(a) The Department will initiate exemption proceedings upon the application of:
(1) Any party in interest to a plan who is or may be a party to the exemption transaction;
(2) Any plan which is a party to the exemption transaction; or
(3) In the case of an application for an exemption covering a class of parties in interest or a class of transactions, in addition to any person described in paragraphs (a)(1) and (2) of this section, an association or organization representing parties in interest who may be parties to the exemption transaction.
(b) An application by or for a person described in paragraph (a) of this section, may be submitted by the applicant or by an authorized representative. An application submitted by a representative of the applicant must include proof of authority in the form of:
(1) A power of attorney; or
(2) A written certification from the applicant that the representative is authorized to file the application.
(c) If the authorized representative of an applicant submits an application for an exemption to the Department together with proof of authority to file the application as required by paragraph (b) of this section, the Department will direct all correspondence and inquiries concerning the application to the representative unless requested to do otherwise by the applicant.