(a) State Conservationists’ Authority. State Conservationists have the authority to grant requests for equitable relief under this section when—

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(1) The program matter with respect to which the relief is sought is a program matter in a covered program operated within the authorized jurisdiction of the State Conservationist;

(2) The total amount of relief (including payments and other benefits) that will be provided to the participant under this section during the fiscal year is less than $20,000;

(3) The total amount of such relief that has been previously provided to the participant using this section in the fiscal year, as calculated in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, is not more than $5,000;

(4) The total amount of payments and benefits of any kind for which relief is provided to similarly situated participants by a State Conservationist in a fiscal year, is not more than $1,000,000.

(b) Additional limits on authority. The authority provided under this section does not extend to the administration of:

(1) Payment limitations under part 1400 of this title;

(2) Payment limitations under a conservation program administered by the Secretary; or

(3) The highly erodible land and wetland conservation requirements under subtitles B or C of Title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. § 3811 et seq.).

(c) Concurrence by the Office of the General Counsel. Relief shall only be made under this part after consultation with, and concurrence by, the Office of General Counsel.

(d) Secretary’s reversal authority. A decision made under this part by the State Conservationist may be reversed only by the Secretary, who may not delegate that authority.

(e) Relation to other authorities. The authority provided under this section is in addition to any other applicable authority that may allow relief.