---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 3814"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "3814"
heading: "Notice and investigation of possible compliance deficiencies"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/3814"
units:
  - "Chapter 58 — Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation and Reserve Program"
  - "Subchapter II — Highly Erodible Land Conservation"
---

# §3814. Notice and investigation of possible compliance deficiencies

- (a) **In general—** An employee of the Department of Agriculture who observes a possible compliance deficiency or other potential [violation](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) of a [conservation plan](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-3) or this subchapter while providing on-site [technical assistance](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-25) shall provide to the responsible [persons](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-19), not later than 45 days after observing the possible [violation](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11), information regarding actions needed to comply with the plan and this subchapter. The employee shall provide the information in lieu of reporting the observation as a compliance [violation](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11).
- (b) **Corrective action—** The responsible [persons](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-19) shall attempt to correct the deficiencies as soon as practicable after receiving the information.
- (c) **Review—** If the corrective action is not fully implemented not later than 1 year after the responsible [persons](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-19) receive the information, the [Secretary](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-21) may conduct a review of the status of compliance of the [persons](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-19) with the [conservation plan](/usc/16/3801.md?p=a-3) and this subchapter.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 99–198, title XII, § 1215, as added Pub. L. 104–127, title III, § 316, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 985.)