§302.22. Prehearing conference. — Inbound Citations

If the DOT decisionmaker determines under § 302.210(a)(4) that an oral evidentiary hearing should be held, the application or applications will be set for oral hearing before an administrative law judge. The issues will be those set forth in the order establishing further procedures. The procedures in §§ 302.17 to 302.38 governing the conduct of oral evidentiary hearings will apply.

A prehearing conference may be held in an enforcement proceeding whenever the administrative law judge believes that the fair and expeditious disposition of the proceeding requires one. If a prehearing conference is held, it shall be conducted in accordance with § 302.22.

After the issues have been formulated, whether by the pleadings or otherwise, the administrative law judge shall give the parties reasonable written notice of the time and place of the hearings. Except as may be modified by the provisions of this subpart, the procedures in §§ 302.17 to 302.38 governing the conduct of oral evidentiary hearings will apply.

(d) Except as modified by this subpart, the provisions of §§ 302.17 through 302.38 of this part shall apply.

No agreements or understandings reached in rate conferences as to facts or issues shall in any respect be binding on the Department or any participant. Any party to mail rate proceedings will have the same rights to file an answer and take other procedural steps as though no rate conference had been held. The fact, however, that a rate conference was held and certain agreements or understandings may have been reached on certain facts and issues renders it proper to provide that, upon the filing of an answer by any party to the rate proceeding, all issues going to the establishment of a rate shall be open, except insofar as limited in prehearing conference in accordance with § 302.22.