(a) Certifying Officer, as used in this subpart, means that member of the Commission staff who certifies eligibility for relocation assistance benefits and/or for life estate leases.

(b) An aggrieved person, as used in this subpart, means a person who has been denied any relocation assistance benefits for which he/she has applied.

(a) Initial Commission Determination concerning individual eligibility or benefits for any person who has filed a claim for benefits or for granting of life estate leases shall be made by the Certifying Officer. The Determination shall include the amount, if any, to which the individual is entitled, and shall state the reasons therefor. Such Determination shall be communicated to the Applicant by certified letter or in person by Commission staff. A record of personal notice shall be maintained by the Commission.

(b) An explanatory conference shall be scheduled by and with the Certifying Officer, if requested by the Applicant or the Certifying Officer, within thirty days of the communication of the Determination; the right to a hearing is not dependent on the holding of such a conference. The Certifying Officer may reverse, amend, or leave standing the Initial Determination as a result of such conference: Provided, however, his/her decision shall be communicated in writing to the Applicant by certified letter or in person by Commission staff within five days after such conference.

(c) Communications of Determinations to the Applicant as provided for in § 700.303(a) shall include an explanation of the availability of grievance procedures, including hearings and representation of counsel and the fact that a hearing must be requested within 30 (thirty) days of receipt of the determination.

(d) No decision which at the time of its rendition is subject to appeal to the Commission shall be considered final agency action subject to judicial review under 5 U.S.C. 704, Provided that in the event of a whole or partial denial, no benefits shall be paid unless and until said Determination is reversed or modified as provided for herein.

All persons aggrieved by Initial Commission Determinations concerning eligibility, benefits, or for granting of life estate leases may have a Hearing to present evidence and argument concerning the Determination. Parties seeking such relief from the Commission's Initial Determination shall be known as “Applicants.” When multiple Applicants claim interest in one benefit, determination, or question of eligibility, their hearings may be consolidated at the Presiding Officer's discretion.

Hearing requests shall be made in person or by letter and must be received by the Commission within thirty days after the notice letter was received, the personal notice was given, or if an explanatory conference is held, after the decision of the Certifying Officer. The request shall also contain a specific statement indicating the basis for the request.

The hearing shall be presided over and conducted by one of the Commissioners appointed pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 640d-11(b) or by such other person as the Commission may designate.

(a) Hearings shall be held as scheduled by the Presiding Officer.

(b) Notice of the hearing shall be communicated in writing to the applicant at least thirty days prior to the hearing and shall include the time, date, place, and nature of the hearing.

(c) Written notice of the Applicant's objections, if any, to the time, date, or place fixed for the hearing must be filed with the Presiding Officer at least five days before the date set for the hearing. Such notice of objections shall state the reasons therefor and suggested alternatives. Discretion as to any changes in the date, time, or place of the hearing lies entirely with the Presiding Officer, Provided, that the 30 (thirty) day notice period as provided in paragraph (b) of this section shall be observed unless waived in writing by the applicant or his representative.

(d) All hearings shall be held within thirty days after Commission receipt of the applicant's request therefor unless this limit is extended by the Presiding Officer.

(e) All hearings shall be conducted at the Commission office in Flagstaff, Arizona, unless otherwise designated by the Presiding Officer.

(f) All time periods in this regulation include Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. If any time period would end on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, it will be extended to the next consecutive day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday.

(g) A copy of each document filed in a proceeding under this section must be filed with the Commission and may be served by the filing party by mail on any other party or parties in the case. In all cases where a party is represented by an attorney or representative, such attorney or representative will be recognized as fully controlling the case on behalf of his client, and service of any document relating to the proceeding shall be made upon such attorney or representative, which service shall suffice as if made upon the Applicant. Where a party is represented by more than one attorney or representative, service upon one of the attorneys or representatives shall be sufficient.

(h) Hearings will be recorded verbatim and transcripts thereof shall be made when requested by any parties; costs of transcripts shall be borne by the requesting parties unless waived according to § 700.313(a)(5).

(i) Applicants may be represented by a licensed attorney or by an advocate licensed to practice in any Hopi or Navajo Tribal Court.

(a) At the hearing and taking of evidence the Applicant shall have an opportunity to:

(1) Submit and have considered facts, witnesses, arguments, offers of settlement, or proposals of adjustment;

(2) Be represented by a lawyer or other representative as provided herein;

(3) Have produced Commission evidence relative to the determination, Provided, that the scope of pre-hearing discovery of evidence shall be limited to relevant matters as determined by the Presiding Officer;

(4) Examine and cross-examine witnesses;

(5) Receive a transcript of the hearing on request and upon payment of appropriate Commission fees as published by the Commission, which may be waived in cases of indigency.

(b) The Presiding Officer is empowered to:

(1) Administer oaths and affirmations;

(2) Rule on offers of proof;

(3) Receive relevant evidence;

(4) Take depositions or have depositions taken when the ends of justice would be served and to permit other pre-hearing discovery within his/her discretion;

(5) Regulate the course and conduct of the hearings; including pre-hearing procedures;

(6) Hold pre-hearing or post-hearing conferences for the settlement or simplification of the issues;

(7) Dispose of procedural requests or similar matters;

(8) Make a record of the proceedings;

(9) Hold the record open for submission of evidence no longer than fourteen days after completion of the hearings;

(10) Make or recommend a decision in the case based upon evidence, testimony, and argument presented;

(11) Enforce the provisions of 5 USCA section 557(d) in the event of a violation thereof;

(12) Issue subpoenas authorized by law; and

(13) Extend any time period of this subpart upon his/her own motion or upon motion of the applicant, for good cause shown.

Applicants may submit post-hearing briefs or written comments to the Presiding Officer within fourteen days after conclusion of the hearings. In the event of multiple applicants or parties to a hearing, such briefs shall be served on all such applicants by the applicant submitting the brief.

(a) The Presiding Officer shall submit to the Commission a written decision based upon the evidence and argument presented, within sixty days, not including any period the record is held open, if any, after conclusion of the hearing, unless otherwise extended by the Presiding Officer.

(b) Copies of the Presiding Officer's decision shall be mailed to the Applicant. The Applicant may submit briefs or other written argument to the Commission within fourteen days of the date the Presiding Officer's determination was mailed to the Applicant.

Within 30 (thirty) days after receipt of the Presiding Officer's decision, the Commission shall affirm or reverse the decision and issue its final agency action upon the application in writing; Provided, that in the event one Commissioner sits as the Presiding Officer, the final agency action shall be determined by the remaining Commissioners and such other person as they may designate who did not so preside over the hearing. Such decisions shall be communicated in writing to the Applicant by certified mail.

Commission determinations concerning issues other than individual eligibility or benefits which do not require a hearing may be appealed directly to the Commission in writing. The Commission decision will constitute final agency action on such issues.