TITLE 312 NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION

Amends 312 IAC 3-1-7 to establish a time deadline applicable to filings determined by date of delivery or receipt, to eliminate filing by facsimile, and make other technical amendments. Amends 312 IAC 3-1-9 to clarify the authority of the secretary of the natural resources commission to affirm a nonfinal order issued by an administrative law judge approving an agreed order entered by the parties when the administrative law judge is not the ultimate authority. Repeals 312 IAC 1-1-7, 312 IAC 1-1-8, 312 IAC 1-1-9, 312 IAC 1-1-10, 312 IAC 1-1-11, 312 IAC 1-1-12, 312 IAC 1-1-19.5, and 312 IAC 3-1-16. Effective 30 days after filing with the Publisher.

IC 4-22-2.1-5 Statement Concerning Rules Affecting Small Businesses

SECTION 1. 312 IAC 3-1-7 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS:

Affected: IC 1-1-9-1; IC 4-21.5-3-1; IC 4-21.5-3-29; IC 4-21.5-5; IC 14; IC 23-1-20-15; IC 25

Sec. 7. (a) Pleadings and documents must be filed with the administrative law judge commission and served on all other parties.

(b) The filing of a pleading or document with the administrative law judge may be performed by any of the following:

(c) If an attorney or another authorized representative represents a party, service of a pleading or document must be made upon the attorney or other authorized representative. If an individual appears without separate representation, service must be made upon the individual.

(d) Filing or service with the commission is complete on the earliest of the following dates:

(e) Where the date of filing is determined by the date of receipt, a document or pleading delivered after 4:30 p.m. local time of the commission will be deemed to have been received on the next day the commission is open.

(e) (f) This section does not modify the time in which a party may file objections under IC 4-21.5-3-29 or a petition for judicial review under IC 4-21.5-5.

(f) (g) IC 4-21.5-3-1(d) and IC 4-21.5-3-1(e) govern service by publication.

(g) (h) As used in this section, "private carrier" means a person, other than the United States Postal Service, that delivers mail as defined in IC 23-1-20-15.

SECTION 2. 312 IAC 3-1-9 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS:

Affected: IC 4-21.5-3; IC 4-21.5-5; IC 14; IC 25

Sec. 9. (a) An administrative law judge may enter a final order of dismissal if the party who initiated administrative review requests the proceeding be dismissed.

(b) An administrative law judge may, on the motion of the administrative law judge or the motion of a party, enter a proposed order of default or proposed order of dismissal under IC 4-21.5-3-24, if at least one (1) of the following applies:

(c) Within seven (7) days after service of a proposed order of default or dismissal, or within a longer period prescribed by the proposed order, a party may file a written motion requesting the order not be imposed and stating the grounds relied upon. During the time within which a party may file a written motion under this subsection, the administrative law judge may adjourn the proceedings or conduct them without participation of the party against whom a proposed default order was issued, having due regard for the interest of justice and the orderly and prompt conduct of the proceeding.

(d) If the party fails to file a written motion under subsection (c), the administrative law judge shall issue an order of default or dismissal. If the party has filed a written motion under subsection (c), the administrative law judge may either enter or refuse to enter an order of default or dismissal.

(e) After issuing an order of default, but before issuing a final order or disposition, the administrative law judge shall conduct any action necessary to complete the proceeding without the participation of the party in default and shall determine all issues in the adjudication, including those affecting the defaulting party. The administrative law judge may conduct proceedings under IC 4-21.5-3-23 to resolve any issue of fact.

(f) An administrative law judge shall approve an agreed order entered by the parties if it is:

(g) If the administrative law judge is not the ultimate authority, the secretary of the commission, as its designee under IC 4-21.5-3-28(b), may affirm the entry of an agreed order approved by the administrative law judge under subsection (f).

(h) A final order entered under this section is made with prejudice unless otherwise specified in the order. A person may seek judicial review of the order as provided in IC 4-21.5-5.

SECTION 3. THE FOLLOWING ARE REPEALED: 312 IAC 1-1-7; 312 IAC 1-1-8; 312 IAC 1-1-9; 312 IAC 1-1-10; 312 IAC 1-1-11; 312 IAC 1-1-12; 312 IAC 1-1-19.5; 312 IAC 3-1-16.

Notice of Public Hearing

DIN: 20180418-IR-312170553PRA

Composed: Mar 23,2023 12:52:05PM EDT

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