Amendment of Filing and Service Requirements in Proceedings Before the Office of Administrative Law Judges

This document completes the interim rulemaking published on August 15, 1994. This final rule amends regulations governing the filing and service of documents in proceedings before the Department of Labor's Office of Administrative Law Judges generally, and in one instance, the Regional Administrator's service of a notice of denial of temporary labor certification. The amendments modify regulations which heretofore required filing or service by mailgram or telegram, substituting therefore the option to file or serve those documents by facsimile (fax), telegram or other means normally assuring next day delivery. The amendments also provide guidelines for the filing and service of documents by facsimile, limiting such filings to instances when they are explicitly permitted by statute or regulation, or by the presiding administrative law judge. Finally, the amendments eliminate the routine filing of documents relating to discovery, limiting such filings to instances when there is a reason for their submission.