[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 50, Volume 7]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 50CFR221.23]

[Page 98]
 
                    TITLE 50--WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES
 
  CHAPTER II--NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND 
           ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
 
PART 221_PRESCRIPTIONS IN FERC HYDROPOWER LICENSES--Table of Contents
 
                        Subpart B_Hearing Process
 
Sec. 221.23  When will hearing requests be consolidated?

    (a) Initial Department coordination. If NMFS has received a copy of 
a hearing request, it must contact the other Departments within 10 days 
after the deadline for filing hearing requests under Sec. 221.21 and 
determine:
    (1) Whether any of the other Departments has also filed a 
preliminary condition or prescription relating to the license with FERC; 
and
    (2) If so, whether the other Departments have also received a 
hearing request with respect to the preliminary condition or 
prescription.
    (b) Decision on consolidation. Within 25 days after the deadline for 
filing hearing requests under Sec. 221.21, if NMFS has received a 
hearing request, NMFS must:
    (1) Consult with any other Department that has also received a 
hearing request; and
    (2) Decide jointly with the other Department:
    (i) Whether to consolidate the cases for hearing under paragraphs 
(c)(3)(ii) through (c)(3)(iv) of this section; and
    (ii) If so, which Department will conduct the hearing on their 
behalf.
    (c) Criteria. Cases will or may be consolidated as follows:
    (1) All hearing requests with respect to any prescriptions from NMFS 
will be consolidated for hearing.
    (2) Any or all of the following may be consolidated for hearing if 
NMFS determines that there are common issues of material fact or that 
consolidation is otherwise appropriate:
    (i) Two or more hearing requests with respect to prescriptions from 
NMFS and the Department of the Interior; or
    (ii) Two or more hearing requests with respect to any condition from 
another Department and any prescription from NMFS.