Title 29

SECTION 2700.5

2700.5 General requirements for pleadings and other documents; status or informational requests.

§ 2700.5 General requirements for pleadings and other documents; status or informational requests.

(a) Jurisdiction. A proposal for a penalty under section 110, 30 U.S.C. 820(c); an answer to a notice of contest of a citation or withdrawal order issued under section 104, 30 U.S.C. 814; an answer to a notice of contest of an order issued under section 107, 30 U.S.C. 817; a complaint issued under section 105(c) or 111, 30 U.S.C. 815(c) and 821; and an application for temporary reinstatement under section 105(c)(2), 30 U.S.C. 815(c)(2), shall allege that the violation or imminent danger took place in or involves a mine that has products which enter commerce or has operations or products that affect commerce. Jurisdictional facts that are alleged are deemed admitted unless specifically denied in a responsive pleading.

(b) How to file. Unless otherwise provided for in the Act, these rules, or by order, filing may be accomplished in person, by U.S. Postal Service, by third-party commercial carrier, by facsimile transmission, or by electronic transmission. Instructions for electronic filing may be accessed on the Commission's Web site (http://www.fmshrc.gov).

(1) Filing by electronic transmission. A document may be filed by electronic transmission with the Commission and its Judges. Instructions for electronic filing may be accessed on the Commission's Web site (http://www.fmshrc.gov).

(2) Filing in person, by U.S. Postal Service, by third-party commercial carrier, or by facsimile transmission - (i) Before a Judge has been assigned. Before a Judge has been assigned to a case, all documents shall be filed with the Commission. Documents filed with the Commission shall be addressed to the Executive Director and mailed or delivered to the Docket Office, Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Suite 520N, Washington, DC 20004-1710; facsimile delivery shall be transmitted to (202) 434-9954.

(ii) After a Judge has been assigned. After a Judge has been assigned, and before a decision has been issued, documents shall be filed with the Judge at the address set forth on the notice of the assignment.

(iii) Interlocutory review. Documents filed in connection with interlocutory review shall be filed with the Commission in accordance with § 2700.76.

(iv) After a Judge has issued a final decision. After the Judge has issued a final decision, documents shall be filed with the Commission as described in paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section.

(d) Necessary information. All documents shall be legible and shall clearly identify on the cover page the filing party by name. All documents shall be dated and shall include the assigned docket number, page numbers, and the filing person's address, business telephone number, cell telephone number if available, fax number if available, and email address if available. Written notice of any change in contact information shall be given promptly to the Commission or the Judge and all other parties.

(e) Privacy considerations. Persons submitting information to the Commission shall protect information that tends to identify certain individuals or tends to constitute an unwarranted intrusion of personal privacy in the following manner:

(1) All but the last four digits of social security numbers, financial account numbers, driver's license numbers, or other personal identifying numbers, shall be redacted or excluded;

(2) Minor children shall be identified only by initials;

(3) If dates of birth must be included, only the year shall be used;

(4) Parties shall exercise caution when filing medical records, medical treatment records, medical diagnosis records, employment history, and individual financial information, and shall redact or exclude certain materials unnecessary to a disposition of the case.

(f) Effective date of filing. Unless otherwise provided for in the Act, these rules, or by order:

(1) Filing by electronic transmission. When filing is by electronic transmission, filing is effective upon successful receipt by the Commission. The electronic transmission shall be in the manner specified by the Commission's Web site (http://www.fmshrc.gov).

(2) Filing in person, by U.S. Postal Service, by third-party commercial carrier, or by facsimile transmission. When filing is by U.S. Postal Service, filing is effective upon mailing, except that the filing of a motion for extension of time, any document in an emergency response plan dispute proceeding, a petition for review of a temporary reinstatement order, a motion for summary decision, a petition for discretionary review, and a motion to exceed page limit is effective only upon receipt. See §§ 2700.9(a), 2700.24(d), 2700.45(f), 2700.67(a), 2700.70(a), (f), and 2700.75(f). When filing is in person, by third-party commercial carrier, or by facsimile, filing is effective upon successful receipt by the Commission.

(g) Number of copies. Unless otherwise ordered or stated in this part, only the original of a document shall be filed.

(h) Form of pleadings. All documents, including those filed electronically, shall appear in at least 12-point type on paper 8 1/2 by 11 inches in size, with margins of at least 1 inch on all four sides. Text and footnotes shall appear in the same size type. Text shall be double spaced. Headings and footnotes may be single spaced. Quotations of 50 words or more may be single spaced and indented left and right. Excessive footnotes are prohibited. The failure to comply with the requirements of this paragraph or the use of compacted or otherwise compressed printing features may be grounds for rejection of a pleading.

(i) Citation to a decision of a Judge. Each citation to a decision of a Judge should include “(ALJ)” at the end of the citation.

(j) Status or informational requests. Information concerning filing requirements, the status of cases, or docket information may be accessed through the Commission's Web site (http://www.fmshrc.gov). In the event such information is unavailable through the Commission's Web site or the requesting party does not have access to the Web site, such status or informational requests must be directed to the Docket Office of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Suite 520N, Washington, DC 20004-1710.

[78 FR 77356, Dec. 23, 2013]