In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Privacy Act (PA), and USDA regulations at 7 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), any person may request access to Forest Service records.
Under the Freedom on Information Act (FOIA), any person may obtain records from any Federal agency, subject to the exemptions enacted by Congress to protect information that must be held in confidence for the Government to function effectively or for other purposes.
If you know which National Forest maintains the agency records you are requesting, you should direct your FOIA request to that forest. If you do not know which forest maintains the agency records you are requesting or if you know the Southwestern Region's Regional Office maintains the records, you should direct your FOIA request to the Southwestern Region FOIA Service Center. If you know the records you are requesting are maintained by another Forest Service Region or Station, you should direct your FOIA request to the appropriate FOIA Service Center. Persons with disabilities or persons needing additional assistance with a FOIA request may contact the Southwestern Region FOIA Public Liaison.
When making a FOIA request, it is important to identify with reasonable detail the records you are requesting. It will help us process your FOIA request if you identify specific records, the nature, format, content of the record, narrow the time-frame or give specific dates. Please be aware that any fees for searching to locate any record you requested is based on the standards found in Title 7 CFR, Subpart A, Part 1, Subpart A, Appendix A.
USDA Forest Service may charge a fee for the time it takes us to locate any records responsive to your request. We may charge you a fee even if the records located are subsequently not provided to you subject to the exemptions enacted by Congress. While the FOIA does provide a fee waiver in some limited cases, advance payment can be required where the estimated cost is more than $250.
Send postal mail to:
USDA Forest Service
Southwestern Region FOIA Service Center
333 Broadway SE
Albuquerque, NM 87102
Hours: 8:00 to 4:30
On-Line Request Form
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PHONE:
505-842-3121
TTY: 505-842-3898
FAX: 505-842-3111
EMAIL:
southwestern_foia@fs.fed.us |
For Law Enforcement records, contact: |
Law Enforcement & Investigations
333 Broadway SE
Albuquerque, NM 87102 |
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PHONE:
505-842-3196
TTY: 505-842-3898
FAX: 505-842-3105 |
To check status of FOIA Requests, contact:
Ron Bratton, Regional FOIA Liaison
505-842-3121
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USDA FOIA Service Centers & Public Liaisons
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