(a) Who presides. All hearings shall be presided over by a hearing examiner appointed under section 11 of the Administrative Procedure Act.

(b) How assigned. The presiding hearing examiner shall be designated by the Secretary or the Chief Hearing Examiner.

(c) Powers. Hearing examiners shall have all powers necessary to the conduct of fair and impartial hearings, including the following:

(1) To administer oaths and affirmations;

(2) To issue subpoenas upon proper applications as provided in § 1921.20;

(3) To rule upon offers of proof and receive relevant evidence;

(4) To take or cause to be taken depositions and to determine their scope;

(5) To regulate the course of the hearing and the conduct of the parties and their counsel therein;

(6) To hold conferences for the settlement or simplification of the issues by consent of the parties;

(7) To consider and rule upon procedural requests;

(8) To make and file decisions in conformity with this part.

(9) To take any action authorized by the rules in this part or in conformance with the Administrative Procedure Act.

(d) Consultation. The hearing examiner shall not consult any person or party on any fact in issue unless upon notice and opportunity for all parties to participate.

(e) Disqualification of hearing examiners. (1) When a hearing examiner deems himself disqualified to preside in a particular proceeding, he shall withdraw therefrom by notice on the record directed to the Chief Hearing Examiner.

(2) Whenever any party shall deem the hearing examiner for any reason to be disqualified to preside, or to continue to preside, in a particular proceeding, that party shall file with the Chief Hearing Examiner a motion to disqualify and remove such hearing examiner, such motion to be supported by affidavits setting forth the alleged grounds for disqualification. The Chief Hearing Examiner shall rule upon the motion.

(f) Contemptuous conduct; failure or refusal of a witness to appear or answer. In the event of contemptuous conduct, including the failure or refusal of a witness to appear at any hearing or to answer any question which has been ruled to be proper, the hearing examiner may take any action reasonable under 41 CFR 50-203.8(l), promulgated under section 5 of the Act of June 30, 1936 (41 U.S.C. 39).