the hearing shall, after 
identification by the witness or his or her counsel or representative 
and upon satisfactory showing of authenticity, relevancy, and 
materiality, be numbered as exhibits and received in evidence and made 
a part of the record.
    (ii) Such exhibits shall be submitted in quadruplicate and in 
documentary form.
    (7) Official notice. (i) Subject to paragraph (d)(7)(ii) of this 
section, official notice at the hearing may be taken of such matters as 
are judicially noticed by the courts of the United States and of any 
other matter of technical, scientific, or commercial fact of 
established character.
    (ii) Interested persons shall be given an adequate period of time, 
at the hearing or subsequent to it, of matters so noticed and shall be 
given adequate opportunity to show that such facts are inaccurate or 
are erroneously noticed.
    (8) Offer of proof. (i) Whenever evidence is excluded from the 
record, the party offering such evidence may make an offer of proof, 
which shall be included in the transcript.
    (ii) The offer of proof shall consist of a brief statement 
describing the evidence to be offered. If the evidence consists of a 
brief oral statement, it shall be inserted into the transcript; if the 
evidence consists of an exhibit(s), it shall be inserted into the 
record for the purpose of an offer of proof. In such event, it shall be 
considered a part of the record if the Secretary determines that the 
Judge's ruling in excluding the evidence was erroneous.
    (iii) The Judge shall not allow the insertion of such evidence in 
toto if the taking of such evidence will consume a considerable length 
of time at the hearing. In such event, if the Secretary determines that 
the Judge erred in excluding the evidence, and that such error was 
substantial, the hearing may be reopened to permit the taking of such 
evidence.


Sec.  1.810   Oral and written arguments.

    (a) Oral argument before the Judge. Oral argument before the Judge 
shall be in the discretion of the Judge. Such argument, when permitted, 
may be limited by the Judge to any extent that the Judge finds 
necessary for the expeditious disposition of the proceeding and shall 
be made part of the transcript.
    (b) Briefs, proposed findings, and conclusions. (1) The Judge shall 
announce at the hearing a reasonable period of time within which 
interested persons may file with the hearing clerk proposed findings 
and conclusions, and written arguments or briefs, based upon the 
evidence received at the hearing, citing, where practicable, the page 
or pages of the transcript of the testimony where such evidence 
appears.
    (2) Factual material other than that adduced at the hearing or 
subject to official notice shall not be alluded to therein, and, in any 
case, shall not be considered in the formulation of the rule.
    (3) If the person filing a brief desires the Secretary to consider 
any objection made by such person to a ruling of the Judge, as provided 
in Sec.  1.809(d), that person shall include in the brief a concise 
statement concerning each such objection, referring, where practicable, 
to the pertinent pages of the transcript.


Sec.  1.811  Certification of the transcript.

    (a) The Judge shall notify the hearing clerk of the close of a 
hearing and of the time for filing transcript corrections, written 
arguments, briefs, proposed findings, and proposed conclusions.
    (b)(1) After the hearing, the Administrator, shall transmit to the 
hearing clerk an original and three copies of the transcript of the 
testimony and the original and all copies of the exhibits not already 
on file with the hearing clerk.
    (2) The Judge shall attach to the original transcript of the 
testimony a certificate stating that, to the best of the

[[Page 51153]]

Judge's knowledge and belief, the transcript is a true transcript of 
the testimony given at the hearing, except in such particulars as the 
Judge shall specify, and that the exhibits transmitted are all the 
exhibits as introduced at the hearing with such exceptions as the Judge 
shall specify. A copy of such certificate shall be attached to each of 
the copies of the transcript of testimony.
    (3) In accordance with such certificate the hearing clerk shall 
note upon the official record copy, and cause to be noted on other 
copies of the transcript, each correction detailed therein by adding or 
crossing out (but without obscuring the text as originally transcribed) 
at the appropriate place any words necessary to make the same conform 
to the correct meaning, as certified by the Judge.
    (4) The hearing clerk shall obtain and file certifications to the 
effect that such corrections have been effectuated in copies other than 
the official record copy.


Sec.  1.812  Copies of the transcript.

    (a) During the period in which the proceeding has an active status 
in the Department, a copy of the transcript and exhibits shall be kept 
on file with the hearing clerk where it shall be available for 
examination during official hours of business. Thereafter the 
transcript and exhibits shall be made available by the hearing clerk 
for examination during official hours of business after prior request 
and reasonable notice to the hearing clerk.
    (b) A copy of the transcripts of the hearing shall be made 
available to any person at actual cost of duplication.


Sec.  1.813  Administrator's recommended decision.

    (a) Preparation. As soon as practicable following the termination 
of the period allowed for the filing of written arguments or briefs and 
proposed findings and conclusions the Administrator shall file with the 
hearing clerk a recommended decision.
    (b) Contents. The Administrator's recommended decision shall 
include:
    (1) A preliminary statement containing a description of the history 
of the proceedings, a brief explanation of the material issues of fact, 
law and proposed findings and conclusions about such issues, including 
the reasons or basis for such proposed findings.
    (2) A ruling upon proposed findings or conclusions submitted by 
interested persons.
    (3) An appropriate proposed rule effectuating the Administrator's 
recommendations.
    (c) Exceptions to recommended decision. (1) Immediately following 
the filing of the recommended decision, the Administrator shall give 
notice thereof and opportunity to file exceptions thereto by 
publication in the Federal Register.
    (2) Within the period of time specified in such notice, any 
interested person may file with the hearing clerk exceptions to the 
Administrator's proposed rule and a brief in support of such 
exceptions.
    (3) Such exceptions shall be in writing, shall refer, where 
practicable, to the related pages of the transcript, and may suggest 
appropriate changes in the proposed rule.
    (d) Omission of recommended decision. The procedure provided in 
this section may be omitted only if the Secretary finds on the basis of 
the record that due and timely execution of the Secretary's functions 
imperatively and unavoidably requires such omission.


Sec.  1.814  Submission to Secretary.

    (a) Upon the expiration of the period allowed for filing exceptions 
or upon request of the Secretary, the hearing clerk shall transmit to 
the Secretary the record of the proceeding.
    (b) Such record shall include:
    (1) All motions and requests filed with the hearing clerk and 
rulings thereon.
    (2) The certified transcript.
    (3) Any proposed findings or conclusions or written arguments or 
briefs that may have been filed.
    (4) The Administrator's recommended decision, if any.
    (5) Filed exceptions.


Sec.  1.815  Decision by the Secretary.

    After due consideration of the record, the Secretary shall render a 
decision. Such decision shall become a part of the record and shall 
include:
    (a) A statement of findings and conclusions, including the reasons 
or basis for such findings, upon all the material issues of fact or law 
presented on the record.
    (b) A ruling upon proposed findings and proposed conclusions not 
previously ruled upon in the record.
    (c) A ruling upon exceptions filed by interested persons.
    (d) Either a denial of the proposal to issue a rule, or, if the 
findings upon the record so warrant, a rule, the provisions of which 
shall be set forth and such rule shall be complete.


Sec.  1.816  Filing, extension of time, effective date of filing, and 
computation of time.

    (a) Number of copies. Except as provided otherwise, all documents 
or papers required or authorized by the foregoing provisions hereof to 
be filed with the hearing clerk shall be filed in quadruplicate. Any 
documents or papers so required or authorized to be filed with the 
hearing clerk shall be filed with the Judge during the course of an 
oral hearing.
    (b) Extension of time. (1) The time for filing of any document or 
paper required or authorized by the foregoing provisions to be filed 
may be extended by the Judge (before the record is so certified by the 
Judge) or by the Administrator (after the record is so certified by the 
Judge but before it is transmitted to the Secretary), or by the 
Secretary (after the record is transmitted to the secretary) upon 
request filed, and if, in the judgment of the Judge, Administrator, or 
the Secretary, as the case may be, there is good reason for the 
extension.
    (2) All rulings made pursuant to this paragraph shall be filed with 
the hearing clerk.
    (c) Effective date of filing. Any document or paper required or 
authorized in this subpart to be filed shall be deemed to be filed at 
the time it is received by the Hearing Clerk.
    (d) Computation of time. (1) Each day, including Saturdays, 
Sundays, and legal public holidays, shall be included in computing the 
time allowed for filing any document or paper.
    (2) That when the time for filing a document or paper expires on a 
Saturday, Sunday, or legal public holiday, the time allowed for filing 
the document or paper shall be extended to include the following 
business day.


Sec.  1.817  Ex parte communications.

    (a) For the purposes of this section, ex parte communication means 
any oral or written communication not on the public record with respect 
to which reasonable prior notice to all interested parties is not 
given, but which shall not include requests for status reports 
(including requests on procedural matters) on a proceeding.
    (b) At no stage of the proceeding following the issuance of a 
notice of hearing and prior to the issuance of the Secretary's decision 
thereon shall an employee of the Department who is or may reasonably be 
expected to be involved in the decision process of the proceeding 
discuss ex parte the merits of the proceeding with any person having an 
interest in the proceeding or with any representative of such person. 
This prohibition does not include communications about:
    (1) Procedural matters and status reports.

[[Page 51154]]

    (2) The merits of the proceeding if all parties known to be 
interested in the proceeding have been given notice and an opportunity 
to participate. A memorandum of any such discussion shall be included 
in the record of the proceeding.
    (c) No interested person outside the Department shall make or 
knowingly cause to be made to an employee of the Department who is or 
may reasonably be expected to be involved in the decisional process of 
the proceeding, an ex parte communication relevant to the merits of the 
proceeding except as provided in paragraph (a) of this section.
    (d) If an employee of the Department who is or may reasonably be 
expected to be involved in the decisional process of the proceeding 
receives or makes or knowingly causes to be made a communication 
prohibited by this section, the Department shall place on the public 
record of the proceeding:
    (1) All such written communications;
    (2) Memoranda stating the substance of all such oral 
communications; and
    (3) All written responses, and memoranda, stating the substance of 
all oral responses thereto.
    (e) Upon receipt of a communication knowingly made or knowingly 
caused to be made by a party in violation of this section, the 
Department may, to the extent consistent with the interest of justice 
and the policy of the underlying statute, require the party to show 
cause why his claim or interest in the proceeding should not be 
dismissed, denied, disregarded, or otherwise adversely affected on 
account of such violation.
    (f) This section does not constitute authority to withhold 
information from Congress.


Sec.  1.818   Additional documents to be filed with hearing clerk.

    In addition to the documents or papers required or authorized by 
the foregoing provisions of this subpart to be filed with the hearing 
clerk, the hearing clerk shall receive for filing and shall have 
custody of all papers, reports, records, orders, and other documents 
which relate to the administration of any order and which the Secretary 
is required to issue or to approve.


Sec.  1.819  Hearing before Secretary.

    (a) The Secretary may act in the place and stead of a Judge in any 
proceeding herein. When the Secretary so acts, the hearing clerk shall 
transmit the record to the Secretary at the expiration of the period 
provided for the filing of proposed findings of fact, conclusions, and 
orders, and the Secretary shall then, after due consideration of the 
record, issue the final decision in the proceeding.
    (b) The Secretary may issue a tentative decision in which event the 
parties shall be afforded an opportunity to file exceptions before the 
issuance of the final decision.

Stephen Alexander Vaden,
Principal Deputy General Counsel, Office of the General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2017-23877 Filed 11-2-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-90-P