DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT

ANNUAL REPORT

FOR

FISCAL YEAR 2015
2 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Freedom of Information Act Annual Report FY 2015

I. BASIC INFORMATION REGARDING REPORT

A. Name, title, address, and telephone number of person to be contacted with questions about the report:

Ms. Alexis R. Graves

Department FOIA Officer 

Office of the Chief Information Officer

1400 Independence Avenue 

Room 428-W 

Washington, DC 20250

Tel. (202) 690-3318

USDAFOIA@ocio.usda.gov

 

B. Electronic link for access to the Report on the agency Web site: 

http://www.usda.gov/da/foia.htm

C. To obtain a paper copy of this report please submit a written or electronic request to: 

Ms. Alexis R. Graves

Department FOIA Officer 

Office of the Chief Information Officer

1400 Independence Avenue 

Room 428-W 

Washington, DC 20250

USDAFOIA@ocio.usda.gov

II. MAKING A FOIA REQUEST

A. Names, addresses, and telephone numbers of all individual agency components that receive FOIA 

requests. 

For the names, addresses, and telephone numbers, visit our Web site at:

http://www.dm.usda.gov/foia/poc.htm

B. Brief description of why some requests are not granted and an overview of certain general categories of 

USDA records to which FOIA exemptions apply.

In accordance with its FOIA regulations, USDA makes records available to the public unless the information 

is protected from disclosure by one or more of the nine specific FOIA exemptions. 
3 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

III. AGENCY COMPONENT ABBREVIATIONS

Component Abbreviation Component Name

AMS Agricultural Marketing Service

APHIS Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

ASCR Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

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

NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service

OBPA Office of Budget and Program Analysis

OCFO Office of the Chief Financial Officer

OGC Office of General Counsel

OIG Office of the Inspector General

OSEC/OCIO/DM Office of the Secretary/Office of the Chief Information Officer/Departmental Management

RD Rural Development

REE Research, Education, and Economics

RMA Risk Management Agency
4 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

IV. EXEMPTION 3 STATUTES 

Statute Type of Information

Withheld Case Citation Agency / Component

Number of 

Times

Relied upon

by Agency / 

Component

Total Number 

of

Times Relied 

upon

by Agency 

Overall

7 USC §608(d)(2) Information for marketing order 

programs that are categorized as trade 

secrets and commercial or financial 

information.

N/A AMS 10

10

7 USC §1502(c) Personal information in connection 

with policy holders and/or yield data.

N/A FSA 1

24

Personal information in connection 

with policy holders and/or yield data.

N/A RMA 23

7 USC §2018(c) Information obtained pursuant to 

chapter 51 of title 7 of the United States 

Code, which concerns the handling of 

information submitted by applicants to 

the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance 

Program.

Argus Leader Media v. U.S. Dep't of 

Agriculture, 740 F.3d 1172, 1175-76 

(8th Cir. 2014).

FNCS 202

202

7 USC §2276(a)(2) Information furnished under a 

provision of law referred to in 

subsection (d) of this section...unless 

such information has been transformed 

into a statistical or aggregate form that 

that does not allow the identification of 

the person who supplied particular 

information.

Strunk v. U.S. Dep't of Interior, 752 F. 

Supp. 2d, 39, 44 (D.D.C 2010).

AMS 1

4

Information furnished under a 

provision of law referred to in 

subsection (d) of this section...unless 

such information has been transformed 

into a statistical or aggregate form that 

Strunk v. U.S. Dep't of Interior, 752 F. 

Supp. 2d, 39, 44 (D.D.C 2010).

REE 1
5 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

that does not allow the identification of 

the person who supplied particular

information.

Information furnished under a 

provision of law referred to in 

subsection (d) of this section...unless 

such information has been transformed 

into a statistical or aggregate form that 

that does not allow the identification of 

the person who supplied particular

Strunk v. U.S. Dep't of Interior, 752 F. 

Supp. 2d, 39, 44 (D.D.C 2010).

FSA 2

7 USC §8791 Information provided by an agricultural 

producer or owner of agricultural land 

concerning agricultural operations, 

farming, or conservation practices, or 

the land itself, in order to participate in 

programs of the Department and certain 

geospatial information....maintained by 

the Secretary.

Ctr. for Biological Diversity v. USDA, 

626 F3d. 1113, 1118 (9th Cir. 2010); 

Zanoni v. USDA, 605 F. Supp. 2d 230, 

237-381 (D.D.C. 2009).

APHIS 22

213

Information provided by an agricultural 

producer or owner of agricultural land 

concerning agricultural operations, 

farming, or conservation practices, or 

the land itself, in order to participate in 

programs of the Department and certain 

geospatial information...maintained by 

the Secretary.

Ctr. for Biological Diversity v. USDA, 

626 F3d. 1113, 1118 (9th Cir. 2010); 

Zanoni v. USDA, 605 F. Supp. 2d 230, 

237-381 (D.D.C. 2009).

FSA 141

Information provided by an agricultural 

producer or owner of agricultural land 

concerning agricultural operations, 

farming, or conservation practices, or

the land itself, in order to participate in 

programs of the Department and certain 

geospatial information...maintained by 

the Secretary.

Ctr. For Biological Diversity v. USDA, 

626 F3d. 1113, 1118 (9th Cir. 2010); 

Zanoni v. USDA, 605 F. Supp. 2d 230, 

237-381 (D.D.C. C 2009).

NRCS 48

Information provided by an agricultural Ctr. for Biological Diversity v. USDA, RMA 2
6 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

producer or owner of agricultural land 

concerning agricultural operations, 

farming, or conservation practices, or 

the land itself, in order to participate in 

programs of the Department and certain 

geospatial information...maintained by 

the Secretary.

626 F3d. 1113, 1118 (9th Cir. 2010); 

Zanoni v. USDA, 605 F. Supp. 2d 230, 

237-381 (D.D.C.C 2009).

16 USC §470hh Information pertaining to the nature and 

location of certain archaeological 

resources.

Hornbostel v. US Dep't of the Interior, 

305 F. Supp. 2d 21, 30 (D.D.C. 2003), 

summary affirmance granted, No. 03-

5257, 2004 WL 1900562 (D.C. Cir. 

Aug. 25, 2004).

FS 33

35

Information pertaining to the nature and 

location of certain archaeological 

resources.

Hornbostel v. US Dep't of the Interior, 

305 F. Supp. 2d 21, 30 (D.D.C. 2003), 

summary affirmance granted, No. 03-

5257, 2004 WL 1900562 (D.C. Cir. 

Aug. 25, 2004).

NRCS 2

7 USC §8401(h)(1)(c) Site specific or transfer specific 

safeguard and security measures used 

by a registered person to prevent 

unauthorized access.

None. REE 3

3

41 USC §4702 Contractor proposals that are in the 

possession or control of an executive 

agency and that have not been set forth 

or incorporated by reference into 

contracts.

Sinkerfield v. HUD, No. 10-885, 2012 

US Dist. Lexis 35233, at 13-15 (S.D. 

Ohio Mar. 15, 2012); Margolin v. 

NASA, No. 09-CV-00421, 2011 WL 

1303221, at *6 (D. Nev. Mar. 31, 

2011); Hornbostel v. Dep't of the 

Interior, 305 F. Supp. 2d 21, 30 

(D.D.C. 2003), summary affirmance 

granted, No. 03-5257, 2004 WL 

1900562 (DC Cir. Aug. 25, 2004).

NRCS 3

7

Contractor proposals that are in the 

possession or control of an executive 

agency and that have not been set forth 

or incorporated by reference into 

Sinkerfield v. HUD, No. 10-885, 2012 

US Dist. Lexis 35233, at 13-15 (S.D. 

Ohio Mar. 15, 2012); Margolin v. 

NASA, No. 09-CV-00421, 2011 WL 

OSEC/OCIO/DM 3
7 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

contracts. 1303221, at *6 (D. Nev. Mar. 31, 

2011); Hornbostel v. Dep't of the 

Interior, 305 F. Supp. 2d 21, 30 

(D.D.C. 2003), summary affirmance 

granted, No. 03-5257, 2004 WL 

1900562 (DC Cir. Aug. 25, 2004).

Contractor proposals that are in the 

possession or control of an executive 

agency and that have not been set forth 

or incorporated by reference into 

contracts.

Sinkerfield v. HUD, No. 10-885, 2012 

US Dist. Lexis 35233, at 13-15 (S.D. 

Ohio Mar. 15, 2012); Margolin v. 

NASA, No. 09-CV-00421, 2011 WL 

1303221, at *6 (D. Nev. Mar. 31, 

2011); Hornbostel v. Dep't of the 

Interior, 305 F. Supp. 2d 21, 30 

(D.D.C. 2003), summary affirmance 

granted, No. 03-5257, 2004 WL 

1900562 (DC Cir. Aug. 25, 2004).

RD 1
8 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

V.A. FOIA REQUESTS -- RECEIVED, PROCESSED AND PENDING FOIA REQUESTS

Agency / Component

Number of Requests

Pending as of Start

of Fiscal Year

Number of

Requests Received

in Fiscal Year

Number of

Requests Processed

in Fiscal Year

Number of Requests

Pending as of End

of Fiscal Year

AMS 32 141 142 31

APHIS 532 955 959 528

ASCR 2 32 33 1

FAS 1 52 46 7

FNCS 50 495 462 83

FSA 1,453 14,854 14,232 2,075

FSIS 182 319 374 127

FS 543 2,072 1,935 680

GIPSA 1 75 74 2

NAD 6 2 0 8

NRCS 74 252 221 105

OBPA 0 23 23 0

OCFO 15 11 5 21

OGC 16 17 12 21

OIG 95 115 112 98

OSEC/OCIO/DM 25 235 225 35

RD 417 260 485 192

REE 4 127 122 9

RMA 17 95 97 15

AGENCY OVERALL 3,465 20,132 19,559 4,038

OGC and RMA: Due to clerical error, the number of pending requests reported at the end of FY14 differs then that reported pending at the start of 

FY15.
9 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

V.B.(1). DISPOSITION OF FOIA REQUESTS -- ALL PROCESSED REQUESTS

Agency / 

Component

Number of 

Full 

Grants

Number of 

Partial 

Grants / 

Partial 

Denials

Number of 

Full 

Denials 

Based on 

Exemptions

Number of Full Denials Based on Reasons Other than Exemptions

No 

Records

All 

Records 

Referred to 

Another 

Component 

or Agency

Request 

Withdrawn

FeeRelated 

Reason

Records 

not 

Reasonably 

Described

Improper 

FOIA 

Request 

for Other 

Reason

Not 

Agency 

Record

Duplicate 

Request

Other 

*Explain 

in Chart 

Below

TOTAL

AMS 39 74 5 17 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 142

APHIS 225 453 41 158 8 46 1 2 1 5 19 0 959

ASCR 6 8 0 5 2 10 0 0 0 1 1 0 33

FAS 16 4 1 7 2 13 0 3 0 0 0 0 46

FNCS 105 274 15 32 1 15 3 0 1 14 2 0 462

FSA 13,369 245 102 107 203 75 53 4 18 15 29 12 14,232

FSIS 78 168 7 60 17 38 0 0 1 1 4 0 374

FS 885 649 66 182 58 53 8 1 10 7 16 0 1,935

GIPSA 24 17 1 12 1 8 10 0 0 0 1 0 74

NAD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

NRCS 91 73 22 22 1 8 0 1 1 2 0 0 221

OBPA 4 0 0 6 1 11 0 0 0 1 0 0 23

OCFO 2 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5

OGC 2 6 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 12

OIG 5 42 22 26 5 8 1 1 2 0 0 0 112

OSEC/OCIO/DM 86 63 2 42 5 7 8 3 1 5 3 0 225

RD 240 90 14 39 22 30 0 18 3 5 24 0 485

REE 54 35 2 8 1 13 0 1 1 5 2 0 122

RMA 15 32 11 7 1 15 0 0 4 7 0 5 97
10 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

AGENCY 

OVERALL 15,246 2,233 311 732 329 359 86 34 43 68 101 17 19,559
11 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

V.B.(2). DISPOSITION OF FOIA REQUESTS -- "OTHER" REASONS FOR "FULL DENIALS 

BASED ON REASONS OTHER THAN EXEMPTIONS"

Agency / 

Component Description of "Other" Reasons for Denials from Chart B(1)

Number of Times 

"Other" Reason 

Was Relied Upon

TOTAL

AMS N/A 0

0

APHIS N/A 0

0

ASCR N/A 0

0

FAS N/A 0

0

FNCS N/A 0

0

FSA Publicly Available Information. 12

12

FSIS N/A 0

0

FS N/A 0

0

GIPSA N/A 0

0

NAD N/A 0

0

NRCS N/A 0

0

OBPA N/A 0

0

OCFO N/A 0

0

OGC N/A 0

0
12 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

OIG N/A 0

0

OSEC/OCIO/DM N/A 0

0

RD N/A 0

0

REE N/A 0

0

RMA Unable to Locate Requester. 5

5

AGENCY 

OVERALL 17
13 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

V.B.(3). DISPOSITION OF FOIA REQUESTS -- NUMBER OF TIMES EXEMPTIONS APPLIED

Agency / 

Component Ex. 1 Ex. 2 Ex. 3 Ex. 4 Ex. 5 Ex. 6 Ex. 7(A) Ex. 7(B) Ex. 7(C) Ex. 7(D) Ex. 7(E) Ex. 7(F) Ex. 8 Ex. 9

AMS 0 0 11 37 16 70 1 0 11 0 0 0 0 0

APHIS 0 2 22 66 57 432 53 0 251 30 3 14 0 1

ASCR 0 0 0 0 1 8 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 0

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

FNCS 0 1 202 20 177 263 1 1 231 24 188 0 0 0

FSA 0 4 144 7 28 198 3 0 19 1 0 0 1 1

FSIS 0 3 0 131 26 159 4 1 49 3 4 0 0 0

FS 0 3 33 121 197 521 27 4 151 0 17 24 0 6

GIPSA 0 0 0 6 6 13 2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0

NAD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

NRCS 0 0 53 6 8 53 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0

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

OCFO 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

OGC 0 0 0 1 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

OIG 0 0 0 2 23 61 18 0 55 3 5 2 0 0

OSEC/OCIO/DM 0 0 3 6 11 55 3 0 6 0 0 0 0 0

RD 0 0 1 53 13 61 4 0 9 0 0 0 0 0

REE 0 0 4 19 6 29 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

RMA 0 0 25 12 7 19 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

AGENCY 

OVERALL 0 13 498 489 581 1,947 118 6 797 62 217 40 1 8
14 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

VI.A. ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS OF INITIAL DETERMINATIONS OF FOIA REQUESTS 

-- RECEIVED, PROCESSED, AND PENDING ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS

Agency / Component

Number of Appeals

Pending as of Start

of Fiscal Year

Number of

Appeals Received

in Fiscal Year

Number of

Appeals Processed

in Fiscal Year

Number of Appeals

Pending as of End

of Fiscal Year

AMS 9 6 3 12

APHIS 95 20 20 95

ASCR 0 1 1 0

FAS 0 2 1 1

FNCS 53 131 6 178

FSA 7 18 22 3

FSIS 6 12 12 6

FS 67 65 51 81

GIPSA 3 1 3 1

NAD 0 0 0 0

NRCS 0 11 8 3

OBPA 0 0 0 0

OCFO 1 0 0 1

OGC 1 0 0 1

OIG 1 7 6 2

OSEC/OCIO/DM 6 6 4 8

RD 16 19 29 6

REE 0 2 2 0

RMA 33 3 3 33

AGENCY OVERALL 298 304 171 431

RMA: Due to clerical error, the number of pending appeals reported at the end of FY14 differs then that repoted pending at the start of FY15.
15 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

VI.B. DISPOSITION OF ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS -- ALL PROCESSED APPEALS

Agency / Component Number Affirmed on 

Appeal

Number Partially 

Affirmed & Partially 

Reversed/Remanded on 

Appeal

Number Completely 

Reversed/Remanded on 

Appeal

Number of Appeals 

Closed for Other Reasons TOTAL

AMS 0 1 1 1 3

APHIS 4 2 2 12 20

ASCR 0 0 0 1 1

FAS 0 0 1 0 1

FNCS 3 2 0 1 6

FSA 0 11 1 10 22

FSIS 3 3 3 3 12

FS 13 16 7 15 51

GIPSA 0 2 1 0 3

NAD 0 0 0 0 0

NRCS 1 0 4 3 8

OBPA 0 0 0 0 0

OCFO 0 0 0 0 0

OGC 0 0 0 0 0

OIG 3 3 0 0 6

OSEC/OCIO/DM 2 2 0 0 4

RD 2 5 1 21 29

REE 0 0 0 2 2

RMA 0 1 1 1 3

AGENCY OVERALL 31 48 22 70 171
16 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

VI.C.(1). REASONS FOR DENIAL ON APPEAL -- NUMBER OF TIMES EXEMPTIONS APPLIED

Agency / 

Component Ex. 1 Ex. 2 Ex. 3 Ex. 4 Ex. 5 Ex. 6 Ex. 7(A) Ex. 7(B) Ex. 7(C) Ex. 7(D) Ex. 7(E) Ex. 7(F) Ex. 8 Ex. 9

AMS 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

APHIS 0 0 0 0 1 4 1 0 2 1 0 1 0 0

ASCR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

FAS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

FNCS 0 0 2 0 3 3 0 0 3 1 3 0 0 0

FSA 0 0 4 0 1 11 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0

FSIS 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

FS 0 1 3 0 6 17 5 1 5 1 1 0 0 0

GIPSA 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0

NAD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

NRCS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

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

OCFO 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

OGC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

OIG 0 0 0 1 3 6 0 0 6 1 0 1 0 0

OSEC/OCIO/DM 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

RD 0 0 0 3 3 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

REE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

RMA 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

AGENCY 

OVERALL 0 1 9 6 20 52 6 1 19 4 5 2 0 0
17 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

VI.C.(2). REASONS FOR DENIAL ON APPEAL -- REASONS OTHER THAN EXEMPTIONS

Agency / 

Component No Records

Records 

Referred at 

Initial 

Request 

Level

Request 

Withdrawn

Fee-Related 

Reason

Records not 

Reasonably 

Described

Improper 

Request for 

Other 

Reasons

Not Agency 

Record

Duplicate 

Request or 

Appeal

Request in 

Litigation

Appeal 

Based 

Solely on 

Denial of 

Request for 

Expedited 

Processing

Other 

*Explain in 

chart below

AMS 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

APHIS 0 1 6 0 2 0 0 2 1 0 0

ASCR 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

FAS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

FNCS 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

FSA 3 0 5 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

FSIS 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

FS 2 0 8 1 0 1 0 2 1 0 0

GIPSA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

NAD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

NRCS 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0

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

OCFO 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

OGC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

OIG 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

OSEC/OCIO/DM 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

RD 2 0 6 0 2 0 1 3 0 0 7

REE 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

RMA 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
18 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

AGENCY 

OVERALL 8 2 33 2 4 2 2 8 2 0 7
19 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

VI.C.(3). REASONS FOR DENIAL ON APPEAL -- "OTHER" REASONS

Agency / 

Component Description of "Other" Reasons for Denial on Appeal from Chart C(2)

Number of Times 

"Other" Reason 

Was Relied Upon

TOTAL

AMS N/A 0

0

APHIS N/A 0

0

ASCR N/A 0

0

FAS N/A 0

0

FNCS N/A 0

0

FSA N/A 0

0

FSIS N/A 0

0

FS N/A 0

0

GIPSA N/A 0

0

NAD N/A 0

0

NRCS N/A 0

0

OBPA N/A 0

0

OCFO N/A 0

0

OGC N/A 0

0

OIG N/A 0 0
20 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

OSEC/OCIO/DM N/A 0

0

RD Unable to locate requester 7

7

REE N/A 0

0

RMA N/A 0

0

AGENCY 

OVERALL 7
21 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

VI.C.(4). RESPONSE TIME FOR ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS

Agency / Component Median Number of Days Average Number of Days Lowest Number of Days Highest Number of Days

AMS 129.00 158.00 75.00 270.00

APHIS 184.00 546.50 6.00 2,108.00

ASCR 70.00 70.00 49.00 91.00

FAS 185.00 185.00 185.00 185.00

FNCS 237.00 230.50 84.00 345.00

FSA 37.00 35.81 1.00 98.00

FSIS 81.00 87.75 6.00 182.00

FS 131.00 196.03 1.00 664.00

GIPSA 126.00 175.67 44.00 357.00

NAD 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

NRCS 48.00 63.29 4.00 233.00

OBPA 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

OCFO 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

OGC 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

OIG 20.00 19.00 17.00 21.00

OSEC/OCIO/DM 149.50 149.50 62.00 237.00

RD 38.00 139.82 1.00 888.00

REE 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.00

RMA 1,008.00 715.67 125.00 1,014.00

AGENCY OVERALL 79.00 197.63 0.00 2,108.00
22 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

VI.C.(5). TEN OLDEST PENDING ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS

Agency / 

Component

10th Oldest 

Appeal 9th 8th 7th 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd Oldest Appeal

AMS

Date of Appeal 2015-06-18 2015-03-09 2014-11-03 2014-08-19 2014-08-11 2014-05-28 2014-02-28 2013-04-29 2012-12-10 2012-10-15

Number of Days Pending 72 136 228 280 286 338 400 609 703 741

APHIS

Date of Appeal 2009-11-16 2009-11-06 2009-08-20 2009-08-20 2008-10-24 2008-05-22 2007-10-02 2007-02-23 2007-01-16 2006-11-20

Number of Days Pending 1472 1477 1531 1531 1737 1844 2004 2185 2185 2222

ASCR

Date of Appeal N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Number of Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

FAS

Date of Appeal N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2015-07-13

Number of Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 56

FNCS

Date of Appeal 2013-10-25 2013-10-25 2013-09-24 2013-09-20 2013-09-03 2013-08-14 2013-07-25 2013-05-10 2012-12-05 2012-10-22

Number of Days Pending 484 484 506 508 521 534 548 600 706 736

FSA

Date of Appeal N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2015-09-28 2015-09-17 2015-05-11

Number of Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 9 99

FSIS

Date of Appeal N/A N/A N/A N/A 2014-09-30 2014-09-30 2014-09-19 2014-08-29 2013-12-03 2010-11-15

Number of Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 21 208 971

FS

Date of Appeal 2013-09-13 2013-07-12 2013-07-10 2013-07-02 2013-06-25 2013-06-19 2013-02-07 2012-12-19 2010-04-20 2008-08-07

Number of Days Pending 513 557 559 564 569 573 664 696 1366 1791

GIPSA

Date of Appeal N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2015-09-28

Number of Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

NAD

Date of Appeal N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Number of Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

NRCS

Date of Appeal N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2015-04-03 2014-11-04 2014-06-19

Number of Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 125 227 322
23 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

OBPA

Date of Appeal N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Number of Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

OCFO

Date of Appeal N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2012-07-19

Number of Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 801

OGC

Date of Appeal N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2013-09-25

Number of Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 502

OIG

Date of Appeal N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2015-09-30 2015-09-28

Number of Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3

OSEC/OCIO/DM

Date of Appeal N/A N/A 2015-07-07 2015-01-30 2014-11-04 2014-10-15 2014-10-15 2014-06-04 2014-05-09 2012-04-02

Number of Days Pending 0 0 60 169 227 241 333 350 369 877

RD

Date of Appeal N/A N/A N/A N/A 2015-09-10 2015-07-22 2015-05-18 2015-03-18 2014-03-28 2012-02-07

Number of Days Pending 0 0 0 0 14 49 94 137 380 915

REE

Date of Appeal N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Number of Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

RMA

Date of Appeal 2011-10-12 2011-09-28 2011-09-20 2011-09-20 2011-09-06 2011-09-01 2011-08-18 2011-03-17 2010-12-16 2009-05-05

Number of Days Pending 994 1003 1009 1009 1019 1021 1031 1139 1200 1606

AGENCY 

OVERALL

Date of Appeal 2009-08-20 2009-08-20 2009-05-05 2008-10-24 2008-08-07 2008-05-22 2007-10-02 2007-01-16 2007-01-16 2006-11-20

Number of Days Pending 1531 1531 1606 1737 1791 1844 2004 2185 2185 2222
24 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

VII.A. FOIA REQUESTS -- RESPONSE TIME FOR ALL PROCESSED PERFECTED REQUESTS

Agency / 

Component

SIMPLE COMPLEX EXPEDITED PROCESSING

Median 

Number of 

Days

Average 

Number of 

Days

Lowest 

Number of 

Days

Highest 

Number of 

Days

Median 

Number of 

Days

Average 

Number of 

Days

Lowest 

Number of 

Days

Highest 

Number of 

Days

Median 

Number of 

Days

Average 

Number of 

Days

Lowest 

Number of 

Days

Highest 

Number of 

Days

AMS 25 25.43 1 91 48 112.67 1 751 N/A N/A N/A N/A

APHIS 42 96.46 1 1101 188 280.2 14 1265 75 75 75 75

ASCR 7 13.79 1 111 7 6.5 3 9 N/A N/A N/A N/A

FAS 12 16 3 76 78 89.8 34 185 128.5 128.5 76 181

FNCS 23 34.95 1 292 27 27 27 27 349 349 349 349

FSA 2 3.26 1 677 4 17.49 1 505 1 1 1 1

FSIS 63 108.13 1 636 309 309 309 309 N/A N/A N/A N/A

FS 18 30.97 1 801 38 57.2 1 1074 4 13.83 1 62

GIPSA 2 5.47 1 25 13 21.96 1 52 N/A N/A N/A N/A

NAD N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

NRCS 11 27.62 1 572 22.5 46.09 1 523 N/A N/A N/A N/A

OBPA 4 5.1 1 12 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

OCFO 19 55.6 3 143 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

OGC 31 144 1 547 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

OIG 76 115 4 612 200 254 46 606 N/A N/A N/A N/A

OSEC/OCIO/DM 30 49.05 1 509 92 230.62 1 1393 N/A N/A N/A N/A

RD 38 188.05 1 961 478 396.39 1 1162 10.5 10.5 9 12

REE 11 10.51 1 21 19 19.04 1 70 N/A N/A N/A N/A

RMA 4 12.11 1 82 7 100.97 1 753 11 11 11 11

AGENCY 

OVERALL 20 11.2 1 1101 24 51.14 1 1393 11 49 1 349
25 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

VII.B. PROCESSED REQUESTS -- RESPONSE TIME FOR PERFECTED REQUESTS IN WHICH INFORMATION WAS 

GRANTED

Agency / 

Component

SIMPLE COMPLEX EXPEDITED PROCESSING

Median 

Number of 

Days

Average 

Number of 

Days

Lowest 

Number of 

Days

Highest 

Number of 

Days

Median 

Number of 

Days

Average 

Number of 

Days

Lowest 

Number of 

Days

Highest 

Number of 

Days

Median 

Number of 

Days

Average 

Number of 

Days

Lowest 

Number of 

Days

Highest 

Number of 

Days

AMS 21 28.19 1 91 56 129 9 751 N/A N/A N/A N/A

APHIS 53 107.94 1 1101 185 276.07 14 1265 75 75 75 75

ASCR 17 25.2 4 111 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

FAS 12 16 3 76 78 89.8 34 185 128.5 128.5 76 181

FNCS 24 37.1 1 292 27 27 27 27 349 349 349 349

FSA 2 1 1 677 1 9 1 381 1 1 1 1

FSIS 62.5 101.81 1 636 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

FS 19 30.03 1 602 42 56.82 1 277 4 13.83 1 62

GIPSA 2 5.3 1 25 10 12.91 3 40 N/A N/A N/A N/A

NAD N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

NRCS 11 28.63 1 572 23.5 42.8 1 475 N/A N/A N/A N/A

OBPA 5 5.7 1 12 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

OCFO 19 19 19 19 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

OGC 31 137 1 547 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

OIG 39 50 5 219 200 254 46 606 N/A N/A N/A N/A

OSEC/OCIO/DM 34 57.11 1 478 135 293.19 10 1393 N/A N/A N/A N/A

RD 18 98.71 1 774 87.5 225.19 10 798 10.5 10.5 9 12

REE 10 10.74 1 21 20 23.56 2 70 N/A N/A N/A N/A

RMA 9 16.68 1 82 127 210.1 14 753 11 11 11 11

AGENCY 22 9.76 1 1101 26 81.03 1 1393 11 49 1 349
26 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

OVERALL
27 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

VII.C. PROCESSED SIMPLE REQUESTS -- RESPONSE TIME IN DAY INCREMENTS

Agency / 

Component

<1-20

Days

21-40

Days

41-60

Days

61-80

Days

81-100 

Days

101-120 

Days

121-140 

Days

141-160 

Days

161-180 

Days

181-200 

Days

201-300 

Days

301-400 

Days

401+

Days TOTAL

AMS 2 37 20 6 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 70

APHIS 241 166 79 51 52 35 28 20 20 29 55 22 34 832

ASCR 25 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 29

FAS 29 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 36

FNCS 192 156 53 17 8 9 8 5 4 3 4 0 0 459

FSA 13,576 41 6 5 0 1 0 1 1 1 4 0 0 13,636

FSIS 63 66 48 35 21 12 22 11 11 7 49 23 4 372

FS 932 308 111 73 31 20 13 7 6 5 10 5 6 1,527

GIPSA 47 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 51

NAD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

NRCS 123 24 3 3 0 0 0 1 2 3 3 0 1 163

OBPA 23 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 23

OCFO 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 5

OGC 5 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 1 12

OIG 13 13 12 4 5 13 4 0 0 2 4 4 5 79

OSEC/OCIO/DM 96 39 17 3 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 162

RD 129 21 15 5 5 13 3 3 3 3 36 13 76 325

REE 38 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 42

RMA 43 10 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 55

AGENCY 

OVERALL 15,580 897 367 204 129 108 80 49 47 53 166 70 128 17,878
28 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

VII.C. PROCESSED COMPLEX REQUESTS -- RESPONSE TIME IN DAY INCREMENTS

Agency / 

Component

<1-20

Days

21-40

Days

41-60

Days

61-80

Days

81-100 

Days

101-120 

Days

121-140 

Days

141-160 

Days

161-180 

Days

181-200 

Days

201-300 

Days

301-400 

Days

401+

Days TOTAL

AMS 7 23 23 4 5 4 2 1 3 0 0 0 0 72

APHIS 7 8 6 9 10 8 4 2 3 10 13 12 31 123

ASCR 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4

FAS 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 5

FNCS 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

FSA 492 44 10 4 4 3 3 1 3 0 3 2 3 572

FSIS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1

FS 116 89 61 43 31 9 17 4 3 4 11 1 2 391

GIPSA 14 3 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 23

NAD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

NRCS 24 16 7 6 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 56

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

OCFO 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

OGC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

OIG 0 0 1 1 2 2 1 4 3 1 7 1 7 30

OSEC/OCIO/DM 16 15 3 7 2 2 3 1 0 1 2 2 5 59

RD 14 15 7 2 3 2 2 2 1 2 8 6 73 137

REE 54 20 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 78

RMA 24 0 4 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 2 2 2 37

AGENCY 

OVERALL 772 235 131 80 57 31 32 17 17 19 46 27 125 1,589
29 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

VII.C. PROCESSED REQUESTS GRANTED EXPEDITED PROCESSING -- RESPONSE TIME IN DAY INCREMENTS

Agency / 

Component

<1-20

Days

21-40

Days

41-60

Days

61-80

Days

81-100 

Days

101-120 

Days

121-140 

Days

141-160 

Days

161-180 

Days

181-200 

Days

201-300 

Days

301-400 

Days

401+

Days TOTAL

AMS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

APHIS 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

ASCR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

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

FNCS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1

FSA 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

FSIS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

FS 5 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6

GIPSA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

NAD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

NRCS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

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

OCFO 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

OGC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

OIG 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

OSEC/OCIO/DM 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

RD 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

REE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

RMA 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

AGENCY 

OVERALL 10 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 15
30 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

VII.D. PENDING REQUESTS -- ALL PENDING PERFECTED REQUESTS

Agency / Component

SIMPLE COMPLEX EXPEDITED PROCESSING

Number 

Pending

Median 

Number of 

Days

Average 

Number of 

Days

Number 

Pending

Median 

Number of 

Days

Average 

Number of 

Days

Number 

Pending

Median 

Number of 

Days

Average 

Number of 

Days

AMS 22 21 52 10 180 217 0 N/A N/A

APHIS 490 123 189 24 478 478 0 N/A N/A

ASCR 1 10 10 0 N/A N/A 0 N/A N/A

FAS 3 82 65.3 4 36.5 43.2 0 N/A N/A

FNCS 74 16.5 57 0 N/A N/A 0 N/A N/A

FSA 18 106 90 55 9 14 0 N/A N/A

FSIS 122 86 142 1 349 349 0 N/A N/A

FS 321 56 169 81 85 244 1 197 197

GIPSA 1 6 6 1 22 22 0 N/A N/A

NAD 10 438.5 434 0 N/A N/A 0 N/A N/A

NRCS 48 107.5 121 3 126 170 0 N/A N/A

OBPA 0 N/A N/A 0 N/A N/A 0 N/A N/A

OCFO 15 511.5 483 0 N/A N/A 0 N/A N/A

OGC 21 203 362 0 N/A N/A 0 N/A N/A

OIG 24 124 140 74 282 368 0 N/A N/A

OSEC/OCIO/DM 25 43 167 4 226 509 0 N/A N/A

RD 39 27 87 1 96 96 0 N/A N/A

REE 2 9 9 6 10.5 16 0 N/A N/A

RMA 6 361 328 7 251 186 0 N/A N/A

AGENCY OVERALL 1242 79 90 271 87 230 1 197 197
31 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

VII.E. PENDING REQUESTS -- TEN OLDEST PENDING PERFECTED REQUESTS

Agency / 

Component

10th Oldest 

Request 9th 8th 7th 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd Oldest Request

AMS

Date of Receipt 2015-03-27 2015-01-23 2015-01-14 2015-01-05 2014-12-12 2014-10-23 2014-10-23 2014-09-22 2014-08-22 2013-01-04

Number of Days Pending 130 174 180 187 201 205 235 257 277 687

APHIS

Date of Receipt 2012-07-24 2012-07-19 2012-06-19 2012-05-30 2012-05-30 2012-05-08 2012-05-01 2012-02-06 2011-12-01 2011-10-31

Number of Days Pending 796 801 822 836 836 851 856 916 960 981

ASCR

Date of Receipt N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2015-09-16

Number of Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10

FAS

Date of Receipt N/A N/A N/A 2015-09-19 2015-08-19 2015-08-13 2015-08-04 2015-06-04 2015-06-01 2015-05-20

Number of Days Pending 0 0 0 8 29 33 40 82 85 92

FNCS

Date of Receipt 2015-02-17 2015-02-10 2015-01-29 2014-11-20 2014-11-17 2014-11-14 2014-10-22 2014-09-30 2014-07-17 2014-04-03

Number of Days Pending 158 162 170 216 219 220 236 251 303 376

FSA

Date of Receipt 2015-01-26 2015-01-22 2014-10-31 2014-04-24 2014-02-14 2013-05-06 2013-03-18 2013-01-17 2012-12-19 2011-11-16

Number of Days Pending 173 175 229 361 409 604 639 678 696 970

FSIS

Date of Receipt 2014-04-04 2014-03-31 2014-03-11 2014-03-05 2014-02-11 2014-01-15 2014-01-15 2014-01-08 2013-10-29 2013-10-17

Number of Days Pending 375 379 393 397 412 430 430 435 482 490

FS

Date of Receipt 2012-04-13 2012-03-19 2012-02-27 2012-02-14 2011-11-16 2011-11-15 2011-07-27 2011-03-25 2010-12-15 2010-01-19

Number of Days Pending 868 887 902 910 970 971 1047 1133 1201 1430

GIPSA

Date of Receipt N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2015-09-22 2015-08-28

Number of Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 22

NAD

Date of Receipt 2015-07-27 2014-12-11 2014-07-15 2014-04-16 2014-02-12 2013-11-21 2013-09-03 2013-07-09 2012-11-19 2012-10-01

Number of Days Pending 46 202 305 367 411 466 521 560 717 750

NRCS

Date of Receipt 2014-10-29 2014-10-21 2014-10-08 2014-10-03 2014-10-01 2014-09-15 2014-08-27 2014-08-25 2014-08-21 2013-08-09

Number of Days Pending 231 237 245 248 250 262 274 276 278 537
32 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

OBPA

Date of Receipt N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Number of Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

OCFO

Date of Receipt 2014-10-07 2014-09-22 2014-06-23 2014-02-12 2013-11-21 2013-11-05 2013-09-23 2013-09-03 2013-04-30 2012-11-19

Number of Days Pending 246 257 320 411 466 477 507 521 608 717

OGC

Date of Receipt 2014-11-25 2014-01-24 2013-09-16 2013-08-28 2013-01-16 2013-01-15 2012-04-09 2012-03-01 2011-12-22 2011-12-02

Number of Days Pending 211 421 509 521 677 678 864 899 945 959

OIG

Date of Receipt 2012-12-10 2012-11-13 2012-10-15 2012-10-08 2012-08-22 2012-08-21 2012-08-10 2012-06-19 2012-06-12 2012-04-05

Number of Days Pending 706 724 744 748 780 781 788 825 830 877

OSEC/OCIO/DM

Date of Receipt 2015-05-28 2015-02-04 2014-12-23 2014-11-26 2014-10-16 2014-08-13 2014-06-02 2013-09-03 2013-06-06 2010-03-12

Number of Days Pending 87 166 194 212 240 284 335 521 582 1393

RD

Date of Receipt 2015-07-07 2015-06-16 2015-06-12 2015-06-10 2015-06-02 2015-05-14 2015-03-03 2014-08-28 2011-12-12 2011-10-13

Number of Days Pending 60 74 76 78 84 96 140 273 953 993

REE

Date of Receipt N/A N/A 2015-09-28 2015-09-23 2015-09-22 2015-09-21 2015-09-15 2015-09-09 2015-08-26 2015-07-24

Number of Days Pending 0 0 2 5 6 7 11 15 24 47

RMA

Date of Receipt 2015-07-24 2014-11-10 2014-09-30 2014-09-08 2014-07-01 2014-05-06 2014-05-02 2014-02-18 2014-01-17 2013-05-21

Number of Days Pending 47 223 251 267 314 353 355 408 428 593

AGENCY 

OVERALL

Date of Receipt 2011-11-16 2011-11-16 2011-11-15 2011-10-31 2011-10-13 2011-07-27 2011-03-25 2010-12-15 2010-03-12 2010-01-19

Number of Days Pending 970 970 971 981 993 1047 1133 1201 1393 1430
33 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

VIII.A. REQUESTS FOR EXPEDITED PROCESSING

Agency / 

Component Number Granted Number Denied Median Number of Days to Adjudicate

Average Number of 

Days to Adjudicate

Number 

Adjudicated Within 

Ten Calendar Days

AMS 0 0 N/A N/A N/A

APHIS 1 6 1 5.86 5

ASCR 0 0 N/A N/A N/A

FAS 0 0 N/A N/A N/A

FNCS 0 1 1 1 1

FSA 0 1 5 5 1

FSIS 0 0 N/A N/A N/A

FS 6 4 3 11.7 9

GIPSA 0 0 N/A N/A N/A

NAD 0 0 N/A N/A N/A

NRCS 0 0 N/A N/A N/A

OBPA 0 0 N/A N/A N/A

OCFO 0 0 N/A N/A N/A

OGC 0 0 N/A N/A N/A

OIG 0 1 233 233 0

OSEC/OCIO/DM 0 16 1 3 16

RD 2 3 1 6.6 3

REE 0 0 N/A N/A N/A

RMA 0 0 N/A N/A N/A

AGENCY 

OVERALL 9 32 6 25.85 35
34 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

VIII.B. REQUESTS FOR FEE WAIVER

Agency / 

Component Number Granted Number Denied Median Number of Days to Adjudicate

Average Number of 

Days to Adjudicate

AMS 4 1 1 0.6

APHIS 33 2 1 1.71

ASCR 0 0 N/A N/A

FAS 0 0 N/A N/A

FNCS 2 0 1 1

FSA 9 0 1 0.56

FSIS 1 1 2.5 2.5

FS 215 5 1 3.55

GIPSA 0 0 N/A N/A

NAD 0 0 N/A N/A

NRCS 6 0 1 8

OBPA 0 0 N/A N/A

OCFO 1 0 1 1

OGC 0 0 N/A N/A

OIG 0 0 N/A N/A

OSEC/OCIO/DM 10 8 8 10.34

RD 3 1 4.5 36.75

REE 9 1 1 1

RMA 2 1 7 5

AGENCY 

OVERALL 295 20 1 3.77
35 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

IX. FOIA PERSONNEL AND COSTS

Agency / 

Component

PERSONNEL COSTS

Number of "FullTime FOIA 

Employees"

Number of 

"Equivalent FullTime FOIA 

Employees"

Total Number of 

"Full-Time FOIA 

Staff"

Processing Costs Litigation-Related 

Costs Total Costs

AMS 3 3.26 6.26 $665,514.80 $85,681.57 $751,196.37

APHIS 21 0 21 $1,786,896.28 $50,000.00 $1,836,896.28

ASCR 0 0.5 0.5 $582.00 $0.00 $582.00

FAS 0 0.5 0.5 $94,203.00 $0.00 $94,203.00

FNCS 4 8 12 $735,040.00 $0.00 $735,040.00

FSA 10 34.69 44.69 $2,377,750.00 $0.00 $2,377,750.00

FSIS 7 0 7 $361,555.80 $0.00 $361,555.80

FS 9 20.75 29.75 $750,000.00 $25,000.00 $775,000.00

GIPSA 1 0 1 $106,261.00 $0.00 $106,261.00

NAD 0 0.5 0.5 $458.00 $0.00 $458.00

NRCS 1 12.5 13.5 $960,715.00 $1,730.00 $962,445.00

OBPA 0 0.1 0.1 $11,614.64 $0.00 $11,614.64

OCFO 1 0 1 $458.00 $0.00 $458.00

OGC 0 6.5 6.5 $750,000.00 $750,000.00 $1,500,000.00

OIG 1 3.64 4.64 $399,478.68 $227,414.41 $626,893.09

OSEC/OCIO/DM 4 0.5 4.5 $1,033,141.00 $0.00 $1,033,141.00

RD 4 14 18 $322,344.83 $0.00 $322,344.83

REE 1 0 1 $90,245.45 $0.00 $90,245.45

RMA 0 1.2 1.2 $131,973.28 $0.00 $131,973.28

AGENCY 67 106.64 173.64 $10,578,231.76 $1,139,825.98 $11,718,057.74
36 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

OVERALL
37 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

X. FEES COLLECTED FOR PROCESSING REQUESTS

Agency / Component Total Amount of Fees 

Collected Percentage of Total Costs

AMS $671.83 0.10%

APHIS $0.00 0.00%

ASCR $0.00 0.00%

FAS $470.90 0.50%

FNCS $0.00 0.00%

FSA $26,554.03 1.12%

FSIS $700.00 0.19%

FS $3,923.18 0.52%

GIPSA $0.00 0.00%

NAD $0.00 0.00%

NRCS $0.00 0.00%

OBPA $0.00 0.00%

OCFO $0.00 0.00%

OGC $0.00 0.00%

OIG $0.00 0.00%

OSEC/OCIO/DM $2,600.00 0.25%

RD $1,371.22 0.43%

REE $187.00 0.21%

RMA $1,682.19 1.27%

AGENCY OVERALL $38,160.35 0.36%
38 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

XII.A. BACKLOGS OF FOIA REQUESTS AND ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS

Agency / Component

Number of Backlogged 

Requests as of End of 

Fiscal Year

Number of Backlogged 

Appeals as of End of 

Fiscal Year

AMS 19 13

APHIS 436 87

ASCR 0 1

FAS 7 1

FNCS 30 160

FSA 29 1

FSIS 109 4

FS 280 76

GIPSA 1 0

NAD 10 0

NRCS 46 3

OBPA 0 0

OCFO 15 0

OGC 20 1

OIG 97 0

OSEC/OCIO/DM 16 7

RD 23 5

REE 0 0

RMA 10 33

AGENCY OVERALL 1,148 392
39 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

XII.B. CONSULTATIONS ON FOIA REQUESTS -- RECEIVED, PROCESSED, AND 

PENDING CONSULTATIONS

Agency / Component

Number of Consultations 

Received from Other 

Agencies that were 

Pending at the Agency as 

of Start

of the Fiscal Year

Number of

Consultations Received

from Other Agencies 

During the Fiscal Year

Number of Consultations 

Received from Other 

Agencies that were 

Processed by the Agency 

During the Fiscal Year

Number of Consultations 

Received from Other 

Agencies that were 

Pending at the Agency as 

of End

of the Fiscal Year

AMS 0 0 0 0

APHIS 0 5 3 2

ASCR 0 0 0 0

FAS 0 1 1 0

FNCS 0 0 0 0

FSA 2 24 24 2

FSIS 0 0 0 0

FS 0 4 4 0

GIPSA 0 0 0 0

NAD 0 0 0 0

NRCS 0 2 2 0

OBPA 0 2 2 0

OCFO 0 0 0 0

OGC 0 0 0 0

OIG 0 8 6 2

OSEC/OCIO/DM 0 6 6 0

RD 1 1 1 1

REE 0 0 0 0

RMA 0 0 0 0

AGENCY OVERALL 3 53 49 7
40 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

XII.C. CONSULTATIONS ON FOIA REQUESTS -- TEN OLDEST CONSULTATIONS RECEIVED FROM OTHER AGENCIES 

AND PENDING AT THE AGENCY

Agency / 

Component

10th Oldest 

Consultation 9th 8th 7th 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd Oldest Consultation

AMS

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Number of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

APHIS

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2015-09-03 2015-04-15

Number of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 117

ASCR

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Number of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

FAS

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Number of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

FNCS

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Number of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

FSA

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2013-01-25 2012-08-30

Number of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 424 523

FSIS

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Number of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

FS

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Number of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

GIPSA

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Number of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

NAD

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Number of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

NRCS Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
41 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

Number of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

OBPA

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Number of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

OCFO

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Number of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

OGC

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Number of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

OIG

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2015-01-17 2014-12-31

Number of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 178 190

OSEC/OCIO/DM

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Number of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

RD

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2012-04-11

Number of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 870

REE

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Number of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

RMA

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Number of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

AGENCY 

OVERALL

Date N/A N/A N/A 2015-09-30 2015-04-15 2015-01-17 2014-12-31 2013-01-25 2012-08-30 2012-04-11

Number of Days 0 0 0 18 117 178 190 424 523 870
42 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

XII.D.(1). COMPARISON OF NUMBERS OF REQUESTS FROM PREVIOUS AND CURRENT ANNUAL REPORT --

REQUESTS RECEIVED AND PROCESSED

Agency / Component

NUMBER OF REQUESTS RECEIVED NUMBER OF REQUESTS PROCESSED

Number Received During 

Fiscal Year from Last 

Year's Annual Report

Number Received During 

Fiscal Year from Current 

Annual Report

Number Processed During 

Fiscal Year from Last 

Year's Annual Report

Number Processed During 

Fiscal Year from Current 

Annual Report

AMS 161 141 163 142

APHIS 993 955 798 959

ASCR 19 32 18 33

FAS 49 52 49 46

FNCS 334 495 309 462

FSA 14,814 14,854 14,343 14,232

FSIS 419 319 365 374

FS 1,939 2,072 1,889 1,935

GIPSA 36 75 37 74

NAD 4 2 0 0

NRCS 300 252 388 221

OBPA 5 23 8 23

OCFO 20 11 16 5

OGC 29 17 27 12

OIG 137 115 115 112

OSEC/OCIO/DM 181 235 251 225

RD 248 260 301 485

REE 115 127 115 122

RMA 61 95 51 97

AGENCY OVERALL 19,864 20,132 19,243 19,559
43 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

XII.D.(2). COMPARISON OF NUMBERS OF REQUESTS FROM PREVIOUS AND CURRENT 

ANNUAL REPORT -- BACKLOGGED REQUESTS

Agency / Component

Number of Backlogged 

Requests as of End of the 

Fiscal Year from Previous 

Annual Report

Number of Backlogged 

Requests as of End of the 

Fiscal Year from Current 

Annual Report

AMS 26 19

APHIS 425 436

ASCR 2 0

FAS 0 7

FNCS 16 30

FSA 30 29

FSIS 133 109

FS 260 280

GIPSA 0 1

NAD 8 10

NRCS 13 46

OBPA 0 0

OCFO 10 15

OGC 15 20

OIG 88 97

OSEC/OCIO/DM 20 16

RD 258 23

REE 0 0

RMA 10 10

AGENCY OVERALL 1,314 1,148
44 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

XII.E.(1). COMPARISON OF NUMBERS OF ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS FROM PREVIOUS AND CURRENT ANNUAL 

REPORT -- APPEALS RECEIVED AND PROCESSED

Agency / Component

NUMBER OF APPEALS RECEIVED NUMBER OF APPEALS PROCESSED

Number Received During 

Fiscal Year from Last 

Year's Annual Report

Number Received During 

Fiscal Year from Current 

Annual Report

Number Processed During 

Fiscal Year from Last 

Year's Annual Report

Number Processed During 

Fiscal Year from Current 

Annual Report

AMS 10 6 8 3

APHIS 36 20 31 20

ASCR 0 1 0 1

FAS 2 2 2 1

FNCS 47 131 6 6

FSA 22 18 16 22

FSIS 18 12 16 12

FS 71 65 50 51

GIPSA 3 1 1 3

NAD 0 0 0 0

NRCS 4 11 9 8

OBPA 0 0 0 0

OCFO 0 0 0 0

OGC 2 0 2 0

OIG 8 7 8 6

OSEC/OCIO/DM 8 6 10 4

RD 8 19 10 29

REE 0 2 0 2

RMA 3 3 0 3

AGENCY OVERALL 242 304 169 171
45 | USDA FY15 FOIA Annual Report

XII.E.(2). COMPARISON OF NUMBERS OF ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS FROM 

PREVIOUS AND CURRENT ANNUAL REPORT -- BACKLOGGED APPEALS

Agency / Component

Number of Backlogged 

Appeals as of End of the 

Fiscal Year from Previous 

Annual Report

Number of Backlogged 

Appeals as of End of the 

Fiscal Year from Current 

Annual Report

AMS 9 13

APHIS 91 87

ASCR 0 1

FAS 0 1

FNCS 42 160

FSA 6 1

FSIS 3 4

FS 59 76

GIPSA 2 0

NAD 0 0

NRCS 1 3

OBPA 0 0

OCFO 1 0

OGC 1 1

OIG 0 0

OSEC/OCIO/DM 5 7

RD 16 5

REE 0 0

RMA 32 33

AGENCY OVERALL 268 392