[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 4]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR201.8]

[Page 10-11]
 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
       CHAPTER II--FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF 
                             TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 201--FORMAL RULES OF PRACTICE FOR PASSENGER SERVICE--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 201.8  Presiding officer.

    (a) Upon publication of the notice of hearing pursuant to 
Sec. 201.6, the Administrator shall appoint a presiding officer pursuant 
to 5 U.S.C. 3105. No individual who has any conflict of interest, 
financial or otherwise, shall serve as presiding officer in such 
proceeding.
    (b) The presiding officer, in any proceeding under this part, shall 
have power to:
    (1) Change the time and place of the hearing and adjourn the 
hearing;
    (2) Evaluate direct testimony submitted pursuant to these 
regulations, make a preliminary determination of the issues, conduct a 
prehearing conference to determine the issues for the hearing agenda, 
and cause to be published in the Federal Register a final hearing 
agenda;
    (3) Rule upon motions, requests, and admissibility of direct 
testimony;
    (4) Administer oaths and affirmations, question witnesses, and 
direct witnesses to testify;
    (5) Modify or waive any rule (after notice) upon determining that no 
party will be prejudiced;
    (6) Receive written comments and hear oral agruments;
    (7) Render a recommended decision; and
    (8) Do all acts and take all measures, including regulation of media 
coverage, for the maintenance of order at

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and the efficient conduct of the proceeding.
    (c) In case of the absence of the original presiding officer or his 
inability to act, the Administrator may assign to a successor the powers 
and duties of the original presiding officer without abatement of the 
proceeding unless otherwise ordered by the Administrator.
    (d) The presiding officer may upon his own motion withdraw as 
presiding officer in a proceeding if he deems himself to be 
disqualified.
    (e) A presiding officer may be requested to withdraw at any time 
prior to the recommended decision. Upon the filing by an interested 
person in good faith of a timely and sufficient affidavit alleging the 
presiding officer's personal bias, malice, conflict of interest, or 
other basis which might result in prejudice to a party, the hearing 
shall recess. The Administrator shall immediately act upon such 
allegation 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.