[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 15, Volume 3] [Revised as of January 1, 2003] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 15CFR904.200] [Page 43] TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND FOREIGN TRADE CHAPTER IX--NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PART 904--CIVIL PROCEDURES--Table of Contents Subpart C--Hearing and Appeal Procedures Sec. 904.200 Scope and applicability. General (a) This subpart sets forth the procedures governing the conduct of hearings and the issuance of initial and final decisions of NOAA in administrative proceedings involving alleged violations of the laws cited in Sec. 904.1(c) and regulations implementing these laws, including civil penalty assessments and permit sanctions and denials. By separate regulation, these rules may be applied to other proceedings. (b) Subject to the administrative direction of the Chief Administrative Law Judge, each Administrative Law Judge (Judge) assigned by the Chief Administrative Law Judge is delegated authority to make the initial or final decision of the Agency (whichever is made appropriate by regulation outside this subpart) in proceedings subject to the provisions of this subpart, and to take actions to promote the efficient and fair conduct of hearings as set out in this subpart. The Judge has no authority to rule on challenges to the validity of regulations promulgated by the Agency. (c) This subpart is not an independent basis for claiming the right to a hearing, but instead prescribes procedures for the conduct of hearings, the right to which is provided by other authority.