(a) Notice of appeal to the Special Counsel for Ethics and Civil Rights, with or without a request for hearing, shall be filed by the complainant or the respondent with the Responsible Official within 30 days of receipt of the letter of findings required by

§ 105-8.170-7.

(b) If a timely appeal without a request for hearing is filed by a party, any other party may file a written request for a hearing within the time limit specified in § 105-8.170-9(a) or within 10 days of the date on which the first timely appeal without a request for hearing was filed, whichever is later.

(c) If no party requests a hearing, the Responsible Official shall promptly transmit the notice of appeal and investigative record to the Special Counsel for Ethics and Civil Rights.

(d) If neither party files an appeal within the time prescribed in § 105-8.170-9(a) the Responsible Official shall certify, at the expiration of the time, that the letter of findings is the final agency decision on the complaint.