§22.27. Initial Decision. — Inbound Citations

(3) A final order issued in accordance with § 22.18.

Hearing means an evidentiary hearing on the record, open to the public (to the extent consistent with § 22.22(a)(2)), conducted as part of a proceeding under these Consolidated Rules of Practice.

Hearing Clerk means the Hearing Clerk, Mail Code 1900, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.

Initial decision means the decision issued by the Presiding Officer pursuant to §§ 22.17(c), 22.20(b) or 22.27 resolving all outstanding issues in the proceeding.

Party means any person that participates in a proceeding as complainant, respondent, or intervenor.

Permit action means the revocation, suspension or termination of all or part of a permit issued under section 102 of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (33 U.S.C. 1412) or termination under section 402(a) of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1342(a)) or section 3005(d) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6925(d)).

Person includes any individual, partnership, association, corporation, and any trustee, assignee, receiver or legal successor thereof; any organized group of persons whether incorporated or not; and any officer, employee, agent, department, agency or instrumentality of the Federal Government, of any State or local unit of government, or of any foreign government.

Presiding Officer means an individual who presides in an administrative adjudication until an initial decision becomes final or is appealed. The Presiding Officer shall be an Administrative Law Judge, except where §§ 22.4(b), 22.16(c) or 22.51 allow a Regional Judicial Officer to serve as Presiding Officer.

Proceeding means the entirety of a single administrative adjudication, from the filing of the complaint through the issuance of a final order, including any action on a motion to reconsider under § 22.32.

Regional Administrator means, for a case initiated in an EPA Regional Office, the Regional Administrator for that Region or any officer or employee thereof to whom his authority is duly delegated.

Regional Hearing Clerk means an individual duly authorized to serve as hearing clerk for a given region, who shall be neutral in every proceeding. Correspondence with the Regional Hearing Clerk shall be addressed to the Regional Hearing Clerk at the address specified in the complaint. For a case initiated at EPA Headquarters, the term Regional Hearing Clerk means the Hearing Clerk.

Regional Judicial Officer means a person designated by the Regional Administrator under § 22.4(b).

Respondent means any person against whom the complaint states a claim for relief.

(a) This section shall apply, in conjunction with §§ 22.1 through 22.32, in administrative proceedings to assess a civil penalty conducted under sections 113(d), 205(c), 211(d), and 213(d) of the Clean Air Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 7413(d), 7524(c), 7545(d), and 7547(d)), and a determination of nonconforming engines, vehicles or equipment under sections 207(c) and 213(d) of the Clean Air Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 7541(c) and 7547(d)). Where inconsistencies exist between this section and §§ 22.1 through 22.32, this section shall apply.

(a) This section shall apply, in conjunction with §§ 22.1 through 22.32, in administrative proceedings to assess a civil penalty conducted under section 14(a) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act as amended (7 U.S.C. 136l(a)). Where inconsistencies exist between this section and §§ 22.1 through 22.32, this section shall apply.

(a) This section shall apply, in conjunction with §§ 22.1 through 22.32, in administrative proceedings under sections 3005(d) and (e), 3008, 9003 and 9006 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6925(d) and (e), 6928, 6991b and 6991e) (“SWDA”). Where inconsistencies exist between this section and §§ 22.1 through 22.32, this section shall apply.

(a) This section shall apply, in conjunction with §§ 22.1 through 22.32 and § 22.45, in administrative proceedings for the assessment of any civil penalty under section 309(g) or section 311(b)(6) of the Clean Water Act (“CWA”)(33 U.S.C. 1319(g) and 1321(b)(6)). Where inconsistencies exist between this section and §§ 22.1 through 22.32, this section shall apply.

(a) This section shall apply, in conjunction with §§ 22.10 through 22.32, in administrative proceedings for the assessment of any civil penalty under section 109 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (42 U.S.C. 9609). Where inconsistencies exist between this section and §§ 22.1 through 22.32, this section shall apply.

(a) This section shall apply, in conjunction with §§ 22.1 through 22.32, in administrative proceedings to assess a civil penalty conducted under section 207 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (“TSCA”) (15 U.S.C. 2647). Where inconsistencies exist between this section and §§ 22.1 through 22.32, this section shall apply.

(a) This section shall apply, in conjunction with §§ 22.1 through 22.32, in administrative proceedings to assess a civil penalty under section 1414(g)(3)(B) of the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. 300g-3(g)(3)(B). Where inconsistencies exist between this section and §§ 22.1 through 22.32, this section shall apply.

(a) This section shall apply, in conjunction with §§ 22.1 through 22.32, in administrative proceedings to assess a civil penalty against a federal agency under section 1447(b) of the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. 300j-6(b). Where inconsistencies exist between this section and §§ 22.1 through 22.32, this section shall apply.

(a) This section shall apply, in conjunction with §§ 22.1 through 22.32, in administrative proceedings for the assessment of any civil penalty under sections 309(g) and 311(b)(6)(B)(ii) of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1319(g) and 1321(b)(6)(B)(ii)), and under section 1423(c) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300h-2(c)). Where inconsistencies exist between this section and §§ 22.1 through 22.32, this section shall apply.

(b) Sections 22.1 through 22.45 apply to proceedings under this subpart, except for the following provisions which do not apply: §§ 22.11, 22.16(c), 22.21(a), and 22.29. Where inconsistencies exist between this subpart and subparts A through G of this part, this subpart shall apply. Where inconsistencies exist between this subpart and subpart H of this part, subpart H shall apply.

(a) If you request a hearing regarding our decision to assess administrative penalties under § 1068.125, we will hold a formal hearing according to the provisions of 40 CFR 22.1 through 22.32 and 22.34.

(d) Any penalty assessed in the default order shall become due and payable by respondent without further proceedings 30 days after the default order becomes final under § 22.27(c). Any default order requiring compliance or corrective action shall be effective and enforceable without further proceedings on the date the default order becomes final under § 22.27(c). Any Permit Action ordered in the default order shall become effective without further proceedings on the date that the default order becomes final under § 22.27(c).

(2) Within 15 days following the service of a motion to reopen a hearing, any other party to the proceeding may file with the Headquarters or Regional Hearing Clerk, as appropriate, and serve on all other parties a response. A reopened hearing shall be governed by the applicable sections of these Consolidated Rules of Practice. The timely filing of a motion to reopen a hearing shall automatically toll the running of the time periods for an initial decision becoming final under § 22.27(c), for appeal under § 22.30, and for the Environmental Appeals Board to elect to review the initial decision on its own initiative pursuant to § 22.30(b). These time periods begin again in full when the Presiding Officer serves an order denying the motion to reopen the hearing or an amended decision. The Presiding Officer may summarily deny subsequent motions to reopen a hearing filed by the same party if the Presiding Officer determines that the motion was filed to delay the finality of the decision.

(2) Complainant means any person authorized to issue a complaint in accordance with §§ 22.13 and 22.14 on behalf of the Agency to persons alleged to be in violation of the Act. The complainant shall not be a member of the Environmental Appeals Board, the Regional Judicial Officer or any other person who will participate or advise in the adjudication.

Consolidated Rules of Practice means the regulations in this part.

Environmental Appeals Board means the Board within the Agency described in 40 CFR 1.25.

Final order means:

(b) A final order is effective upon filing. Where an initial decision becomes a final order pursuant to § 22.27(c), the final order is effective 45 days after the initial decision is served on the parties.