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Are you looking for information from the USDA?
The Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA,
is a law that provides any person access to Federal agency records,
except to the extent that such agency records or
portions of such agency records are protected from
disclosure by one or more of the nine FOIA exemptions.
Filing a FOIA request is not difficult,
however you should keep in mind
these three things before getting started.
First, the records you seek may already be publicly available
at www.usda.gov
USDA'S website has a wealth of information
about popular topics, public initiatives and
the Secretary's priorities.
Our website also allows you to delve into
the details of each of the Department's
component agencies programs.
In sum, you might be able to find what you need,
when you need it, at your convenience without
filing a FOIA request.
Second, be aware that the FOIA does not require
federal agencies to analyze agency records,
answer written questions in response to Agency records,
or create Agency records in response
to a FOIA.
Third, the USDA is a large department,
employing thousands of people in every capacity.
It has no central filing system or computerized index
of all the information maintained by
all of its agencies.
Therefore specific details regarding the subject of
your request such as key terms, phrases or names,
can make the difference between getting what you want
and getting misunderstood.
For example, if you know the number of
the grant or contract you're requesting, the author,
or recipient of the agency records,
please share this with us.
Also, if available, please provide the dates
that will be applicable for search.
For example, if you're looking for information about
a particular program or a USDA policy determination
that took place in the summer of 2011.
Please explain you're requesting information
from June 2011 through August 2011.
The Department has several ways in place for you
to file a FOIA request.
You can mail or fax it, or send it by email.
However, we recommended that you submit your
FOIA request online via our public access link,
or PAL system.
When you submit your FOIA via PAL, you can check
the status of your FOIA request on line and
receive the records you are requesting directly
from the system.
You may access PAL at
<.>
Before submitting your FOIA request,
you must choose where to send it,
because the USDA is a decentralized Department
with each individual agency maintaining
its own agency records.
It is not possible to send your request
to a single employee at headquarters central.
Instead you will need to direct your request
to the agency or agencies that maintain
the agency records that you're looking for.
How do you know who has these records?
If you do not know who to send your FOIA request to,
we recommend visiting
<www.dm.usda.gov/foia .>
Go to the bottom of the page
under Freedom of Information Act servicing centers.
If you leave your mouse over any servicing center
listed for a short period of time,
a brief description of the agency
and its mission will appear.
If after reviewing the description and missions
of the agency, it is still unclear which USDA agency
may have responsive records, please send a request to
USDAFOIA@ocio.usda.gov
.
Currently, we do not offer the capability of
submitting a FOIA to multiple USDA agencies
at one time.
However, you may submit the same request
to multiple USDA agencies by entering each individual
Agency request as a new FOIA request, if you need it
the same information from more than one agency.
Once you determine where to send your FOIA request,
please be sure to include enough information about
yourself to enable the FOIA process to work.
We do not need your drivers' license,
Social Security number, Social Security card
or other information.
We will however, need your contact information,
along with any documents authorizing you to receive
information related to another party if applicable.
Your contact information is critical.
We need this information so that we may contact you
should we need clarification from you
regarding your FOIA request.
We may also need this information in order to
contact you to discuss the fees associated with
your FOIA request and payment arrangements.
Most importantly, we will need this to deliver
our response to your request.
When Congress passed the FOIA, it decided that
the public should help defray part of
the cost of processing FOIA requests.
The fees are generally minimal.
However, FOIA requesters requiring,
let's say for example, substantial reproduction costs
may expect higher fees.
Additionally, the USDA does not bill you
when your FOIA fees do not exceed $25,
or if you qualify for a fee waiver.
Who is able to qualify for a fee waiver?
Generally speaking, members of the media,
and others who are able to demonstrate that
the records they are seeking will make a substantial
contribution to the public's understanding of
the activities and operations of USDA.
For more information on fees, you may want
to consult the USDA's FOIA regulations in
Section 6(a)(1) of 7 CFR Part 1 Appendix A,
otherwise it is best to indicate in the request
if you're willing to pay any FOIA fees and if so, how much.
Otherwise, the USDA will need to contact you should
it determine the processing your FOIA
request will generate FOIA fees in excess of $25.
To recap, here are our recommendations for
getting the requested information quickly
and as efficiently as possible.
First, check the USDA website to ensure that
what you're looking for is not already posted.
Second, find the agency or agencies that maintain the
records you are seeking
www.dm.usda.gov/foia
/.
Log on to PAL at
<.>
- And create your user profile.
Click on the link to the agency or agencies
that maintain the records you're looking for.
Third, as clearly as possible, describe
what you are seeking.
Fourth, let USDA know if you're willing to pay FOIA
fees without further notification.
Lastly, monitor your email, or your home
mailbox for responsive records to your FOIA.
Before you know it, the records you are looking for,
will be either be in your email inbox or mailbox.
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