As used in this part:

(a) Employee. A current Postal Service employee who is alleged to be indebted to the Postal Service.

(b) General Counsel. The General Counsel of the Postal Service or the General Counsel's designee.

(c) Hearing Official. (1) An Administrative Law Judge qualified to hear cases under the Administrative Procedure Act;

(2) An Administrative Judge appointed under the Contract Disputes Act of 1978, as amended; or

(3) Any other qualified person who is not under the control or supervision of the Postmaster General and is designated by the Judicial Officer to conduct the hearing.

(d) Judicial Officer. The Judicial Officer, Associate Judicial Officer, or Acting Judicial Officer of the Postal Service.

(e) Notice of involuntary administrative salary offset. The formal written notice required by section 5 of the Debt Collection Act, including the provision of notice of the procedures under this part, before involuntary offset may be taken from an employee's salary.

(f) Days. Calendar days.

(g) Recorder. The Recorder, Judicial Officer Department, United States Postal Service, located at 2101 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 600, Arlington, VA 22201-3078. The Recorder's telephone number is (703) 812-1900, and the fax number is (703) 812-1901.