7 C.F.R. § 780.9

Mediation

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(a) Any request for mediation must be submitted after issuance of an adverse decision but before any hearing in an appeal of the adverse decision to NAD.

(b) An adverse decision and any particular issues of fact material to an adverse decision may be mediated only once:

(1) If resolution of an adverse decision is not achieved in mediation, a participant may exercise any remaining appeal rights under this part or appeal to NAD in accordance with part 11 of this title and NAD procedures.

(2) If an adverse decision is modified as a result of mediation, a participant may exercise any remaining appeal rights as to the modified decision under this part or appeal to NAD, unless such appeal rights have been waived pursuant to agreement in the mediation.

(c) Any agreement reached during, or as a result of, the mediation process shall conform to the statutory and regulatory provisions governing the program and FSA's generally applicable interpretation of those statutes and regulatory provisions.

(d) FSA will participate in mediation in good faith and to do so will take steps that include the following:

(1) Designating a representative in the mediation;

(2) Instructing the representative that any agreement reached during, or as a result of, the mediation process must conform to the statutes, regulations, and FSA's generally applicable interpretations of statutes and regulations governing the program;

(3) Assisting as necessary in making pertinent records available for review and discussion during the mediation; and

(4) Directing the representative to forward any written agreement proposed in mediation to the appropriate FSA official for approval.

(e) Mediations will be treated in a confidential manner consistent with the purposes of the mediation.

(f) For requests for mediation in a Certified State, if the factual issues implicated in an adverse decision have not previously been mediated, notice to a participant of an adverse decision will include notice of the opportunity for mediation, including a mailing address and facsimile number, if available, that the participant may use to submit a written request for mediation.

(1) If the participant desires mediation, the participant must request mediation in writing by contacting the certified mediation program or such other contact as may be designated by FSA in an adverse decision letter. The request for mediation must include a copy of the adverse decision to be mediated.

(2) Participants in mediation may be required to pay fees established by the mediation program.

(3) A listing of certified State mediation programs and means for contact may be found on the FSA Web site at http://www.usda.gov/fsa/disputemediation.htm.

(g) For requests for mediation in a Non-certified State, if the factual issues implicated in an adverse decision have not previously been mediated, notice to a participant of an adverse decision will, as appropriate, include notice of the opportunity for mediation, including the mailing address of the State Executive Director and a facsimile number, if available, that the participant may use to submit a written request for mediation.

(1) It is the duty of the participant to contact the State Executive Director in writing to request mediation. The request for mediation must include a copy of the adverse decision to be mediated.

(2) If resources are available for mediation, the State Executive Director will select a qualified mediator and provide written notice to the participant that mediation is available and the fees that the participant will incur for mediation.

(3) If the participant accepts such mediation, FSA may give notice of the mediation to interested parties and third parties whose interests are known to FSA.

(h) Mediation will be considered to be at an end on that date set out in writing by the mediator or mediation program, as applicable, or when the participant receives written notice from the State Executive Director that the State Executive Director believes the mediation is at an impasse, whichever is earlier.

(i) To provide for mediator impartiality:

(1) No person shall be designated as mediator in an adverse program dispute who has previously served as an advocate or representative for any party in the mediation.

(2) As a condition of retention to mediate in an adverse program dispute under this part, the mediator shall agree not to serve thereafter as an advocate or representative for a participant or party in any other proceeding arising from or related to the mediated dispute, including, without limitation, representation of a mediation participant before an administrative appeals entity of USDA, or any other Federal Government department.

[70 FR 43266, July 27, 2005, as amended at 71 FR 30573, May 30, 2006]
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 11 cases, 1968–2004 · leading case: Don Olenhouse v. Commodity Credit Corp., 42 F.3d 1560 (10th Cir. 1994).
Don Olenhouse v. Commodity Credit Corp., 42 F.3d 1560 (10th Cir. 1994). “4, a farmer’s yields under the Wheat Program are established by averaging his yields over the previous five years. 7 C.F.R. § 713.6 (a). Disaster "credit” is thus necessary to avoid a reduction in a farm’s established yield by averaging in a year that was low due to no fault of…”
Doty v. United States, 24 Cl. Ct. 615 (Ct. Cl. 1991). · cites it 3× “7 C.F.R. § 780.9 . As illustrated in the recitation of facts, the administrative context of this case is not one in which a decision of the county executive director was appealed to the county committee which made an independent determination which, in turn, was appealed to the…”
Simons v. United States, 25 Cl. Ct. 685 (Ct. Cl. 1992). · cites it 2× “material facts found by the reviewing authority”) and of 7 C.F.R. § 780.9 (a) (“The ... participant shall be notified in writing of the determination.”
Brice Brackin & Linda R. Brackin v. United States, 913 F.2d 858 (11th Cir. 1990). “Upon reconsideration or review and within program authorities, the reviewing authority may affirm, modify, or reverse any determination made by it initially or made by a lower reviewing authority, or may remand the matter to a lower reviewing authority for such further…”
United States v. Batson, 706 F.2d 657 (5th Cir. 1983). “§ 1385 and 7 C.F.R. § 780.9 , the determination ... is final and conclusive.”
Garvey v. Freeman, 397 F.2d 600 (10th Cir. 1968). “7 C.F.R. 780.9. Final determinations of the Deputy Administrator were unappealable, i.”
Horn Farms, Inc. v. Veneman, 319 F. Supp. 2d 902 (N.D. Ind. 2004). · cites it 2× “101(a)(2); and 7 C.F.R § 780.9. If the decision of the FSA County Committee is unfavorable, program participants must seek review before a Hearing Officer of the National Appeals Division, and may appeal to the Director of the NAD, before seeking judicial review.”
North Dakota ex rel. Bd. of Univ. & Sch. Lands v. Yeutter, 914 F.2d 1031 (8th Cir. 1990). “(quoting "notice of disapproval” sent to state); see also 7 C.F.R. § 780.9 (a) (reviewing authority must provide party with written notification of its determination).”
Lucio v. Yeutter, 798 F. Supp. 39 (D.D.C. 1992). · cites it 3× “” 7 C.F.R. § 780.9 (b). All documents are to be made available to the participant upon request.”
Garvey v. Freeman, 397 F.2d 600 (10th Cir. 1968). “7 C.F.R. 780.9. Final determinations of the Deputy Administrator were unappealable, i.”
Rochman v. United States, 27 Fed. Cl. 162 (Fed. Cl. 1992). “” 7 C.F.R. § 780.9 (a) (1987). The Supreme Court has set out the standard for review of an agency’s decision.”
— 7 C.F.R. § 780.9(d) — 1 case
Lucio v. Yeutter, 798 F. Supp. 39 (D.D.C. 1992). “” 7 C.F.R. § 780.9 (b). All documents are to be made available to the participant upon request.”
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