251.97—Oral presentation.
(a) Purpose.
An oral presentation provides an additional opportunity for an appellant, and other parties to an appeal, to present their viewpoints to the Reviewing Officer. The purpose is to restate, emphasize, and/or clarify information related to an appeal. Oral presentations are to be conducted in an informal manner and shall not be subject to formal rules of procedure such as those applicable to judicial proceedings.
(b) Requests.
Only an appellant may request and be granted an oral presentation. An appellant may request an oral presentation at any time prior to closing of the appeal record ( § 251.98 ). A Reviewing Officer shall automatically grant an oral presentation if the appellant requested the presentation as part of the notice of appeal.
(c) Participation.
At the discretion of the Reviewing Officer, oral presentations may be open to public attendance, but participation is limited to parties to the appeal. The Reviewing Officer shall advise all parties to the appeal, including the Deciding Officer, of the place, time, and date of the oral presentation, and how the oral presentation will be conducted. All parties to an appeal shall be invited to participate. Appellants and intervenors must bear any expense involved in making an oral presentation in person or by telephone.