CFR > Title 7 - Agriculture > SUBTITLE A—Office of the Secretary of Agriculture > PART 1—ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS > SUBPART O—Conditions in FERC Hydropower Licenses (§1.601 to §1.674) > 1.612—Where and how must documents be filed?

1.612—Where and how must documents be filed?

(a) Place of filing. Any documents relating to a case under §§ 1.610 through 1.660 must be filed with the appropriate office, as follows:
(1) Before NFS refers a case for docketing under § 1.625, any documents must be filed with NFS. NFS's address, telephone number, and facsimile number are set forth in § 1.602.
(2) NFS will notify the parties of the date on which it refers a case for docketing under § 1.625. After that date, any documents must be filed with:
(i) The Hearing Clerk, if USDA will be conducting the hearing. The Hearing Clerk's address, telephone number, and facsimile number are set forth in § 1.602; or
(ii) The hearings component of or used by another Department, if that Department will be conducting the hearing under § 1.625. The name, address, telephone number, and facsimile number of the appropriate hearings component will be provided in the referral notice from the Forest Service.
(b) Method of filing. (1) A document must be filed with the appropriate office under paragraph (a) of this section using one of the following methods:
(i) By hand delivery of the original document;
(ii) By sending the original document by express mail or courier service for delivery on the next business day; or
(iii) By sending the document by facsimile if:
(A) The document is 20 pages or less, including all attachments;
(B) The sending facsimile machine confirms that the transmission was successful; and
(C) The original of the document is sent by regular mail on the same day.
(2) Parties are encouraged, but not required, to supplement any filing by providing the appropriate office with an electronic copy of the document on diskette or compact disc.
(c) Date of filing. A document under §§ 1.610 through 1.660 is considered filed on the date it is received. However, any document received after 5 p.m. at the place where the filing is due is considered filed on the next regular business day.
(d) Nonconforming documents. If any document submitted for filing under §§ 1.610 through 1.660 does not comply with the requirements of §§ 1.610 through 1.660 or any applicable order, it may be rejected. If the defect is minor, the party may be notified of the defect and given a chance to correct it.