(a) If a party timely requests a hearing after receiving a Notice of Violation, the Hearing Officer shall hear the case.

(b) The Hearing Officer is solely responsible for the case referred to him or her. The Hearing Officer has no other responsibility, direct or supervisory, for the investigation of cases referred for the assessment of civil penalties.

(c) The Hearing Officer decides each case on the basis of the information before him or her, and must have no prior connection with the case.