ALJs shall be assigned cases in rotation as far as practicable.

All cases will be assigned a hearing date and site by order of the ALJ. In fixing the time and place of the hearing, the ALJ shall give due regard to the convenience and necessity of the parties or their representatives and witnesses, the availability of suitable hearing facilities, and other relevant factors.

(a) Motions. In addition to making a written motion pursuant to § 2700.10, a party may request expedition of proceedings by oral motion, with concurrent notice to all parties. Oral motions shall be reduced to writing within 24 hours.

(b) Timing of hearing. Unless all parties consent to an earlier hearing, an expedited hearing on the merits of the case shall not be held on less than 4 days notice.

(a) The ALJ may require the parties to participate in a prehearing conference, either in person or by telephone or other video/audio teleconferencing. Notwithstanding the mandatory recordings of motions on the record in accordance with § 2700.10(a), any in-person or telephonic conference shall be recorded at a party's request or within the ALJ's discretion. The participants at any such conference may consider and take action with respect to:

(1) The formulation and simplification of the issues;

(2) The possibility of obtaining stipulations, admissions of fact and of documents that will avoid unnecessary proof and advance rulings from the ALJ on the admissibility of evidence;

(3) The exchange of exhibits and the names of witnesses and a synopsis of the testimony expected from each witness;

(4) The necessity or desirability of amendments to the filings and the joinder of parties;

(5) The possibility of agreement disposing of any or all of the issues in dispute;

(6) Such other matters as may aid in the expedition of the hearing or the disposition of the case.

(b) The ALJ may also require the parties to submit prehearing statements addressing one or more of the matters set forth in paragraph (a) of this section.

Except in expedited proceedings, written notice of the time, place, and nature of the hearing, the legal authority under which the hearing is to be held, and the matters of fact and law asserted shall be given to all parties at least 20 days before the date set for hearing.

Subject to these rules, an ALJ is empowered to:

(a) Administer oaths and affirmations;

(b) Issue subpoenas authorized by law;

(c) Rule on offers of proof and receive relevant evidence;

(d) Order depositions to be taken;

(e) Regulate the course of the hearing;

(f) Hold conferences for the settlement or simplification of the issues;

(g) Dispose of procedural requests or similar matters;

(h) Make decisions in the proceedings, provided that the ALJ shall not be assigned to make a recommended decision; and

(i) Take other action authorized by these rules, by 5 U.S.C. 556,or.

(a) Discovery methods. Parties may obtain discovery by one or more of the following methods: Depositions upon oral examination or written questions; written interrogatories; or requests for admissions, for production of documents or objects or for permission to enter upon property for inspecting, copying, photographing, and gathering information.

(b) Scope of discovery. Parties may obtain discovery of any relevant, non-privileged matter that is admissible evidence or appears likely to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence.

(c) Limitation of discovery. Upon motion by a party or by the person from whom discovery is sought or upon the ALJ's own motion, an ALJ may, for good cause shown, limit discovery to prevent undue delay or to protect a party or person from oppression or undue burden or expense.

(d) Initiation of discovery. Discovery may be initiated after an answer to a notice of contest, an answer to a petition for assessment of penalty, or an answer to a complaint under section 105(c) or 111 of the Act has been filed. 30 U.S.C. 815(c) and 821.

(e) Completion of discovery. Discovery shall not unduly delay or otherwise impede disposition of the case, and must be completed at least 20 days prior to the scheduled hearing date. For good cause shown, the ALJ may extend or shorten the time for discovery.

(a) Generally. Any party, without leave of the ALJ, may take the testimony of any person, including a party, by deposition upon oral examination or written interrogatories.

(b) Orders for deposition. If the parties are unable to agree, the time, place, and manner of taking depositions shall be governed by order of the ALJ.

(a) Interrogatories. Any party, without leave of the ALJ, may serve written interrogatories upon another party. A party served with interrogatories shall answer each interrogatory separately and fully in writing under oath within 25 days of service unless the proponent of the interrogatories agrees to a longer time. The ALJ may order a shorter or longer time period for responding. A party objecting to an interrogatory shall state the basis for the objection in its answer.

(b) Requests for admissions. Any party, without leave of the ALJ, may serve on another party a written request for admissions. A party served with a request for admissions shall respond to each request separately and fully in writing within 25 days of service, unless the party making the request agrees to a longer time. The ALJ may order a shorter or longer time period for responding. A party objecting to a request for admissions shall state the basis for the objection in its response. Any matter admitted under this rule is conclusively established for the purpose of the pending proceeding unless the ALJ, on motion, permits withdrawal or amendment of the admission.

(c) Request for production, entry or inspection. Any party, without leave of the ALJ, may serve on another party a written request to produce and permit inspection, copying or photocopying of designated documents or objects, or to permit a party or its agent to enter upon designated property to inspect and gather information. A party served with such a request shall respond in writing within 25 days of service unless the party making the request agrees to a longer time. The ALJ may order a shorter or longer period for responding. A party objecting to a request for production, entry or inspection shall state the basis for the objection in its response.

Upon the failure of any person, including a party, to respond to a discovery request or upon an objection to such a request, the party seeking discovery may file a motion with the ALJ requesting an order compelling discovery. If any person, including a party, fails to comply with an order compelling discovery, the ALJ may make such orders with regard to the failure as are just and appropriate, including deeming as established the matters sought to be discovered or dismissing the proceeding in favor of the party seeking discovery. For good cause shown the ALJ may excuse an objecting party from complying with the request.

(a) Compulsory attendance of witnesses and production of documents. The Commission and its ALJs are authorized to issue subpoenas, on their own motion or on the oral or written application of a party, requiring the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents or physical evidence. A subpoena may be served by any person who is at least 18 years of age. A subpoena may also be served by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, but, in such case, any risk of delivery is on the serving party. A copy of the subpoena bearing a certificate of service shall be filed with the Commission or the ALJ.

(b) Fees payable to witnesses. Subpoenaed witnesses shall be paid the same fees and mileage as are paid in the district courts of the United States. The witness fees and mileage shall be paid by the party at whose request the witness appears, or by the Commission if a witness is subpoenaed on the motion of the Commission or an ALJ. This paragraph does not apply to Government employees who are called as witnesses by the Government.

(c) Motions to revoke or modify subpoenas. Any person served with a subpoena may move within 5 days of service or at the hearing, whichever is sooner, to revoke or modify the subpoena. The Commission or the ALJ, as appropriate, shall revoke or modify the subpoena if it seeks information outside the proper scope of discovery as set forth in § 2700.56(b); or if it does not describe with sufficient particularity the evidence required to be produced; or if for any other reason it is found to be invalid or unreasonable. The Commission or the ALJ shall set forth a concise statement of the grounds for such ruling.

(d) Availability of transcript. Persons compelled to submit evidence at a public proceeding are entitled to obtain, on payment of prescribed costs, a transcript of that part of the proceeding that sets forth their testimony or refers to their production of evidence.

(e) Failure to comply. Upon the failure of any person to comply with an order to testify or with a subpoena issued by the Commission or the ALJ, the ALJ or the Commission's General Counsel, at the request of the ALJ or at the direction of the Commission, may undertake to initiate proceedings in the appropriate district court of the United States for the enforcement of the subpoena.

An ALJ shall not, except in extraordinary circumstances, disclose or order a person to disclose to an operator or its agent the name of an informant who is a miner.

An ALJ shall not, until 2 days before a hearing, disclose or order a person to disclose to an operator or its agent the name of a miner who is expected by the ALJ to testify or whom a party expects to summon or call as a witness.

(a) Relevant evidence, including hearsay evidence, that is not unduly repetitious or cumulative is admissible.

(b) The proponent of an order has the burden of proof. A party shall have the right to present a case or defense by oral or documentary evidence, to submit rebuttal evidence, and to conduct such cross-examination as may be required for a full and true disclosure of the facts.

All exhibits received in evidence in a hearing or submitted for the record in any proceeding before the Commission shall be deemed part of the official record of the proceeding. The withdrawal of original exhibits may be permitted by the Commission or the ALJ, upon request and after notice to the other parties, if true copies are substituted, where practical, for the originals.

The ALJ may require the submission of proposed findings of fact, conclusions of law, and orders, together with supporting briefs. The proposals shall be served upon all parties, and shall contain adequate references to the record and authorities.

(a) Generally. When a party fails to comply with an order of an ALJ or these rules, except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, an order to show cause shall be directed to the party before the entry of any order of default or dismissal. The order shall be provided to the party by the most expeditious means reasonably available.

(b) Failure to attend hearing. If a party fails to attend a scheduled hearing, the ALJ, where appropriate, may find the party in default or dismiss the proceeding without issuing an order to show cause.

(c) Penalty proceedings. When the ALJ finds a party in default in a civil penalty proceeding, the ALJ shall also enter an order assessing appropriate penalties and directing that such penalties be paid.

(a) Filing of motion for summary decision. At any time after commencement of a proceeding and no later than 25 days before the date fixed for the hearing on the merits, a party may move the ALJ to render summary decision disposing of all or part of the proceeding. Filing of a summary decision motion and an opposition thereto shall be effective upon receipt.

(b) Grounds. A motion for summary decision shall be granted only if the entire record, including the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, admissions, and affidavits, shows:

(1) That there is no genuine issue as to any material fact; and

(2) That the moving party is entitled to summary decision as a matter of law.

(c) Form of motion. A motion shall be accompanied by a memorandum of points and authorities specifying the grounds upon which the party seeks summary decision and a statement of material facts specifying each material fact as to which the party contends there is no genuine issue. Each material fact set forth in the statement shall be supported by a reference to accompanying affidavits or other verified documents.

(d) Form of opposition. An opposition to a motion for summary decision shall include a memorandum of points and authorities specifying why the moving party is not entitled to summary decision and may be supported by affidavits or other verified documents. The opposition shall also include a separate concise statement of each genuine issue of material fact necessary to be litigated, supported by a reference to any accompanying affidavits or other verified documents. Material facts identified as not in issue by the moving party shall be deemed admitted for purposes of the motion unless controverted by the statement in opposition. If a party does not respond in opposition, summary decision, if appropriate, shall be entered in favor of the moving party.

(e) Affidavits. Supporting and opposing affidavits shall be made on personal knowledge and shall show affirmatively that the affiant is competent to testify to the matters stated. Sworn or certified copies of all papers or parts of papers referred to in an affidavit shall be attached to the affidavit or be incorporated by reference if not otherwise a matter of record. The ALJ shall permit affidavits to be supplemented or opposed by depositions, answers to interrogatories, admissions, or further affidavits.

(f) Case not fully adjudicated on motion. If a motion for summary decision is denied in whole or in part, the ALJ shall ascertain what material facts are controverted and shall issue an order directing further proceedings as appropriate.

(a) Generally. Should an ALJ become unavailable to the Commission, the proceedings assigned to that ALJ shall be reassigned to a substitute ALJ.

(b) Substitution following a hearing. The substitute ALJ may render a decision based upon the existing record, provided the parties are notified of the ALJ's intent and they are given an opportunity to object. An objection to the ALJ rendering a decision based upon the existing record shall be filed within 10 days following receipt of the ALJ's notice, or the objection shall be deemed to be waived. An objection shall be founded upon a showing of a need for the resolution of conflicting material testimony requiring credibility determinations. Upon good cause shown the ALJ may order a further hearing on the merits, which shall be limited, so far as practicable, to the testimony in dispute.

(a) Form and content of the ALJ's decision. The ALJ shall make a decision that constitutes a final disposition of the proceedings. The decision shall be in writing and shall include all findings of fact and conclusions of law, and the reasons or bases for them, on all the material issues of fact, law or discretion presented by the record, and an order. If a decision is announced orally from the bench, it shall be reduced to writing after the filing of the transcript. An order by an ALJ approving a settlement proposal is a decision of the ALJ.

(b) Termination of the ALJ's jurisdiction. Except to the extent otherwise provided herein, the jurisdiction of the ALJ terminates when the ALJ's decision has been issued.

(c) Correction of clerical errors. At any time before the Commission has directed that an ALJ's decision be reviewed, and on the ALJ's own motion or the motion of a party, the ALJ may correct clerical errors in decisions, orders, or other parts of the record. After the Commission has directed that an ALJ's decision be reviewed, the ALJ may correct such errors with the leave of the Commission. If an ALJ's decision has become the final order of the Commission, the ALJ may correct such errors with the leave of the Commission. Neither the filing of a motion to correct a clerical error, nor the issuance of an order or amended decision correcting a clerical error, shall toll the time for filing a petition for discretionary review of the ALJ's decision on the merits.

(d) Effect of decision of the ALJ. A decision of an ALJ is not a precedent binding upon the Commission.