Privacy Act Requests
The Privacy Act, passed by Congress in 1974, establishes certain controls over what personal information is collected by the federal government and how it is used. It applies only to records about individuals maintained by agencies in the federal government. It applies only if the records are in a "system of records," which means they are retrieved by an individual's name, social security number, or some other personal identifier. The Act also permits an individual to gain access to most personal information maintained by Federal Agencies and to request amendments to his/her records.
Under the Privacy Act, you may request copies of NRCS records that:
1. Are about you, and
2. Are filed and can be retrieved by your name or by a personal identifier (such as your Social Security number).
In some cases, the Privacy Act may not allow release of your personal records.
Make a Privacy Act Request
You may make a Privacy Request utilizing the following requirements”
1. The request must be in writing
2. State the request is being made under the Privacy Act
3. Include the name, address, and signature of the requester
4. Describe the records sought in as much detail as possible
Additionally, you are required to provide proof of identify before records can be disclosed. You may complete a certification of identification to satisfy this requirement.
