[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 7, Volume 6]
[Revised as of January 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 7CFR614.102]

[Page 362]
 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
   CHAPTER VI--NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF 
                               AGRICULTURE
 
PART 614--APPEAL PROCEDURES--Table of Contents
 
     Subpart B--Appeals of Technical Determinations Related to the 
  Conservation Title (Title XII) of the Food Security Act of 1985, as 
                                 Amended
 
Sec. 614.102  Mediation of preliminary technical determinations.

    (a)(1) Any dispute with respect to a preliminary technical 
determination related to the programs provided in Sec. 614.100 shall, at 
the request of the landowner or program participant, be mediated:
    (i) Through certified individuals in those States where a State 
mediation program certified by the United States Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) has been established. Conservation district officials 
in certified State Mediation Program States may become certified by the 
State and utilized for mediation, if they choose to participate.
    (ii) In States with no certified mediation program in effect, 
through mediation by a qualified representative of a local conservation 
district, if a local conservation district chooses to participate. Upon 
mutual agreement of the parties, other individuals may serve as 
mediators.
    (2) Upon receiving a request for mediation, NRCS shall notify other 
USDA and Federal agencies, as appropriate.
    (b) The parties shall have not more than 30 days to reach an 
agreement following a mediation session. The mediator shall notify the 
designated conservationist in writing at the end of this period whether 
the parties reached an agreement. Any agreement reached during, or as a 
result of, the mediation process shall conform to the statutory, 
regulatory, and manual provisions governing the program.

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