(a) Request. A person authorized to harvest special forest products may request delay, suspension, modification, or termination of their contract, permit, or other authorizing instrument pursuant to the provisions set forth in the contract, permit, or instrument, if any, or for another reasonable cause, including without limitation, catastrophic damage to the product or substantially changed market conditions. Any such request must be submitted in writing and include a detailed explanation of all relevant circumstances supporting the request.
(b) Response. The Forest Service shall respond to any request for delay, suspension, modification, or termination in accordance with applicable provisions in the contract, permit, or other authorizing instrument, or, in the absence of such provisions, respond in a manner that is reasonable in light of the request's circumstances. The Forest Service may deny any request, in whole or in part, in accordance with the provisions of the relevant contract, permit, or instrument, or, in the absence of such provisions, at the Agency's discretion.
(c) Authority. The Contracting Officer administering a sale or a superior officer has the authority to deny or grant any request by a person authorized to harvest special forest products to delay, modify, suspend, or terminate a contract, permit, or other authorizing instrument. The Forest Service's response to a request for delay, modification, suspension, or termination shall be issued in writing, except when exigent circumstances warrant oral communication, in which case a written communication shall follow promptly.