## SERVE D AUGUS T3 , 20 1 ;c!^\RTMENTO F ;;lAM3i^GRl'ATI0 M /ill l Aij b " 3 P 2

- ' I 1 UNITED STATE S DEPARTMEN TO FTRANSPORTATIO N

OFFIC EO FHEARING S WASHINGTON , D.C . FEDERA LAVIATIO N ADMINISTRATION ,

Complainant , V . SMIT H CABL E SYSTEMS , INC .

Respondent . FA ADOCKE TNo . CP09AL001 2 (Civi l PenaltyAction )

DM S No . FA^-2009-097 6

INITIA LDECISIO N O F ADWIINISTRATIV E LA WJUDG E RICHAR D C . GOODWI N Found : Th e Complainiin tfaile d t o prov e a violation . Th e Complain ti s dismissed . I . Backgroun d 

### Responden tSmit h Cabl e Systems , Inc . ("Smit h Cable " o r"Respondent" ) install s cabl e an d telephon e systems , ga s lines , an d th e lik e throughou tth e Stat e o fAlask a (Tr . 294-95 , 303-04) . Th e partie s agre e tha to n Septembe r10 , 2008 , i t offere d t o Alask a Airlines i n Ketchikan , A Ka shipmen toftool s an d othe r material s fo rai rtransportatio n t o Fairbanks , AK . Th e partie s diffe rabou twha t th e shipmen tcontained . Accordin g t o Complainant , th e Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n ("Complainant, " "th e FAA, " o r"th e agency") , th e shipmen t include d tw/ o 16.4 - ounc e cylinder s o fpropan e fue l an d a 12-ounc e ca n o faeroso l spraypain t(Tr . 22) . Propan e fue l an d spra ypain tar e regulate d items . The yar e define d a s hazardou s material s (se e Hazardou s Material s Tabl e followin g 4 9 C.F.R . §172.101) .Smit h Cabl e ha d give n n o indicatio n tha t th e shipmen tcontaine d

dangerou s goods. ' Th e item s ha d bee n undeclared . "Undeclared " mean s tha t th e shipmen t ha d no t me tmarkin g an d labelin g requirement s fo rth e ai r transportatio n o fhazardou s materials . Emergenc yrespons e informatio n als o wa s lacking . Thi s inciden tle d th e Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n (hereinafte r "Complainant, " "FAA, " o r"agency" ) t o prefe rth e charge s a tissue . Th e agency' s Complain tallege s tha tResponden tviolate d sixtee n provision s o fth e Departmen t o fTransportation' s Hazardou s Material s Regulation s ("HMRs") ; 4 9 CF R §§171.2(e) , 172.200(a) , 172.201(d) , 172.202(a)(1)-(a)(3) , 172.202(a)(5) , 172.203(f) . 172.204(a) , 172.204(c)(2) , 172.204(c)(3) , 172.300(a) . 172.301(a) , 172.400(a) . 172.604(a) , an d 173.27(b)(1) . Th e agenc yseek s a tota l civi l penalt y o f$60,00 0 (Tr . 25-26) . Responden tdenie d th e charges . I t maintaine d tha t whil e i ttendere d certai n item s t o Alask a Airline s a tKetchika n fo rtransportatio n t o Fairbank s o n th e da yname d i n th e Complaint , neithe rpropan e cylinder s no rpain t wer e par to f th e shipment . Smit h Cabl e ha d offere d n o hazardou s material s ("hazmats") , it says . Responden t asserte d tha t Complainan tcanno t mee t it s burde n o fproo f (Tr . 27 , 37) . I hel d a hearin g o n Jun e 25 , 2010 , i n Anchorage , AK . Th e hearin g wa s suspende d a tth e en d o fth e da yan d resume d b ytelephon e o n Februar y8 , 2011 . Brief s hav e bee n file d an d th e cas e i s read yfo rdecision . Th e burde n o fproo frest s wit h th e agency . Fo ri t t o prevail , i t mus t establis h proo fo fth e violation s allege d b ya preponderanc e o fth e reliable , probative , an d substantia l evidenc e (1 4 C.F.R . §§13.22 3 an d 13.224 ; Toyot a Moto rSales , FA AOrde rNo . 94-28 , pp . 6-7 , 199 4 FA ALexi s 275 , p . 1 0 (Septembe r30 , 1994)) . 

### IIDiscussio n A . Complainant' s Testimon y ^^laska^ALrlines.eniployee s Stephe n Cam p an d Timoth yCoo k testifie d fo r Complainant . Bot h ar e ram p agent s i n Ketchikan . Aram p agen t load s an d unload s aircraf t(Tr . 41 , 67 , 85) . I foun d bot h Cam p an d Coo k t o b e credibl e witnesses . Mr . Cam p testifie d tha to n Septembe r10 , 2008 , h e wa s bringin g a shipmen to fcarg o t o a n Alask a Airline s carg o warehouse . Th e shipment ,

' Th e lem i "dangerou s goods, " a s use d i n th e Internationa l Civi l Aviatio n Organizatio n (ICAO ) rechnica l Instructions , i s interchangeabl e wit h th e tem i "hazardou s material " a s define d i n 4 9 C.F.R . §171.8 . See ahoTv.Sl .

### consistin g o f2 4 items , ha d bee n delivere d t o a n aircraf t i n orde rt o b e flow n out ,

bu tha d bee n remove d prio rt o fligh tfo rundetermine d reasons . (Possibl yth e carg o hol d wa s alread yfull , o rth e fligh tha d bee n cancelled) . I t was no t know n who , o rwha tentity , ha d initiall ytendere d th e item s fo rtransport . B yth e tim e Cam p go tthe m the yha d alread ybee n loade d ont o pallet s fo rtransfe rt o th e warehouse . O n th e wayther e on e o fth e items , a cam p stov e o rbeac h barbecuer , fel l of

fa palle tan d brok e open . Tw o propan e tank s fel l out . Cam p kne wthes e wer e considere d hazmats. Propan e wa s no tpermitte d o n aircraf ta t all . H e picke d u p th e item s an d continue d t o th e warehous e (Tr . 42-44 , 47-49 , 67-72 . 75 , 92-93 , 97-99 , 120-21 , 124-25 , 143-44) . Cam p an d hi s fello wram p agent , Mr . Cook , decide d t o g o throug h th e res t o fth e shipmen tt o se e wha tothe ritem s o finteres tmigh tb e there . Coo k soo n found a ca n o faeroso l spra ypain t (Tr . 49-50 , 75-76 , 89 , 94-96 , 102-05 , 122 , 142 ; Exhs . C- 1 throug h C-4) . Bot h ram p agent s wer e awar e tha tthi s als o was a dangerou s good . N o marking s indicatin g th e natur e ofthes e material s wer e presen t(Tr . 52 - 55 ; Exhs . C- 1 throug h C-4) . The ywer e place d aside . Th e res tofth e shipmen t customaril ywoul d hav e bee n transporte d o n th e next fligh t t o Fairbanks (Tr . 77 , 100-01 , 138-39) . FA Aspecia l agen tJeffre yDeitz , a hazardou s material s specialis tan d Complainant' s investigato ri n thi s matter , als o testifie d fo rComplainant . H e state d tha th e bega n hi s investigatio n afte rreceivin g a n Alask a Airlines documen t entitle d "Ai rCarg o Dangerou s Good s Irregularit yReport " ("IrregularityReport" ) fro m a carg o agen tth e da yafte rth e incident. ^ Agen tDeit z testifie d tha th e spok e t o a representativ e ofa compan ycalle d Aer o Services , Inc . ("Aero") . Aero , th e evidenc e showed , wa s a n expedite ri n Ketchika n hire d b ySmit h Cabl e t o delive rit s carg o t o Alask a Airlines. ^ Accordin g t o agen tDeitz , th e Aer o representativ e tol d hi m tha tth e perso n wh o ha d picke d u p Smit h Cable' s shipmen twa s a n Aer o employe e name d Jessic a Freema n (Tr . 209 , 275) . Deit z talke d t o Ms . Freeman . Sh e di d no tremembe rth e shipmen t (Tr . 210 , 278;Exh . C-13) . Agen tDeit z sen ta Lette ro fInvestigatio n ("LOI" ) t o Smit h Cabl e a fe w day s afte rh e bega n lookin g int o th e inciden t(Exh . C-9 ; Tr . 180-82) . I n respons e h e receive d a cal l fro m Respondent' s president , Ro n Smith . Mr . Smit h tol d agen t Deit z tha th e di d notkno wwhethe rSmit h Cabl e ha d shippe d th e hazmat s i n question . H e promise d t o investigat e an d ge t bac k t o Deitz . Smith , however ,

' I admitte d th e report , identifie d a s Exhibi t C-6 , int o evidenc e onl yt o sho wthat i t ha d triggere d agen t Deitz ' investigation . Tr . 161-62 . I foun d Ihatadequat e foundatio n fo rth e report' s finding s was lacking . Th e identit yo fth e carg o agen t was neve rdetermined , an d th e basi s fo rth e informatio n i n th e repo n - includin g th e identificatio n o fSmit h Cabl e a s th e shipper-wa s not testifie d to . Tr . Ill , 143-44 . ' Thi s compan yi s sometime s identifie d i n th e eshibit s an d transcrip t a s "Aerl " o r"Arrow, " bu t i t i s clea r thati ti s properl ycalle d Aero .

### faile d t o cal l (Tr . 183-84 , 254-55) . S o Deit z calle d him . I n thei rsecon d telephon e

conversatio n Smit h acknowledge d tha tth e item s Smit h Cabl e ha d shippe d include d a ga s grill . Deit z di d no tas k Smit h directl yabou twhethe rResponden t ha d shippe d propane . Agen tDeit z conclude d tha tSmit h ha d admitte d shippin g th e hazmat s i n question . Deit z late rtestifie d tha t th e basi s fo rhi s conclusio n wa s tha th e ha d bee n "leftwit h th e impression " tha ttha ti s wha tSmit h ha d said . H e clarifie d tha t Smit h ha d no tactuall ysai d tha tResponden tha d shippe d th e items. " B . Respondent' s Testimon y Ro n Smith , Smit h Cable' s chief , testifie d fo rRespondent . 1 foun d hi s testimon yt o b e forthrigh tan d honest . Mr . Smit h identifie d th e principa l worker s o n th e Ketchika n cabl e jo b a s Tod d Linn e an d To m Fialek . Smit h ha d notpersonall yoversee n th e job . Whe n i t concluded , Linn e an d Fiale k shippe d everythin g excep ta bucke ttruc k t o th e sit e ofth e nextjob , Fairbanks . Th e truc k was shippe d o n th e Alask a Marin e Highwa y t o th e tow n o fWhittier , t o eventuall yg o t o Fairbank s (Tr . 296-97 , 301-05 , 327) . Th e me n themselve s fle wt o Fairbanks (Tr . 304) . Mr . Smit h adde d tha th e ha d neve rha d a hazma t"problem " (Tr . 301-02) . Smit h Cabl e employee s wer e awar e tha ti twas imprope rt o shi p propan e canister s (Tr . 306) . H e acknowledged , however , tha temployee s o n a jo b sometime s wil l purchas e a smal l stov e fo rcookin g (Tr . 307) . An d thes e employee s di d allo wtha tthe yha d a stov e o n th e truc k (Tr . 313 , 317 , 321) . But , Smit h said , a stov e tha tha d bee n shippe d t o Fairbanks wa s nottheirs . I tmus t hav e belonge d t o anothe rcre w(Tr . 313-14) . Someon e else' s freigh tcoul d hav e bee n mixe d u p wit h Smit h Cable's , h e sai d (Tr . 318-19) . Smit h als o denie d tha t th e employee s woul d have.an ynee d fo rspra ypain t(Tr . 307-08) . Spraypain t woul d no tnormall yb e foun d o n a bucke ttruc k becaus e i ti s notneede d o ruse d o n a jo b (Tr . 308 , 334) . Mr . Smith' s testimon yabou thi s secon d phon e conversatio n wit h agen t Deit z differe d i n importan trespect s fro m Deitz' . H e migh thav e tol d agen tDeitz , h e said , tha tth e possibilit yexiste d tha thi s employee s ha d shippe d propane . H e di d no tkno wi fthe yhad . H e woul d no tnecessaril yhav e know n i fthe yha d picke d u p a persona l ite m an d shippe d it , h e acknowledge d (Tr . 317 , 333) . Smit h conclude d tha tcoul d no tb e "10 0 pe rcen tsure " tha tSmit h Cabl e di d no tcommi t th e infraction s (Tr . 319) .

• * Ir . 184-85 , 258-59 , 262-63 ; Exhs . C-10 , C-11 , C-14 . Exhibi tC-14 , a statemen t prepare d b yagen t Deitz , contain s a typographica l erro ri n slatin g that his secon d telephon e conversatio n wit h Ro n Smit h loo k plac e o n Septembe r27 . 2008 . Th e statemen tshoul d rea d Octobe r27 , 2008 . Tr . 256-57 , 272-73 .Anni e Afusi a wa s Respondent' s secon d witness . Sh e wa s credible . Ms .

Afusi a mad e Smit h Cable' s trave l an d othe rlogistica l arrangements . Ms . Afusi a testifie d tha tLinn e an d Fiale k wer e workin g i n Ketchika n i n th e summe ro f2008 , an d whe n th e jo b concluded , the yan d thei requipmen twer e t o g o t o Fairbank s (Tr . 393-94) . Sh e ai"range d wit h Alask a Airline s fo rtw o o rthre e pallet s o f equipmen tan d luggag e t o b e transporte d fro m Ketchika n (Tr . 394) . Sh e furthe r arrange d fo rth e boo m truc k an d som e othe requipmen tt o b e transporte d b yferr y o n th e Alask a Marin e Highway . Th e employee s fle wt o Fairbank s (Tr . 394-95) . Ms . Afusi a als o ha d locate d th e expediter , Aero , t o pic k u p th e Fairbanks-boun d material s i n Ketchika n an d brin g the m t o Alask a Airline s ai rcarg o (Tr . 395 ; Resp . Exh . A) . Ms . Afusi a di d no twan tt o shi p an yhazardou s material s b yairplan e o n accoun to fth e paperwor k involve d (Tr . 396) . Sh e di d no t recal l a propan e stov e bein g shippe d a s par to fth e carg o (Tr . 398) . Afusi a identifie d th e ai rwaybil l issue d b yAlask a Airline s respectin g Smit h Cable' s shipmen to fth e pallet s t o Fairbank s (Resp . Exh . B ; Tr . 399-400) . Sh e coul d no tidentif yth e signature , howeve r(Tr . 400) . Sh e testifie d tha tsh e di d no t authoriz e Aer o t o mov e hazardou s material s o n thi s ai rwaybil l (Tr . 401) . Finally , th e worker s o n th e job , Tod d Linn e an d To m Fialek , testifie d fo r Respondent . I foun d the m credibl e a s well . Mr . Linn e state d tha ti n al l th e job s h e ha s don e ove r2 5 years , h e ha s neve ruse d spra ypain t(Tr . 414) . H e di d purchas e a propan e stov e i n orde rt o coo k hamburgers , ho t dogs , an d th e lik e (Tr , 415) . H e als o remembere d tha ta t th e en d o fth e job , th e truc k wa s t o g o b y ferry , an d th e equipmen twa s t o b e flow n (Tr . 417) . Mr . Linn e testifie d tha tn o campin g stov e o rsimila rite m wa s o n th e pallet s tha th e ha d loade d preparator yt o transfe rt o th e expedite r(Aero ) i n Ketchika n (Tr . 418-19) . H e remembere d tha the , Mr . Fialek , an d Aero' s drive rtransferre d th e content s o fth e pallet s b yhan d i n th e pourin g rai n t o a n Aer o carg o truc k afte r failin g t o convinc e th e youn g ma n drivin g th e vehicl e t o obtai n equipmen twhic h woul d lif tth e pallets . Linn e wa s abl e t o se e wha titem s ende d u p i n th e truck . The ydi d no tcontai n hi s stove , propan e tanks , o rspra ypaint , h e said . H e wa s "ver ywel l aware, " h e testified , tha th e coul d no t shi p propan e (Tr . 419-21 , 427 , 429) . Messrs . Linn e an d Fiale k eventuall yfle wt o Fairbank s (Tr . 422) . Linn e di d no trecal l a stov e i n th e shipmen tthe yunloade d a tth e othe ren d i n Fairbank s (Tr . 423-24 ; Resp . Exh . C) . To m Fialek , th e othe rcontrac t worker , als o testifie d tha t n o reaso n existe d t o us e spra ypain to n th e jo b (Tr . 440) . H e als o state d tha t h e wa s awar e tha t shippin g propan e withou tdeclarin g i t wa s imprope r(Tr . 442) . Fiale k recalle d tha t othe ritem s wer e alread yi n th e Aer o truc k befor e the ystarte d loadin g u p i n th e rai n i n Ketchika n (Tr . 444) . Further , h e wa s sur e tha t h e ha d see n everythin g tha tha d bee n loade d ont o th e pallet s fo rtransfe rt o th e truck , an d h e state d forcefull ytha t a stov e wa s no tamon g the m (tr . 444-45 , 452) . H e di d no t se e th e truc k g o t o th e Alask a Airline s carg o facilit y(Tr . 446) . Whe n h e wen tt o pic k u pth e equipmen ti n Fairbanks , n o stov e wa s ther e (Tr . 446-47) . An d Alask a

Airlines , fro m who m h e receive d th e shipment , di d no tsa yanythin g t o hi m abou t an yhazardou s material s bein g o n th e shipmen t (Tr . 441-42) . Fiale k did , however , acknowledg e tha th e an d Linn e use d a propane-fuele d cam p stov e i n thei rwor k

i n th e Southeas tAlask a area , includin g Ketchika n (Tr . 448) . 

### Ilj . Decisio n Th e Complainan t di d no tsho wtha t Smit h Cabl e shippe d th e hazardou s materials . I t faile d t o ti e Smit h Cabl e t o th e offendin g shipmen t sufficientl yt o warran tfindin g tha t Responden tviolate d th e FAR s cited . I n thes e . circumstances , I fin d an d conclud e tha tth e agenc ydi d no tcarr yit s burde n o f provin g th e violations . •I wil l dismis s th e complaint . I twa s prove d tha tSmit h Cabl e tendere d t o Alask a Airline s certai n material s an d equipmen ta tKetchika n fo rai rtransportatio n t o Fairbanks . Th e evidenc e als o showe d that , o n th e sam e day , Alask a Airline s ram p agent s uncovere d undeclare d propan e tank s an d spra ypaint , hazardou s materials , i n Ketchika n whic h ha d bee n par to fa large rshipmen ttendei'e d fo rflight . Document s connecte d Smit h Cabl e t o th e dangerou s goods . Bu tComplainan t wa s unabl e t o demonstrat e a nexu s t o Smit h Cabl e sufficien tt o sho wtha tth e compan ytendere d o rwa s otherwis e responsibl e fo rth e goods ' attempte d shipmen tan d wa s thu s liabl e fo rth e violation s flowin g therefrom . Th e hazardou s material s wer e tie d t o Smit h Cabl e b ytw o Alask a Airlines generate d documents : a n ai rwaybil l identifyin g Smit h Cabl e a s th e entit y tenderin g th e shipmen ti n whic h th e good s wer e discovere d (Tr . 107-08 ; Resp . . Exh . B) , an d a n "Ai rCarg o Dangerou s Good s Irregularit yReport " ("Irregularit y Report" ) tyin g Responden tspecificall yt o th e propan e tank s an d spra ypain t foun d b yth e ram p agent s i n Ketchika n (Exh . C-6) . Ther e als o vvere photograph s take n o fth e offendin g carg o (Exhs . C- 1 throug h C-4) . Thes e document s ma y sugges ttha tSmit h Cabl e tendere d th e shipmen t an d i s responsibl e fo rth e FA R violation s attendan tthereto . Certainl yi ti s understandabl e that , base d a tleas t i n par to n thos e materials . Complainan twoul d ope n an d procee d wit h a n enforcemen taction . Bu tclose rexaminatio n suggeste d substantia l problem s wit h thes e documents ' probativ e value. - Asignatur e o n th e ai rwaybil l purportin g t o b e tha to fa Smit h Cabl e representative , certifyin g tha t th e shipmen tdi d no t contai n dangerou s goods , coul d no tb e identifie d (Tr . 223 , 400) . Responden tdenie d makin g th e endorsement . I rule d tha t th e documen t lacke d foundatio n (Tr . 224) . Th e Irregularit yRepor tals o ha d foundationa l problems . Th e carg o agen tsai d t o b e responsibl e fo rpreparin g itcoul d no t b e determined . N o evidentiar ybasi s fo r namin g Smit h Cabl e a s th e offendin g shippe rwa s shown . I n vie wo fthes e circumstances , I rule d (a s note d earlier ) tha t th e Irregularit yRepor t coul d b e use d onl yt o sho wtha tit triggere d agen tDeitz ' investigation . I t coul d no t b e cite d fo r th e trut h o fth e statement s containe d therei n {se e I.D. , p . 3 an d n . 2) . Th e photograph s o fth e hazmats , further , prove d little . The yd o no tidentif ywh oowne d o rshippe d th e dangerou s goods. ^ Th e evidenc e als o showe d tha tth e good s wer e widel yavailabl e and , therefore , no t traceabl e withou tfurthe r information . Acam p stov e an d spra ypain t coul d hav e bee n obtaine d a tan y numbe ro fretai l outlet s i n Ketchika n (Tr . 132-34) . Th e stov e fro m whic h th e propan e tank s ha d purportedl yfalle n coul d no t b e independentl yidentifie d becaus e i tno tbee n preserve d o rphotographe d (Tr . 247-48 , 314-15) . Moreover , n o on e wa s abl e t o identif ywh o ha d initiall ydroppe d of fth e offendin g shipmen t (Tr . 120-21) . Th e discussio n abov e indicate d significan tproblem s wit h th e provenanc e o fth e offendin g materials . I tcoul d no t b e determine d wit h adequat e reliabilit y wh o o rwha tentit yha d introduce d th e propan e canister s an d spra ypain tint o th e strea m o fai rtransportatio n t o Alask a Airlines . Further , ther e wa s additiona l evidenc e creatin g significan t doub ttha t Responden tha d shippe d th e dangerou s ' goods . Smit h Cabl e witnesse s credibl ydenie d tha tthe yha d shippe d suc h goods . Th e evidenc e showe d tha t th e Smit h Cabl e contrac t employee s i n Ketchikan , Linn e an d Fialek , ha d i n fac tuse d a stove-typ e devic e fuele d b y propan e durin g thei rjob . Bu tal l th e Smit h Cabl e witnesse s wit h knowledg e o f th e shipmen t a tissu e denie d tha thazardou s material s wer e a par t o fit . Ms . Afusia , th e logistic s coordinator , di d no tauthoriz e th e shipment s o fsuc h goods . Sh e stated , quit e believably , tha tsh e di d no tmov e hazma t shipment s b yai r simpl ybecaus e paperwor k an d attendan t requirement s mad e i t to o muc h troubl e t o d o so . Linn e an d Fiale k eac h recalle d th e circumstance s o fturnin g thei rcarg o material s ove rt o th e expediter . Aero , i n Ketchikan . Ove rthei robjections , the y unwrappe d th e palletize d item s an d tosse d the m individuall yint o th e bac k o f Aero' s truc k

i n th e pourin g rain . Bot h state d tha ta stov e wa s no t amon g th e items . Fiale k

insiste d tha th e ha d see n ever ypiec e throw n fro m Smit h Cable' s pallet s int o th e truc k

b yeac h o fth e thre e participant s (Linne , Fialek , an d th e Aer o driver ) an d tha t th e item s di d no tinclud e a stove . Linn e adde d tha t h e di d no t se e propan e tank s o rspra ypain t either . Th e ram p agents ' testimon ywa s compellin g especiall ybecaus e I fin d tha t th e circumstance s - frustratio n a t havin g t o remov e th e shrink-wrappin g fro m th e item s an d lif tthe m individuall y int o th e bac k

o fth e truc k

i n a heav yrai n - wer e particularl yevocativ e an d conduciv e t o memory . Responden t witnesse s als o emphasize d tha tther e woul d hav e bee n n o reaso n t o hav e spra ypain t wit h them . I t simpl yha d n o us e i n th e job . Th e witnesse s als o note d tha tAer o ha d non-Smit h Cabl e item s i n th e bac k o fit s truck . Thi s fac t create d furthe rdoub t i n Complainant' s suggestio n tha t Smit h Cabl e shippe d th e hazmat s tha tth e ram p agent s uncovere d late ron . Wha ttoo k

plac e afte rAer o receive d th e material s an d befor e th e shipmen twa s droppe d a tth e Alask a Airline s carg o warehous e i s unknown .

* 1 accepte d int o evidenc e onl yth e photograph s themselves , specificall yexcludin g th e commentary underneat h the m a

s lackin g sufficien tfoundation . Tr . 176-78 .

### Lastly , agen tDeitz ' testimon ynamin g a woman , Jessic a Freeman , a s th e

Aer o employe e wh o picke d u p Smit h Cable' s shipmen ti n Ketchika n fo rdelivery t o Alask a Airlines underscore s th e conclusio n tha tComplainan tha s no tmad e it s case . Responden twitnesse s Linn e an d Fiale k - th e onl ywitnesse s wh o actuall y sa wth e truc k

drive r- eac h credibl ystate d tha tth e Aer o drive rwas a man . Thi s glarin g contradictio n i n th e parties ' account s o fth e chai n ofcustod yitsel f suggest s tha tth e agencyha s falle n shortofshowin g tha tth e offendin g shipmen t was tendere d b yth e Respondent . I conclud e tha tComplainan tha s faile d t o sho wb ya preponderanc e o fth e reliabl e an d probativ e evidenc e tha tSmit h Cabl e tendere d th e shipmen ti n whic h dangerou s good s wer e found . Respondent' s evidenc e create d significan tdoub t i n critica l element s ofComplainant' s proof . Responden tundercu tth e agency' s . attemp tt o trac e th e offendin g item s bac k t o Smit h Cable' s tende rsufficien tt o fatall ydamag e it s proof . Th e credibl e denial s ofRespondent' s witnesse s cas t additiona l doub to n th e agency' s case . I n sum , Complainan tha s not demonstrate d tha tResponden tviolate d th e FAR s charge d i n th e Complaint . Fo rth e reason s state d above , th e Complain ti s hereb ydismissed. ^

Administrativ e La wJudg e Attachmen t—Servic e Lis t

^ Thi s decisio n mayb e appeale d t o th e Administrato ro fth e FAA . Th e notic e o fappea l mus t confon n t o section s 13.210 . 13.2II(e)an d 13.233 o fth e Rule s o fPractice , whic h requir e that a notic e o fappea l l)b e file d notlate rtha n 1 0 days (plu s a n additiona l five days i fmailed ) fro m th e servic e dat e o fthi s decision , an d 2 ) b e perfecte d wit h a writte n brie fo rmemorandu m not late rtha n 5 0 days (plu s a n additiona l five, i f mailed ) fro m th e servic e dat e o fthi s decision . Th e notic e o fappea l an d brie fo rmemorandu m mus t eithe r be a ) maile d t o th e Federa l Aviatio n Administration , 80 0 Independenc e Avenue , S.W. , Washington , D C 20591 , Aim : Hearin g Docke tClerk , AGC-430 , Wilbu rWrigh tBuilding—Suit e WlOOO , o rb ) delivere d personall yo rvi a expedite d courie rservic e t o tli cFedera l Aviatio n Adminisiralion , 60 0 Independenc e Avenue , S.W. , Wilbu rWrigh tBuilding—Suit e 2W1000 , Washington , D.C . 20591 , Atm : Hearin g Docke t Clerk , AGC-430 . Acop yo fth e notic e o fappea l an d brie fo rmemorandu m als o must b e sen t t o agency counsel . Servic e upo n th e presidin g judg e i s optional .FA ADocke t No . CP09AL001 2 (Civi l Penalt y Action ) SERVIC ELIS T ORIGINA L& ON ECOP Y Federa lAviatio nAdministratio n 80 0 Independenc eAvenue , S.W . Washington , D C 2059 1 Attention : Hearin g Docke t Clerk , AGC-430 , Wilbu r Wrigh t Building—Suit e2W1000 '

ON ECOP Y Ronal dG . Smith , Pfesiden t Smit hCabl eSystems , Inc . Throug hCounse l Bren t R . Cole , Respondeti f

\ s Counse l Marsto n& Cole , PC . 82 1 NStreet , Suit e20 8 Anchorage , A K

99501-213 6 TEL : 907-277-800 1 FAX : 907-277-800 2 Glen nH . Brown , Complainan/' s Counse l Senio r Attorney , Offic eofth eRegiona lCounsel , AAL- 7 Alaska nRegio n Federa lAviatio nAdministratio n 22 2 Wes t 7' " Avenue , #1 4 Anchorage , AX99513-758 7 TEL : 907-271-527 1 FAX : 907-271-280 0 Th eHonorabl eRichar dC . Goodwin , Administrativ eta w Judg e Offic eo f Hearings , M-2 0 U.S . Departmen t

o f Transportatio n 120 0 Ne w Jerse y Avenue , S.E . Eas t Buildin g Groun dFloor , Roo mE l2-32 0 Washington , D C 2059 0 TEL : Attorney-Adviso r 202-366-213 9 Lega lAssistan t

202-366-512 1 FAX : 202-366-753 6

' Servicewa

s b y U.S . Mail . Fo

r ser\ic ei nperso no r b y expeditedcourier, usethefollowin g address : Federa

l Aviatio nAdministration , 600 IndependenceAvenue . S . W. , Wilbu r Wrigh t Building—Suit

e2W1000 . Wasliinglon, D C 2059LAttention : Hearin g Docke t Clerk, AGC-430 .