(a) Requests by labor organizations for consultation rights on Government-wide rules or regulations shall be submitted in writing to the headquarters of the agency, which headquarters shall have fifteen (15) days from the date of service of such request to respond thereto in writing.
(b) Issues relating to a labor organization's eligibility for, or continuation of, consultation rights on Government-wide rules or regulations shall be referred to the Authority for determination as follows:
(1) A petition for determination of the eligibility of a labor organization for consultation rights under criteria set forth in § 2426.11 may be filed by a labor organization.
(2) A petition for determination of eligibility for consultation rights shall be submitted on a form prescribed by the Authority and shall set forth the following information:
(i) Name and affiliation, if any, of the petitioner and its address and telephone number;
(ii) A statement that the petitioner has submitted to the agency and to the Assistant Secretary a roster of its officers and representatives, a copy of its constitution and bylaws, and a statement of its objectives;
(iii) A declaration by the person signing the petition, under the penalties of the Criminal Code (18 U.S.C. 1001), that its contents are true and correct to the best of such person's knowledge and belief;
(iv) The signature of the petitioner's representative, including such person's title and telephone number;
(v) The name, address, and telephone number of the agency in which the petitioner seeks to obtain or retain consultation rights on Government-wide rules or regulations, and the persons to contact and their titles, if known;
(vi) A showing that petitioner meets the criteria as required by § 2426.11; and
(vii) A statement, as appropriate:
(A) That such showing has been made to and rejected by the agency, together with a statement of the reasons for rejection, if any, offered by that agency;
(B) That the agency has served notice of its intent to terminate existing consultation rights on Government-wide rules or regulations, together with a statement of the reasons for termination; or
(C) That the agency has failed to respond in writing to a request for consultation rights on Government-wide rules or regulations made under § 2426.12(a) within fifteen (15) days after the date the request is served on the agency.
(3) The following regulations govern petitions filed under this section:
(i) A petition for determination of eligibility for consultation rights on Government-wide rules or regulations shall be filed with the Regional Director for the region wherein the headquarters of the agency is located.
(ii) An original and four (4) copies of a petition shall be filed, together with a statement of any other relevant facts and of all correspondence.
(iii) Copies of the petition together with the attachments referred to in paragraph (b)(3)(ii) of this section shall be served by the petitioner on the agency, and a written statement of such service shall be filed with the Regional Director.
(iv) A petition shall be filed within thirty (30) days after the service of written notice by the agency of its refusal to accord consultation rights on Government-wide rules or regulations pursuant to a request under § 2426.12(a) or its intention to terminate such existing consultation rights. If an agency fails to respond in writing to a request for consultation rights on Government-wide rules or regulations made under § 2426.12(a) within fifteen (15) days after the date the request is served on the agency, a petition shall be filed within thirty (30) days after the expiration of such fifteen (15) day period.
(v) If an agency wishes to terminate consultation rights on Government-wide rules or regulations, notice of its intention to do so shall be served not less than thirty (30) days prior to the intended termination date. A labor organization, after receiving such notice, may file a petition within the time period prescribed herein, and thereby cause to be stayed further action by the agency pending disposition of the petition. If no petition has been filed within the provided time period, an agency may terminate such consultation rights.
(vi) Within fifteen (15) days after the receipt of a copy of the petition, the agency shall file a response thereto with the Regional Director raising any matter which is relevant to the petition.
(vii) The Regional Director shall make such investigation as the Regional Director deems necessary and thereafter shall issue and serve on the parties a Decision and Order with respect to the eligibility for consultation rights which shall be final: Provided, however, That an application for review of the Regional Director's Decision and Order may be filed with the Authority in accordance with the procedure set forth in § 2422.17 of this subchapter. A determination by the Regional Director to issue a notice of hearing shall not be subject to the filing of an application for review. The Regional Director, if appropriate, may cause a notice of hearing to be issued where substantial factual issues exist warranting a hearing. Hearings shall be conducted by a Hearing Officer in accordance with §§ 2422.9 through 2422.15 of this chapter and after the close of the hearing a Decision and Order shall be issued by the Regional Director in accordance with § 2422.16 of this subchapter.
