Sec. 1.1514  When an application may be filed.

    (a) An application may be filed whenever the applicant has prevailed 
in the proceeding or in a significant and discrete substantive portion 
of the proceeding, or when the demand of the Commission is substantially 
in excess of the decision in the proceeding, but in no case later than 
30 days after the Commission's final disposition of the proceeding.
    (b) If review or reconsideration is sought or taken of a decision as 
to which an applicant believes it has prevailed, proceedings for the 
award of fees shall be stayed pending final disposition of the 
underlying controversy.
    (c) For purposes of this rule, final disposition means the later of

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    (1) The date on which an initial decision or other recommended 
disposition of the merits of the proceeding by an Administrative Law 
Judge becomes administratively final;
    (2) Issuance of an order disposing of any petitions for 
reconsideration of the Commission's order in the proceeding;
    (3) If no petition for reconsideration is filed, the last date on 
which such petition could have been filed;
    (4) Issuance of a final order by the Commission or any other final 
resolution of a proceeding, such as settlement or voluntary dismissal, 
which is not subject to a petition for reconsideration, or to a petition 
for judicial review; or
    (5) Completion of judicial action on the underlying controversy and 
any subsequent Commission action pursuant to judicial mandate.
[ 47 FR 3786 , Jan. 27, 1982, as amended at  61 FR 39899 , July 31, 1996]

                 Procedures for Considering Applications