National Appeals Division Rules of Procedure

On May 22, 1995 (60 FR 27044), the National Appeals Division (NAD) in the Office of the Secretary published a proposed rule to implement Title II, Subtitle H, of the Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994, Pub. L. 103- 354, 7 U.S.C. 6991 et seq., by setting forth procedures for program participant appeals of adverse decisions by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) agency officials to NAD. The deadline for receipt of comments was June 21, 1995. On June 28, 1995 (60 FR 32922) the Office of the Secretary published an extension of the deadline for receipt of comments until July 6, 1995. From the period May 22 to July 6, 1995, forty-six timely public comments were received in response to the proposed rulemaking. Based on these comments, including concerns regarding the need for an additional comment period on the proposed rules and the need for a comment period on USDA agency conforming rules, but mindful of the immediate need for published rules, the Secretary now issues these rules on an interim final basis. These rules also include conforming changes to the former appeal rules of USDA agencies whose adverse decisions are now subject to NAD review.