[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 40, Volume 30]
[Revised as of July 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 40CFR791.31]

[Page 30-31]
 
                   TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT
 
         CHAPTER I--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 791_DATA REIMBURSEMENT--Table of Contents
 
                      Subpart B_Hearing Procedures
 
Sec. 791.31  Expedited procedures.

    Unless the American Arbitration Association in its discretion 
determines otherwise, the Expedited Procedures described in this section 
shall be applied in any case where the total claim of any party does not 
exceed $5,000, exclusive of interest and hearing costs, and may be 
applied in other cases if the parties agree.
    (a) Application of rules. The expedited hearings will be conducted 
according to the same procedures as the regular ones, except for those 
specifically changed by the expedited rules in this section, Sec. 
791.31.
    (b) Notice by telephone. The parties shall accept all notices from 
the American Arbitration Association by telephone. Such notices by the 
American Arbitration Association shall subsequently be confirmed in 
writing to the parties. Notwithstanding the failure to confirm in 
writing any notice or objection hereunder, the proceeding shall 
nonetheless be valid if notice or obligation has, in fact, been given by 
telephone.
    (c) Appointment and qualifications of hearing officers. The American 
Arbitration Association shall submit simultaneously to each party to the 
dispute an identical list of five persons from which one hearing officer 
shall be appointed. Each party shall have the right to strike two names 
from the list on a peremptory basis. The list is returnable to the 
American Arbitration Association within 10 days from the date of 
mailing. If for any reasons the appointment cannot be made from the 
list, the American Arbitration Association shall have the authority to 
make the appointment without the submission of additional lists. Such 
appointment shall be subject to disqualification for the reasons 
specified in Sec. 791.29(f). The parties shall be given notice by 
telephone by the American Arbitration Association of the appointment of 
the hearing officer. The parties shall notify the American Arbitration 
Association, by telephone, within 7 days of any objections to the 
hearing

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officer(s) appointed. Any objection by a party to such hearing officer 
shall be confirmed in writing to the American Arbitration Association 
with a copy to the other parties.
    (d) Time and place of hearing. The hearing officer shall fix the 
date, time and place of the hearing. The American Arbitration 
Association will notify the parties by telephone, 7 days in advance of 
the hearing date. Formal notice of hearing will be sent by the American 
Arbitration Association to the parties.
    (e) The hearing. Generally, the hearing shall be completed within 1 
day. The hearing officer, for good cause shown, may schedule an 
additional hearing to be held within 5 days.
    (f) Time of award. Unless otherwise agreed to by the parties, the 
Award shall be rendered not later than 15 business days from the date of 
the closing of the hearing.