Formal appeals are more involved than 

informal appeals and tend to take longer 

to resolve. Also:

•	 They are submitted to the USDA 

National Appeals Division (NAD); 

•	 A request for appeal to NAD will close 

all other appeal options – in other 

words, once you’ve submitted a formal 

appeal, you cannot submit an informal 

appeal;

•	 NAD will conduct a hearing where you 

will explain your position and present 

evidence;

•	 The hearing can take place over the 

telephone or before the NAD officer in 

your State, or you may simply request 

review of the documents in your file 

 by the NAD officer; and

•	 Formal appeal request forms can be 

downloaded at the NAD Web site 

(www.nad.usda.gov) and should be 

submitted to your regional NAD office. 

Regional offices are listed 

 at www.nad.usda.gov/contact_us.html. 

For More Information

Visit the NRCS Appeals Web site 

at www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/appeals or 

the NAD Web site at www.nad.usda.gov. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 

prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities 

on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, 

and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, 

parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic 

information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all 

or a part of an individual’s income is derived from any 

public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases 

apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who 

require alternative means for communication of program 

information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should 

contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice 

and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to 

USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence 

Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or 

call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

 

PA - 2030 September 2009
How to File an Appeal

You must submit your appeal in writing 

to your State Conservationist within 30 

calendar days of receiving the decision. 

The address can be found in your local 

phonebook or at www.nrcs.usda.gov.

Your appeal must include:

• Your name and address; 

• A summary of the decision;

• A copy of the decision; and

• Why you disagree with it.

Types of Appeals

Informal appeals are reviewed internally 

within NRCS or, at the participant’s 

request (for certain programs), by the 

local USDA Farm Service Agency County 

Committee. Also:

•	 They are typically resolved faster than 

a formal appeal; and

•	 If an informal appeal is not resolved 

to your satisfaction, you may still 

submit a formal appeal. 

What You Cannot Appeal

The determinations and decisions 

you may not appeal include those 

related to: 

•	 Conservation program application 

rankings;

•	 Published soil surveys;

•	 Cost-share or payment amounts set 

by contract; 

•	 Soils lists for highly erodible land 

conservation compliance;

•	 Land appraisals;

•	 Mathematical or science-based 

formulas;

•	 Decisions issued by another 

Federal or State agency; and

•	 Decisions made expressly final by 

statute or regulation. 

What Is an Appeal?

An appeal is a request from a U.S. 

Department of Agriculture (USDA), 

Natural Resources Conservation 

Service (NRCS) program participant 

to the NRCS to review a technical 

determination or program decision. 

What You May Appeal

You may appeal a determination or 

decision related to:

•	 Your participation in a program;

•	 Your compliance with program 

requirements;

•	 Payments or other program 

benefits;

•	 Contract or easement violations; 

and/or

•	 NRCS’ application of law or policy.

How Can It Help You?