Administrative Law Judges (ALJ) E-Filing System
ALJ E-Filing Instructions
Use of this ALJ E-Filing System is limited to those cases currently pending before the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Administrative Law Judges.Electronic Filing
The United States Environmental Protection Agency, Administrative Law Judges Division (ALJD), has created the ALJ E-Filing System, a web-based tool that allows registered users to file documents electronically with the ALJ. Use of the ALJ E-Filing System is limited to those cases currently pending before the ALJ.
Litigants may electronically file documents with the ALJ as authorized by the Standing Order of December 2, 2025, and in the manner specified below. Litigants should familiarize themselves with the Standing Order prior to any attempt to use the ALJ E-Filing System. Electronic filing of a document does not relieve the filing party of the obligation to serve that document on other parties. Paper filing of documents remains available to those who do not wish to file electronically.
The provisions related to Confidential Business Information, Personally Identifiable Information and the Satisfaction of Specific Rule Requirement do not apply to cases brought by any agency other than the EPA. Documents in cases brought by other agencies are not published on the Internet.
Confidential Business Information (Applicable only to EPA cases)
The ALJ E-Filing System cannot accommodate or protect confidential business information (CBI). Whenever a document is filed through the ALJ E-Filing System, the ALJ will consider all business confidentiality claims WAIVED. A party submitting information under a claim of confidentiality to the ALJ must do so by filing paper copies of that information in the manner specified in the applicable regulations. See, e.g., 40 C.F.R. § 22.5(d); see also 40 C.F.R. Part 2. However, a redacted version of documents alleged to contain CBI may be filed through the ALJ E-Filing System so long as the party claiming confidentiality also files the unredacted versions in accordance with the aforementioned requirements. See 40 C.F.R. Part 2.
Personally Identifiable Information (PII) (Applicable only to EPA cases)
The parties are cautioned that, unless redacted, all information filed with the Administrative Law Judges will be made publicly available. This may include information that can be used to distinguish, trace or identify an individual’s identity, including personal information which is linked or linkable to an individual (“personally identifiable information” or “PII”). Thus, the parties are hereby advised not to file, or to redact (i.e., remove or obscure) where filing is necessary, any information that, if disclosed to the public, would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, as well as “sensitive personally identifiable information” (“sensitive PII”), such as Social Security numbers, medical records and personal financial information. For example, personal financial information may be submitted for the purpose of assessing an individual respondent’s ability to pay the proposed penalty. Therefore, if a party wishes to file a document in this proceeding that contains PII, the filing party shall file and serve redacted and unredacted versions of the document in the same manner as described above for Confidential Business Information and as specified at Section 22.5(d)(2) of the Rules of Practice, 40 C.F.R. § 22.5(d)(2). The redacted document will be included in the public record. The unredacted document will be retained as part of the case file but not disclosed to the public.
Filing Deadline
Immediately upon submission to the ALJ E-Filing System, a document will be stamped with the official filing date and time. To be considered timely, a document filed through the ALJ E-Filing System must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the day the document is required to be filed. The ALJ E-Filing System will subsequently generate an electronic receipt of the submission that will be sent by e-mail to the filing party. There may be a delay of approximately one half hour between document submission and transmission of the receipt.
How to File Documents Electronically
Electronic filing of documents with the ALJ may only be accomplished by using the ALJ E-Filing System. Sending a document directly to the e-mail address of a staff member within the ALJ, or to aljfiling@epa.gov, rather than submitting it through the ALJ E-Filing System, does NOT constitute electronic filing unless otherwise specified in writing by the Presiding Officer.
All documents filed through the ALJ E-Filing System must be submitted in portable document format (PDF). The ALJ E-Filing System will accept other files types in those cases where an exhibit is an audio/video file. A motion and associated brief may be filed together through the ALJ E-Filing System. However, any documents filed in support of a brief, motion, or other filing, such as copies of proposed exhibits submitted as part of a prehearing exchange, should be submitted separately as an attachment. Where there are multiple attachments, they should be filed together in a single electronic file to the extent technically practicable. Litigants filing exhibits that they want to be viewed in color should either submit color copies of the exhibits through the ALJ E-Filing System or provide the ALJ with paper copies of those exhibits.
To file documents electronically, follow these steps:
Register with the ALJ (if you are a first time electronic submitter)
After completing the registration process, you will be directed back to the EPA E-Filing Login/Registration page.
Select “File with ALJ on existing case”
- 1. Read the instructions and click the link corresponding to the type of document you wish to file.
2. Identify yourself by making the appropriate selection (e.g. Complainant, Respondent, etc.).
3. Choose the correct case name from the drop down menu.
4. Choose the type of document that you wish to file.*
5. Enter a more specific description of your document.*
6. Click the “Choose File” button, then locate and attach your document.
7. Click "Submit" to upload your document into the ALJ E-Filing System.
8. You may attach additional documents to a submission after uploading your first document.
NOTE: Steps marked by an asterisk (*) may not apply for some documents. The file size is limited to 70MB for each document uploaded.
The Standing Order of December 2, 2025 states that the following specific rule requirements are satisfied when documents are submitted using the E-Filing System.
Use of the ALJ E-Filing System to file a document fulfills the requirement in 40 C.F.R. § 22.5(a)(1) to file “[t]he original and one copy of each document intended to be part of the record . . . with the Headquarters or Regional Hearing Clerk, as appropriate, when the proceeding is before the Presiding Officer . . . .”
Documents filed through the ALJ E-Filing System shall be deemed to have been served on the Presiding Officer. See 40 C.F.R. § 22.5(b)
Use of the ALJ E-Filing System to file a document also fulfills the signature requirement in 40 C.F.R. § 22.5(c)(3) for all purposes under the relevant regulations governing the case. The full name of the filing party, or of its attorney or other representative, shall be typed or printed below the signature line of the electronically filed document. By filing a document through the ALJ E-Filing System, a party, or its attorney or other representative, represents that the signatory has read the document, that to the best of his or her knowledge the statements made therein are true, and that the document is not interposed for delay.
Note: Pursuant to the ongoing Headquarters Hearing Clerk Pilot Project, the Headquarters Hearing Clerk of the Administrative Law Judges performs the duties of the Regional Hearing Clerk in administrative enforcement actions in which an answer is filed after May 1, 2012. However, in accordance with the the March 14, 2013 Amendment, Consent Agreements and Final Orders (CAFOs) should be filed with the Regional Hearing Clerks.
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