§11.5. Informal review of adverse decisions. — Inbound Citations

(11) Any predecessor or successor agency to the above-named agencies, and any other agency or office of the Department which the Secretary may designate.

Agency record means all the materials maintained by an agency related to an adverse decision which are submitted to the Division by an agency for consideration in connection with an appeal under this part, including all materials prepared or reviewed by the agency during its consideration and decisionmaking process, but shall not include records or information not related to the adverse decision at issue. All materials contained in the agency record submitted to the Division shall be deemed admitted as evidence for purposes of a hearing or a record review under § 11.8.

Agency representative means any person, whether or not an attorney, who is authorized to represent the agency in an administrative appeal under this part.

Appeal means a written request by a participant asking for review by the National Appeals Division of an adverse decision under this part.

Appellant means any participant who appeals an adverse decision in accordance with this part. Unless separately set forth in this part, the term “appellant” includes an authorized representative.

Authorized representative means any person, whether or not an attorney, who is authorized in writing by a participant, consistent with § 11.6(c), to act for the participant in an administrative appeal under this part. The authorized representative may act on behalf of the participant except when the provisions of this part require action by the participant or appellant personally.

Case record means all the materials maintained by the Secretary related to an adverse decision: The case record includes both the agency record and the hearing record.

Days means calendar days unless otherwise specified.

Department means the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Director means the Director of the Division or a designee of the Director.

Division means the National Appeals Division established by this part.

Equitable relief means relief which is authorized under section 326 of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1962 (7 U.S.C. 1339a) and other laws administered by the agency.

Ex parte communication means an oral or written communication to any officer or employee of the Division with respect to which reasonable prior notice to all parties is not given, but it shall not include requests for status reports, or inquiries on Division procedure, in reference to any matter or proceeding connected with the appeal involved.

Hearing, except with respect to § 11.5, means a proceeding before the Division to afford a participant the opportunity to present testimony or documentary evidence or both in order to have a previous determination reversed and to show why an adverse determination was in error.

Hearing Officer means an individual employed by the Division who conducts the hearing and determines appeals of adverse decisions by any agency.

Hearing record means all documents, evidence, and other materials generated in relation to a hearing under $11.8.

Implement means the taking of action by an agency of the Department in order fully and promptly to effectuate a final determination of the Division.

Participant means any individual or entity who has applied for, or whose right to participate in or receive, a payment, loan, loan guarantee, or other benefit in accordance with any program of an agency to which the regulations in this part apply is affected by a decision of such agency. The term does not include persons whose claim(s) arise under:

(a) The provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act generally applicable to agency adjudications (5 U.S.C. 554-557), and the Equal Access to Justice Act (5 U.S.C. 504) and its implementing regulations at 7 CFR part 1, subpart J, shall apply to proceedings under this part except for proceedings under § 11.5 and § 11.6(a).

(c) Participants also have the right under section 275 of the Act to seek mediation involving any adverse decision appealable under this subpart if the mediation program of the State in which the participant's farming operation giving rise to the decision is located has been certified by the Secretary for the program involved in the decision. An agency shall cooperate in such mediation. Any time limitation for appeal will be stayed pending completion of the mediation process (7 CFR 11.5(c)).