A presiding officer, designated by the Administrator, shall preside over all hearings. The functions of the presiding officer shall commence upon his designation and terminate upon the certification of the record to the Administrator. The presiding officer shall have the duty to conduct a fair hearing, to take all necessary action to avoid delay, and to maintain order. He shall have all powers necessary to these ends, including (but not limited to) the power to:

(a) Arrange and change the date, time, and place of hearings (other than the time and place prescribed in § 1301.56) and prehearing conferences and issue notice thereof.

(b) Hold conferences to settle, simplify, or determine the issues in a hearing, or to consider other matters that may aid in the expeditious disposition of the hearing.

(c) Require parties to state their position in writing with respect to the various issues in the hearing and to exchange such statements with all other parties.

(d) Sign and issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents and materials to the extent necessary to conduct administrative hearings pending before him.

(e) Examine witnesses and direct witnesses to testify.

(f) Receive, rule on, exclude, or limit evidence.

(g) Rule on procedural items pending before him.

(h) Take any action permitted to the presiding officer as authorized by this part or by the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 551-559).