The Administrative Law Judge shall propose findings and conclusions to the Secretary on the basis of the record. In order to do so, he shall have the duty to conduct a fair hearing, to take all necessary action to avoid delay, and to maintain order. He shall have all powers necessary to those ends, including, but not limited to, the power to:

(a) Hold conferences to settle, simplify, or fix the issues in a proceeding, or to consider other matters that may aid in the expeditious disposition of the proceeding by consent of the parties or upon his own motion;

(b) Require parties to state their position with respect to the various issues in the proceeding;

(c) Require parties to produce for examination those relevant witnesses and documents under their control; and require parties to answer interrogatories and requests for admissions in full;

(d) Administer oaths;

(e) Rule on motions, and other procedural items or matters pending before him;

(f) Regulate the course of the hearing and conduct of participants therein;

(g) Examine and cross-examine witnesses, and introduce into the record documentary or other evidence;

(h) Receive, rule on, exclude, or limit evidence and limit lines of questioning or testimony which are irrelevant, immaterial, or unduly repetitious;

(i) Fix time limits for submission of written documents in matters before him and extend any time limits established by this part upon a determination that no party will be prejudiced and that the ends of justice will be served thereby;

(j) Impose appropriate sanctions against any party or person failing to obey an order under these rules which may include:

(1) Refusing to allow the disobedient party to support or oppose designated claims or defenses, or prohibiting it from introducing designated matters in evidence;

(2) Excluding all testimony of an unresponsive or evasive witness, or determining that the answer of such witness, if given, would be unfavorable to the party having control over him; and

(3) Expelling any party or person from further participation in the hearing;

(k) Take official notice of any material fact not appearing in evidence in the record, which is among the traditional matters of judicial notice;

(l) Recommend whether the respondent is in current violation of the order, regulations, or its contractual obligations, as well as the nature of the relief necessary to insure the full enjoyment of the rights secured by the order;

(m) Issue subpoenas; and

(n) Take any action authorized by these rules.

[43 FR 49259, Oct. 20, 1978; 43 FR 51401, Nov. 3, 1978]