94-19703. Amendment of Filing and Service Requirements in Proceedings Before the Office of Administrative Law Judges  

  • [Federal Register Volume 59, Number 156 (Monday, August 15, 1994)]
    [Unknown Section]
    [Page 0]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 94-19703]
    
    
    [[Page Unknown]]
    
    [Federal Register: August 15, 1994]
    
    
    _______________________________________________________________________
    
    Part IV
    
    
    
    
    
    Department of Labor
    
    
    
    
    
    _______________________________________________________________________
    
    
    
    Office of the Secretary
    
    
    
    Employment and Training Administration
    
    
    
    _______________________________________________________________________
    
    
    
    20 CFR Part 655
    
    
    
    29 CFR Parts 18 and 24
    
    
    
    Amendment of Filing and Service
    
    
    
    Requirements in Proceedings Before the
    
    
    
    Office of Administrative Law Judges;
    
    
    
    Interim Final Rule
    DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
    
    Office of the Secretary
    Employment and Training Administration
    
    20 CFR 655
    
    29 CFR Part 18 and 24
    
     
    
    Amendment of Filing and Service Requirements in Proceedings 
    Before the Office of Administrative Law Judges
    
    AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Labor.
    
    ACTION Interim final rule; request for comments.
    
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    SUMMARY: Interim final rule amends regulations governing the filing and 
    service of documents in proceedings before the Department of Labor's 
    Office of Administrative Law Judges generally, and in one instance, the 
    Regional Administrator's service of a notice of denial of temporary 
    labor certification. The amendments modify regulations which heretofore 
    required filing or service by mailgram or telegram, substituting 
    therefore the option to file or serve those documents by facsimile 
    (fax), telegram or other means normally assuring next day delivery. The 
    amendments also provide guidelines for the filing and service of 
    documents by facsimile, limiting such filings to instances when they 
    are explicitly permitted by statute or regulation, or by the presiding 
    administrative law judge. Finally, the amendments eliminate the routine 
    filing of documents relating to discovery, limiting such filings to 
    instances when there is a reason for their submission.
    
    DATES:
        Effective Date: This interim rule is effective September 14, 1994.
        Comments: Comments on the interim rule shall be submitted by mail 
    and must be received by October 14, 1994 to ensure consideration.
    
    ADDRESSES: Send comments to John M. Vittone, Deputy Chief 
    Administrative Law Judge, Room 4250, Office of Administrative Law 
    Judges, 800 K Street, NW., Suite 400, Washington, DC 20001-8002.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John M. Vittone, Deputy Chief 
    Administrative Law Judge, Office of Administrative Law Judges. 
    Telephone: (202) 633-0341.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    Purpose of Amendments
    
        These amendments are grounded in the notion that procedural 
    regulations should reflect practical realities. In today's business 
    world, when a document needs to be delivered quickly, overnight 
    couriers and facsimile transmissions are extremely effective methods. 
    Thus, in programs administered by the Department of Labor when speedy 
    filing or service of a document is essential, the amendments permitting 
    the use of facsimile or overnight couriers conform the regulations to 
    modern business practice.
        On the other hand, given the large number of cases docketed by the 
    Office of Administrative Law Judges each year, the use of facsimile--
    although often convenient to parties--is not administratively practical 
    for routine matters. The Department generally agrees with the Judicial 
    Conference Guidelines for Filing by Facsimile Transmission, which are 
    referenced by Rule 5 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. See 
    Malkin, Judicial Conference Guidelines For Filing By Facsimile 
    Transmission, Court Administration Bulletin (Dec. 1991). The Judicial 
    Conference concluded that ``basic facsimile technology has not reached 
    a level that would allow for routine filing by facsimile without 
    placing an undue administrative and resource burden on the courts.'' 
    Id. Practical concerns noted by the Judicial Conference included 
    technical problems with facsimile transmissions, the cost of equipment 
    and supplies, and the burden on administrative staff.
        When filing or service is routine, regular mail usually is 
    sufficient. Even when time is of the essence, an overnight courier 
    normally provides an adequate means of filing a document quickly. Thus, 
    these amendments limit the use of facsimile to file documents to those 
    instances in which such a filing is explicitly permitted by statute or 
    regulations (see, e.g., 20 CFR 655.820(e), 655.1020(d); 29 CFR 
    506.630(e), 507.820(e), 508.1020(d)) or by the presiding administrative 
    law judge. In designing the amendments to govern filings by facsimile, 
    the Department has taken into consideration the practice of the federal 
    courts (see Fed. R. App. P. 25 and Fed. R. Civ. P. 5), the rules of 
    other federal agencies (see, e.g., 29 CFR Part 102.114 (NLRB); 29 CFR 
    2200.9(f) (OSHA); 34 CFR Parts 76, 81, 86, 218, 222, 300, 361, 581 
    (DOE); 49 CFR 1162.2(e)(3) (ICC)), the rules of assorted state courts 
    (see, e.g., Ark. Code Sec. 16-20-109; Cal Rules of Court R 2010, 2005, 
    2009; La R.S. 13:850; Tenn Code Ann. Sec. 16-3-408) and various legal 
    commentary (see, e.g., Malkin, Judicial Conference Guidelines For 
    Filing By Facsimile Transmission, Court Administration Bulletin (Dec. 
    1991); Koenig, Courts in the Fax Lane: The Use of Facsimile Technology 
    by State Courts, 14 State Court Journal 13 (Winter 1991); Study Shows 
    Limited Fax Use By Majority of State Courts, The National L.J., Oct. 8, 
    1990, at 17; Note, Telefacsimile Documents: A Survey of Uses in the 
    Legal Setting, 36 The Wayne L. Rev. 1361 (1990)).
        Finally, the amendments include elimination of routine filing of 
    discovery documents. As a practical matter, such documents are 
    generally not needed for the administrative record unless a party 
    submits them in support of a motion (e.g. a motion to compel attendance 
    at a deposition) or the document is being submitted as evidence. The 
    present system of routinely filing copies of such documents with the 
    presiding administrative law judge only results in an administrative 
    record cluttered with unneeded papers.
    
    Rules of Special Application
    
        These amendments do not purport to cover all rules of special 
    application governing the conduct of hearings before the Office of 
    Administrative Law Judges under specific Department of Labor programs. 
    At least some rules of special application contain service and filing 
    requirements that are inconsistent with these amendments. For example, 
    the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs' rules at 41 CFR 60-
    30.4 (a) and (b) require the filing of all litigation documents with 
    the Office of Administrative Law Judges, including documents relating 
    to discovery, and specify that parties shall serve and file litigation 
    documents by personal delivery or mail. Rules of special application 
    control to the extent that the general rules of practice and procedure 
    found in 29 CFR Part 18 are inconsistent. See 29 CFR 18.1(a).
    
    Technical Comments
    
        Most of the amendments simply replace a telegram requirement with 
    less restrictive language. Less obvious changes, however, are discussed 
    below.
        The amendment to 20 CFR 655.212 deletes ``by telegram.'' Not only 
    was this phrase unnecessary, it was also inappropriate for several 
    sections such as 655.211, which do not set time frames or other 
    procedures for requesting a review. The amendment to 20 CFR 655.212 
    also corrects the spelling of ``countervailing.''
        The new paragraph (f) to 29 CFR 18.3 governs filing or service by 
    facsimile. It permits such a filing when explicitly permitted by 
    statute or regulation or when directed or permitted by the presiding 
    administrative law judge. The presiding judge's discretion to direct or 
    permit a filing by facsimile permits flexibility in application, 
    although it is contemplated that filing by facsimile generally will be 
    limited to emergency situations or other compelling circumstances. 
    Nevertheless, litigants should note that permission to file by 
    facsimile must be obtained, and those who choose to file by facsimile 
    without permission do so at the risk that the filing will not be 
    recognized.
        Subparagraph (f)(4) requires the use of a cover sheet identifying 
    the sender. This requirement reflects fax etiquette, but more 
    importantly, it is helpful if the transmission is bad.
        Subparagraph (f)(5) governs the submission of original documents. 
    Although many fax rules contemplate having the original document sent 
    within a few days following a fax transmission, the Department believes 
    that this approach only doubles the amount of paper that must be 
    processed. Thus, this rule requires submission of the original only 
    when so ordered by the presiding administrative law judge, in the event 
    of an original signature requirement, or in disputes over the accuracy 
    of the transmission or the authenticity of the document. The ten day 
    requirement for filing a required original signature conforms the rule 
    to the new attestation regulations. See, e.g., 20 CFR 655.1020.
        Subparagraph (f)(6) limits the length of filings by facsimile, 
    although the presiding judge has the discretion to permit a longer 
    filing. In addition, length is not regulated when it is subject to a 
    requirement over which the transmitting party has no control, such as a 
    requirement to file a complaint or determination letter. Long documents 
    hold up fax machines, use government paper (not an inconsequential 
    consideration for an agency that regularly dockets 9,000 cases a year), 
    and extend wear and tear to the mechanical parts of the machine.
        Subparagraph (f)(7) indicates that filings by facsimile should 
    normally be done during regular business hours. Fax machines are not 
    monitored at night. This paragraph, however, is directory rather than 
    mandatory, since a blanket prohibition on filing during nonbusiness 
    hours would defeat much of the utility of facsimile machines.
        In Prince v. Poulas, 876 F.2d 30 (5th Cir. 1989), the Fifth Circuit 
    held that an overnight courier service is not a public authority, and 
    therefore not a form of ``mail'' for purposes of Rule 25 of the Federal 
    Rules of Appellate Procedure. The experience of the Office of 
    Administrative Law Judges, however, has been that overnight courier 
    services are generally reliable and do not present some of the 
    administrative and legal problems presented by filing by facsimile. 
    Thus, paragraph (g) has been added to Part 18 of Title 29 to designate 
    use of courier service as the equivalent of regular mail for purposes 
    of Part 18.
        Paragraph (d) is being added to section 18.4 to govern the time a 
    filing or service by facsimile is effective. Using the time printed by 
    the receiving fax machine as the date stamp lessens the need for 
    monitoring of the fax machine and saves one step in the filing process.
        Recently, amendments to 29 CFR Part 24 were published for notice 
    and comment. See 59 Fed. Reg. 12506 (1994). Those proposed amendments 
    include changes to 29 CFR 24.4 (which will be renumbered as section 
    24.5) that permit the filing of a request for a hearing in an employee 
    protection proceeding by ``facsimile (fax), telegram, hand delivery, or 
    next-day delivery service''. 51 Fed. Reg. at 12509. Presently, section 
    24.4 only authorizes filing of the request by telegram. In addition, 
    the proposed regulatory amendments require the party requesting a 
    hearing to send a copy of the request to the opposing party and the 
    Administrator by ``facsimile (fax), telegram, hand delivery, or next-
    day delivery service''. Id. Many other changes to Part 24 are also made 
    in the March 16, 1994 Notice of proposed rulemaking. As a temporary 
    measure, the instant interim final rule incorporates the proposed 
    changes to section 24.4 that provide for alternatives to filing by 
    telegram and that require same day notice of the request to the 
    opposing party and the Administrator.
    
    Publication as Interim Final Rule
    
        These amendments are being issued as interim final rules because 
    they are rules of agency procedure and practice for which notice and 
    comment is not required, see 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A).
    
    Procedural Matters
    
        This is not a significant regulatory action as defined by Executive 
    Order 12866. The Agency Head has certified that this rule, if 
    promulgated, will not have a significant economic impact upon a 
    substantial number of small entities as defined in the Regulatory 
    Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). The rule does not contain any 
    information collection or recordkeeping requirements as defined in the 
    Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
    
    List of Subjects
    
    20 CFR Part 655
    
        Administrative practice and procedure, Aliens, Employment, Migrant 
    labor.
    
    29 CFR Part 18
    
        Administrative practice and procedure.
    
    29 CFR Part 24
    
        Employment, Environmental protection.
    
        Accordingly, Part 655 of Title 20, and Part 18 and Part 24 of Title 
    29 of the Code of Federal Regulations are amended as follows:
    
    TITLE 20--EMPLOYEES' BENEFITS
    
    PART 655--TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT OF ALIENS IN THE UNITED STATES
    
        1. The authority citation for Part 655 continues to read:
    
        Authority: Section 655.0 issued under 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(H)(i) 
    and (ii), 1182(m) and (n), 1184, 1188, and 1288(c); 29 U.S.C. 49 et 
    seq.; 3(c)(1), Pub. L. 101-238, 103 Stat. 2099, 2103 (8 U.S.C. 1182 
    note); sec. 221(a), Pub. L. 101-649, 104 Stat. 4978, 5027 (8 U.S.C. 
    1184 note); and 8 CFR 214.2(h)(4)(i).
    
        Section 665.00 issued under 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(h)(ii), 1184, 
    and 1188; 29 U.S.C. 49 et seq.; and 8 CFR 214.2(h)(4)(i).
        Subparts A and C issued under 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b) and 
    1184; 29 U.S.C. 49 et seq.; and 8 CFR 214.2(h)(4)(i).
        Subpart B issued under 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a), 1184, and 
    1188; and 29 U.S.C. 49 et seq.
        Subparts D and E issued under 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(H)(i)(a), 
    1182(m) and 1184, 29 U.S.C. 49 et seq.; and sec. 3(c)(1), Pub. L. 
    101-238, 103 Stat. 2099, 2103 (8 U.S.C. 1182 note).
        Subparts F and G issued under 8 U.S.C. 1184 and 1288(c); and 29 
    U.S.C. 49 et seq.
        Subparts H and I issued under 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b), 
    1182(n), and 1184; and 29 U.S.C. 49 et seq.
        Subparts J and K issued under 29 U.S.C. 49 et seq.; and sec. 
    221(a), Pub. L. 101-649, 104 Stat. 4978, 5027 (8 U.S.C. 1184 note).
    
        2. In Sec. 655.104, paragraph (c)(3) is revised to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 655.104  Determinations based on acceptability of H-2A 
    applications.
    
    * * * * *
        (c) * * *
        (3) Offer the applicant an opportunity to request an expedited 
    administrative review of or a de novo administrative hearing before an 
    administrative law judge of the nonacceptance; the notice shall state 
    that in order to obtain such a review or hearing, the employer, within 
    seven calendar days of the date of the notice, shall file by facsimile 
    (fax), telegram, or other means normally assuring next day delivery a 
    written request to the Chief Administrative Law Judge of the Department 
    of Labor (giving the address) and simultaneously serve a copy on the 
    RA; the notice shall also state that the employer may submit any legal 
    arguments which the employer believes will rebut the basis of the RA's 
    action; and
    * * * * *
        3. Section 655.112 is amended by revising paragraphs (a)(2) and 
    (b)(2) to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 655.112  Administrative review and de novo hearing before an 
    administrative law judge.
    
        (a) * * *
        (2) Decision. Within five working days after receipt of the case 
    file the administrative law judge shall, on the basis of the written 
    record and after due consideration of any written submissions submitted 
    from the parties involved or amici curiae, either affirm, reverse, or 
    modify the RA's denial by written decision. The decision of the 
    administrative law judge shall specify the reasons for the action taken 
    and shall be immediately provided to the employer, RA, the Director, 
    and INS by means normally assuring next-day delivery. The 
    administrative law judge's decision shall be the final decision of the 
    Secretary and no further review shall be given to the temporary alien 
    agricultural labor certification application or the temporary alien 
    agricultural labor certification determination by any DOL official.
        (b) * * *
        (2) Decision. After a de novo hearing, the administrative law judge 
    shall either affirm, reverse, or modify the RA's determination, and the 
    administrative law judge's decision shall be provided immediately to 
    the employer, RA, Director, and INS by means normally assuring next-day 
    delivery. The administrative law judge's decision shall be the final 
    decision of the Secretary, and no further review shall be given to the 
    temporary alien agricultural labor certification application or the 
    temporary alien agricultural labor certification determination by any 
    DOL official.
        4. In Sec. 655.204, paragraph (d)(2) is revised to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 655.204  Determinations based on temporary labor certification 
    applications.
    
    * * * * *
        (d) * * *
        (2) Offer the employer an opportunity to request an expedited 
    administrative-judicial review of the denial by a Department of Labor 
    (DOL) Hearing Officer. The notice shall state that in order to obtain 
    such a review, the employer must, within five calendar days of the date 
    of the notice, file by facsimile (fax), telegram, or other means 
    normally assuring next day delivery a written request for such a review 
    to the Chief Administrative Law Judge of the Department of Labor 
    (giving the address) and simultaneously serve a copy on the Regional 
    Administrator. The notice shall also state that the employer's request 
    for review should contain any legal arguments which the employer 
    believes will rebut the basis of the RA's denial of certification; and
    * * * * *
        5. In Sec. 655.206, paragraph (c) is revised to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 655.206  Determinations of U.S. worker availability and adverse 
    effect on U.S. workers.
    
    * * * * *
        (c) If the RA denies the temporary labor certification in whole or 
    part, the RA shall notify the employer in writing by means normally 
    assuring next-day delivery. The notice shall contain all of the 
    statements required in Sec. 655.204(d). If a timely request is made for 
    an administrative-judicial review by a DOL Hearing Officer, the 
    procedures of Sec. 655.212 shall be followed.
    * * * * *
        6. Section 655.212 is revised to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 655.212  Administrative-judicial reviews.
    
        (a) Whenever an employer has requested an administrative-judicial 
    review of a denial of an application or a petition in accordance with 
    Secs. 655.204(d), 655.205(d), 655.206(c), or 655.211, the Chief 
    Administrative Law Judge shall immediately assign a Hearing Officer to 
    review the record for legal sufficiency, and the Regional Administrator 
    shall send a certified copy of the case file to the Chief 
    Administrative Law Judge by means normally assuring next day delivery. 
    The Hearing Officer shall not have authority to remand the case and 
    shall not receive additional evidence. Any countervailing evidence 
    advanced after decision by the Regional Administrator shall be subject 
    to provisions of 8 CFR 214.2(h)(3)(i).
        (b) The Hearing Officer, within five working days after receipt of 
    the case file shall, on the basis of the written record and due 
    consideration of any written memorandums of law submitted, either 
    affirm, reverse or modify the RA's denial by written decision. The 
    decision of the Hearing Officer shall specify the reasons for the 
    action taken and shall be immediately provided to the employer, RA, 
    Administrator, and INS by means normally assuring next-day delivery. 
    The Hearing Officer's decision shall be the final decision of the 
    Department of Labor and no further review shall be given to the 
    temporary labor certification determination by any Department of Labor 
    official.
    
    TITLE 29--LABOR
    
    PART 18--RULES OF PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE 
    HEARINGS BEFORE THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGES
    
        7. The authority citation for Part 18 continues to read as follows:
    
        Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 5 U.S.C. 551-553; 5 U.S.C. 581; E.O. 
    12778; 57 Fed. Reg. 7292.
    
        8. Section 18.3 amended by revising paragraph (b) and adding 
    paragraphs (f) and (g) to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 18.3  Service and filing of documents.
    
    * * * * *
        (b) By parties. All documents shall be filed with the Office of 
    Administrative Law Judges, except that notices of deposition, 
    depositions, interrogatories, requests for documents, requests for 
    admissions, and answers and responses thereto, shall not be so filed 
    unless the presiding judge so orders, the document is being offered 
    into evidence, the document is submitted in support of a motion or a 
    response to a motion, filing is required by a specialized rule, or 
    there is some other compelling reason for its submission. Service of 
    all documents shall be made upon all parties, and when a party is 
    represented by an attorney or other representative, service also shall 
    be made upon the attorney or representative. Service of any document 
    upon any party may be made by personal delivery or by mailing a copy to 
    the last known address. The person serving the document shall certify 
    to the manner and date of service.
    * * * * *
        (f) Filing and service by facsimile.
        (1) Filing by a party; when permitted. Filings by a party may be 
    made by facsimile (fax) when explicitly permitted by statute or 
    regulation, or when directed or permitted by the administrative law 
    judge assigned to the case. If prior permission to file by facsimile 
    cannot be obtained because the presiding administrative law judge is 
    not available, a party may file by facsimile and attach a statement of 
    the circumstances requiring that the document be filed by facsimile 
    rather than by regular mail. That statement does not ensure that the 
    filing will be accepted, but will be considered by the presiding judge 
    in determining whether the facsimile will be accepted nunc pro tunc as 
    a filing.
        (2) Service by facsimile; when permitted. Service upon a party by 
    another party or by the administrative law judge may be made by 
    facsimile (fax) when explicitly permitted by statute or regulation, or 
    when the receiving party consents to service by facsimile.
        (3) Service sheet and proof of service. Docments filed or served by 
    facsimile (fax) shall include a service sheet which states the means by 
    which filing and/or service was made. A facsimile transmission report 
    generated by the sender's facsimile equipment and which indicates that 
    the transmission was successful shall be presumed adequate proof of 
    filing or service.
        (4) Cover sheet. Filings or service by facsimile (fax) shall 
    include a cover sheet that identifies the sender, the total number of 
    pages transmitted, and the caption and docket number of the case, if 
    known.
        (5) Originals. Documents filed or served by facsimile (fax) shall 
    be presumed to be accurate reproductions of the original document until 
    proven otherwise. The party proferring the document shall retain the 
    original in the event of a dispute over authenticity or the accuracy of 
    the transmission. The original document need not be submitted unless so 
    ordered by the presiding judge, or unless an original signature is 
    required by statute or regulation. If an original signature is required 
    to be filed, the date of the facsimile transmission shall govern the 
    effective date of the filing provided that the document containing the 
    original signature is filed within ten calendar days of the facsimile 
    transmission.
        (6) Length of document. Documents filed by facsimile (fax) should 
    not exceed 12 pages including the cover sheet, the service sheet and 
    all accompanying exhibits or appendices, except that this page 
    limitation may be exceeded if prior permission is granted by the 
    presiding judge or if the document's length cannot be conformed because 
    of statutory or regulatory requirements.
        (7) Hours for filing by facsimile. Filings by facsimile (fax) 
    should normally be made between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, local time at the 
    receiving location.
        (g) Filing and service by courier service. Documents transmitted by 
    courier service shall be deemed transmitted by regular mail in 
    proceedings before the Office of Administrative Law Judges.
        9. Section 18.4 is amended by adding paragraph (d) to read as 
    follows:
    
    
    Sec. 18.4  Time computations.
    
    * * * * *
        (d) Filing or service by facsimile. Filing or service by facsimile 
    (fax) is effective upon receipt of the entire document by the receiving 
    facsimile machine. For purposes of filings by facsimile the time 
    printed on the transmission by the facsimile equipment constitutes the 
    date stamp of the Chief Docket Clerk.
        10. Section 18.18 is amended by revising paragraph (a) as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 18.18  Written interrogatories to parties.
    
        (a) Any party may serve upon any other party written 
    interrogatories to be answered in writing by the party served, or if 
    the party served is a public or private corporation or a partnership or 
    association or governmental agency, by any authorized officer or agent, 
    who shall furnish such information as is available to the party. A copy 
    of the interrogatories, answers, and all related pleadings shall be 
    served on all parties to the proceeding. Copies of interrogatories and 
    responses thereto shall not be filed with the Office of Administrative 
    Law Judges unless the presiding judge so orders, the document is being 
    offered into evidence, the document is submitted in support of a motion 
    or a response to a motion, filing is required by a specialized rule, or 
    there is some other compelling reason for its submission.
    * * * * *
        11. Section 18.19 is amended by revising paragraph (f) to read as 
    follows:
    
    
    Sec. 18.19  Production of documents and other evidence; entry upon land 
    for inspection and other purposes; and physical and mental examination.
    
    * * * * *
        (f) A copy of each request for production and each written response 
    shall be served on all parties, but shall not be filed with the Office 
    of Administrative Law Judges unless the presiding judge so orders, the 
    document is being offered into evidence, the document is submitted in 
    support of a motion or a response to a motion, filing is required by a 
    specialized rule, or there is some other compelling reason for its 
    submission.
        12. Section 18.20 is amended by revising paragraph (g) to read as 
    follows:
    
    
    Sec. 18.20  Admissions.
    
    * * * * *
        (g) A copy of each request for admission and each written response 
    shall be served on all parties, but shall not be filed with the Office 
    of Administrative Law Judges unless the presiding judge so orders, the 
    document is being offered into evidence, the document is submitted in 
    support of a motion or a response to a motion, filing is required by a 
    specialized rule, or there is some other compelling reason for its 
    submission.
        13. Section 18.22 is amended by revising paragraph (c) to read as 
    follows:
    
    
    Sec. 18.22  Depositions.
    
    * * * * *
        (c) Notice. Notice shall be given for the taking of a deposition, 
    which shall not be less than five (5) days written notice when the 
    deposition is to be taken within the continental United States and not 
    less than twenty (20) days written notice when the deposition is to be 
    taken elsewhere. A copy of the Notice shall not be filed with the 
    Office of Administrative Law Judges unless the presiding judge so 
    orders, the document is being offered into evidence, the document is 
    submitted in support of a motion or a response to a motion, filing is 
    required by a specialized rule, or there is some other compelling 
    reason for its submission.
    * * * * *
    
    PART 24--PROCEDURES FOR THE HANDLING OF DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINTS 
    UNDER FEDERAL EMPLOYEE PROTECTION STATUTES
    
        14. The authority citation for Part 24 continues to read as 
    follows:
    
        Authority: 42 U.S.C. 300j-9(i); 33 U.S.C. 1367; 15 U.S.C. 2622; 
    42 U.S.C. 6971; 42 U.S.C. 7622; 42 U.S.C. 5851.
    
        15. Section 24.4 is amended by revising paragraph (d)(2) (i), (ii), 
    (d)(3) (i) and (ii) to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 24.4  Investigations.
    
    * * * * *
        (d) * * *
        (2) * * *
        (i) If on the basis of the investigation the Administrator 
    determines that the complaint is without merit, the notice of 
    determination shall include, or be accompanied by notice to the 
    complainant that the notice of determination shall become the final 
    order of the Secretary denying the complaint unless within five 
    calendar days of its receipt the complainant files with the Chief 
    Administrative Law Judge by facsimile (fax), telegram, hand delivery, 
    or next-day delivery service, a request for a hearing on the complaint. 
    The notice shall give the address and the facsimile number of the Chief 
    Administrative Law Judge.
        (ii) Copies of any request for a hearing shall be served by the 
    complainant on the respondent (employer) and on the Administrator on 
    the same day that the hearing is requested by facsimile (fax), 
    telegram, hand delivery, or next-day delivery service,
        (3) * * *
        (i) If on the basis of the investigation the Administrator 
    determines that the alleged violation has occurred, the notice of 
    determination shall include an appropriate order to abate the 
    violation, and notice to the respondent that the order shall become the 
    final order of the Secretary unless within five calendar days of its 
    receipt the respondent files with the Chief Administrative Law Judge by 
    facsimile (fax), telegram, hand delivery, or next-day delivery service, 
    a request for a hearing. An order issued pursuant to this paragraph 
    (d)(3)(i) shall be in accordance with the relevant provisions of the 
    statute violated. The notice shall give the address and facsimile 
    number of the Chief Administrative Law Judge.
        (ii) Copies of any request for a hearing shall be sent by the 
    respondent to the complainant and to the Administrator on the same day 
    that the hearing is requested by facsimile (fax), telegram, hand 
    delivery, or next-day delivery service.
    
        Signed at Washington, D.C. this 8th day of August 1994.
    Robert Reich,
    Secretary of Labor.
    [FR Doc. 94-19703 Filed 8-12-94; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4510-20-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
9/14/1994
Published:
08/15/1994
Department:
Employment and Training Administration
Entry Type:
Uncategorized Document
Document Number:
94-19703
Dates:
This interim rule is effective September 14, 1994.
Pages:
0-0 (1 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Federal Register: August 15, 1994
CFR: (12)
20 CFR 655.104
20 CFR 655.112
20 CFR 655.204
20 CFR 655.206
20 CFR 655.212
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