§ 7806. Petition and Review

(a) Petition and hearing

(1) Petition

     A person subject to an order may file with the Secretary a petition—

     (A) stating that the order, any provision of the order, or any obligation imposed in connection with the order is not in accordance with law; and

     (B) requesting a modification of the order or an exemption from the order.

(2) Hearing

     The petitioner shall be given the opportunity for a hearing on a petition filed under paragraph (1), in accordance with regulations issued by the Secretary. Any such hearing shall be conducted in accordance with section 7808(b)(2) of this title and be held within the United States judicial district in which the residence or principal place of business of the person is located.

(3) Ruling

     After a hearing under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall make a ruling on the petition, which shall be final if in accordance with law.

(4) Limitation

     Any petition filed under this subsection challenging an order, any provision of the order, or any obligation imposed in connection with the order, shall be filed within 2 years after the effective date of the order, provision, or obligation subject to challenge in the petition.

(b) Review

(1) Commencement of action

     The district courts of the United States in any district in which a person who is a petitioner under subsection (a) of this section resides or conducts business shall have jurisdiction to review the ruling of the Secretary on the petition of the person, if a complaint requesting the review is filed no later than 20 days after the date of the entry of the ruling by the Secretary.

(2) Process

     Service of process in proceedings under this subsection shall be conducted in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

(3) Remand

     If the court in a proceeding under this subsection determines that the ruling of the Secretary on the petition of the person is not in accordance with law, the court shall remand the matter to the Secretary with directions—

     (A) to make such ruling as the court shall determine to be in accordance with law; or

     (B) to take such further action as, in the opinion the court, the law requires.

(c) Enforcement

     The pendency of proceedings instituted under this section shall not impede, hinder, or delay the Attorney General or the Secretary from obtaining relief under section 7807 of this title.

(Pub. L. 106–387, § 1(a) [title XII, § 1207], Oct. 28, 2000, 114 Stat. 1549, 1549A–92.)

References in Text

     The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, referred to in subsec. (b)(2), are set out in the Appendix to Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.

     This section is referred to in section 7808 of this title.