Laws: Cases and Codes : U.S. Code : Title 7 : Section 4609


   
U.S. Code as of: 01/03/05
Section 4609. Petition and review

    (a) Filing of petition; hearing
      (1) In general
        Subject to paragraph (4), a person subject to an order may file
      a written petition with the Secretary - 
          (A) that states 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) that requests - 
            (i) a modification of the order, provision, or obligation;
          or
            (ii) to be exempted from the order, provision, or
          obligation.
      (2) Hearing
        In accordance with regulations issued by the Secretary, the
      petitioner shall be given an opportunity for a hearing on the
      petition.
      (3) Ruling
        After the hearing, the Secretary shall make a ruling on the
      petition that shall be final, if in accordance with law.
      (4) Statute of limitations
        A petition filed under this subsection that challenges an
      order, any provision of the order, or any obligation imposed in
      connection with the order, shall be filed not later than 2 years
      after the later of - 
          (A) the effective date of the order, provision, or obligation
        challenged in the petition; or
          (B) the date on which the petitioner became subject to the
        order, provision, or obligation challenged in the petition.
    (b) District court; jurisdiction; review; rulings
      The district courts of the United States in any district in which
    such person is an inhabitant, or carries on business, are hereby
    vested with jurisdiction to review such ruling, provided a
    complaint for that purpose is filed within twenty days from the
    date of the entry of such ruling. Service of process in such
    proceedings may be had upon the Secretary by delivering to the
    Secretary a copy of the complaint. If the court determines that
    such ruling is not in accordance with law, it shall remand such
    proceedings to the Secretary with directions either (1) to make
    such ruling as the court shall determine to be in accordance with
    law, or (2) to take such further proceedings as, in its opinion,
    the law requires. The pendency of proceedings instituted pursuant
    to subsection (a) of this section shall not impede, hinder, or
    delay the United States or the Secretary from obtaining relief
    pursuant to section 4610 of this title.



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