CFR > Title 7 - Agriculture > SUBTITLE B—Regulations of the Department of Agriculture > CHAPTER VI—NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (parts 600 to 663) > SUBCHAPTER B—CONSERVATION OPERATIONS (parts 610 to 614) > PART 614—NRCS APPEAL PROCEDURES > 614.9—Program decisions.

614.9—Program decisions.

(a) Program decisions are final upon receipt of the program decision notice by the participant. The participant has the following options for appeal of the program decision:
(1) An informal hearing before NRCS as provided for in paragraphs (b) through (d) of this section;
(2) Mediation as provided for at § 614.11; or
(3) A hearing before NAD pursuant to 7 CFR part 11 or, if the program decision is made under Title XII, appeal before the FSA county committee pursuant to 7 CFR part 780.
(b) A program participant must file an appeal request for a hearing with the appropriate State Conservationist as indicated in the decision notice within 30 calendar days from the date the participant received the program decision.
(c) The State Conservationist may accept a hearing request that is untimely filed under paragraph (b) of this section if the State Conservationist determines that circumstances warrant such an action.
(d) The State Conservationist will hold a hearing no later than 30 days from the date that the appeal request was received. The State Conservationist will issue a written final NRCS decision no later than 30 days from the close of the hearing.