R645-401-700. Procedures for Informal Assessment Conference

710. The Division will arrange for a conference to review the fact of the violation and/or the proposed assessment or reassessment, upon written request of the permittee, if the request is received within 30 days from the date the proposed assessment or reassessment is received by the violator.

720. Informal Assessment Conference Scheduling and Findings.

721. The Division will assign an assessment conference officer to hold assessment conferences. The assessment conference will be informal. The assessment conference will be held within 60 days from the date of issuance of the proposed assessment or the end of the abatement period, whichever is later. PROVIDED: That a failure by the Division to hold such a conference within 60 days will not be grounds for dismissal of all or part of an assessment unless the permittee proves actual prejudice as a result of the delay.

722. The Division will post notice of the time and place of the conference at all Division offices at least five days before the conference. Any person will have a right to attend and participate in the conference.

723. The assessment conference officer will consider all relevant information on the violation. Within 30 days after the conference is held, the conference officer will either:

723.100. Settle the issues, in which case a settlement agreement will be prepared and signed by the assessment conference officer on behalf of the Division and by the permittee; or

723.200. Affirm, raise, lower, or vacate the penalty.

730. The assessment conference officer will promptly serve the permittee with a notice of his or her action in the manner provided in R645-401-620, and will include a worksheet if the penalty has been raised or lowered. The reasons for the conference officer's action will be fully documented in the file.

740. Informal Conference Settlement Agreement.

741. If a settlement agreement is entered into, the permittee will be deemed to have waived all rights to further review of the violation or penalty in question, except as otherwise expressly provided for in the settlement agreement. The settlement agreement will contain a clause to this effect.

742. If full payment of the amount specified in the settlement agreement is not received by the Division within 30 days after the date of signing, the Division may enforce the agreement or rescind it and proceed according to R645-401-723.200 within 30 days from the date of the rescission.

750. The assessment conference officer may terminate the conference when he or she determines that the issues cannot be resolved or that the permittee is not diligently working toward resolution of the issues.

760. At formal review proceedings before the Board, no evidence as to statements made or evidence produced by one party at an assessment conference will be introduced as evidence by another party or to impeach a witness.