(a) In all proceedings, the moving party has the right to open and close. Where several matters have been consolidated, the judge will designate who will open and close. The judge will determine at what stage other parties will be permitted to offer evidence and argument. After all parties have completed the presentation of their evidence, the judge may call upon any party for further material or relevant evidence upon any issue.
(b) The applicant shall present evidence to meet its burden of proof on the application, followed by the protesting parties, the public interest counsel, and the executive director. In all cases, the applicant shall be allowed a rebuttal. Any party may present a rebuttal case when another party presents evidence that could not have been reasonably anticipated. For applications subject to subsection (c) of this section, the applicant's presentation of evidence to meet its burden of proof may consist solely of the filing with the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH), and admittance by the judge, of the administrative record as described in subsection (c) of this section.
(c) For contested cases regarding a permit application filed on or after September 1, 2015, and referred to SOAH under Texas Water Code, §5.556 or §5.557:
  (1) The filing of the administrative record as described in §80.118(c) of this title (relating to Administrative Record) establishes a prima facie demonstration that:
    (A) the draft permit meets all applicable state and federal legal and technical requirements; and
    (B) a permit, if issued consistent with the draft permit in the administrative record, would protect human health and safety, the environment, and physical property.
  (2) The applicant, protesting parties, the public interest counsel, and the executive director may present evidence after admittance of the administrative record by the judge.
  (3) Any party may present evidence to rebut the prima facie demonstration by demonstrating that one or more provisions in the draft permit violate a specifically applicable state or federal requirement that relates to a matter directly referred to SOAH or referred by the commission. If the prima facie demonstration is rebutted, the applicant or the executive director may present additional evidence to support the executive director's draft permit.
(d) In all contested enforcement case hearings, the executive director has the right to open and close. In all such cases, the executive director shall be allowed to close with his rebuttal.

Source Note: The provisions of this §80.117 adopted to be effective June 6, 1996, 21 TexReg 4763; amended to be effective November 15, 2001, 26 TexReg 91058; amended to be effective May 3, 2012, 37 TexReg 3147; amended to be effective December 31, 2015, 40 TexReg 9680; amended to be effective May 14, 2020, 45 TexReg 3087