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45 CFR § 681.22 - Are protective orders available?

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t45/s681.22"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "45 CFR § 681.22 - Are protective orders available?"
title_number: 45
title_name: "Public Welfare"
section_number: "681.22"
section_name: "Are protective orders available?"
chapter_name: "NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION"
part_number: "681"
part_name: "PROGRAM FRAUD CIVIL REMEDIES ACT REGULATIONS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
regulatory_source: "74 FR 26794, June 4, 2009, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "681"
---

# 681.22 Are protective orders available?

(a) A party or prospective witness or deponent may file a motion for a protective order with respect to discovery sought by an opposing party or with respect to the hearing, seeking to limit the availability or disclosure of evidence.

(b) In issuing a protective order, the ALJ may make any order which justice requires to protect a party or person from annoyance, embarrassment, oppression, or undue burden or expense, including one or more of the following:

(1) That the discovery not be had;

(2) That the discovery may be had only on specified terms and conditions;

(3) That the discovery may be had only through a method of discovery other than requested;

(4) That certain matters not be inquired into, or that the scope of discovery be limited to certain matters;

(5) That discovery be conducted with no one present except persons designated by the ALJ;

(6) That the contents of the discovery be sealed;

(7) That a deposition after being sealed be opened only by order of the ALJ;

(8) That a trade secret or other confidential research, development, commercial information, or facts pertaining to any criminal investigation, proceeding, or other administrative investigation not be disclosed or be disclosed only in a designated way; or

(9) That the parties simultaneously file specified documents or information enclosed in sealed envelopes to be opened as directed by the ALJ.