(a) Upon receipt of a request and the responses, if any, the
Secretary shall make such further inquiries as may be necessary to
determine his authority under the Order and these procedures; whether a
timely request for nomination has been made; whether a valid question
concerning representation exists in a prima facie appropriate unit; or
for the purpose of obtaining a further specification of the issues or
matters to be submitted for an advisory decision or determination, or
assisting or advising the persons nominated or considered for nomination
or otherwise facilitating submission of the matter to such person or
persons in a manner that will permit an expeditious decision or
determination.
(b) The Secretary will determine the adequacy of the showing of
interest administratively, and such determination
shall not be subject to collateral attack at a hearing before an
arbitrator.
(c) The Secretary shall nominate not less than three arbitrators.
Within 5 days the parties may indicate their order of preference from
among those nominated. The Secretary will thereafter make a selection
from among the nominees listed.
