Opinion ID: 432207
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: ukiah's procedural claims

Text: 21 Ukiah asserts a host of procedural objections to the Commission's disposition of its application. Brief for Petitioner at 37-59. After giving each objection full consideration, we find that none has merit. Indeed, we believe only two of Ukiah's procedural claims warrant discussion. These claims concern Ukiah's asserted right to a hearing and its allegation that the Commission made unlawful extra-record communications.
22 Ukiah argues that having demonstrated the flaws in Sonoma's claims of superiority ... it was incumbent upon the Commission to hold an evidentiary hearing to further test and illuminate the factual predicate for those claims.... Brief for Petitioner at 37-38. Ukiah does not assert that its right to a hearing grows out of a regulation, statute, or the Constitution. Rather, Ukiah cites the judicially defined principle requiring the Commission to provide an adversarial hearing when genuine issues of material fact are in issue. Public Service Co. of New Hampshire v. FERC, 600 F.2d 944, 955 (D.C.Cir.), cert. denied, 444 U.S. 990, 100 S.Ct. 520, 62 L.Ed.2d 419 (1979); Mobil Oil Corp. v. FPC, 483 F.2d 1238, 1259-60 (D.C.Cir.1973). Even this principle, however, has been qualified: [M]ere allegations of disputed facts are insufficient to mandate a hearing; petitioners must make an adequate proffer of evidence to support them. Cerro Wire & Cable Co. v. FERC, 677 F.2d 124, 129 (D.C.Cir.1982). See also Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 524-25, 98 S.Ct. 1197, 1202, 55 L.Ed.2d 460 (1978). 19 23 Ukiah has been unable to specify any disputed issues of material fact. Ukiah does allege generally that Sonoma's receipt of the permit was unsupported by substantial evidence. In Section II, however, we found that the basis of the Commission's decision consisted of contractual and statutory interpretation. Both issues here are questions of law that do not require an oral hearing for proper resolution. We are thus required to affirm the Commission's decision that a hearing was not necessary in this case. 20
24 Ukiah also claims it was denied due process when the Commission's staff counsel orally requested and received information about the 1982 contract from Sonoma and the Corps. Specifically, Ukiah objects to three filings by Sonoma in response to oral requests for a copy of, and comments on, the proposed 1982 contract between Sonoma and the Corps. Ukiah also objects to a request by the Commission's staff counsel to the Corps for a copy of the final 1982 contract and accompanying comments. Ukiah further alleges it was error for the Corps to file the requested information. 25 Ukiah's main brief cites no statutory or regulatory provision violated by the Commission. Indeed, when we examine the Commission's regulations governing ex parte contacts and responses thereto, we find the Commission's activities well within its regulatory bounds. The communications with the Corps are exempt from the prohibitions on ex parte contacts under 18 C.F.R. 385.2201(b)(1) (1983). Since the Corps is a federal agency that has no official interest in this proceeding, it qualifies as an interceder. Id. 21 The prohibitions regarding ex parte contacts are therefore not applicable to communications from the Corps. 26 Additionally, the three communications between Sonoma and the Commission's staff counsel were not unlawful. All the disputed filings were served on Ukiah when they were submitted to the Commission. Brief for Intervenor at 61; J.A. 247A, 286, 328, 366. Ukiah subsequently submitted responses to these filings. J.A. 287-309, 310-12. Thus, the disputed submissions by the Corps and Sonoma were not, in any real sense, ex parte. We respect the staff counsel's communication with Sonoma and its consideration of Ukiah's responses as a lawful inquiry necessary to an informed decision. 22