2020-18028. Temporary Suspension of In-Person Hearings

AGENCY:

Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission (the “Commission”) is suspending all in-person hearings, settlement judge conferences, and mediations until January 1, 2021.

DATES:

Applicable: August 13, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Sarah Stewart, Deputy General Counsel, Office of the General Counsel, Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, at [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

In view of the risks presented by the novel coronavirus COVID-19, the Commission's Office of the Chief Administrative Law Judge (“OCALJ”) is, effective August 13, 2020, suspending all in-person hearings, settlement judge conferences, and mediations until January 1, 2021.

At the discretion of the presiding administrative law judge and in coordination with the parties, hearings may proceed by videoconference or by telephone. Similarly, settlement judge conferences and mediations may be held by videoconference or by telephone. If the parties agree that an evidentiary hearing is not needed, cases may also be presented for a decision on the record.

The parties will be notified if the hearing needs to be rescheduled. OCALJ will reassess the risks presented by in-person hearings prior to January 1, 2021, and issue a subsequent order informing the public as to whether the suspension of in-person hearings will continue.

The presiding administrative law judge may be contacted with questions regarding this notice.

Authority: 30 U.S.C. 823.

Dated: August 13, 2020.

Sarah L. Stewart,

Deputy General Counsel, Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission.