Subpart H - Appeals 



510.83(a) (6) 



(1) An independent evaluation and decision will be 

 made at each level of appeal based on the administrative 

 record and any additional information gathered from a field 

 visit, if made, and/or additional information provided by 

 the appellant. 



(2) Line officers at the next higher level of 

 appeal may provide staff technical assistance and policy 

 interpretations to the SCS person making the determination. 



(3) Except for appeals to the Chief, the staff at 

 each level of the appeal should strongly consider a site 

 visit. Site visits are required at the field level. 



(4) A line officer may not be directly involved 

 in, or influence, an appeal decision being made at a lower 

 appeal level. For exeunple, an area conservationist (AC) may 

 advise a DC of appeal procedures or answer questions 

 concerning SCS technical policy, but the AC cannot be 

 directly involved in the actual appeal (reconsideration) 

 decision. Area staff may assist the DC to verify that 

 technical procedures were properly followed; however, the 

 seune technical staff member cannot participate in the appeal 

 decision at the next higher appeal level. Staff at the next 

 higher level may assist the lower level decision maker with 

 technical assistance in the field. Those staff members 

 cannot then be involved in appeals at any higher level. 



(5) Line officers at the next higher level should 

 not visit the site in question or get directly involved in 

 the appeal until the appeal is received at that level. The 

 line officer and his or her staff should not direct the 

 lower level staff to make or change any determination or 

 decision. 



(6) Once an appeal reaches a higher level, lower 

 levels must not meOce additional decisions on the appeal 

 unless the appeal is sent back to consider new information. 



510-61 

 (180-V-NFSAM, Second Ed., Amend. 6, May 1991) 



