[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: 50CFR221.40]

[Page 101-102]
 
                    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. 221.40  What are the requirements for prehearing conferences?

    (a) Initial prehearing conference. The ALJ will conduct an initial 
prehearing conference with the parties at the time specified in the 
docketing notice under Sec. 221.30, on or about the 20th day after 
issuance of the referral notice under Sec. 221.25(c).
    (1) The initial prehearing conference will be used:
    (i) To identify, narrow, and clarify the disputed issues of material 
fact and exclude issues that do not qualify for review as factual, 
material, and disputed;
    (ii) To consider the parties' motions for discovery under Sec. 
221.41 and to set a deadline for the completion of discovery;
    (iii) To discuss the evidence on which each party intends to rely at 
the hearing;
    (iv) To set the deadline for submission of written testimony under 
Sec. 221.52; and
    (v) To set the date, time, and place of the hearing.
    (2) The initial prehearing conference may also be used:
    (i) To discuss limiting and grouping witnesses to avoid duplication;
    (ii) To discuss stipulations of fact and of the content and 
authenticity of documents;
    (iii) To consider requests that the ALJ take official notice of 
public records or other matters;
    (iv) To discuss the submission of written testimony, briefs, or 
other documents in electronic form; and
    (v) To consider any other matters that may aid in the disposition of 
the case.
    (b) Other conferences. The ALJ may in his or her discretion direct 
the parties to attend one or more other prehearing conferences, if 
consistent with the need to complete the hearing process within 90 days. 
Any party may by motion request a conference.
    (c) Notice. The ALJ must give the parties reasonable notice of the 
time

[[Page 102]]

and place of any conference. A conference will ordinarily be held by 
telephone, unless the ALJ orders otherwise.
    (d) Preparation. (1) Each party's representative must be fully 
prepared for a discussion of all issues properly before the conference, 
both procedural and substantive. The representative must be authorized 
to commit the party that he or she represents respecting those issues.
    (2) Before the date set for the initial prehearing conference, the 
parties' representatives must make a good faith effort:
    (i) To meet in person, by telephone, or by other appropriate means; 
and
    (ii) To reach agreement on discovery and the schedule of remaining 
steps in the hearing process.
    (e) Failure to attend. Unless the ALJ orders otherwise, a party that 
fails to attend or participate in a conference, after being served with 
reasonable notice of its time and place, waives all objections to any 
agreements reached in the conference and to any consequent orders or 
rulings.
    (f) Scope. During a conference, the ALJ may dispose of any 
procedural matters related to the case.
    (g) Order. Within 2 days after the conclusion of each conference, 
the ALJ must issue an order that recites any agreements reached at the 
conference and any rulings made by the ALJ during or as a result of the 
conference.