(b) Although the hearing shall be informal and legislative in type, this section is intended to provide more than the bare essentials of informal proceedings under 5 U.S.C. 553. The additional requirements are the following:

1. (1) The presiding officer shall be a hearing examiner appointed under 5 U.S.C. 3105.
2. (2) The presiding officer shall provide an opportunity for cross-examination on pertinent issues.
3. (3) The hearing shall be reported verbatim, and a transcript shall be available to any interested person on such terms as the presiding officer may provide.

(c) The officer presiding at a hearing shall have all the power necessary or appropriate to conduct a fair and full hearing, including the powers:

1. (1) To regulate the course of the proceedings;
2. (2) To dispose of procedural requests, objections, and comparable matters;
3. (3) To confine the presentation to the issues specified in the notice of hearing, or, where appropriate, to matters pertinent to the issue before the Assistant Secretary;
4. (4) To regulate the conduct of those present at the hearing by appropriate means;
5. (5) To take official notice of material facts not appearing in the evidence in the record, as long as the parties are afforded an opportunity to show evidence to the contrary;
6. (6) In his discretion, to keep the record open for a reasonable and specified time to receive additional written recommendations with supporting reasons and any additional data, views, and arguments from any person who has participated in the oral proceeding.