§ 750.7 - Conduct of legislative hearing.

(a) A panel of EPA employees shall preside at each hearing conducted under section 6(c)(2)(C) of TSCA. In appropriate cases other Executive Branch employees may also sit with and assist the panel. The membership of the panel may change as different topics arise during the hearing. In general, the panel membership will consist of agency employees with special responsibility for the final rule or special expertise in the topics under discussion. One member of the panel shall be named to chair the proceedings and shall attend throughout the hearing, unless unavoidably prevented by sickness or similar personal circumstances.

(b) The panel may question any individual or group participating in the hearing on any subject relating to the rulemaking. Cross-examination by others will normally not be permitted at this stage. It may be granted in compelling circumstances at the sole discretion of the hearing panel. However, persons in the hearing audience may submit questions in writing for the hearing panel to ask the participants, and the hearing panel may, at their discretion, ask these questions.

(c) Participants in the hearing may submit additional material for the hearing record and shall submit such additional material as the hearing panel may request. All such submissions shall become part of the record of the hearing. A verbatim transcript of the hearing shall be made.