§ 81.12 Filing requirements.

(a) Method of filing.

(1) Any written submission to an ALJ or the OALJ under this part, including pleadings, petitions, and motions, must be filed by submission to OES unless a party shows the ALJ good cause why its written submission cannot be filed electronically. A party filing electronically is responsible for ensuring that a complete and legible document was successfully submitted in a format for electronic filing permitted under OHA procedures.

(2) If the ALJ permits a party to file a written submission in paper format, the filing party must file the written submission with the ALJ or the OALJ by hand-delivery or regular mail.

(b) Filing date.

(1) The filing date for a written submission to an ALJ or the OALJ is the date the document is—

(i) Submitted to OES; or

(ii) Hand-delivered or mailed, if the ALJ has permitted the written submission to be filed in paper format.

(2) If a scheduled filing date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday, the filing deadline is the next business day.

(c) Service to other parties.

(1) The filing of a written submission to OES constitutes service on other parties.

(2) If a party is permitted by the ALJ to file a written submission in paper format, the party must serve a copy of the written submission on the other party on the filing date by hand-delivery or regular mail. Any such written submission to the ALJ or OALJ must be accompanied by a statement certifying that the material was served on the other party on the filing date.

[86 FR 52832, Sept. 23, 2021]