January 2003

**[U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE]{.underline}**

**[Freedom of Information Act Annual Report FY 2002]{.underline}**

**I. Basic Information Regarding Report**

Responsibility for preparing the U.S. Department of Agriculture\'s
Freedom of Information Act Annual Report for fiscal year 1998 rests with
USDA\'s Office of Communications. The report can be accessed from the
World Wide Web at:

A paper copy of the report may be obtained by requesting it. For
additional information, contact:

Andrea E. Fowler

Freedom of Information Act Officer

Office of Communications

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Rm. 536‑A Whitten Bldg., Ag Stop 1310

Washington, DC 20250‑1310

Tel. (202) 720‑8164

Fax. (202) 720‑7808

**II. How to Make a FOIA Request**

Anyone may request USDA records under the FOIA by letter, fax or e‑mail.
A requester who sends USDA a FOIA request that is understandable and
specific about the time frame of the records sought and who has
addressed the request to the USDA agency with responsibility for the
records has the greatest likelihood of receiving a response within 20
working days of the agency\'s receipt of the request. Any request that
fails to identify the records sought or is sent to the wrong agency must
be clarified before an agency can begin a search; in such case, USDA
will try to contact the requester for additional information.

The url (universal resource locater) for the U.S. Department of
Agriculture\'s home page is . All USDA agencies are linked to the USDA
home page. A significant portion of USDA records are maintained in
agency files and are described on agency web pages, which are linked to
the USDA home page. Potential requesters may want to review agency web
pages in order to identify the USDA agency likely to have possession of
the records sought.

USDA employs a number of Freedom of Information Act specialists who make
every effort to comply with the requirements of the Freedom of
Information Act as amended. A list of USDA agency employees responsible
for handling FOIA requests can be found at
[http://www.usda.gov/news/foia/contacts.htm]{.underline}

**III. Definitions of Terms and Acronyms Used in the Report**

A. Agency‑specific acronyms are as follows:

AMS ‑ Agricultural Marketing Service;

APHIS ‑ Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service;

CCC ‑ Commodity Credit Corporation;

DA ‑ Departmental Administration;

FAS ‑ Foreign Agricultural Service;

FNCS ‑ Food, Nutrition and Consumer Service;

FSA ‑ Farm Service Agency;

FSIS ‑ Food Safety and Inspection Service;

FS ‑ Forest Service;

> GIPSA ‑ Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards
>
> Administration;

NAD ‑ National Appeals Division;

NFC ‑ National Finance Center;

NRCS ‑ Natural Resources Conservation Service;

OBPA ‑ Office of Budget and Program Analysis;

OC ‑ Office of Communications;

OCFO ‑ Office of the Chief Financial Officer;

OCIO ‑ Office of the Chief Information Officer;

OCR ‑ Office of Civil Rights;

OGC ‑ Office of General Counsel;

OIG ‑ Office of the Inspector General;

RD ‑ Rural Development;

REE ‑ Research, Education and Economics; and

RMA ‑ Risk Management Agency

B. Basic terms are as follows:

[FOIA/PA request]{.underline} ‑ a Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act
request. A FOIA request is generally a request for access to records
concerning a third party, an organization or a particular topic of
interest. A Privacy Act request is a request for records concerning
oneself. Requests filed under either law are treated as FOIA requests
and are processed as expeditiously as possible.

[Initial request]{.underline} ‑ a request to a Federal agency for access
to records under the Freedom of Information Act.

[Appeal]{.underline} ‑ a request to a Federal agency asking that it
review at a higher level of administrative authority any full or partial
denial of access to records under the Freedom of Information Act or
Privacy Act or any other FOIA determination, such as a proposed fee for
access to records.

[Processed request]{.underline} ‑ a request or appeal for which an
agency has made its final determination or taken its final action.

[Multi‑track processing]{.underline} ‑ a system in which simple requests
requiring relatively minimal review are placed in one processing track
and more voluminous, complex requests are placed in one or more other
tracks. Requests in each track are processed on a first‑in/first out
basis. A requester who has an urgent need for records may request
expedited processing.

[Expedited processing]{.underline} ‑ an agency will process a FOIA
request on an expedited basis when the requester has shown a compelling
need for a specific record. A compelling need is a threat to life or
physical safety for an individual or, in the case of the media, urgency
to inform the public concerning actual or alleged Federal Government
activity.

[Simple request]{.underline} ‑ a FOIA request that an agency using
multi‑track processing places in its fastest, nonexpedited track based
on the volume and/or simplicity of records requested.

[Complex request]{.underline} ‑ a FOIA request that an agency using
multi‑track processing places in a slower track based on the volume
and/or complexity of records requested.

[Grant]{.underline} ‑ an agency decision to disclose all records in full
in response to a FOIA request.

[Partial grant]{.underline} ‑ an agency decision to disclose part of a
record in response to a FOIA request, deleting information determined to
be exempt under one or more of the FOIA\'s exemptions, or a decision to
disclose some records in their entirety but withhold others in whole or
in part.

[Denial]{.underline} ‑ an agency decision not to release a record or
records in response to a FOIA request because all the information in the
requested records is determined by the agency to be exempt under one or
more of the FOIA\'s exemptions or because of a procedural reason, such
as no record was located.

[Time limits]{.underline} ‑ the time period authorized in the FOIA for
an agency to respond to a FOIA request is 20 working days from proper
receipt of a \"perfected\" FOIA request.

[\"Perfected\" request]{.underline} ‑ a FOIA request for records which
adequately describes the records sought, which has been received by the
FOIA office of the agency component in possession of the records, and
for which there is no remaining question about the payment of applicable
fees.

[Exemption 3 statute]{.underline} ‑ a separate Federal statute
prohibiting the disclosure of certain types of records and authorizing
their withholding under FOIA subsection (b)(3).

[Median number]{.underline} ‑ the middle, not average, number. For
example, of 3, 7 and 14, the median number is 7.

[Average number]{.underline} ‑ the number obtained by dividing the sum
of a group of numbers by the quantity of numbers in the group. For
example, of 3, 7 and 14, the average number is 8.

# IV. Exemption 3 Statutes

  ---------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------
  **Statute/Rule**       **Type of Information    **Case Citation**
                         Withheld**               

  7 U.S.C. § 201(c)      Store records for food   None
                         stamp applications       

  7 U.S.C. § 373         Tobacco & peanut         None
  \[1373\](a)            production information   

  7 U.S.C. § 2018(c)     Electronic Benefit       None
                         Transactions             

  7 U.S.C. § 2020(e)(8)  Names, addresses, phone  None
                         numbers of food stamp    
                         recipients               

  7 U.S.C. § 2131 et     Report on administration None
  seq.                   and enforcement          
                         activities.              

  7 U.S.C. § 4601-4612   Honey Research,          None
                         Promotion, and Consumer  
                         Information              

  7 U.S.C. § 4901-4916   Watermelon Research and  None
                         Promotion Information    

  16 U.S.C. § 470hh      Archaeological site      None
                         maps, cultural resource  
                         survey maps              

  16 U.S.C. § 470w-3     Nature & location of     None
                         historic resources       

  18 U.S.C. § 504        Copies of Food Stamps    None

  26 U.S.C. § 6103(a)    Tax Identification       Church of Scientology v.
                         Number                   IRS, 484 U.S. 9 (1987)

  35 U.S.C. § 209        Patent License           None
                         Information              

  41 U.S.C. § 253(b)(m)  Unsuccessful contract    None
                         bid proposals            

  F.R.Cr.P. 6(e)         Grand jury information   [Iglesias v.
                                                  CIA]{.underline}, 525 F.
                                                  Supp. 547, 556 (D.C.
                                                  Cir. 1987)
  ---------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------

## V. INITIAL FOIA/PA ACCESS REQUESTS.

### A. NUMBERS OF INITIAL REQUESTS.

  ------------------------ ------------ ----------- ----------- -----------
  ** **                    **NUMBER OF  **NUMBER OF **NUMBER OF **NUMBER OF
                           REQUESTS\    REQUESTS\   REQUESTS\   REQUESTS\
                           PENDING AS   RECEIVED    PROCESSED   PENDING AS
                           OF\          IN\         IN\         OF\
                           END OF       CURRENT     CURRENT     END OF
                           PRECEDING    YEAR**      YEAR**      CURRENT
                           YEAR**                               YEAR**

                                                                

  AMS                      4            165         155         14

  APHIS                    874          714         697         891

  DA                       30           43          31          42

  FAS                      4            37          37          4

  FNCS                     4            131         133         2

  FSA                      133          69321       69263       191

  FS                       470          4465        4470        465

  FSIS                     124          461         337         248

  GIPSA                    11           72          79          4

  NAD                      3            54          56          1

  NRCS                     3            246         244         5

  OBPA                     0            8           8           0

  OC                       17           332         312         37

  OCFO                     0            26          23          3

  OCIO                     0            3           3           0

  OCR                      0            22          10          12

  OGC                      7            21          25          3

  OIG                      59           326         333         52

  REE                      15           177         182         10

  RMA                      0            78          77          1

  RD                       23           1591        1587        27

                                                                

  TOTALS                   1781\*\*     78293       78062       2012
  ------------------------ ------------ ----------- ----------- -----------

\*\* Several USDA agencies installed automated tracking systems in FY
2002, and because of more accurate information, the total number of
pending requests from FY 2001 has been updated.

B. DISPOSITION OF INITIAL REQUESTS.

  -------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- --------------- ------------- ---------- ------------- ---------- ---------- -------------- -----------
  ** **    **NUMBER\   **NUMBER\   **NUMBER\   **NO\       **REFERRALS**   **REQUEST\    **FEE-\    **RECORDS\    **NOT A\   **NOT AN\  **DUPLICATE\   **OTHER**
           OF\         OF\         OF\         RECORDS**                   WITHDRAWN**   RELATED\   NOT\          PROPER\    AGENCY\    REQUEST**      
           TOTAL\      PARTIAL\    DENIALS**                                             REASON**   REASONABLY\   FOIA\      RECORD**                  
           GRANTS**    GRANTS**                                                                     DESCRIBED**   REQUEST\                             
                                                                                                                  FOR SOME\                            
                                                                                                                  OTHER\                               
                                                                                                                  REASON**                             

                                                                                                                                                       

  AMS      47          51          17          26          2               5             2          1             1          1          1              1

  APHIS    101         233         37          84          153             52            0          0             0          0          0              37

  DA       13          5           1           6           4               0             1          0             0          1          0              0

  FAS      21          6           0           6           2               1             1          0             0          0          0              0

  FNCS     65          21          28          7           6               3             1          2             0          0          0              0

  FSA      66047       765         1249        786         62              62            24         26            27         22         24             106

  FS       2765        774         503         173         20              72            55         17            20         4          12             55

  FSIS     145         88          26          44          15              5             2          5             5          3          6              3

  GIPSA    30          29          1           10          0               1             6          0             2          0          0              0

  NAD      18          6           32          29          0               0             0          1             0          0          2              0

  NRCS     161         32          25          19          9               3             3          3             0          3          1              5

  OBPA     8           0           0           0           0               0             0          0             0          0          0              0

  OC       0           60          0           3           249             0             0          0             0          0          0              0

  OCFO     7           1           2           6           5               1             0          0             0          0          0              1

  OCIO     2           0           0           1           0               0             0          0             0          0          0              0

  OCR      3           1           6           0           0               0             0          0             0          0          0              1

  OGC      8           5           3           6           1               2             0          0             0          0          0              0

  OIG      93          95          25          31          27              9             10         1             9          2          8              23

  REE      57          75          4           24          10              6             3          1             0          0          1              1

  RMA      18          22          6           10          8               7             0          0             0          1          0              5

  RD       1356        70          100         13          7               18            13         3             7          0          0              0

  TOTALS   70965       2339        2065        1284        580             247           121        60            71         37         55             238
  -------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- --------------- ------------- ---------- ------------- ---------- ---------- -------------- -----------

###  

### B. DISPOSITION OF INITIAL REQUESTS (Continued)

### EXPLANATION OF DISPOSITION OF FOIA/PA INITIAL REQUESTS: OTHER REASONS FOR NONDISCLOSURE (COLUMN MARKED \"OTHER\")

+----------+----------------+-----------------------------------------+
| **Com    | **Number of    | **Reason(s)**                           |
| ponent** | Times**        |                                         |
+----------+----------------+-----------------------------------------+
| AMS      | 1              | Memorandum of Understanding             |
+----------+----------------+-----------------------------------------+
| APHIS    | 37             | Court Order Doe #1et al. v. Veneman et  |
|          |                | al.                                     |
+----------+----------------+-----------------------------------------+
| DA       | 0              |                                         |
+----------+----------------+-----------------------------------------+
| FAS      | 0              |                                         |
+----------+----------------+-----------------------------------------+
| FNCS     | 0              |                                         |
+----------+----------------+-----------------------------------------+
| FSA      | 106            | Transferred to field offices            |
|          |                |                                         |
|          |                | Duplicates                              |
|          |                |                                         |
|          |                | Failure to comply with requirements     |
+----------+----------------+-----------------------------------------+
| FS       | 55             | Glomar                                  |
|          |                |                                         |
|          |                | Nonresponse to clarification request    |
|          |                |                                         |
|          |                | Unable to contact requester             |
+----------+----------------+-----------------------------------------+
| FSIS     | 3              | Too voluminous                          |
+----------+----------------+-----------------------------------------+
| GIPSA    | 0              |                                         |
+----------+----------------+-----------------------------------------+
| NAD      | 0              |                                         |
+----------+----------------+-----------------------------------------+
| NRCS     | 5              | Failure to comply with requirements     |
+----------+----------------+-----------------------------------------+
| OBPA     | 0              |                                         |
+----------+----------------+-----------------------------------------+
| OC       | 0              |                                         |
+----------+----------------+-----------------------------------------+
| OCFO     | 1              | Waiver justification not approved       |
+----------+----------------+-----------------------------------------+
| OCIO     | 0              |                                         |
+----------+----------------+-----------------------------------------+
| OCR      | 1              | No notary                               |
+----------+----------------+-----------------------------------------+
| OGC      | 0              |                                         |
+----------+----------------+-----------------------------------------+
| OIG      | 26             | No authorization letter                 |
|          |                |                                         |
|          |                | Requesters referred to Website          |
+----------+----------------+-----------------------------------------+
| REE      | 1              | Requester owed money to other federal   |
|          |                | agency                                  |
+----------+----------------+-----------------------------------------+
| RMA      | 0              |                                         |
+----------+----------------+-----------------------------------------+
| RD       | 0              |                                         |
+----------+----------------+-----------------------------------------+

**B. DISPOSITION OF INITIAL REQUESTS (Continued)**

### EXEMPTIONS CLAIMED UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT

  -------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ --------- ---------
  ** **    **(1)**   **(2)**   **(3)**   **(4)**   **(5)**   **(6)**   **(7)(A)**   **(7)(B)**   **(7)(C)**   **(7)(D)**   **(7)(E)**   **(7)(F)**   **(8)**   **(9)**

                                                                                                                                                               

  AMS      0         0         2         29        11        37        9            0            0            1            0            0            0         0

  APHIS    0         12        2         100       56        172       16           0            27           11           8            0            0         0

  DA       0         0         0         2         1         3         0            0            0            0            0            0            0         0

  FAS      0         0         0         2         4         1         0            0            1            1            0            0            0         0

  FNCS     0         0         3         1         5         27        0            0            28           18           4            0            0         0

  FSA      0         27        235       29        32        915       43           0            10           10           0            0            0         0

  FS       0         13        20        50        135       339       71           11           123          1            2            1            0         0

  FSIS     0         9         0         68        7         55        12           0            1            0            0            0            0         0

  GIPSA    0         0         0         14        11        16        3            0            1            6            1            0            0         0

  NAD      0         0         0         0         0         5         0            0            0            0            0            0            0         0

  NRCS     0         1         0         16        10        50        0            0            0            0            0            0            0         0

  OBPA     0         0         0         0         0         0         0            0            0            0            0            0            0         0

  OC       0         0         0         0         0         60        0            0            0            0            0            0            0         0

  OCFO     0         0         0         0         0         3         0            0            0            0            0            0            0         0

  OCIO     0         0         0         0         0         0         0            0            0            0            0            0            0         0

  OCR      0         0         0         0         0         1         5            0            0            0            0            0            0         0

  OGC      0         0         0         1         7         2         0            0            0            0            0            0            0         0

  OIG      0         3         2         3         3         44        29           0            85           4            6            0            0         0

  REE      0         3         4         52        12        39        0            0            1            0            0            0            0         0

  RMA      0         0         0         6         6         20        6            0            5            0            0            0            0         0

  RD       0         5         2         32        45        87        3            0            13           0            0            0            0         0

  TOTALS   0         73        270       405       345       1876      197          11           295          52           21           1            0         0
  -------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ --------- ---------

**VI. Appeals of Initial Denials**

  ------- ---------- ----------- --------- ---------- ------------ -------- -------- -------- --------
          Appeals    Appeals     Appeals   Appeals    Appeals      (b)(1)   (b)(2)   (b)(3)   (b)(4)
          Received   Processed   Upheld    Partly     Completely   Upheld   Upheld   Upheld   Upheld
          FY 2002    FY 2002               Reversed   Reversed     on       on       on       on
                                                                   Appeal   Appeal   Appeal   Appeal

  AMS     14         10          8         2          0            0        0        1        0

  APHIS   19         7           0         1          6            0        12       2        0

  DA      0          0           0         0          0            0        0        0        0

  FAS     1          1           1         0          0            0        0        0         0

  FNCS    7          6           6         0          0            0        0        0        0

  FSA     50         63          21        28         14           0        2        1        4

  FS      96         36          8         5          23           0        0        1        7

  FSIS    19         3           1         2          0            0        0        0        4

  GIPSA   4          3           3         0          0            0        0        0        0

  NAD     0          0           0         0          0            0        0        0        0

  NRCS    6          4           1         1          2            0        0        0        3

  OBPA    0          0           0         0          0            0        0        0        0

  OC      3          2           2         0          0            0        0        0        0

  OCFO    2          1           1         0          0            0        0        0        0

  OCIO    0          0           0         0          0            0        0        0        0

  OCR     1          0           0         0          0            0        0        0        0

  OGC     2          1           0         0          1            0        0        0        0

  OIG     14         14          10        4          0            0        0        0        0

  REE     7          4           3         0          1            0        0        0        0

  RMA     7          0           0         0          0            0        0        0        0

  RD      23         9           2         5          2            0        1        0        0

  Total   275        164         67        48         49           0        15       5        18
  ------- ---------- ----------- --------- ---------- ------------ -------- -------- -------- --------

**VI. Appeals of Initial Denials** (continued):

  ------- -------- -------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -------- --------
          (b)(5)   (b)(6)   (b)(7)(A)   (b)(7)(B)   (b)(7)(C)   (b)(7)(D)   (b)(7)(E)   (b)(7)(F)   (b)(8)   (b)(9)
          Upheld   Upheld   Upheld on   Upheld on   Upheld on   Upheld on   Upheld on   Upheld on   Upheld   Upheld
          on       on       Appeal      Appeal      Appeal      Appeal      Appeal      Appeal      on       on
          Appeal   Appeal                                                                           Appeal   Appeal

  AMS     0        0        7           0           0           0           0           0           0        0

  APHIS   1        2        0           0           0           0           0           0           0        0

  DA      0        0        0           0           0           0           0           0           0        0

  FAS     0        0        0           0           0           0           0           0           0        0

  FNCS    0        6        0           0           6           6           0           0           0        0

  FSA     9        38       3           0           0           1           26          0           0        0

  FS      7        17       0           0           5           0           0           0           0        0

  FSIS    1        2        0           0           0           0           0           0           0        0

  GIPSA   0        0        0           0           0           0           0           0           0        0

  NAD     0        0        0           0           0           0           0           0           0        0

  NRCS    1        3        0           0           0           0           0           0           0        0

  OBPA    0        0        0           0           0           0           0           0           0        0

  OC      0        0        0           0           0           0           0           0           0        0

  OCFO    0        1        0           0           0           0           0           0           0        0

  OCIO    0        0        0           0           0           0           0           0           0        0

  OCR     0        0        0           0           0           0           0           0           0        0

  OGC     0        0        0           0           0           0           0           0           0        0

  OIG     0        1        5           0           5           0           0           0           0        0

  REE     0        0        0           0           0           0           0           0           0        0

  RMA     0        0        0           0           0           0           0           0           0        0

  RD      1        4        0           0           4           0           0           0           0        0

  Total   20       74       15          0           20          7           26          0           0        0
  ------- -------- -------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -------- --------

**VI. Appeals of Initial Denials** (continued):

  ------- ---------------- --------- ----------- ----------- ------------- ------------ --------- -------- ----------- -------
          Other reasons    No        Referred    Request     Fee-related   Records not  Not a     Not an   Duplicate   Other
          for              Records   elsewhere   Withdrawn   reason        Reasonably   Proper    agency   Request     
          Non-disclosure                                                   Described    FOIA      record               
                                                                                        Request                        

  AMS     2                0         0           1           0             0            0         0        0           1

  APHIS   7                2         0           0           0             0            0         0        0           5

  DA      0                0         0           0           0             0            0         0        0           0

  FAS     0                0         0           0           0             0            0         0        0           0

  FNCS    0                0         0           0           0             0            0         0        0           0

  FSA     27               7         0           8           3             0            5         1        2           1

  FS      47               19        1           0           6             0            3         0        0           17

  FSIS    0                0         0           0           0             0            0         0        0           0

  GIPSA   3                0         0           0           3             0            0         0        0           0

  NAD     0                0         0           0           0             0            0         0        0           0

  NRCS    0                0         0           0           0             0            0         0        0           0

  OBPA    0                0         0           0           0             0            0         0        0           0

  OC      2                2         0           0           0             0            0         0        0           0

  OCFO    0                0         0           0           0             0            0         0        0           0

  OCIO    0                0         0           0           0             0            0         0        0           0

  OCR     0                0         0           0           0             0            0         0        0           0

  OGC     0                0         0           0           0             0            0         0        0           0

  OIG     3                0         0           1           2             0            0         0        0           0

  REE     3                1         0           1           0             0            0         0        0           1

  RMA     0                0         0           0           0             0            0         0        0           0

  RD      2                0         1           1           0             0            0         0        0           0

  Total   96               31        2           12          14            0            8         1        2           25
  ------- ---------------- --------- ----------- ----------- ------------- ------------ --------- -------- ----------- -------

**VII.Compliance with Time Limits/Status of Pending Requests**

### A. MEDIAN PROCESSING TIME FOR REQUESTS PROCESSED DURING THE YEAR

  ----------------- ----------------------- ----------- ----------------------- ----------- ------------------------- -----------
  ** **             [Simple                             [Complex                            Requests Accorded\        
                    Requests]{.underline}               Requests]{.underline}               [Expedited                
                                                                                            Processing]{.underline}   

                    **Number of\            **Median\   **Number of\            **Median\   **Number of\              **Median\
                    Requests\               Number\     Requests\               Number\     Requests\                 Number\
                    Processed**             Of Days\    Processed**             Of Days\    Processed**               Of Days\
                                            To                                  To                                    To
                                            Process**                           Process**                             Process**

                                                                                                                      

  AMS               155                     16          0                       0           0                         0

  APHIS             679                     43          32                      905         57                        18

  DA                14                      10          5                       20          0                         0

  FAS               37                      30          0                       0           0                         0

  FNCS              127                     9           6                       20          0                         0

  FSA               65360                   23          1977                    28          723                       76

  FS                2453                    15          2009                    13          8                         3

  FSIS              0                       0           337                     51          0                         0

  GIPSA             0                       0           79                      10          0                         0

  NAD               56                      5           0                       0           0                         0

  NRCS              223                     8           15                      18          6                         5

  OBPA              8                       7           0                       0           0                         0

  OC                312                     36          0                       0           0                         0

  OCFO              0                       0           23                      10          0                         0

  OCIO              3                       11          0                       0           0                         0

  OCR               10                      85          0                       0           0                         0

  OGC               0                       0           24                      30          0                         0

  OIG               221                     2           112                     146         0                         0

  REE               0                       0           182                     15          0                         0

  RMA               74                      20          0                       0           3                         7

  RD                0                       0           1587                    9           0                         0
  ----------------- ----------------------- ----------- ----------------------- ----------- ------------------------- -----------

### B. STATUS OF PENDING REQUESTS

  ----------------- ------------------------------------ ------------------------- -------
  ** **             **NUMBER OF REQUESTS\                **MEDIAN\                 ** **
                    PENDINGS AS OF\                      NUMBER\                   
                    END OF\                              OF DAYS\                  
                    [FISCAL YEAR]{.underline}**          [PENDING]{.underline}**   

                                                                                   

  AMS               14                                   25                        

  APHIS             897                                  661                       

  DA                42                                   30                        

  FAS               4                                    20                        

  FNCS              2                                    5                         

  FSA               191                                  14                        

  FS                465                                  35                        

  FSIS              248                                  111                       

  GIPSA             4                                    12                        

  NAD               1                                    10                        

  NRCS              5                                    14                        

  OBPA              0                                    0                         

  OC                37                                   40                        

  OCFO              3                                    53                        

  OCIO              0                                    0                         

  OCR               12                                   134                       

  OGC               3                                    30                        

  OIG               52                                   48                        

  REE               10                                   15                        

  RMA               1                                    30                        

  RD                27                                   11                        
  ----------------- ------------------------------------ ------------------------- -------

**VIII. Comparisons With Previous Years**

[Improve timeliness.]{.underline}

Agencies are continuing to provide public information and frequently
requested information through their agency FOIA websites.

One agency hired a full-time FOIA specialist instead of handling FOIA as
a collateral duty.

Several Agencies updated their internal employee FOIA guidelines and
instructions to the public on how to make FOIA requests. Internal
directives stressed the importance of timely responses, and negative
consequences were specified as reminders to staff.

[Reduce backlog.]{.underline}

One agency has improved timeliness and reduced backlog as a result of
posting completed audit reports on their agency web site. This resulted
in 29% fewer FOIA requests in 2002 due to the availability of the
reports on the internet.

Another agency is improving efforts to contact program staffs to
encourage timely responses and also contacting requesters to clarify and
narrow requests.

[Provide training.]{.underline}

The FOIA personnel of most USDA agencies attended training sponsored by
the Department of Justice, the USDA Graduate School, or the American
Society for Access Professionals. A majority of USDA agencies conducted
on‑the‑job training for agency personnel on processing FOIA requests.

Several agencies provided field locations with copies of the Freedom of
Information Act Guide & Privacy Act Overview and the Department of
Justice quarterly FOIA Updates to use as reference material. Some field
locations have scheduled monthly FOIA conference calls as a training
tool.

All agency FOIA personnel continue to meet quarterly to share
information and establish consistent standards for processing of FOIA
requests within the Department.

[Add new categories of records.]{.underline}

The establishment of agency web pages expanded the categories of records
available to the public.

**IX. Costs/FOIA Staffing**

+---+------+------------+------+---------+---------+-----------------+
| * | [    |            |      | [Total  |         |                 |
| * | Staf |            |      | Costs   |         |                 |
|   | fing |            |      | (In     |         |                 |
| * | Lev  |            |      | cluding |         |                 |
| * | els] |            |      | Staff   |         |                 |
|   | {.un |            |      | and All |         |                 |
|   | derl |            |      | Re      |         |                 |
|   | ine} |            |      | sources |         |                 |
|   |      |            |      | )]{.und |         |                 |
|   |      |            |      | erline} |         |                 |
+---+------+------------+------+---------+---------+-----------------+
|   | *    | **Number   | **T  | **FOIA\ | **Litig | **Total**       |
|   | *Num | of\        | otal | Proc    | ation-\ |                 |
|   | ber\ | Personnel  | Num  | essing\ | R       |                 |
|   | of\  | With\      | ber\ | (Inc    | elated\ |                 |
|   | Full | Part Time  | Of   | luding\ | Acti    |                 |
|   | T    | or\        | Pe   | Ap      | vities\ |                 |
|   | ime\ | Occasional | rson | peals)\ | (Estim  |                 |
|   | Per  | FOIA\      | nel\ | (Estim  | ated)** |                 |
|   | sonn | Duties     | (In  | ated)** |         |                 |
|   | el** | (In\       | W    |         |         |                 |
|   |      | Total      | ork- |         |         |                 |
|   |      | Wo         | Year |         |         |                 |
|   |      | rkyears)** | s)** |         |         |                 |
+---+------+------------+------+---------+---------+-----------------+
|   |      |            |      |         |         |                 |
+---+------+------------+------+---------+---------+-----------------+
| A | 1    | 3          | 4    | \$324   | >       | \$324,517.00    |
| M |      |            |      | ,517.00 |  \$0.00 |                 |
| S |      |            |      |         |         |                 |
+---+------+------------+------+---------+---------+-----------------+
| A | 18   | 0          | 18   | \$1,395 | >       | \$1,395,985.21  |
| P |      |            |      | ,985.21 |  \$0.00 |                 |
| H |      |            |      |         |         |                 |
| I |      |            |      |         |         |                 |
| S |      |            |      |         |         |                 |
+---+------+------------+------+---------+---------+-----------------+
| D | 1    | 1          | 2    | \$43    | >       | \$43,614.00     |
| A |      |            |      | ,614.00 |  \$0.00 |                 |
+---+------+------------+------+---------+---------+-----------------+
| F | 0    | 2          | 2    | \$142   | >       | \$142,000.00    |
| A |      |            |      | ,000.00 |  \$0.00 |                 |
| S |      |            |      |         |         |                 |
+---+------+------------+------+---------+---------+-----------------+
| F | 1    | 4          | 5    | \$18    | >       | \$18,810.71     |
| N |      |            |      | ,810.71 |  \$0.00 |                 |
| C |      |            |      |         |         |                 |
| S |      |            |      |         |         |                 |
+---+------+------------+------+---------+---------+-----------------+
| F | 7    | 300        | 307  | \$9,140 | >       | \$9,140,432.13  |
| S |      |            |      | ,432.13 |  \$0.00 |                 |
| A |      |            |      |         |         |                 |
+---+------+------------+------+---------+---------+-----------------+
| F | 29   | 76         | 105  | \$3,114 | > \$12  | \$3,126,447.43  |
| S |      |            |      | ,367.43 | ,080.00 |                 |
+---+------+------------+------+---------+---------+-----------------+
| F | 7    | 1          | 8    | \$388   | >       | \$388,228.00    |
| S |      |            |      | ,228.00 |  \$0.00 |                 |
| I |      |            |      |         |         |                 |
| S |      |            |      |         |         |                 |
+---+------+------------+------+---------+---------+-----------------+
| G | 0    | 1          | 1    | \$52    | >       | \$52,871.00     |
| I |      |            |      | ,871.00 |  \$0.00 |                 |
| P |      |            |      |         |         |                 |
| S |      |            |      |         |         |                 |
| A |      |            |      |         |         |                 |
+---+------+------------+------+---------+---------+-----------------+
| N | 0    | 1          | 0    | \$1     | >       | \$1,491.60      |
| A |      |            |      | ,491.60 |  \$0.00 |                 |
| D |      |            |      |         |         |                 |
+---+------+------------+------+---------+---------+-----------------+
| N | 1    | 0          | 1    | \$136   | > \$7   | \$143,979.01    |
| R |      |            |      | ,459.01 | ,520.00 |                 |
| C |      |            |      |         |         |                 |
| S |      |            |      |         |         |                 |
+---+------+------------+------+---------+---------+-----------------+
| O | 0    | 0          | 0    | \       | >       | \$360.00        |
| B |      |            |      | $360.00 |  \$0.00 |                 |
| P |      |            |      |         |         |                 |
| A |      |            |      |         |         |                 |
+---+------+------------+------+---------+---------+-----------------+
| O | 1    | 0          | 1    | \$112   | >       | \$112,000.00    |
| C |      |            |      | ,000.00 |  \$0.00 |                 |
+---+------+------------+------+---------+---------+-----------------+
| O | 0    | 1          | 1    | \$8     | >       | \$8,279.00      |
| C |      |            |      | ,279.00 |  \$0.00 |                 |
| F |      |            |      |         |         |                 |
| O |      |            |      |         |         |                 |
+---+------+------------+------+---------+---------+-----------------+
| O | 1    | 0          | 1    | \$100   | >       | \$100,056.00    |
| C |      |            |      | ,056.00 |  \$0.00 |                 |
| I |      |            |      |         |         |                 |
| O |      |            |      |         |         |                 |
+---+------+------------+------+---------+---------+-----------------+
| O | 1    | 0          | 1    | \$73    | > \$10  | \$83,200.00     |
| C |      |            |      | ,200.00 | ,000.00 |                 |
| R |      |            |      |         |         |                 |
+---+------+------------+------+---------+---------+-----------------+
| O | 0    | 6          | 6    | \$500   | \$250   | \$750,000.00    |
| G |      |            |      | ,000.00 | ,000.00 |                 |
| C |      |            |      |         |         |                 |
+---+------+------------+------+---------+---------+-----------------+
| O | 1    | 4          | 5    | \$253   | > \$1   | \$255,719.00    |
| I |      |            |      | ,883.00 | ,836.00 |                 |
| G |      |            |      |         |         |                 |
+---+------+------------+------+---------+---------+-----------------+
| R | 1    | 1          | 2    | \$114   | >       | \$114,000.00    |
| E |      |            |      | ,000.00 |  \$0.00 |                 |
| E |      |            |      |         |         |                 |
+---+------+------------+------+---------+---------+-----------------+
| R | 1    | 2          | 3    | \$75    | >       | \$75,600.00     |
| M |      |            |      | ,600.00 |  \$0.00 |                 |
| A |      |            |      |         |         |                 |
+---+------+------------+------+---------+---------+-----------------+
| R | 2    | 3          | 5    | \$519   | >       | \$519,361.67    |
| D |      |            |      | ,361.67 |  \$0.00 |                 |
+---+------+------------+------+---------+---------+-----------------+
| T | 73   | 403        | 476  | \       | \$281   | \$16,796,951.76 |
| O |      |            |      | $16,515 | ,436.00 |                 |
| T |      |            |      | ,515.76 |         |                 |
| A |      |            |      |         |         |                 |
| L |      |            |      |         |         |                 |
| S |      |            |      |         |         |                 |
+---+------+------------+------+---------+---------+-----------------+

A. Staffing Levels

**X. Fees**

  ----------------- ---------------------- ---------------------------- -------
  ** **             Total Fees collected   Percentage of Total costs    ** **

  AMS               \$3,743.00             1.15%                        

  APHIS             \$2,127.66             0%                           

  DA                \$495.50               1%                           

  FAS               \$150.00               0%                           

  FNCS              \$18,143.71            0%                           

  FSA               \$63,731.17            1%                           

  FS                \$15,497.50            0%                           

  FSIS              \$1,025.80             0%                           

  GIPSA             \$4,059.00             8%                           

  NAD               \$237.10               16%                          

  NRCS              \$3,548.87             2%                           

  OBPA              \$0.00                 0%                           

  OC                \$0.00                 0%                           

  OCFO              \$896.00               11%                          

  OCIO              0                      0%                           

  OCR               \$0.00                 0%                           

  OGC               0                      0%                           

  OIG               \$1,360.20             1%                           

  REE               \$2,850.00             3%                           

  RMA               \$432.20               1%                           

  RD                \$5,891.82             1%                           

  Total             \$124,189.53           1%                           
  ----------------- ---------------------- ---------------------------- -------

**XI. FOIA Regulations**

USDA\'s regulations implementing the Electronic Freedom of Information
Act Amendments of 1996 were published in the Federal Register July
28,2000, and are available on the World Wide Web at:

[http://www.usda.gov/News&Information;/FOIA Information/USDA FOIA
Regulations]{.underline}

USDA\'s current fee schedule was published in the Federal Register
December 31, 1987.

USDA\'s home page is located at http://www.usda.gov. The web sites of
USDA agencies are linked to this home page, and each agency\'s web site
contains explanatory information about FOIA processing.