The Chief Administrative Law Judge shall issue and cause to be served upon each of the parties a notice of hearing. The notice of hearing shall include the following:

(a) The name and identity of each party and the case number.

(b) A statement of the authority and jurisdiction under which the hearing is to be held.

(c) A statement of the time and place of the hearing which shall be not less than fifteen (15) days after service of the notice of hearing.

Each enforcement proceeding instituted pursuant to this part shall be conducted before an Administrative Law Judge designated by the Chief Administrative Law Judge for the Department of Labor except, however, that when the Administrative Law Judge approves a stipulated agreement for appropriate remedial action, he shall prepare his recommended decision and order adopting that agreement and transfer the case to the Administrative Review Board. The Administrative Review Board may order the remedial action set forth in the stipulated agreement or take such other action as it deems appropriate.

The admission of all the material allegations of fact in the complaint shall constitute a waiver of hearing. Upon such admission, the Administrative Law Judge without further hearing shall prepare his recommended decision and order in which he shall adopt as his proposed findings of fact the material facts alleged in the complaint.

(a) Motions and requests made prior to the hearing shall be filed with the Chief Administrative Law Judge. The moving party shall serve a copy of all motions and requests on all other parties. Motions during the course of the hearing may be stated orally or filed in writing and shall be made part of the record. Each motion shall state the particular order, ruling, or action desired, and the grounds therefor. The Administrative Law Judge is authorized to rule upon all motions made prior to the filing of his report.

(b) A party may request the attendance of witnesses and/or the production of documents at a hearing held pursuant to this part, by written application before the hearing or orally during the hearing. Copies of an application filed before the opening of the hearing shall be served on the other parties, who may file written objections to the request within seven (7) days after such service. The Administrative Law Judge after consideration of any objections, shall grant the request provided the specified testimony and/or documents appear to be necessary to the matters under investigation. If the Administrative Law Judge denies the request he shall set forth the basis for his ruling. Upon the failure of any party or officer or employee of any party to comply with such a request which has been granted by the Administrative Law Judge, the Administrative Law Judge and the Administrative Review Board may disregard all related evidence offered by the party failing to comply with the request or take such other action as may be appropriate.

(c) Employees who have been determined to be necessary as witnesses at a hearing shall be granted official time only for such participation as occurs during their regular work hours and when they would otherwise be in a work or paid leave status. Participation as witnesses includes the time necessary to travel to and from the site of a hearing, and the time spent giving testimony and waiting to give testimony, when such time falls during regular work hours.

(a) Upon his own motion or the motion of the parties, the Administrative Law Judge may direct the parties or their counsel to meet with him for a conference to consider:

(1) Simplification of the issues;

(2) Necessity or desirability of amendments to pleadings for purposes of clarification, simplification, or limitations;

(3) Stipulations, admissions of fact, and contents and authenticity of documents;

(4) Limitation of the number of expert witnesses; and

(5) Such other matters as may tend to expedite the disposition of the proceeding.

(b) The record shall show the matters disposed of by order and by agreement in such prehearing conferences. The subsequent course of the proceeding shall be controlled by such action.

Hearings shall be conducted by an Administrative Law Judge and shall be open to the public unless otherwise ordered by the Administrative Law Judge.

Any person desiring to intervene in a hearing shall file a motion in writing in accordance with the procedures set forth in § 458.72 or, if made at the hearing, may move orally on the record, stating the grounds upon which such person claims an interest. Such a motion shall be filed with the Administrative Law Judge who shall rule upon such motion.

It shall be the duty of the Administrative Law Judge to inquire fully into the facts as they relate to the matter before him and to prepare, serve and submit his recommended decision and order pursuant to § 458.88. Upon assignment to him and before transfer of the case to the Administrative Review Board, the Administrative Law Judge shall have the authority to:

(a) Grant requests for appearance of witnesses or production of ducuments;

(b) Rule upon offers of proof and receive relevant evidence;

(c) Take or cause depositions to be taken whenever the ends of justice would be served thereby;

(d) Limit lines of questioning or testimony which are immaterial, irrelevant, or unduly repetitious;

(e) Regulate the course of the hearing and if appropriate, exclude from the hearing persons who engage in misconduct and strike all related testimony of witnesses refusing to answer any questions ruled to be proper;

(f) Hold conferences for the settlement or simplification of the issues by consent of the parties or upon his own motion;

(g) Dispose of procedural requests, motions, or similar matters which shall be made part of the record of the proceeding, including motions to amend pleadings; also to recommend dismissal of cases or portions thereof, and to order hearings reopened prior to issuance of his recommended decision and order;

(h) Examine and cross-examine witnesses and introduce into the record documentary or other evidence;

(i) Request the parties at any time during the hearing to state their respective positions concerning any issue in the case or theory in support thereof;

(j) Continue, at his discretion, the hearing from day-to-day, or adjourn it to a later date or to a different place, by announcement thereof at the hearing or by other appropriate notice;

(k) Take official notice of any material fact not appearing in evidence in the record, which is among the traditional matters of judicial notice and also concerning which the Department of Labor by reason of its functions is presumed to be expert: Provided, That the parties shall be given adequate notice, at the hearing or by reference in the Administrative Law Judge's recommended decision and order, of the matters so noticed, and shall be given adequate opportunity to show the contrary;

(l) Correct or approve proposed corrections of the official transcript when deemed necessary; and

(m) Take any other action necessary under the foregoing and not prohibited by these regulations.

Any party shall have the right to appear at such hearing in person, by counsel, or by other representative, to examine and cross-examine witnesses, and to introduce into the record documentary or other relevant evidence, except that the participation of any party shall be limited to the extent prescribed by the Administrative Law Judge. Two (2) copies of documentary evidence shall be submitted and a copy furnished to each of the other parties. Stipulations of fact may be introduced in evidence with respect to any issue.

The technical rules of evidence do not apply. Any evidence may be received, except that an Administrative Law Judge may exclude any evidence or offer of proof which is immaterial, irrelevant, unduly repetitious, or customarily privileged. Every party shall have a right to present his case by oral and documentary evidence and to submit rebuttal evidence.

In a hearing concerning an alleged violation of § 458.2 (Bill of rights of members of labor organizations) or § 458.37 (Prohibition of certain discipline), the complainant shall have the burden of proving the allegations of the complaint by a preponderance of the evidence. In a hearing concerning an alleged violation of §§ 458.26-458.30, the Chief, DOE shall have the burden of proving the allegations of the complaint by a preponderance of the evidence. In a hearing concerning an alleged violation of other standards of conduct matters, the District Director shall have the burden of proving the allegations of the complaint by a preponderance of the evidence.

In the event the Administrative Law Judge designated to conduct the hearing becomes unavailable, the Chief Administrative Law Judge shall designate another Administrative Law Judge for the purpose of further hearing or issuance of a recommended decision and order on the record as made, or both.

(a) Any objection with respect to the conduct of the hearing, including any objection to the introduction of evidence, may be stated orally or in writing accompanied by a short statement of the grounds for such objection and included in the record. No such objection shall be deemed waived by further participation in the hearing. Such objection shall not stay the conduct of the hearing.

(b) Automatic exceptions will be allowed to all adverse rulings. Rulings by the Administrative Law Judge shall not be appealed prior to the transfer of the case to the Administrative Review Board, but shall be considered by the Administrative Review Board only upon the filing of exceptions to the Administrative Law Judge's recommended decision and order in accordance with § 458.88.

All motions made after the transfer of the case to the Administrative Review Board, except motions to correct the record under § 458.76(l), shall be made in writing to the Administrative Review Board. The moving party shall serve a copy of all motion papers on all other parties. A statement of service shall accompany the motion. Answers, if any, must be served on all parties and the original thereof, together with a statement of service, shall be filed with the Administrative Review Board after the hearing, within seven (7) days after service of the moving papers unless it is otherwise directed.

Any objection not duly urged before an Administrative Law Judge shall be deemed waived.

Any party shall be entitled, upon request, to a reasonable period prior to the close of the hearing for oral argument, which shall be included in the official transcript of the hearing.

An official reporter shall make the only official transcript of such proceedings. Copies of the official transcript will be provided to the parties, in accordance with the provisions of part 70 of this title, or they may be examined in the district office in whose geographic jurisdiction the hearing has been held.

Any party desiring to submit a brief to the Administrative Law Judge shall file the original within ten (10) days after the close of the hearing: Provided, however, That prior to the close of the hearing and for good cause, the Administrative Law Judge may grant a reasonable extension of time. Copies of such brief shall be served on all of the parties to the proceeding. Requests for additional time in which to file a brief under authority of this section made after the hearing shall be made in writing to the Administrative Law Judge and copies thereof served on the other parties. A statement of such service shall be furnished. A request for extension of time shall be received not later than three (3) days before the date such briefs are due. In the absence of the Administrative Law Judge such requests shall be ruled upon by the Chief Administrative Law Judge. No reply brief may be filed except by permission of the Administrative Law Judge.

Within fifteen (15) days following the close of the hearing, the parties may submit proposed findings and conclusions to the Administrative Law Judge, together with supporting reasons therefor, which shall become part of the record.

(a) After the close of the hearing, and the receipt of briefs, or findings and conclusions, if any, the Administrative Law Judge shall prepare his recommended decision and order expeditiously. The recommended decision and order shall contain findings of fact, conclusions, and the reasons or basis therefor including credibility determinations, and recommendations as to the disposition of the case including the remedial action to be taken.

(b) The Administrative Law Judge shall cause his recommended decision and order to be served promptly on all parties to the proceeding. Thereafter, the Administrative Law Judge shall transfer the case to the Administrative Review Board including his recommended decision and order and the record. The record shall include the complaint, the notice of hearing, motions, rulings, orders, official transcript of the hearing, stipulations, objections, depositions, exhibits, documentary evidence and any briefs or other documents submitted by the parties.

(c) Exceptions to the Administrative Law Judge's recommended decision and order may be filed by any party with the Administrative Review Board within fifteen (15) days after service of the recommended decision and order, in accordance with 29 CFR part 26. The Administrative Review Board may for good cause shown extend the time for filing such exceptions. Requests for additional time in which to file exceptions shall be in writing, and copies thereof shall be served on the other parties. Requests for extension of time must be received no later than three (3) days before the date the exceptions are due. Copies of such exceptions and any supporting briefs shall be served on all other parties, and a statement of such service shall be furnished to the Administrative Review Board.

(a) Exceptions to an Administrative Law Judge's recommended decision and order shall:

(1) Set forth specifically the questions upon which exceptions are taken;

(2) Identify that part of the Administrative Law Judge's recommended decision and order to which objection is made;

(3) Designate by precise citation of page the portions of the record relied on, state the grounds for the exceptions and include the citation of authorities unless set forth in a supporting brief.

(b) Any exception to a ruling, finding, conclusion, or recommendation which is not specifically urged shall be deemed to have been waived. Any exception which fails to comply with the foregoing requirements may be disregarded.

(a) Any brief in support of exceptions shall be filed in accordance with 29 CFR part 26, contain only matters included within the scope of the exceptions, and contain, in the order indicated, the following:

(1) A concise statement of the case containing all that is material to the consideration of the questions presented;

(2) A specification of the questions involved and to be argued;

(3) The argument, presenting clearly the points of fact and law relied on in support of the position taken on each question, with specific page reference to the transcript and the legal or other material relied on.

(b) Answering briefs to the exceptions may be filed with the Administrative Review Board within ten (10) days after service of the exceptions.

(a) After consideration of the Administrative Law Judge's recommended decision and order, the record, and any exceptions filed, the Administrative Review Board shall issue its decision affirming or reversing the Administrative Law Judge, in whole, or in part, or making such other disposition of the matter as it deems appropriate: Provided, however, That unless exceptions are filed which are timely and in accordance with § 458.89, the Administrative Review Board may, at its discretion, adopt without discussion the recommended decision and order of the Administrative Law Judge, as contained in his recommended decision and order, shall, upon appropriate notice to the parties, automatically become the decision of the Administrative Review Board.

(b) Upon finding a violation of the CSRA, FSA or this part, the Administrative Review Board may order respondent to cease and desist from such violative conduct and may require the respondent to take such affirmative action as it deems appropriate to effectuate the policies of the CSRA or FSA.

(c) Upon finding no violation of the CSRA, FSA or this part, the Administrative Review Board shall dismiss the complaint.

When remedial action is ordered, the respondent shall report to the Director, within a specified period, that the required remedial action has been effected. When the Director finds that the required remedial action has not been effected, he shall refer the matter for appropriate action to the Federal Labor Relations Authority (in the case of labor organizations covered by the CSRA), the Foreign Service Labor Relations Board (in the case of labor organizations covered by the FSA), or the Board of Directors of the Office of Compliance (in the case of labor organizations covered by the Congressional Accountability Act).

In cases involving violations of this part, the Administrative Review Board may direct, subject to such conditions at it deems appropriate, that the remedial action ordered by stayed.