§ 33.39 Appeal to Department head.

(a) Any defendant who has filed a timely answer and who is determined in an initial decision to be liable for a civil penalty or assessment may appeal the decision to the Department head by filing a notice of appeal with the Department head in accordance with this section.

(b)

(1) A notice of appeal may be filed at any time within 30 days after the ALJ issues a final decision. However, if another party files a motion for reconsideration under § 33.38, consideration of the appeal shall be stayed automatically pending resolution of the motion for reconsideration.

(2) If a motion for reconsideration is timely filed, a notice of appeal may be filed within 30 days after the ALJ denies the motion or issues a revised initial decision, whichever applies.

(3) The Department head may extend the initial 30-day period for an additional 30 days if the defendant files with the Department head a request for an extension within the initial 30-day period and shows good cause.

(c) If the defendant files a timely notice of appeal with the Department head, and the time for filing motions for reconsideration under § 33.38 has expired, the ALJ shall forward the record of the proceeding to the Department head.

(d) A notice of appeal must be accompanied by a written brief specifying exceptions to the initial decision and reasons supporting the exceptions.

(e) The representative for the Government may file a brief in opposition to exceptions within 30 days of receiving the notice of appeal and accompanying brief.

(f) There is no right to appear personally before the Department head.

(g) There is no right to appeal any interlocutory ruling by the ALJ.

(h) In reviewing the initial decision, the Department head does not consider any objection that was not raised before the ALJ unless a demonstration is made of extraordinary circumstances causing the failure to raise the objection.

(i) If any party demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Department head that additional evidence not presented at such hearing is material and that there were reasonable grounds for the failure to present that evidence at the hearing, the Department head shall remand the matter to the ALJ for consideration of the additional evidence.

(j) The Department head affirms, reduces, reverses, compromises, remands, or settles any penalty or assessment, determined by the ALJ in any initial decision.

(k) The Department head promptly serves each party to the appeal with a copy of the decision of the Department head and a statement describing the right of any person determined to be liable for a penalty or assessment to seek judicial review.

(l) Unless a petition for review is filed as provided in 31 U.S.C. 3805, after a defendant has exhausted all administrative remedies under this part and within 60 days after the date on which the Department head serves the defendant with a copy of the Department head's decision, a determination that a defendant is liable under § 33.3 is final and is not subject to judicial review.