sociation; or (2) by leaving a copy of the document or paper at the principal office or place of business or residence of such individual, partnership, corporation, organization, or association, or of the attorney or agent of record and mailing by regular mail another copy to such person at such address; or (3) by registering or certifying and mailing a copy of the document or paper, addressed to such individual, partnership, corporation, organization, or association, or to the attorney or agent of record, at the last known residence or principal office or place of business of such person: Provided, That if the registered or certified document or paper is returned undelivered because the addressee refused or failed to accept delivery, the document or paper shall be served by remailing it by regular mail. Proof of service hereunder shall be made by the certificate of the person who actually made the service: Provided, That if the service be made by mail, as outlined in paragraph (b)(3) of this section, proof of service shall be made by the return post-office receipt, in the case of registered or certified mail, or by the certificate of the person who mailed the matter by regular mail. The certificate and post-office receipt contemplated herein shall be filed with the Hearing Clerk, and made a part of the record of the proceeding.

(c) Extensions of time. The time for the filing of any document or paper required or authorized under the rules in this part to be filed may be extended by the Judge or the Judicial Officer as provided in § 1.143, if, in the judgment of the Judge or the Judicial Officer, as the case may be, there is good reason for the extension. In all instances in which time permits, notice of the request for extension of the time shall be given to the other party with opportunity to submit views concerning the request.

(d) Effective date of filing. Any document or paper required or authorized under the rules in this part to be filed shall be deemed to be filed at the time when it reaches the Hearing Clerk; or, if authorized to be filed with another officer or employee of the Department it shall be deemed to be filed at the

time when it reaches such officer or employee.

(e) Computation of time. Saturdays, Sundays and Federal holidays shall be included in computing the time allowed for the filing of any document or paper: Provided, That, when such time expires on a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday, such period shall be extened to include the next following business day.

81.148 Depositions.

(a) Motion for taking deposition. Upon the motion of a party to the proceeding, the Judge may, at any time after the filing of the complaint, order the taking of testimony by deposition. The Motion shall be in writing, shall be filed with the Hearing Clerk, and shall set forth: (1) The name and address of the proposed deponent; (2) the name and address of the person (referred to hereafter in this section as the "officer") qualified under the regulations in this part to take depositions, before whom the proposed examination is to be made; (3) the proposed time and place of the examination, which shall be at leat 15 days after the date of the mailing of the motion; and (4) the reasons why such deposition should be taken, which shall be solely for the purpose of eliciting testimony which otherwise might not be available at the time of hearing, for uses as provided in paragraph (g) of this section.

(b) Judge's order for taking deposition. If the Judge finds that the testimony may not be otherwise available at the hearing, the taking of the deposition may be ordered. The order shall be filed with the Hearing Clerk, shall be served upon the parties, and shall state: (1) The time and place of the examination; (2) the name of the officer before whom the examination is to be made: and (3) the name of the deponent. The officer and the time and place need not be the same as those suggested in the motion.

(c) Qualifications of officer. The deposition shall be made before the Judge or before an officer authorized by the law of the United States or by the law of the place of the examination to administer oaths, or before an

officer authorized by the Secretary to administer oaths.

(d) Procedure on examination. (1) The deponent shall be examined under oath or affirmation and shall be subject to cross-examination. Objections to questions or documents shall be in short form, stating the grounds of objections relied upon. The questions proponded, together with all objections made (but not including argument or debate), shall be recorded verbatim. In lieu of oral examination, parties may transmit written questions to the officer prior to the examination and the officer shall propound such questions to the deponent.

(2) The applicant shall arrange for the examination of the witness either by oral examination, or by written questions upon agreement of the parties or as directed by the Judge. If the examination is conducted by means of written questions, copies of the questions shall be served upon the other party to the proceeding and filed with the officer at least 10 days prior to the date set for the examination unless otherwise agreed, and the other party may serve cross questions and file them with the officer at any time prior to the time of the examination.

(e) Certification by officer. The officer shall certify on the deposition that the deponent was duly sworn and that the deposition is a true record of the deponent's testimony. The officer shall then securely seal the deposition, together with one copy thereof (unless there are more than two parties in the proceeding, in which case there should be another copy for each additional party), in an envelope and mail the same by registered or certified mail to the Hearing Clerk.

(f) Corrections to the transcript. (1) At any time prior to the hearing, any party may file a motion proposing corrections to the transcript of the deposition.

(2) Unless a party files such a motion in the manner prescribed, the transcript shall be presumed, except for obvious typographical errors, to be a true, correct, and complete transcript of the testimony given in the deposition proceeding and to contain an accurate description or reference to

all exhibits in connection therewith, and shall be deemed to be certified correct without further procedure.

(3) At any time prior to use of the deposition in accordance with subsection (g) of this section and after consideration of any objections filed thereto, the Judge may issue an order making any corrections in the transcript which the Judge finds are warranted, which corrections shall be entered onto the original transcript by the Hearing Clerk (without obscuring the original text).

(g) Use of deposition. A deposition ordered and taken in accordance with the provisions of this section may be used in a proceeding under these rules if the Judge finds that the evidence is otherwise admissible and (1) that the witness is dead; (2) that the witness is unable to attend or testify because of age, sickness, infirmity, or imprisonment; (3) that the party offering the deposition has endeavored to procure the attendance of the witness by subpoena, but has been unable to do so; or (4) that such exceptional circumstances exist as to make it desirable, in the interests of justice, to allow the deposition to be used. If the party upon whose motion the deposition was taken refuses to offer it in evidence, any other party may offer the deposition or any part thereof in evidence. If only part of a deposition is offered in evidence by a party, an adverse party may require the introduction of any other part which ought in fairness to be considered with the part introduced, and any party may introduce any other parts.

§1.149 Subpoenas."

(a) Issuance of subpoenas. The attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of documentary evidence from any place in the United States on behalf of any party to the proceeding may be required by subpoena at any designated place of hearing if authorized by the statute under which the proceeding is conducted. Subpoenas shall be issued by the Judge upon a reasonable showing by

"This section relates only to subpoenas for the stated purpose and has no relevance with respect to investigatory subpoenas.

the applicant of the grounds and necessity thereof; and with respect to subpoenas for the production of documents, the request shall also show their competency, relevancy, and materiality. All requests for subpoenas shall be in wiriting, unless waived by the Judge for good cause shown. Except for good cause shown, requests for subpoenas shall be submitted by the applicant to the Judge at least 10 days prior to the date set for the hearing.

(b) Service of subpoenas. Subpoenas may be served (1) by a United States Marshal or a deputy marshal, or (2) by any other person who is not less than 18 years of age, or (3) by registering or certifying and mailing a copy of the subpoena addressed to the person to be served at the last known principal place of business or residence. Proof of service may be made by the return of service on the subpoena by the United States Marshal or deputy marshal; or, if served by an employee of the Department, by a certificate stating that the employee personally served the subpoena upon the person named therein; or, if served by another person, by an affidavit stating that such person personally served the subpoena upon the person named therein; or, if service was by registered or certified mail, by an affidavit made by the person mailing the subpoena that it was mailed as provided herein and by the signed return post-office receipt: Provided, That the return receipt without an affidavit or certificate of mailing shall be sufficient proof of service. In making personal service, the person making service shall leave a copy of the subpoena with the person subpoenaed, or, if such person is not immediately available, with any other responsible person residing or employed at the place of residence or business of the person subpoenaed. The original of the subpoena, bearing or accompanied by the required proof of service, shall be returned to the official who issued the same. The party at whose instance a subpoena is issued shall be responsible for the service thereof.

§ 1.150 Fees of witnesses.

Witnesses summoned under these rules of practice shall be paid the same fees and mileage that are paid witnesses in the courts of the United States, and witnesses whose depositions are taken, and the officer taking the same, shall be entitled to the same fees as are paid for like services in the courts of the United States. Fees shall be paid by the party at whose instance the witness appears or the deposition is taken.

§ 1.151 Ex Parte Communications.

(a) At no stage of the proceeding between its institution and the issuance of the final decision shall the Judge or Judicial Officer discuss ex parte the merits of the proceeding with any person who is connected with the proceeding in an advocative or in an investigative capacity, or with any representative of such person: Provided, That procedural matters shall not be included within this limitation; and Provided further, That the Judge or Judicial Officer may discuss the merits of the case with such a person if all parties to the proceeding, or their attorneys have been given notice and an opportunity to participate. A memorandum of any such discussion shall be included in the record.

(b) No interested person shall make or knowingly cause to be made to the Judge or Judicial Officer an ex parte communication relevant to the merits of the proceeding.

(c) If the Judge or the Judicial Officer receives an ex parte communica tion in violation of this section, the one who receives the communication shall place in the public record of the proceeding:

(1) All such written communcations; (2) Memoranda stating the substance of all such oral communications; and

(3) All written responses, and memoranda stating the substance of all oral responses thereto.

(d) Upon receipt of a communication knowingly made or knowingly caused to be made by a party in violation of this section, the Judge or Judicial Of ficer may, to the extent consistent with the interests of justice and the

policy of the underlying statute, require the party to show cause why his claim or interest in the proceeding should not be dismissed, denied, disregarded, or otherwise adversely affected on account of such violation.

(e) To the extent consistent with the interests of justice and the policy of the underlying statute, a violation of this section shall be sufficient grounds for a decision adverse to the party who knowingly commits a violation of this section or who knowingly causes such a violation to occur.

(f) For purposes of this section "ex parte communication" means an oral or written communication not on the public record with respect to which reasonable prior notice to all parties is not given, but it shall not include requests for status reports on any matter or the proceeding.

PART 2-DELEGATIONS OF AUTHORITY BY THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE AND GENERAL OFFICERS OF THE DEPARTMENT