They failed in that effort. The raise became effective retroactively November 22, 1993. Their grievances were denied at each stage of the grievance process, including before the Springfield Facility supervisors, the Springfield Facility Superintendent, DOC, BOP, and following a hearing before the Commission. When the issue is a question of fact, we ascertain whether the administrative agency was clearly erroneous. Although the final construction of a rule is a question of law, an agency is usually given a reasonable range of informed discretion in the interpretation and application of its own rules when the language subject to construction is technical in nature or ambiguous, or when the agency interpretation is one of long standing.
Administrative rules are subject to the same rules of construction as statutes.
Where there is an ambiguity in an agency rule, a court must give effect to the agency's intention in promulgation of the rule, and must look to the object of the rule and the evil or mischief which it is designed to remedy and apply a reasonable construction which best accomplishes the purpose of the rule. The purpose of the rule must be determined from the rule as a whole, as well as other rules relating to the same subject. When a statute or rule does not define a term, it should be construed according to its accepted usage and a strained, unpractical, or absurd result should be avoided. DOC claims their interpretation is neither inconsistent with the administrative rule nor the salary policy of the State of South Dakota. This it has done.