(d) Effective date of marketing order. No marketing order shall become effective less than 30 days after its publication in the FEDERAL REGISTER, unless the Secretary, upon good cause found and published with the order, fixes an earlier effective date therefor: Provided, That no marketing order shall become effective as to any person sought to be charged thereunder before either (1) it has been filed with the Office of the Federal Register, or (2) such person has received actual notice of the issuance and terms of the marketing order.

(e) Notice of issuance. After issuance of a marketing order, such order shall be filed with the hearing clerk, and notice therof, together with notice of the effective date, shall be given by publication in the FEDERAL REGISTER. (7 U.S.C. 610(c).)

§ 900.15 Filing; extensions of time; effective date of filing; and computation of time.

(a) Filing, number of copies. Except as is provided otherwise in this subpart, all documents or papers required or authorized by the foregoing provisions of this subpart to be filed with the hearing clerk shall be filed in quadruplicate. Any document or paper, so required or authorized to be filed with the hearing clerk, shall, during the course of an oral hearing, be filed with the presiding officer. The provisions of this subpart concerning filing with the hearing clerk of hearing notices, recommended and final decisions, marketing agreements and orders, and all documents described in § 900.17 shall be met by filing a true copy thereof with the hearing clerk.

(b) Extensions of time. The time for the filing of any document or paper required or authorized by the foregoing provisions of this subpart to be filed may be extended by the judge before the record is certified by the judge or by the Administrator (after the record is so certified by the judge but before it is transmitted to the Secretary), or by the Secretary (after the record is transmitted to the Secretary) upon request filed, and if, in the judgment of the judge, Administrator, or the Secretary, as the case may be, there is good reason for the extension.

All rulings made pursuant to this paragraph shall be filed with the hearing clerk.

(c) Effective date of filing. Any document or paper required or authorized by the foregoing provisions of this subpart to be filed shall be deemed to be filed when it is postmarked or when it is received by the hearing clerk.

(d) Computation of time. 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 Sunday or legal holiday, such period shall be extended to include the next following business day.

[25 FR 5907, June 28, 1960, as amended at 30 FR 254, Jan. 9, 1965]

§ 900.16 Ex parte communications.

(a) At no stage of the proceeding following the issuance of a notice of hearing and prior to the issuance of the Secretary's decision therein shall an employee of the Department who is or may reasonably be expected to be involved in the decisional process of the proceeding discuss ex parte the merits of the proceeding with any person having an interest in the proceeding or with any representative of such person: Provided, That procedural matters and status reports shall not be included within this limitation; and Provided further, That an employee of the Department who is or may reasonably be expected to be involved in the decisional process of the proceeding may discuss the merits of the proceeding with such a person if all parties known to be interested in the proceeding have been given notice and an opportunity to participate. A memorandum of any such discussion shall be included in the record of the proceeding.

(b) No person interested in the proceeding shall make or knowingly cause to be made to an employee of the Department who is or may reasonably be expected to be involved in the decisional process of the proceeding an ex parte communication relevant to the merits of the proceeding except as provided in paragraph (a) of this section.

(c) If an employee of the Department who is or may reasonably be expected to be involved in the decisional

process of the proceeding receives or makes a communication prohibited by this section, the Department shall place on the public record of the proceeding:

(1) All such written communications;

(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 Department may, to the extent consistent with the interest of justice and the policy of the underlying statute, take whatever steps are deemed necessary to nullify the effect of such communication.

(e) For the 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 interested parties is not given, but which shall not include requets for status reports (including requests on procedural matters) on any proceeding.

[42 FR 10833, Feb. 24, 1977]

§ 900.17

Additional documents to be filed with hearing clerk.

In addition to the documents or papers required or authorized by the foregoing provisions of this subpart to be filed with the hearing clerk, the hearing clerk shall receive for filing and shall have custody of all papers, reports, records, orders, and other documents which relate to the administration of any marketing agreement or marketing order and which the Secretary is required to issue or to approve.

§ 900.18 Hearing before Secretary.

The Secretary may act in the place and stead of a judge in any proceeding under this subpart. When he so acts the hearing clerk shall transmit the record to the Secretary at the expiration of the period provided for the filing of proposed findings of fact, conclusions and orders, and the Secretary shall thereupon, after due consideration of the record, issue his final decision in the proceeding: Provided, That he may issue a tentative decision in

As used in this subpart, the terms as defined in the act shall apply with equal force and effect. In addition, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) The term "act" means Public Act No. 10, 73d Congress, as amended and as reenacted and amended by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended (7 U.S.C. and Sup. 601);

(b) The term "Department" means the United States Department of Agriculture;

(c) The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States, or any officer or employee of the Department to whom authority has heretofore been delegated, or to whom authority may hereafter be delegated, to act in his stead;

(d) The terms "administrative law judge" or "judge” means any Administrative Law Judge, appointed pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 3105, and assigned to the proceeding involved;

(e) The term "Administrator" means the Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service, with power to redelegate, or any officer or employee of the Department to whom authority has been delegated or may hereafter be delegated to act in his stead.

(f) [Reserved]

(g) The term "FEDERAL REGISTER” means the publication provided for by the act of July 26, 1935 (49 Stat. 500), and acts supplementary thereto and amendatory thereof;

(h) The term "marketing order" means any order or any amendment thereto which may be issued pursuant to section 8c of the act;

(i) The term "handler" means any person who, by the terms of a marketing order, is subject thereto, or to whom a marketing order is sought to be made applicable;

(j) The term "proceeding" means a proceeding before the Secretary arising under subsection (15)(A) of section 8c of the act;

(k) The term "hearing" means that part of the proceeding which involves the submission of evidence;

(1) The term "party" includes the Department;

(m) The term "hearing clerk" means the hearing clerk, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.;

(n) [Reserved]

(0) The term "decision" means the judge's initial decision in proceedings subject to 5 U.S.C. 556 and 557, and includes the judge's (1) findings of fact and conclusions with respect to all material issues of fact, law or discretion as well as the reasons or basis thereof, (2) order, and (3) rules on findings, conclusions and orders submitted by the parties;

(p) The term "petition" includes an amended petition.

[25 FR 5907, June 28, 1960, as amended at 26 FR 7796, Aug. 22, 1961; 28 FR 579, Jan. 23, 1963; 37 FR 8059, Apr. 25, 1972; 38 FR 29798, Oct. 29, 1973]

§ 900.52 Institution of proceeding.

(a) Filing and service of petition. Any handler desiring to complain that any marketing order or any provision of any such order or any obligation imposed in connection therewith is not in accordance with law, shall file with the hearing clerk, in quadruplicate, a petition in writing addressed to the Secretary. Promptly upon receipt of the petition, the hearing clerk shall transmit a true copy thereof to the Administrator and the General Counsel, respectively.

(b) Contents of petition. A petition shall contain:

(1) The correct name, address, and principal place of business of the petitioner. If petitioner is a corporation,

such fact shall be stated, together with the name of the State of incorporation, the date of incorporation, and the names, addresses, and respective positions held by its officers; if an unincorporated association, the names and addresses of its officers, and the respective positions held by them; if a partnership, the name and address of each partner;

(2) Reference to the specific terms or provisions of the order, or the interpretation or application thereof, which are complained of;

(3) A full statement of the facts (avoiding a mere repetition of detailed evidence) upon which the petition is based, and which it is desired that the Secretary consider, setting forth clearly and concisely the nature of the petitioner's business and the manner in which petitioner claims to be affected by the terms or provisions of the order, or the interpretation or application thereof, which are complained of;

(4) A statement of the grounds on which the terms or provisions of the order, or the interpretation or application thereof, which are complained of, are challenged as not in accordance with law;

(5) Prayers for the specific relief which the petitioner desires the Secretary to grant;

(6) An affidavit by the petitioner, or, if the petitioner is not an individual, by an officer of the petitioner having knowledge of the facts stated in the petition, verifying the petition and stating that it is filed in good faith and not for purposes of delay.

(c) Motion to dismiss petition-(1) Filing, contents, and responses thereto. If the Administrator is of the opinion that the petition, or any portion thereof, does not substantially comply, in form or content, with the act or with the requirements of paragraph (b) of this section, or is not filed in good faith, or is filed for purposes of delay, he may, within thirty days after the filing of the petition, file with the Hearing Clerk a motion to dismiss the petition, or any portion thereof, on one or more of the grounds stated in this paragraph. Such motion shall specify the grounds of objection to the petition and if based, in whole or in part, on an allegation of fact not ap

pearing on the face of the petition, shall be accompanied by appropriate affidavits or documentary evidence substantiating such allegations of fact. The motion may be accompanied by a memorandum of law. Upon receipt of such motion, the Hearing Clerk shall cause a copy thereof to be served upon the petitioner, together with a notice stating that all papers to be submitted in opposition to such motion including any memorandum of law, must be filed by the petitioner with the hearing clerk not later than 20 days after the service of such notice upon the petitioner. Upon the expiration of the time specified in such notice, or upon receipt of such papers from the petitioner, the hearing clerk shall transmit all papers which have been filed in connection with the motion to the Judge for his consideration.

(2) Decision by Administrative Law Judge. The Judge, after due consideration, shall render a decision upon the motion stating the reasons for his action. Such decision shall be in the form of an order and shall be filed with the hearing clerk who shall cause a copy thereof to be served upon the petitioner and a copy thereof to be transmitted to the Administrator. Any such order shall be final unless appealed pursuant to § 900.65: Provided, That within 20 days following the service upon the petitioner of a copy of the order of the Judge dismissing the petition, or any portion thereof, on the ground that it does not substantially comply in form and content with the act or with paragraph (b) of this section, the petitioner shall be permitted to file an amended petition.

(3) Oral argument. Unless a written application for oral argument is filed by a party with the hearing clerk not later than the time fixed for filing papers in opposition to the motion, it shall be considered that the party does not desire oral argument. The granting of a request to make oral argument shall rest in the discretion of the Judge.

[25 FR 5907, June 28, 1960, as amended at 38 FR 29798, Oct. 29, 1973]

§ 900.52a Answer to petition.

(a) Time of filing. Within 30 days after the filing of the petition, the Ad

ministrator shall file an answer thereto: Provided, That if a motion to dismiss the petition, in whole or in part, is made pursuant to § 900.52(c), the answer shall be filed within 15 days after the filing of an order of the administrative law judge denying the motion or granting the motion with respect to only a portion of the petition. The answer shall be filed with the hearing clerk who shall cause a copy thereof to be served promptly upon the petitioner.

(b) Contents. The answer shall specify which of the material allegations of fact or of law in the petition are controverted and which are not controverted. The answer also may contain affirmative allegations of fact constituting separate defenses and statements of objections to the sufficiency of the whole or any part of the petition.

[25 FR 5907, June 28, 1960, as amended at 38 FR 29798, Oct. 29, 1973]

§ 900.52b Amended pleadings.

At any time before the close of the hearing the petition or answer may be amended, but the hearing shall, at the request of the adverse party, be adjourned or recessed for such reasonable time as the judge may determine to be necessary to protect the interests of the parties. Amendments subsequent to the first amendment or subsequent to the filing of an answer may be made only with leave of the judge or with the written consent of the adverse party.

§ 900.53 Withdrawal of petition.

If, at any time after the petition is filed, the petitioner desires to withdraw the same, he shall file with the hearing clerk (or, if filed during the course of a hearing, with the judge) a written request for permission to withdraw. The judge may, in his discretion, thereupon dismiss the petition without further procedure: Provided, That, if the request to withdraw is filed after a hearing has been opened, permission to withdraw shall be granted only in exceptional circumstances.

§ 900.54 Docket number.

Each proceeding, immediately following its institution, shall be assigned a docket number by the hearing clerk and thereafter the proceeding may be referred to by such number.

§ 900.55 Judges.

(a) Assignment. No judge who has any pecuniary interest in the outcome of the proceeding, or who has participated in any investigation preceding the institution of the proceeding, shall serve as judge in such proceeding.

(b) Conduct. The judge shall conduct the proceeding in a fair and impartial manner and shall not discuss ex parte the merits of the proceeding with any person who is or who has been connected in any manner with the proceeding in an advocative or investigative capacity.

(c) Powers of judges. Subject to review by the Secretary, as provided elsewhere in this subpart, the judge shall have power to:

(1) Rule upon motions and requests; (2) Adjourn the hearing from time to time, and change the time and place of hearing;

(3) Administer oaths and affirmations and take affidavits;

(4) Issue subpenas, under the facsimile signature of the Secretary, requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of books, records, contracts, papers, and other documentary evidence;

(5) Examine witnesses and receive evidence;

(6) Take or order, under the facsimile signature of the Secretary, the taking of depositions;

(7) Admit or exclude evidence; (8) Hear oral argument on facts or law;

(9) Consolidate hearings upon two or more petitions pertaining to the same order;

(10) Do all acts and take all measures necessary for the maintenance of order at the hearing and the efficient conduct of the proceeding.

(d) Who may act in absence of judge. In case of the absence of the judge or his inability to act, the powers and duties to be performed by him under these rules of practice in connection with a proceeding may, without abate

ment of the proceeding unless otherwise ordered by the Secretary, be assigned to any other judge.

(e) Disqualification of judge. The judge may at any time withdraw as judge in a proceeding if he deems himself to be disqualified. Upon the filing by an interested person in good faith of a timely and sufficient affidavit of personal bias or disqualification of a judge, the Secretary shall determine the matter as a part of the record and decision in the proceeding, after making such investigation or holding such hearings, or both, as he may deem appropriate in the circumstances.

§ 900.56 Consolidated hearings.

At the discretion of the judge, hearings upon two or more petitions pertaining to the same order may be consolidated, and the evidence taken at such consolidated hearing may be embodied in a single record.

§ 900.57 Intervention.

Intervention in proceedings subject to this subpart shall not be allowed, except that, in the discretion of the Secretary or the judge, any person (other than the petitioner) showing a substantial interest in the outcome of a proceeding shall be permitted to participate in the oral argument and to file a brief.

§ 900.58 Prehearing conferences.

In any proceeding in which it appears that such procedure will expedite the proceeding, the judge, at any time prior to the commencement of or during the course of the hearing, may request the parties or their counsel to appear at a conference before him to consider (a) the simplification of issues; (b) the possibility of obtaining stipulations of fact and of documents which will avoid unnecessary proof; (c) the limitation of the number of expert or other witnesses; and (d) such other matters as may expedite and aid in the disposition of the proceeding. No transcript of such conference shall be made, but the judge shall prepare and file for the record a written summary of the action taken at the conference, which shall incorporate any written