The USDA Information
Quality Guidelines
correction mechanisms
are not intended
to imply any rights
of individuals to
request amendment
of their own records
beyond those permitted
by the Privacy Act
of 1974 or other
organization-specific
laws.
Where To
Submit a Formal
Request For Correction
All requests for
correction of DA
website information
must be submitted
by letter, fax,
or email to:
Information Services,
IRD
and Peer Review
Official
Departmental Administration
1400 Independence
Ave., SW, Room 0036
Washington, DC 20250
Information
That Should Be Submitted
to DA with a Request
for Correction
Requests for correction
of information should
include the following
elements:
Statement
that the Request
for Correction
of Information
is Submitted Under
USDA's Information
Quality Guidelines
Requestor
Contact Information
The name, mailing
address, telephone
number, fax number
(if any), Email
address (if any),
and organizational
affiliation (if
any) of the person
requesting the
correction.
Description
of Information
to Correct
The name of the
DA publication,
report, or data
product; the date
of issuance or
other identifying
information such
as the URL of
the web page;
and a detailed
description that
clearly identifies
the specific information
contained in that
publication, report,
or data product
for which a correction
is being sought.
Explanation
of Noncompliance
with OMB and/or
USDA Information
Quality Guidelines
An explanation
that describes
how the information
fails to meet
either the OMB
or USDA Information
Quality Guidelines.
Explanation
of the Effect
of the Alleged
Error
An explanation
that describes
the requestor's
use of the information
in question and
how the requestor
is affected by
the alleged error.
Recommendation
and Justification
for How the Information
Should Be Corrected
The requestor
should state specifically
how the information
should be corrected
and explain why
the corrections
should be made.
A request for
correction that
is specific and
provides evidence
to support the
need for correction
is likely to be
more persuasive
than a request
that is general,
unfocused, or
that simply indicates
disagreement with
the information
in question.
This guidance for
the content of requests
for correction of
information is not
intended to constitute
a set of legally binding
requirements. Requestors
bear the "burden of
proof" with respect
to the necessity for
correction as well
as with respect to
the type of correction
they seek. However,
Departmental Administration
may be unable to process,
in a timely fashion
or at all, requests
that omit one or more
of the requested elements.
Departmental Administration
will base its decision
on the merits of the
information provided
by the requestor.
Public Disclosure
Of Requests For Correction
Of Information Disseminated
By DA And Requests
For Reconsideration
Of DA Decisions
Requests For
Correction Received
By DA
None to date.
Requests For
Reconsideration of
DA Decisions
None to date.
Privacy
Act Statement
USDA is authorized
to obtain certain
information under
Section 515 of the
Treasury and General
Government Appropriations
Act for Fiscal Year
2001 (Public Law No.
106-554, codified
at 44 U.S.C. 3516,
note). Information
is needed by USDA
to process the request
for correction and
allow USDA to reply
accordingly. This
information is needed
by USDA to respond
to the requestor and
initiate follow-up
contact with the requestor
if required. Requestors
should not send USDA
their Social Security
Number. Requestors
are advised that they
do not have to furnish
the information but
failure to do so may
prevent their request
from being processed.
The information requestors
furnish is almost
never used for any
purpose other than
to process and respond
to their request.
However, USDA may
disclose information
to a Congressional
office in response
to an inquiry made
on behalf of the requestor,
to the Department
of Justice, a court,
other tribunal when
the information is
relevant and necessary
to litigation, or
to a contractor or
another Federal agency
to help accomplish
a function related
to this process.