(a) Case referral. Within 5 days after receipt of the Forest Service's answer, NFS will refer the case for a hearing as follows:
(1) If the hearing is to be conducted by USDA, NFS will refer the case to the OALJ.
(2) If the hearing is to be conducted by another Department, NFS will refer the case to the hearings component used by that Department.
(b) Content. The case referral will consist of the following:
(1) A copy of any preliminary condition under Sec. 1.620;
(2) The original of any hearing request under Sec. 1.621;
(3) The original of any notice of intervention and response under Sec. 1.622;
(4) The original of any answer under Sec. 1.624; and
(5) An original referral notice under paragraph (c) of this section.
(c) Notice. At the time NFS refers the case for a hearing, it must provide a referral notice that contains the following information:
(1) The name, address, telephone number, and facsimile number of the Department hearings component that will conduct the hearing;
(2) The name, address, and other contact information for the representative of each party to the hearing process;
(3) An identification of any other hearing request that will be consolidated with this hearing request; and
(4) The date on which NFS is referring the case for docketing.
(d) Delivery and service. (1) NFS must refer the case to the appropriate Department hearings component by one of the methods identified in Sec. 1.612(b)(1)(i) and (b)(1)(ii).
(1) NFS must refer the case to the appropriate Department hearings component by one of the methods identified in Sec. 1.612(b)(1)(i) and (b)(1)(ii).
(2) NFS must serve a copy of the referral notice on FERC and each party to the hearing by one of the methods identified in Sec. 1.613(c)(1) and (c)(2).