80_FR_77475 80 FR 77236 - Amendments to Rules and Regulations

80 FR 77236 - Amendments to Rules and Regulations

NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 239 (December 14, 2015)

Page Range77236-77238
FR Document2015-31339

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is issuing a final rule amending its Rules and Regulations to reflect the closure of the Atlanta, Georgia office of the Division of Judges.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 239 (Monday, December 14, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 239 (Monday, December 14, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 77236-77238]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-31339]



[[Page 77236]]

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NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD

29 CFR Part 102


Amendments to Rules and Regulations

AGENCY: National Labor Relations Board.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is issuing a final 
rule amending its Rules and Regulations to reflect the closure of the 
Atlanta, Georgia office of the Division of Judges.

DATES: The effective date is January 4, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary Shinners, Executive Secretary, 
1015 Half Street SE., Washington, DC 20570. Telephone: (202) 273-1067.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NLRB's Division of Judges (DOJ) 
currently has 34 administrative law judges, including the chief judge, 
deputy chief judge, and three associate chief judges, who hear, decide, 
and settle unfair labor practice cases nationwide. The judges are 
formally assigned to one of four offices in Washington, DC, New York, 
NY, San Francisco, CA, and Atlanta, GA, and receive their case 
assignments through those offices.
    The NLRB has decided to close the Atlanta DOJ office and reassign 
the administrative law judges and clerical staff to other offices. It 
is doing so for several reasons. First, the office's longtime head, 
Associate Chief Judge William N. Cates, will be retiring at the end of 
the year. Second, of the four DOJ offices, the Atlanta office has the 
smallest number of nonsupervisory judges (four) and clerical employees 
(two). Third, although assigned to the Atlanta DOJ office, the four 
judges do not physically work out of that office. Like most NLRB 
administrative law judges, they telework and travel to the designated 
hearing sites from their states of residence (Virgina, Tennessee, 
Texas, and Florida). Fourth, closing the Atlanta DOJ office will save 
the NLRB the cost of renting that facility.
    The four Atlanta DOJ administrative law judges will be reassigned 
to the Washington, DC DOJ office. They will continue to telework and 
perform their duties as before, but will receive their case assignments 
from the Chief Judge or Deputy Chief Judge, and be assisted by the 
clerical staff, in that office. One of the two administrative 
professional employees in the Atlanta DOJ office will be reassigned to 
assist the NLRB's nearby Regional Office in Atlanta. The other 
administrative professional employee will be relocated to the NLRB 
Atlanta Regional Office and will continue to provide assistance to the 
Division of Judges.
    Accordingly, consistent with the foregoing, the NLRB is revising 
Sec. Sec.  102.24, 102.25, 102.30(c), 102.34, 102.35(b), 102.36, 
102.42, and 102.149 of its rules and regulations, and appendix A 
thereto, to delete the references to the Atlanta DOJ office and to 
reflect the current structure of the Agency's field organization. 
Appendix A to part 102 of the Board's Rules and Regulations, which 
includes a complete listing of the official office hours of the NLRB 
Headquarters, the Division of Judges, and the Regional and Subregional 
Offices, was last published in full at 57 FR 4158 (February 4, 1992). 
Since that time, the Board has published numerous individual amendments 
to its Statement of Organization and Functions, including 65 FR 53228, 
65 FR 64723, 69 FR 31143, 69 FR 74541, 77 FR 72886, 78 FR 44602, 79 FR 
69136, and 79 FR 72707. Accordingly, the Board is now publishing 
Appendix A to Part 102--NLRB Official Office Hours in its entirety 
because of the number of changes made to the field offices and the age 
of the last publication.
    This action is not subject to the advance notice and comment 
provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553), or the 
requirements of Executive Order 12866, the Regulatory Flexibility Act 
(5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), or the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement 
Fairness Act (5 U.S.C. 801). As indicated above, the action relates 
solely to agency organization, management, or personnel matters. It 
will have no adverse impact on the ability of the NLRB Judges Division 
to cover the trial docket in the southern region of the country or 
elsewhere. Nor will it impose any additional paperwork, reporting, or 
other costs, burdens, or responsibilities on parties, practitioners, or 
others who participate in hearings before the NLRB's administrative law 
judges.

List of Subjects in 29 CFR Part 102

    Administrative practice and procedure, Labor management relations.

    For the reasons set forth above, the NLRB amends part 102 as 
follows:

PART 102--RULES AND REGULATIONS, SERIES 8

0
1. The authority citation for part 102 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: Sections 1, 6, National Labor Relations Act (29 
U.S.C. 151, 156). Section 102.117 also issued under section 
552(a)(4)(A) of the Freedom of Information Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. 
552(a)(4)(A)), and Section 102.117a also issued under section 
552a(j) and (k) of the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a(j) and 
(k)). Sections 102.143 through 102.155 also issued under section 
504(c)(1) of the Equal Access to Justice Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. 
504(c)(1)).

0
2. Amend Sec.  102.24 by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:


Sec.  102.24  Motions; where to file; contents; service on other 
parties; promptness in filing and response; default judgment 
procedures; summary judgment procedures.

    (a) All motions under Sec. Sec.  102.22 and 102.29 made prior to 
the hearing shall be filed in writing with the Regional Director 
issuing the complaint. All motions for default judgment, summary 
judgment, or dismissal made prior to the hearing shall be filed in 
writing with the Board pursuant to the provisions of Sec.  102.50. All 
other motions made prior to the hearing, including motions to 
reschedule the hearing under circumstances other than those set forth 
in Sec.  102.16(a), shall be filed in writing with the chief 
administrative law judge in Washington, DC, with the associate chief 
judge in San Francisco, California, or with the associate chief judge 
in New York, New York, as the case may be. All motions made at the 
hearing shall be made in writing to the administrative law judge or 
stated orally on the record. All motions filed subsequent to the 
hearing, but before the transfer of the case to the Board pursuant to 
Sec.  102.45, shall be filed with the administrative law judge, care of 
the chief administrative law judge in Washington, DC, the associate 
chief judge in San Francisco, or the associate chief judge in New York, 
as the case may be. Motions shall briefly state the order or relief 
applied for and the grounds therefor. All motions filed with a Regional 
Director or an administrative law judge as set forth in this paragraph 
shall be filed therewith by transmitting three copies thereof together 
with an affidavit of service on the parties. All motions filed with the 
Board, including motions for default judgment, summary judgment, or 
dismissal, shall be filed with the Executive Secretary of the Board in 
Washington, DC, by transmitting eight copies thereof together with an 
affidavit of service on the parties. Unless otherwise provided in this 
part, motions and responses thereto shall be filed promptly and within 
such time as not to delay the proceeding.
* * * * *

0
3. Revise Sec.  102.25 to read as follows:


Sec.  102.25  Ruling on motions.

    An administrative law judge designated by the chief administrative

[[Page 77237]]

law judge in Washington, DC, by the associate chief judge in San 
Francisco, California, or by the associate chief judge in New York, New 
York, as the case may be, shall rule on all prehearing motions (except 
as provided in Sec. Sec.  102.16, 102.22, 102.29, and 102.50), and all 
such rulings and orders shall be issued in writing and a copy served on 
each of the parties. The administrative law judge designated to conduct 
the hearing shall rule on all motions after opening of the hearing 
(except as provided in Sec.  102.47), and any orders in connection 
therewith, if announced at the hearing, shall be stated orally on the 
record; in all other cases the administrative law judge shall issue 
such rulings and orders in writing and shall cause a copy of the same 
to be served on each of the parties, or shall make his ruling in his 
decision. Whenever the administrative law judge has reserved his ruling 
on any motion, and the proceeding is thereafter transferred to and 
continued before the Board pursuant to Sec.  102.50, the Board shall 
rule on such motion. (49 Stat. 449; 29 U.S.C. 151-166, as amended by 
(61 Stat. 136; 29 U.S.C. Sup. 151-167), (65 Stat. 601; 29 U.S.C. 158, 
159, 168), (73 Stat. 519; 29 U.S.C. 141-168), (88 Stat. 395-397; 29 
U.S.C. 152, 158, 169, 183))

0
4. Amend Sec.  102.30 by revising paragraph (c) to read as follows:


Sec.  102.30  Examination of witnesses; deposition.

* * * * *
    (c) At the time and place specified in said order the officer 
designated to take such deposition shall permit the witness to be 
examined and cross-examined under oath by all the parties appearing, 
and his testimony shall be reduced to type-writing by the officer or 
under his direction. All objections to questions or evidence shall be 
deemed waived unless made at the examination. The officer shall not 
have power to rule upon any objections but he shall note them upon the 
deposition. The testimony shall be subscribed by the witness in the 
presence of the officer who shall attach his certificate stating that 
the witness was duly sworn by him, that the deposition is a true record 
of the testimony and exhibits given by the witness, and that said 
officer is not of counsel or attorney to any of the parties nor 
interested in the event of the proceeding or investigation. If the 
deposition is not signed by the witness because he is ill, dead, cannot 
be found, or refuses to sign it, such fact shall be included in the 
certificate of the officer and the deposition may then be used as fully 
as though signed. The officer shall immediately deliver an original and 
two copies of said transcript, together with his certificate, in person 
or by registered or certified mail to the Regional Director or the 
administrative law judge, care of the chief administrative law judge in 
Washington, DC, the associate chief judge in San Francisco, California, 
or the associate chief judge in New York, New York, as the case may be.
* * * * *

0
5. Revise Sec.  102.34 to read as follows:


Sec.  102.34  Who shall conduct; to be public unless otherwise ordered.

    The hearing for the purpose of taking evidence upon a complaint 
shall be conducted by an administrative law judge designated by the 
chief administrative law judge in Washington, DC, by the associate 
chief judge in San Francisco, California, or by the associate chief 
judge in New York, New York, as the case may be, unless the Board or 
any Member thereof presides. At any time an administrative law judge 
may be designated to take the place of the administrative law judge 
previously designated to conduct the hearing. Such hearings shall be 
public unless otherwise ordered by the Board or the administrative law 
judge. (49 Stat. 449; 29 U.S.C. 151-166, as amended by (61 Stat. 136; 
29 U.S.C. Sup. 151-167), (65 Stat. 601; 29 U.S.C. 158, 159, 168), (73 
Stat. 519; 29 U.S.C. 141-168), (88 Stat. 395-397; 29 U.S.C. 152, 158, 
169, 183))

0
6. Amend Sec.  102.35 by revising paragraph (b) introductory text to 
read as follows:


Sec.  102.35  Duties and powers of administrative law judges; 
stipulations of cases to administrative law judges or to the Board; 
assignment and powers of settlement judges.

* * * * *
    (b) Upon the request of any party or the judge assigned to hear a 
case, or on his or her own motion, the chief administrative law judge 
in Washington, DC, the associate chief judge in San Francisco, 
California, or the associate chief judge in New York, New York may 
assign a judge who shall be other than the trial judge to conduct 
settlement negotiations. In exercising his or her discretion, the chief 
judge or associate chief judge making the assignment will consider, 
among other factors, whether there is reason to believe that resolution 
of the dispute is likely, the request for assignment of a settlement 
judge is made in good faith, and the assignment is otherwise feasible. 
Provided, however, that no such assignment shall be made absent the 
agreement of all parties to the use of this procedure.
* * * * *

0
7. Revise Sec.  102.36 to read as follows:


Sec.  102.36  Unavailability of administrative law judges.

    In the event the administrative law judge designated to conduct the 
hearing becomes unavailable to the Board after the hearing has been 
opened, the chief administrative law judge in Washington, DC, the 
associate chief judge in San Francisco, California, or the associate 
chief judge in New York, New York, as the case may be, may designate 
another administrative law judge for the purpose of further hearing or 
other appropriate action. (49 Stat. 449; 29 U.S.C. 151-166, as amended 
by (61 Stat. 136; 29 U.S.C. Sup. 151-167), (65 Stat. 601; 29 U.S.C. 
158, 159, 168), (73 Stat. 519; 29 U.S.C. 141-168), (88 Stat. 395-397; 
29 U.S.C. 152, 158, 169, 183))

0
8. Revise Sec.  102.42 to read as follows:


Sec.  102.42  Filings of briefs and proposed findings with the 
administrative law judge and oral argument at the hearing.

    Any party shall be entitled, upon request, to a reasonable period 
at the close of the hearing for oral argument, which may include 
presentation of proposed findings and conclusions, and shall be 
included in the stenographic report of the hearing. In the discretion 
of the administrative law judge, any party may, upon request made 
before the close of the hearing, file a brief or proposed findings and 
conclusions, or both, with the administrative law judge, who may fix a 
reasonable time for such filing, but not in excess of 35 days from the 
close of the hearing. Requests for further extensions of time shall be 
made to the chief administrative law judge in Washington, DC, to the 
associate chief judge in San Francisco, California, or to the associate 
chief judge in New York, New York, as the case may be. Notice of the 
request for any extension shall be immediately served on all other 
parties, and proof of service shall be furnished. Three copies of the 
brief or proposed findings and conclusions shall be filed with the 
administrative law judge, and copies shall be served on the other 
parties, and a statement of such service shall be furnished. In any 
case in which the administrative law judge believes that written briefs 
or proposed findings of fact and conclusions may not be necessary, he 
or she shall notify the parties at the opening of the hearing or as 
soon thereafter as practicable that he or she may wish to hear oral 
argument in lieu of briefs.

0
9. Amend Sec.  102.149 by revising paragraph (b) to read as follows:


Sec.  102.149  Filing of documents; service of documents; motions for 
extension of time.

* * * * *

[[Page 77238]]

    (b) Motions for extensions of time to file motions, documents, or 
pleadings permitted by Sec.  102.150 or by Sec.  102.152 shall be filed 
with the chief administrative law judge in Washington, DC, the 
associate chief judge in San Francisco, California, or the associate 
chief judge in New York, New York, as the case may be, not later than 3 
days before the due date of the document. Notice of the request shall 
be immediately served on all other parties and proof of service 
furnished.

0
10. Revise appendix A to part 102 to read as follows:

Appendix A to Part 102--NLRB Official Office Hours

    (Official Office Hours of the Regional and Subregional Offices 
are listed in numerical order except that Subregions appear directly 
under their respective Regions. Official office hours of the field 
offices also can be found on the NLRB Web site at https://www.nlrb.gov/who-we-are/regional-offices.)

NLRB Headquarters, Business Hours
 (Local Time):
    Washington, DC.................  8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Division of Judges, Business Hours
 (Local Time):
    Washington, DC.................  8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
    San Francisco..................  8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
    New York.......................  8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Regional Office Business Hours
 (Local Time):
    1--Boston......................  8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
        Hartford...................  8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
    2--New York....................  8:45 a.m.-5:15 p.m.
    3--Buffalo.....................  8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
        Albany.....................  8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
    4--Philadelphia................  8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
    5--Baltimore...................  8:15 a.m.-4:45 p.m.
        Washington, DC.............  8:15 a.m.-4:45 p.m.
    6--Pittsburgh..................  8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
    7--Detroit.....................  8:15 a.m.-4:45 p.m
        Grand Rapids...............  8:15 a.m.-4:45 p.m.
    8--Cleveland...................  8:15 a.m.-4:45 p.m.
    9--Cincinnati..................  8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
    10--Atlanta....................  8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
        Winston-Salem..............  8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
        Birmingham.................  8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
        Nashville..................  8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
    12--Tampa......................  8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
        Miami......................  8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
        Puerto Rico................  8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
    13--Chicago....................  8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
    14--St. Louis..................  8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
        Kansas City................  8:15 a.m.-4:45 p.m.
        Tulsa......................  8:15 a.m.-4:45 p.m.
    15--New Orleans................  8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
        Memphis....................  8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
        Little Rock................  8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
    16--Fort Worth.................  8:15 a.m.-4:45 p.m.
        Houston....................  8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
        San Antonio................  8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
    18--Minneapolis................  8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
        Milwaukee..................  8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
    19--Seattle....................  8:15 a.m.-4:45 p.m.
        Portland...................  8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
        Anchorage..................  8:15 a.m.-4:45 p.m.
    20--San Francisco..............  8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
        Honolulu...................  8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
    21--Los Angeles................  8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
        San Diego..................  8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
    22--Newark.....................  8:45 a.m.-5:15 p.m.
    25--Indianapolis...............  8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
        Peoria.....................  8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
    27--Denver.....................  8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
    28--Phoenix....................  8:15 a.m.-4:45 p.m.
        Albuquerque................  8:15 a.m.-4:45 p.m.
        Las Vegas..................  8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
    29--Brooklyn...................  9:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
    31--Los Angeles................  8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
    32--Oakland....................  8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
 


    Dated: December 2, 2015.

    By direction of the Board.
William B. Cowen,
Solicitor, National Labor Relations Board.
[FR Doc. 2015-31339 Filed 12-11-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7545-01-P



                                                77236            Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 239 / Monday, December 14, 2015 / Rules and Regulations

                                                NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS                                employee will be relocated to the NLRB                Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. 552(a)(4)(A)), and
                                                BOARD                                                   Atlanta Regional Office and will                      Section 102.117a also issued under section
                                                                                                        continue to provide assistance to the                 552a(j) and (k) of the Privacy Act of 1974 (5
                                                29 CFR Part 102                                                                                               U.S.C. 552a(j) and (k)). Sections 102.143
                                                                                                        Division of Judges.                                   through 102.155 also issued under section
                                                                                                           Accordingly, consistent with the                   504(c)(1) of the Equal Access to Justice Act,
                                                Amendments to Rules and Regulations                     foregoing, the NLRB is revising                       as amended (5 U.S.C. 504(c)(1)).
                                                AGENCY:    National Labor Relations                     §§ 102.24, 102.25, 102.30(c), 102.34,                 ■ 2. Amend § 102.24 by revising
                                                Board.                                                  102.35(b), 102.36, 102.42, and 102.149                paragraph (a) to read as follows:
                                                ACTION:   Final rule.                                   of its rules and regulations, and
                                                                                                        appendix A thereto, to delete the                     § 102.24 Motions; where to file; contents;
                                                SUMMARY:    The National Labor Relations                references to the Atlanta DOJ office and              service on other parties; promptness in
                                                Board (NLRB) is issuing a final rule                    to reflect the current structure of the               filing and response; default judgment
                                                                                                        Agency’s field organization. Appendix                 procedures; summary judgment
                                                amending its Rules and Regulations to                                                                         procedures.
                                                reflect the closure of the Atlanta,                     A to part 102 of the Board’s Rules and
                                                Georgia office of the Division of Judges.               Regulations, which includes a complete                  (a) All motions under §§ 102.22 and
                                                                                                        listing of the official office hours of the           102.29 made prior to the hearing shall
                                                DATES: The effective date is January 4,
                                                                                                        NLRB Headquarters, the Division of                    be filed in writing with the Regional
                                                2016.                                                                                                         Director issuing the complaint. All
                                                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary                   Judges, and the Regional and
                                                                                                        Subregional Offices, was last published               motions for default judgment, summary
                                                Shinners, Executive Secretary, 1015                                                                           judgment, or dismissal made prior to the
                                                Half Street SE., Washington, DC 20570.                  in full at 57 FR 4158 (February 4, 1992).
                                                                                                        Since that time, the Board has published              hearing shall be filed in writing with the
                                                Telephone: (202) 273–1067.                                                                                    Board pursuant to the provisions of
                                                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
                                                                                                        numerous individual amendments to its
                                                                                                        Statement of Organization and                         § 102.50. All other motions made prior
                                                NLRB’s Division of Judges (DOJ)                                                                               to the hearing, including motions to
                                                currently has 34 administrative law                     Functions, including 65 FR 53228, 65
                                                                                                                                                              reschedule the hearing under
                                                judges, including the chief judge,                      FR 64723, 69 FR 31143, 69 FR 74541,
                                                                                                                                                              circumstances other than those set forth
                                                deputy chief judge, and three associate                 77 FR 72886, 78 FR 44602, 79 FR 69136,
                                                                                                                                                              in § 102.16(a), shall be filed in writing
                                                chief judges, who hear, decide, and                     and 79 FR 72707. Accordingly, the
                                                                                                                                                              with the chief administrative law judge
                                                settle unfair labor practice cases                      Board is now publishing Appendix A to
                                                                                                                                                              in Washington, DC, with the associate
                                                nationwide. The judges are formally                     Part 102—NLRB Official Office Hours in
                                                                                                                                                              chief judge in San Francisco, California,
                                                assigned to one of four offices in                      its entirety because of the number of
                                                                                                                                                              or with the associate chief judge in New
                                                Washington, DC, New York, NY, San                       changes made to the field offices and
                                                                                                                                                              York, New York, as the case may be. All
                                                Francisco, CA, and Atlanta, GA, and                     the age of the last publication.
                                                                                                                                                              motions made at the hearing shall be
                                                                                                           This action is not subject to the
                                                receive their case assignments through                                                                        made in writing to the administrative
                                                                                                        advance notice and comment provisions
                                                those offices.                                                                                                law judge or stated orally on the record.
                                                  The NLRB has decided to close the                     of the Administrative Procedure Act (5
                                                                                                                                                              All motions filed subsequent to the
                                                Atlanta DOJ office and reassign the                     U.S.C. 553), or the requirements of
                                                                                                                                                              hearing, but before the transfer of the
                                                administrative law judges and clerical                  Executive Order 12866, the Regulatory
                                                                                                                                                              case to the Board pursuant to § 102.45,
                                                staff to other offices. It is doing so for              Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), or
                                                                                                                                                              shall be filed with the administrative
                                                several reasons. First, the office’s                    the Small Business Regulatory
                                                                                                                                                              law judge, care of the chief
                                                longtime head, Associate Chief Judge                    Enforcement Fairness Act (5 U.S.C.
                                                                                                                                                              administrative law judge in Washington,
                                                William N. Cates, will be retiring at the               801). As indicated above, the action                  DC, the associate chief judge in San
                                                end of the year. Second, of the four DOJ                relates solely to agency organization,                Francisco, or the associate chief judge in
                                                offices, the Atlanta office has the                     management, or personnel matters. It                  New York, as the case may be. Motions
                                                smallest number of nonsupervisory                       will have no adverse impact on the                    shall briefly state the order or relief
                                                judges (four) and clerical employees                    ability of the NLRB Judges Division to                applied for and the grounds therefor. All
                                                (two). Third, although assigned to the                  cover the trial docket in the southern                motions filed with a Regional Director
                                                Atlanta DOJ office, the four judges do                  region of the country or elsewhere. Nor               or an administrative law judge as set
                                                not physically work out of that office.                 will it impose any additional                         forth in this paragraph shall be filed
                                                Like most NLRB administrative law                       paperwork, reporting, or other costs,                 therewith by transmitting three copies
                                                judges, they telework and travel to the                 burdens, or responsibilities on parties,              thereof together with an affidavit of
                                                designated hearing sites from their                     practitioners, or others who participate              service on the parties. All motions filed
                                                states of residence (Virgina, Tennessee,                in hearings before the NLRB’s                         with the Board, including motions for
                                                Texas, and Florida). Fourth, closing the                administrative law judges.                            default judgment, summary judgment,
                                                Atlanta DOJ office will save the NLRB                   List of Subjects in 29 CFR Part 102                   or dismissal, shall be filed with the
                                                the cost of renting that facility.                        Administrative practice and                         Executive Secretary of the Board in
                                                  The four Atlanta DOJ administrative                   procedure, Labor management relations.                Washington, DC, by transmitting eight
                                                law judges will be reassigned to the                                                                          copies thereof together with an affidavit
                                                Washington, DC DOJ office. They will                      For the reasons set forth above, the
                                                                                                                                                              of service on the parties. Unless
                                                continue to telework and perform their                  NLRB amends part 102 as follows:
                                                                                                                                                              otherwise provided in this part, motions
                                                duties as before, but will receive their                PART 102—RULES AND                                    and responses thereto shall be filed
                                                case assignments from the Chief Judge                   REGULATIONS, SERIES 8                                 promptly and within such time as not
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                                or Deputy Chief Judge, and be assisted                                                                        to delay the proceeding.
                                                by the clerical staff, in that office. One              ■ 1. The authority citation for part 102              *     *     *     *     *
                                                of the two administrative professional                  continues to read as follows:                         ■ 3. Revise § 102.25 to read as follows:
                                                employees in the Atlanta DOJ office will                  Authority: Sections 1, 6, National Labor
                                                be reassigned to assist the NLRB’s                      Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 151, 156). Section           § 102.25   Ruling on motions.
                                                nearby Regional Office in Atlanta. The                  102.117 also issued under section                       An administrative law judge
                                                other administrative professional                       552(a)(4)(A) of the Freedom of Information            designated by the chief administrative


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                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 239 / Monday, December 14, 2015 / Rules and Regulations                                          77237

                                                law judge in Washington, DC, by the                     copies of said transcript, together with              § 102.36 Unavailability of administrative
                                                associate chief judge in San Francisco,                 his certificate, in person or by registered           law judges.
                                                California, or by the associate chief                   or certified mail to the Regional Director              In the event the administrative law
                                                judge in New York, New York, as the                     or the administrative law judge, care of              judge designated to conduct the hearing
                                                case may be, shall rule on all prehearing               the chief administrative law judge in                 becomes unavailable to the Board after
                                                motions (except as provided in                          Washington, DC, the associate chief                   the hearing has been opened, the chief
                                                §§ 102.16, 102.22, 102.29, and 102.50),                 judge in San Francisco, California, or                administrative law judge in Washington,
                                                and all such rulings and orders shall be                the associate chief judge in New York,                DC, the associate chief judge in San
                                                issued in writing and a copy served on                  New York, as the case may be.                         Francisco, California, or the associate
                                                each of the parties. The administrative                 *     *     *      *    *                             chief judge in New York, New York, as
                                                law judge designated to conduct the                     ■ 5. Revise § 102.34 to read as follows:              the case may be, may designate another
                                                hearing shall rule on all motions after                                                                       administrative law judge for the purpose
                                                opening of the hearing (except as                       § 102.34 Who shall conduct; to be public              of further hearing or other appropriate
                                                provided in § 102.47), and any orders in                unless otherwise ordered.
                                                                                                                                                              action. (49 Stat. 449; 29 U.S.C. 151–166,
                                                connection therewith, if announced at                     The hearing for the purpose of taking               as amended by (61 Stat. 136; 29 U.S.C.
                                                the hearing, shall be stated orally on the              evidence upon a complaint shall be                    Sup. 151–167), (65 Stat. 601; 29 U.S.C.
                                                record; in all other cases the                          conducted by an administrative law                    158, 159, 168), (73 Stat. 519; 29 U.S.C.
                                                administrative law judge shall issue                    judge designated by the chief                         141–168), (88 Stat. 395–397; 29 U.S.C.
                                                such rulings and orders in writing and                  administrative law judge in Washington,               152, 158, 169, 183))
                                                shall cause a copy of the same to be                    DC, by the associate chief judge in San
                                                served on each of the parties, or shall                 Francisco, California, or by the associate            ■ 8. Revise § 102.42 to read as follows:
                                                make his ruling in his decision.                        chief judge in New York, New York, as                 § 102.42 Filings of briefs and proposed
                                                Whenever the administrative law judge                   the case may be, unless the Board or any              findings with the administrative law judge
                                                has reserved his ruling on any motion,                  Member thereof presides. At any time                  and oral argument at the hearing.
                                                and the proceeding is thereafter                        an administrative law judge may be
                                                                                                                                                                 Any party shall be entitled, upon
                                                transferred to and continued before the                 designated to take the place of the
                                                                                                                                                              request, to a reasonable period at the
                                                Board pursuant to § 102.50, the Board                   administrative law judge previously
                                                                                                                                                              close of the hearing for oral argument,
                                                shall rule on such motion. (49 Stat. 449;               designated to conduct the hearing. Such
                                                                                                                                                              which may include presentation of
                                                29 U.S.C. 151–166, as amended by (61                    hearings shall be public unless
                                                                                                                                                              proposed findings and conclusions, and
                                                Stat. 136; 29 U.S.C. Sup. 151–167), (65                 otherwise ordered by the Board or the
                                                                                                                                                              shall be included in the stenographic
                                                Stat. 601; 29 U.S.C. 158, 159, 168), (73                administrative law judge. (49 Stat. 449;
                                                                                                                                                              report of the hearing. In the discretion
                                                Stat. 519; 29 U.S.C. 141–168), (88 Stat.                29 U.S.C. 151–166, as amended by (61
                                                                                                                                                              of the administrative law judge, any
                                                395–397; 29 U.S.C. 152, 158, 169, 183))                 Stat. 136; 29 U.S.C. Sup. 151–167), (65
                                                                                                        Stat. 601; 29 U.S.C. 158, 159, 168), (73              party may, upon request made before
                                                ■ 4. Amend § 102.30 by revising
                                                                                                        Stat. 519; 29 U.S.C. 141–168), (88 Stat.              the close of the hearing, file a brief or
                                                paragraph (c) to read as follows:                                                                             proposed findings and conclusions, or
                                                                                                        395–397; 29 U.S.C. 152, 158, 169, 183))
                                                § 102.30 Examination of witnesses;                                                                            both, with the administrative law judge,
                                                                                                        ■ 6. Amend § 102.35 by revising
                                                deposition.                                                                                                   who may fix a reasonable time for such
                                                                                                        paragraph (b) introductory text to read
                                                *     *     *      *     *                                                                                    filing, but not in excess of 35 days from
                                                                                                        as follows:
                                                  (c) At the time and place specified in                                                                      the close of the hearing. Requests for
                                                said order the officer designated to take               § 102.35 Duties and powers of                         further extensions of time shall be made
                                                such deposition shall permit the witness                administrative law judges; stipulations of            to the chief administrative law judge in
                                                to be examined and cross-examined                       cases to administrative law judges or to the          Washington, DC, to the associate chief
                                                under oath by all the parties appearing,                Board; assignment and powers of                       judge in San Francisco, California, or to
                                                                                                        settlement judges.                                    the associate chief judge in New York,
                                                and his testimony shall be reduced to
                                                type-writing by the officer or under his                *      *    *     *     *                             New York, as the case may be. Notice
                                                direction. All objections to questions or                  (b) Upon the request of any party or               of the request for any extension shall be
                                                evidence shall be deemed waived unless                  the judge assigned to hear a case, or on              immediately served on all other parties,
                                                made at the examination. The officer                    his or her own motion, the chief                      and proof of service shall be furnished.
                                                shall not have power to rule upon any                   administrative law judge in Washington,               Three copies of the brief or proposed
                                                objections but he shall note them upon                  DC, the associate chief judge in San                  findings and conclusions shall be filed
                                                the deposition. The testimony shall be                  Francisco, California, or the associate               with the administrative law judge, and
                                                subscribed by the witness in the                        chief judge in New York, New York may                 copies shall be served on the other
                                                presence of the officer who shall attach                assign a judge who shall be other than                parties, and a statement of such service
                                                his certificate stating that the witness                the trial judge to conduct settlement                 shall be furnished. In any case in which
                                                was duly sworn by him, that the                         negotiations. In exercising his or her                the administrative law judge believes
                                                deposition is a true record of the                      discretion, the chief judge or associate              that written briefs or proposed findings
                                                testimony and exhibits given by the                     chief judge making the assignment will                of fact and conclusions may not be
                                                witness, and that said officer is not of                consider, among other factors, whether                necessary, he or she shall notify the
                                                counsel or attorney to any of the parties               there is reason to believe that resolution            parties at the opening of the hearing or
                                                nor interested in the event of the                      of the dispute is likely, the request for             as soon thereafter as practicable that he
                                                proceeding or investigation. If the                     assignment of a settlement judge is                   or she may wish to hear oral argument
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                                                deposition is not signed by the witness                 made in good faith, and the assignment                in lieu of briefs.
                                                because he is ill, dead, cannot be found,               is otherwise feasible. Provided,
                                                                                                                                                              ■ 9. Amend § 102.149 by revising
                                                or refuses to sign it, such fact shall be               however, that no such assignment shall
                                                                                                        be made absent the agreement of all                   paragraph (b) to read as follows:
                                                included in the certificate of the officer
                                                and the deposition may then be used as                  parties to the use of this procedure.                 § 102.149 Filing of documents; service of
                                                fully as though signed. The officer shall               *      *    *     *     *                             documents; motions for extension of time.
                                                immediately deliver an original and two                 ■ 7. Revise § 102.36 to read as follows:              *        *   *    *     *


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                                                77238                 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 239 / Monday, December 14, 2015 / Rules and Regulations

                                                   (b) Motions for extensions of time to                                  the case may be, not later than 3 days                                     Appendix A to Part 102—NLRB Official
                                                file motions, documents, or pleadings                                     before the due date of the document.                                       Office Hours
                                                permitted by § 102.150 or by § 102.152                                    Notice of the request shall be                                               (Official Office Hours of the Regional and
                                                shall be filed with the chief                                             immediately served on all other parties                                    Subregional Offices are listed in numerical
                                                administrative law judge in Washington,                                   and proof of service furnished.                                            order except that Subregions appear directly
                                                DC, the associate chief judge in San                                                                                                                 under their respective Regions. Official office
                                                                                                                          ■ 10. Revise appendix A to part 102 to                                     hours of the field offices also can be found
                                                Francisco, California, or the associate
                                                                                                                          read as follows:                                                           on the NLRB Web site at https://
                                                chief judge in New York, New York, as
                                                                                                                                                                                                     www.nlrb.gov/who-we-are/regional-offices.)

                                                NLRB Headquarters, Business Hours (Local Time):
                                                    Washington, DC .............................................................................................................................................................         8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
                                                Division of Judges, Business Hours (Local Time):
                                                    Washington, DC .............................................................................................................................................................         8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
                                                    San Francisco .................................................................................................................................................................      8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
                                                    New York .......................................................................................................................................................................     8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
                                                Regional Office Business Hours (Local Time):
                                                    1—Boston .......................................................................................................................................................................     8:30   a.m.–5:00   p.m.
                                                        Hartford ...................................................................................................................................................................     8:30   a.m.–5:00   p.m.
                                                    2—New York ..................................................................................................................................................................        8:45   a.m.–5:15   p.m.
                                                    3—Buffalo ......................................................................................................................................................................     8:30   a.m.–5:00   p.m.
                                                        Albany .....................................................................................................................................................................     8:30   a.m.–5:00   p.m.
                                                    4—Philadelphia .............................................................................................................................................................         8:30   a.m.–5:00   p.m.
                                                    5—Baltimore ..................................................................................................................................................................       8:15   a.m.–4:45   p.m.
                                                        Washington, DC ......................................................................................................................................................            8:15   a.m.–4:45   p.m.
                                                    6—Pittsburgh ..................................................................................................................................................................      8:30   a.m.–5:00   p.m.
                                                    7—Detroit .......................................................................................................................................................................    8:15   a.m.–4:45   p.m
                                                        Grand Rapids ..........................................................................................................................................................          8:15   a.m.–4:45   p.m.
                                                    8—Cleveland ..................................................................................................................................................................       8:15   a.m.–4:45   p.m.
                                                    9—Cincinnati .................................................................................................................................................................       8:30   a.m.–5:00   p.m.
                                                    10—Atlanta ....................................................................................................................................................................      8:00   a.m.–4:30   p.m.
                                                        Winston-Salem ........................................................................................................................................................           8:00   a.m.–4:30   p.m.
                                                        Birmingham ............................................................................................................................................................          8:00   a.m.–4:30   p.m.
                                                        Nashville .................................................................................................................................................................      8:00   a.m.–4:30   p.m.
                                                    12—Tampa .....................................................................................................................................................................       8:00   a.m.–4:30   p.m.
                                                        Miami ......................................................................................................................................................................     8:00   a.m.–4:30   p.m.
                                                        Puerto Rico .............................................................................................................................................................        8:30   a.m.–5:00   p.m.
                                                    13—Chicago ...................................................................................................................................................................       8:30   a.m.–5:00   p.m.
                                                    14—St. Louis ..................................................................................................................................................................      8:00   a.m.–4:30   p.m.
                                                        Kansas City .............................................................................................................................................................        8:15   a.m.–4:45   p.m.
                                                        Tulsa ........................................................................................................................................................................   8:15   a.m.–4:45   p.m.
                                                    15—New Orleans ...........................................................................................................................................................           8:00   a.m.–4:30   p.m.
                                                        Memphis .................................................................................................................................................................        8:00   a.m.–4:30   p.m.
                                                        Little Rock ...............................................................................................................................................................      8:00   a.m.–4:30   p.m.
                                                    16—Fort Worth ..............................................................................................................................................................         8:15   a.m.–4:45   p.m.
                                                        Houston ...................................................................................................................................................................      8:00   a.m.–4:30   p.m.
                                                        San Antonio ............................................................................................................................................................         8:00   a.m.–4:30   p.m.
                                                    18—Minneapolis ............................................................................................................................................................          8:00   a.m.–4:30   p.m.
                                                        Milwaukee ..............................................................................................................................................................         8:00   a.m.–4:30   p.m.
                                                    19—Seattle .....................................................................................................................................................................     8:15   a.m.–4:45   p.m.
                                                        Portland ...................................................................................................................................................................     8:00   a.m.–4:30   p.m.
                                                        Anchorage ...............................................................................................................................................................        8:15   a.m.–4:45   p.m.
                                                    20—San Francisco .........................................................................................................................................................           8:30   a.m.–5:00   p.m.
                                                        Honolulu .................................................................................................................................................................       8:00   a.m.–4:30   p.m.
                                                    21—Los Angeles ............................................................................................................................................................          8:30   a.m.–5:00   p.m.
                                                        San Diego ................................................................................................................................................................       8:30   a.m.–5:00   p.m.
                                                    22—Newark ....................................................................................................................................................................       8:45   a.m.–5:15   p.m.
                                                    25—Indianapolis ............................................................................................................................................................         8:30   a.m.–5:00   p.m.
                                                        Peoria ......................................................................................................................................................................    8:30   a.m.–5:00   p.m.
                                                    27—Denver .....................................................................................................................................................................      8:30   a.m.–5:00   p.m.
                                                    28—Phoenix ...................................................................................................................................................................       8:15   a.m.–4:45   p.m.
                                                        Albuquerque ...........................................................................................................................................................          8:15   a.m.–4:45   p.m.
                                                        Las Vegas .................................................................................................................................................................      8:30   a.m.–5:00   p.m.
                                                    29—Brooklyn .................................................................................................................................................................        9:00   a.m.–5:30   p.m.
                                                    31—Los Angeles ............................................................................................................................................................          8:30   a.m.–5:00   p.m.
                                                    32—Oakland ..................................................................................................................................................................        8:30   a.m.–5:00   p.m.
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                                                   Dated: December 2, 2015.                                                 By direction of the Board.
                                                                                                                          William B. Cowen,
                                                                                                                          Solicitor, National Labor Relations Board.
                                                                                                                          [FR Doc. 2015–31339 Filed 12–11–15; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                                          BILLING CODE 7545–01–P




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Document Created: 2015-12-14 13:47:01
Document Modified: 2015-12-14 13:47:01
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionFinal rule.
DatesThe effective date is January 4, 2016.
ContactGary Shinners, Executive Secretary, 1015 Half Street SE., Washington, DC 20570. Telephone: (202) 273-1067.
FR Citation80 FR 77236 
CFR AssociatedAdministrative Practice and Procedure and Labor Management Relations

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