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How to access non-FOIA
records
Each REE agency maintains a website on the Internet and
provides direct access to information available from their agency. Certain
information maintained by the REE agencies is public information and readily
available for distribution upon request by an individual. If you are unable to
locate the information you are seeking, you can file a FOIA request.
Links to REE Agency websites:
How to make a FOIA request
FOIA requests must be in writing and are accepted by mail, facsimile, or
e-mail. In making an electronic request, you may want to use the
REE FOIA Request
Form.
Submit your request to:
FOIA Officer
USDA-REE-ARS-IS
5601 Sunnyside Avenue
Bldg. 1, Rm. 2248
Beltsville, MD 20705-5128
Telephone: 301-504-1640 or 301-504-1655
Facsimile: 301-504-1647; TTY: 301-504-1743
REEFOIA@ars.usda.gov
In making your request, it is important to identify the records
you want as accurately as possible, with as much detail that would be helpful
for locating the information. The more precise and accurate the request, the
more likely you are to get a complete response. We suggest you include the
following:
- The specific documents you are seeking
- The name of the individual(s), staff(s) or location name(s) and the
location(s) where the documents are maintained
- Time period covered by your request
- Grant or contract numbers, if applicable
- Your telephone number, e-mail address, and mailing address
- Fee information (see below)
A request may only seek records that are in existence at the time that the
FOIA request is received. The FOIA does not require that new records be created
in response to the request and does not require agencies to do research for
you, to analyze data, or to answer written questions.
Fees: Agencies are authorized by law to recover the direct
costs of providing information to a FOIA requester. The FOIA requires that
requesters be placed in one of the following three categories:
- Commercial requesters may be charged the full fees for searching,
reviewing, and duplicating the documents.
- Educational or noncommercial scientific institutions and representatives of
the news media may be charged only for duplication, minus the first 100 pages.
- All other requesters may be charged fees for searching for documents and
duplication, minus the first 2 hours of search time and the first 100 pages.
The costs associated with searching for and reviewing records responsive to
a request are: the salary rate of the employee conducting the search, plus 16
percent of the employees basic pay; or where a homogeneous class of
personnel is used exclusively, $10.00 per hour for clerical time and $20.00 per
hour for supervisory or professional time. Duplication of pages 8 ½
x 14 or smaller is $0.20 per page. Duplication of pages larger than 8
½ x 14 is $0.50 per page. Certifications are $5.00 each.
No fee will be charged if the amount is less than $25. In cases where no
documents are located, the Agency is entitled to charge the requester for any
applicable search time involved.
Fee Waivers: Fee waivers may be granted when disclosure of the
documents is in the public interest and is likely to contribute significantly
to public understanding of the operations or activities of the Government and
is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester.
When making a fee waiver request, the following six factors must be
addressed in sufficient detail:
- The subject of the request, i.e., whether the subject of the requested
records concerns the operations or activities of the government.
- The informative value of the information to be disclosed, i.e., whether the
disclosure is likely to contribute to public understanding of government
operations or activities.
- The contribution to an understanding of the subject by the general public
likely to result from disclosure, i.e., whether disclosure of the requested
information will contribute to public understanding.
- The significance of the contribution to public understanding, i.e., whether
disclosure is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of
government operations or activities.
- The existence and magnitude of a commercial interest, i.e., whether the
requester has a commercial interest that would be furthered by the requested
disclosure; and if so,
- The primary interest in disclosure, i.e., whether the magnitude of the
identified commercial interest of the requester is sufficiently large in
comparison with the public interest in disclosure.
Appeals: A person whose initial FOIA request for documents has been
denied, either in part or in whole, or who has received a no records response,
or whose request for a fee waiver has been denied, has the right to appeal the
denial to the appropriate REE administrator within 45 days after receipt of
notification of the denial.
Exemptions: A request for records may be denied if the requested
record contains information that falls into one or more of the 9 exemptions
listed below. If the requested record contains both exempt and nonexempt
information, the nonexempt portions that may reasonably be segregated from the
exempt portions will be released to the requester.
- Exemption 1 - Records which are specifically authorized under criteria
established by an Executive Order to be kept secret in interest of national
defense or foreign policy and are in fact properly classified pursuant to such
Executive Order.
- Exemption 2 - Records related solely to the internal personnel rules and
practices of the agency.
- Exemption 3 - Records specifically exempted from disclosure by statute,
provided that such statute: a. Requires that the matters be withheld from the
public in such a manner as to leave no discretion on the issues; or b.
Establishes particular criteria for withholding or refers to particular types
of matters to be withheld.
- Exemption 4 - Trade secrets and commercial or financial information
obtained from a person that is privileged or confidential.
- Exemption 5 - Interagency or intra-agency memoranda or letters which would
not be available by law to a party other than an agency in litigation with the
agency.
- Exemption 6 - Personnel, medical, and similar files when the disclosure of
such information would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal
privacy.
- Exemption 7 - Records compiled for law enforcement purposes.
- Exemption 8 - Records that are contained in or related to examination,
operating, or condition reports prepared by, on behalf of, or for the use of an
agency responsible for the regulation or supervision of financial institutions.
- Exemption 9 - Geological and geophysical information and data, including
maps, concerning wells.
Time Limits: Agencies are required to respond to a FOIA request
within 20 business days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. This
period does not begin until the request is actually received by the FOIA
office. In specific situations, an additional 10-day extension may be granted
in responding to a request. The FOIA provides for extensions of initial time
limits under unusual circumstances, which are defined as (1) the need to search
for and collect records from separate offices; (2) the need to examine a
voluminous amount of records required by the request; and (3) the need to
consult with another agency or agency component. Top
Privacy Act: The Privacy Act (PA), 5 U.S.C. 552a, protects
individuals against clearly unwarranted invasion of their personal privacy. The
PA informs individuals as to what information is maintained on them and where
the information is stored and allows an individual to access documents
maintained in a PA System of Records (records retrievable by an individual's
name or other personal identifier) and to request an amendment of the records.
Documents maintained in a PA System of Records are available to first-party
requesters (individuals that the record pertains to) or their representatives
unless they fall within the exemptions of both the PA and the FOIA. An
individual submitting a PA request shall be asked to provide proof of identity,
i.e., photo identification or a notarized statement confirming your identity.
This requirement ensures that personal information will not be wrongfully
disclosed. Agencies are required to respond to a PA request within 10 business
days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. This period does not
begin until the request is actually received by the PA Office. In specific
situations, an additional 10-day extension may be granted in responding to a
request.
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Contact Information
Valerie Herberger
Stasia Hutchison
FOIA/PA Office
USDA-REE-ARS-IS
5601 Sunnyside Ave.
Bldg. 1, Rm. 2248
Beltsville, MD 20705-5128
Telephone: 301-504-1640 or 301-504-1655
Facsimile: 301-504-1647
TTY: 301-504-1743
REEFOIA@ars.usda.gov
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Reading Room
REE maintains both electronic and conventional reading rooms
required under subsection (a)(2), which includes final opinions and orders made
in adjudicating cases, final statements of policy and interpretations that have
not been published in the Federal Register, administrative staff manuals and
instructions to staff that affect members of the public, and an index of
records released by FOIA that are likely to become the subject of subsequent
requests for substantially the same records. Paper copies of (a)(2) documents
are available for inspection and copying at Room 2248, Building 1, 5601
Sunnyside Avenue, Beltsville, Maryland. Electronic copies of (a)(2) documents
can be accessed through the links provided below:
- USDA Annual
Report contains information on the administration of FOIA
activities for all of USDA and includes information for the REE agencies.
- USDA
FOIA Improvement Plan as required under Executive Order 13392,
Improving Agency Disclosure of Information, provides a review of FOIA
operations for USDA and includes information for the REE agencies.
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FOIA Service Center
The FOIA Service Center is the first place a FOIA requester can contact to
seek information concerning the status of their FOIA request and information
about the agencys FOIA response. Any concerns about the service a
requester has received from the Service Center can be addressed to the FOIA
Public Liaison.
- FOIA Requester Service Center:
Telephone 301-504-1743
- FOIA Public Liaisons:
Valerie Herberger and Stasia Hutchison
Telephone 301-504-1743
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