(a) Appellant's opening brief. The appellant's appeal letter or appeal form, if accepted as a valid appeal, will constitute the appellant's opening brief, unless the appellant requests the opportunity to submit a supplement to the opening brief. If the appellant requests with its opening brief, or before its opening brief is perfected pursuant to regulation 30208, the opportunity to submit a supplement to appellant's opening brief, OTA will permit appellant to file a supplemental opening brief within 60 days from OTA's acknowledgment. The appeal letter and any supplement to the opening brief together will be considered appellant's opening brief, and shall not exceed a total of 30 pages, formatted pursuant to regulation 30302, subdivision (d), unless otherwise permitted by OTA.

(b) Respondent's opening brief. The respondent must submit an opening brief not later than 60 days from the date OTA acknowledges receipt of the appellant's opening brief, unless OTA grants additional time for submission of respondent's opening brief.

(c) Appellant's reply brief. The appellant may submit a reply brief and any such reply brief must be submitted not later than 30 days from the date OTA acknowledges receipt of the respondent's opening brief, unless OTA grants additional time for the submission of the reply brief. The appellant's reply brief, if submitted, may only address new facts, issues, or arguments raised in the respondent's opening brief.

(d) End of the briefing process. The submission of appellant's reply brief generally will end the briefing process, unless additional briefing or evidence are permitted pursuant to regulation 30304. For nonappearance appeals, the record will be closed at the end of the briefing process. For oral hearing appeals, the record will be closed pursuant to regulation 30412.