CFR > Title 40 - Protection of Environment > CHAPTER I—ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY > SUBCHAPTER Q—ENERGY POLICY (Parts 600–611) > PART 600—FUEL ECONOMY AND CARBON-RELATED EXHAUST EMISSIONS OF MOTOR VEHICLES > SUBPART A—Fuel Economy Regulations for 1977 and Later Model Year Automobiles—General Provisions (§600.001-08 to §600.011-93) > 600.009-85—Hearing on acceptance of test data.

600.009-85—Hearing on acceptance of test data.

(a) (1) If the Administrator rejects the following:
(i) The use of a manufacturer's fuel economy data vehicle, in accordance with § 600.008 (e) or (g), or
(ii) The use of fuel economy data, in accordance with § 600.008 (c), or (f), or
(iii) The determination of a vehicle configuration, in accordance with § 600.206(a), or
(iv) The identification of a car line, in accordance with § 600.002(a)(20), or
(v) The fuel economy label values determined by the manufacturer under § 600.312(a), then
(2) (i) The manufacturer may, within 30 days following receipt of notification of rejection, request a hearing on the Administrator's decision.
(ii) The request must be in writing, signed by an authorized representative of the manufacturer, and include a statement specifying the manufacturer's objections to the Administrator's determinations, and data in support of such objection.
(iii) If, after the review of the request and supporting data, the Administrator finds that the request raises a substantial factual issue(s), the Administrator shall provide the manufacturer with an opportunity to request a hearing in accordance with the provisions of this section with respect to such issue(s).
(b) (1) After granting a request for a hearing under paragraph (a) of this section the Administrator will designate a Presiding Officer for the hearing.
(2) The General Counsel will represent the Environmental Protection Agency in any hearing under this section.
(3) If a time and place for the hearing has not been fixed by the Administrator under paragraph (a) of this section the hearing will be held as soon as practicable at a time and place fixed by the Administrator or by the Presiding Officer.
(c) (1) Upon his appointment pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section, the Presiding Officer shall establish a hearing file. The file consists of the notice issued by the Administrator under paragraph (a) of this section together with any accompanying material, the request for a hearing and the supporting data submitted therewith and correspondence and other data material to the hearing.
(2) The hearing file will be available for inspection by the applicant at the office of the Presiding Officer.
(d) A manufacturer may appear in person, or may be represented by counsel or by any other duly authorized representative.
(e) (1) The Presiding Officer upon the request of any party, or in his discretion, may arrange for a prehearing conference at a time and place specified by the Presiding Officer to consider the following:
(i) Simplification and clarification of the issue;
(ii) Stipulations, admissions of fact, and the introduction of documents;
(iii) Limitation of the number of expert witnesses;
(iv) Possibility of agreement disposing of all or any of the issues in dispute;
(v) Such other matters as may aid in the disposition of the hearing, including such additional tests as may be agreed upon by the parties.
(2) The results of the conference shall be reduced to writing by the Presiding Officer and made part of the record.
(f) (1) Hearings shall be conducted by the Presiding Officer in an informal but orderly and expeditious manner. The parties may offer oral or written evidence, subject to the exclusion by the Presiding Officer of irrelevant, immaterial and repetitious evidence.
(2) Witnesses will not be required to testify under oath. However, the Presiding Officer shall call to the attention of witnesses that their statements may be subject to the provisions of 19 U.S.C. 1001 which imposes penalties for knowingly making false statements or representations, or using false documents in any matter within the jurisdiction of any department or agency of the United States.
(3) Any witnesses may be examined or cross-examined by the Presiding Officer, the parties, or their representatives.
(4) Hearings shall be reported verbatim. Copies of transcripts of proceedings may be purchased by the applicant from the reporter.
(5) All written statements, charts, tabulations, and similar data offered in evidence at the hearing shall, upon a showing satisfactory to the Presiding Officer of their authority, relevancy, and materiality, be received in evidence and shall constitute a part of the record.
(6) Oral argument may be permitted in the discretion of the Presiding Officer and will be reported as part of the record unless otherwise ordered.
(g) (1) The Presiding Officer will make an initial decision which shall include written findings and conclusions and the reasons or basis therefore on all material issues of fact, law or discretion presented on the record. The findings, conclusions, and written decisions shall be provided to the parties and made a part of the record. The initial decision shall become the decision of the Administrator without further proceedings unless there is an appeal to the Administrator or motion for review by the Administrator within 20 days of the date the initial decision was filed.
(2) On appeal from or review of the initial decision the Administrator will have all the powers which he would have in making the initial decision including the discretion to require or allow briefs, oral argument, the taking of additional evidence or the remanding to the Presiding Officer for additional proceedings. The decision by the Administration will include written findings and conclusions and the reasons or basis therefor on all the material issues of fact, law or discretion presented on the appeal or considered in the review.
(h) A manufacturer's use of any fuel economy data which the manufacturer challenges pursuant to this section shall not constitute final acceptance by the manufacturer nor prejudice the manufacturer in the exercise of any appeal pursuant to this section challenging such fuel economy data.

Code of Federal Regulations

[49 FR 13844, Apr. 6, 1984; 49 FR 48149, Dec. 10, 1984]
(a) (1) If the Administrator rejects the following:
(i) The use of a manufacturer's fuel economy data vehicle, in accordance with § 600.008 (e) or (g), or
(ii) The use of fuel economy data, in accordance with § 600.008 (c), or (f), or
(iii) The determination of a vehicle configuration, in accordance with § 600.206(a), or
(iv) The identification of a car line, in accordance with § 600.002(a)(20), or
(v) The fuel economy label values determined by the manufacturer under § 600.312(a), then
(2) (i) The manufacturer may, within 30 days following receipt of notification of rejection, request a hearing on the Administrator's decision.
(ii) The request must be in writing, signed by an authorized representative of the manufacturer, and include a statement specifying the manufacturer's objections to the Administrator's determinations, and data in support of such objection.
(iii) If, after the review of the request and supporting data, the Administrator finds that the request raises a substantial factual issue(s), the Administrator shall provide the manufacturer with an opportunity to request a hearing in accordance with the provisions of this section with respect to such issue(s).
(b) (1) After granting a request for a hearing under paragraph (a) of this section the Administrator will designate a Presiding Officer for the hearing.
(2) The General Counsel will represent the Environmental Protection Agency in any hearing under this section.
(3) If a time and place for the hearing has not been fixed by the Administrator under paragraph (a) of this section the hearing will be held as soon as practicable at a time and place fixed by the Administrator or by the Presiding Officer.
(c) (1) Upon his appointment pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section, the Presiding Officer shall establish a hearing file. The file consists of the notice issued by the Administrator under paragraph (a) of this section together with any accompanying material, the request for a hearing and the supporting data submitted therewith and correspondence and other data material to the hearing.
(2) The hearing file will be available for inspection by the applicant at the office of the Presiding Officer.
(d) A manufacturer may appear in person, or may be represented by counsel or by any other duly authorized representative.
(e) (1) The Presiding Officer upon the request of any party, or in his discretion, may arrange for a prehearing conference at a time and place specified by the Presiding Officer to consider the following:
(i) Simplification and clarification of the issue;
(ii) Stipulations, admissions of fact, and the introduction of documents;
(iii) Limitation of the number of expert witnesses;
(iv) Possibility of agreement disposing of all or any of the issues in dispute;
(v) Such other matters as may aid in the disposition of the hearing, including such additional tests as may be agreed upon by the parties.
(2) The results of the conference shall be reduced to writing by the Presiding Officer and made part of the record.
(f) (1) Hearings shall be conducted by the Presiding Officer in an informal but orderly and expeditious manner. The parties may offer oral or written evidence, subject to the exclusion by the Presiding Officer of irrelevant, immaterial and repetitious evidence.
(2) Witnesses will not be required to testify under oath. However, the Presiding Officer shall call to the attention of witnesses that their statements may be subject to the provisions of 19 U.S.C. 1001 which imposes penalties for knowingly making false statements or representations, or using false documents in any matter within the jurisdiction of any department or agency of the United States.
(3) Any witnesses may be examined or cross-examined by the Presiding Officer, the parties, or their representatives.
(4) Hearings shall be reported verbatim. Copies of transcripts of proceedings may be purchased by the applicant from the reporter.
(5) All written statements, charts, tabulations, and similar data offered in evidence at the hearing shall, upon a showing satisfactory to the Presiding Officer of their authority, relevancy, and materiality, be received in evidence and shall constitute a part of the record.
(6) Oral argument may be permitted in the discretion of the Presiding Officer and will be reported as part of the record unless otherwise ordered.
(g) (1) The Presiding Officer will make an initial decision which shall include written findings and conclusions and the reasons or basis therefore on all material issues of fact, law or discretion presented on the record. The findings, conclusions, and written decisions shall be provided to the parties and made a part of the record. The initial decision shall become the decision of the Administrator without further proceedings unless there is an appeal to the Administrator or motion for review by the Administrator within 20 days of the date the initial decision was filed.
(2) On appeal from or review of the initial decision the Administrator will have all the powers which he would have in making the initial decision including the discretion to require or allow briefs, oral argument, the taking of additional evidence or the remanding to the Presiding Officer for additional proceedings. The decision by the Administration will include written findings and conclusions and the reasons or basis therefor on all the material issues of fact, law or discretion presented on the appeal or considered in the review.
(h) A manufacturer's use of any fuel economy data which the manufacturer challenges pursuant to this section shall not constitute final acceptance by the manufacturer nor prejudice the manufacturer in the exercise of any appeal pursuant to this section challenging such fuel economy data.

Code of Federal Regulations

[49 FR 13844, Apr. 6, 1984; 49 FR 48149, Dec. 10, 1984]