[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 43, Volume 1]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 43CFR7.37]

[Page 191-192]
 
                    TITLE 43--PUBLIC LANDS: INTERIOR
 
PART 7--PROTECTION OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES--Table of Contents
 
     Subpart B--Department of the Interior Supplemental Regulations
 
Sec. 7.37  Civil penalty hearings procedures.

    (a) Requests for hearings. Any person wishing to request a hearing 
on a notice of assessment of civil penalty, pursuant to Sec. 7.15(g) of 
this part, may file a written, dated request for a hearing with the 
Hearing Division, Office of Hearings and Appeals, U.S. Department of the 
Interior, 801 North Quincy Street, Arlington, Virginia 22203-1923. The 
respondent shall enclose a copy of the notice of violation and the 
notice of assessment. The request shall state the relief sought, the 
basis for challenging the facts used as the basis for charging the 
violation and fixing the assessment, and respondent's preference as to 
the place and date for a hearing. A copy of the request shall be served 
upon the Solicitor of the Department of the Interior personally or by 
registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), at the address 
specified in the notice of assessment. Hearings shall be conducted in 
accordance with 43 CFR part 4, subparts A and B.
    (b) Waiver of right to a hearing. Failure to file a written request 
for a hearing within 45 days of the date of service of a notice of 
assessment shall be deemed a waiver of the right to a hearing.
    (c) Commencement of hearing procedures. Upon receipt of a request 
for a hearing, the Hearing Division shall assign an administrative law 
judge to the case. Notice of assignment shall be given promptly to the 
parties, and thereafter, all pleadings, papers, and other documents in 
the proceeding shall be filed directly with the administrative law 
judge, with copies served on the opposing party.
    (d) Appearance and practice. (1) Subject to the provisions of 43 CFR 
1.3, the respondent may appear in person, by representative, or by 
counsel, and may participate fully in those proceedings. If respondent 
fails to appear and the administrative law judge determines such failure 
is without good cause, the

[[Page 192]]

administrative law judge may, in his/her discretion, determine that such 
failure shall constitute a waiver of the right to a hearing and consent 
to the making of a decision on the record made at the hearing.
    (2) Departmental counsel, designated by the Solicitor of the 
Department, shall represent the Federal land manager in the proceedings. 
Upon notice to the Federal land manager of the assignment of an 
administrative law judge to the case, said counsel shall enter his/her 
appearance on behalf of the Federal land manager and shall file all 
petitions and correspondence exchanges by the Federal land manager and 
the respondent pursuant to Sec. 7.15 of this part which shall become 
part of the hearing record. Thereafter, service upon the Federal land 
manager shall be made to his/her counsel.
    (e) Hearing administration. (1) The administrative law judge shall 
have all powers accorded by law and necessary to preside over the 
parties and the proceedings and to make decisions in accordance with 5 
U.S.C. 554-557.
    (2) The transcript of testimony, the exhibits, and all papers, 
documents and requests filed in the proceedings, shall constitute the 
record for decision. The administrative law judge shall render a written 
decision upon the record, which shall set forth his/her findings of fact 
and conclusions of law, and the reasons and basis therefor, and an 
assessment of a penalty, if any.
    (3) Unless a notice of appeal is filed in accordance with paragraph 
(f) of this section, the administrative law judge's decision shall 
constitute the final administrative determination of the Secretary in 
the matter and shall become effective 30 calendar days from the date of 
this decision.
    (4) In any such hearing, the amount of civil penalty assessed shall 
be determined in accordance with this part, and shall not be limited by 
the amount assessed by the Federal land manager under Sec. 7.15 of this 
part or any offer of mitigation or remission made by the Federal land 
manager.
    (f) Appeal. (1) Either the respondent or the Federal land manager 
may appeal the decision of an administrative law judge by the filing of 
a ``Notice of Appeal'' with the Director, Office of Hearings and 
Appeals, U.S. Department of the Interior, 801 North Quincy Street, 
Arlington, Virginia 22203-1923, within 30 calendar days of the date of 
the administrative law judge's decision. Such notice shall be 
accompanied by proof of service on the administrative law judge and the 
opposing party.
    (2) Upon receipt of such a notice, the Director, Office of Hearings 
and Appeals, shall appoint an ad hoc appeals board to hear and decide an 
appeal. To the extent they are not inconsistent herewith, the provision 
of the Department of Hearings and Appeals Procedures in 43 CFR part 4, 
subparts A, B, and G shall apply to appeal proceedings under this 
subpart. The decision of the board on the appeal shall be in writing and 
shall become effective as the final administrative determination of the 
Secretary in the proceeding on the date it is rendered, unless otherwise 
specified therein.
    (g) Report service. Copies of decisions in civil penalty proceedings 
instituted under the Act may be obtained by letter of request addressed 
to the Director, Office of Hearings and Appeals, U.S. Department of the 
Interior, 801 North Quincy Street, Arlington, Virginia 22203-1923. Fees 
for this service shall be as established by the Director of that Office.

[52 FR 9168, Mar. 23, 1987, as amended at 67 FR 4368, Jan. 30, 2002]