DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 

ANNUAL REPORT 

FOR 

FISCAL YEAR 2010 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Freedom of Information Act Annual Report FY 2010 

I. Basic Information Regarding Report 

A. Name, title, address, and telephone number of person to be contacted with 

questions about the report: 

Courtney L. Wilkerson 

USDA FOIA Officer 

Office of the Chief Information Officer 

U.S. Department of Agriculture 

1400 Independence Avenue, SW 

Room 2918 

Washington, DC 20250 

Tel. (202) 720-0664 

USDAFOIA@usda.gov 

Courtney.Wilkerson@ocio.usda.gov 

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

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

C. How to obtain a paper copy of this report: 

Contact Courtney Wilkerson at the contact information listed above. 

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.usda.gov/da/foia.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. 

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) administers many, widely 

diverse programs. Most USDA records relate to program administration and 

program participants. USDA invokes the two privacy exemptions of the FOIA 

more than the rest of the exemptions combined. 

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

A. Mission Area, Agency and Staff Office acronyms are as follows: 

AMS - Agricultural Marketing Service 

APHIS - Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 

ASCR – Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 

DM - Departmental Management 

FAS - Foreign Agricultural Service 

FNCS - Food, Nutrition and Consumer Service 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 2 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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- Office of the Secretary 

RD - Rural Development 

REE - Research, Education and Economics 

RMA - Risk Management Agency 

B. Definitions of terms used in this report: 

1. Administrative Appeal – a request to a federal agency asking that it review at a 

higher administrative level a FOIA determination made by the agency at the 

initial request level. 

2. Average Number – the number obtained by dividing the sum of a group of 

numbers by the quantity of numbers in the group. For example, of 3, 10, and 14, 

the average number is 9. 

3. Backlog – the number of requests or administrative appeals that are pending at an 

agency at the end of the fiscal year that are beyond the statutory time period for a 

response. 

4. Component – for agencies that process requests on a decentralized basis, a 

“component” is an entity, also sometimes referred to as an Office, Division, 

Bureau, Center, or Directorate, within the agency that processes FOIA requests. 

The FOIA now requires that agencies include in their Annual FOIA Report data 

for both the agency overall and for each principal component of the agency. 

5. Consultation – the procedure whereby the agency responding to a FOIA request 

first forwards a record to another agency for its review because that other agency 

has an interest in the document. Once the agency in receipt of the consultation 

finishes its review of the record, it responds back to the agency that forwarded it. 

That agency, in turn, will then respond to the FOIA requester. 

6. Exemption 3 Statute – a federal statute that exempts information from disclosure 

and which the agency relies on to withhold information under subsection (b)(3) of 

the FOIA. 

7. FOIA Request – a FOIA request is generally a request to a federal agency for 

access to records concerning another person (i.e., a “third-party” request), or 

concerning an organization, or a particular topic of interest. FOIA requests also 

include requests made by requesters seeking records concerning themselves (i.e., 

“first-party” requests) when those requesters are not subject to the Privacy Act, 

such as non-U.S. citizens. Moreover, because all first-party requesters should be 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 3 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

afforded the benefit of both the access provisions of the FOIA as well as those of 

the Privacy Act, FOIA requests also include any first-party requests where an 

agency determines that it must search beyond its Privacy Act “systems of 

records” or where a Privacy Act exemption applies, and the agency looks to 

FOIA to afford the greatest possible access. All requests which require the agency 

to utilize the FOIA in responding to the requester are included in this Report. 

Additionally, a FOIA request includes records referred to the agency for 

processing and direct response to the requester. It does not, however, include 

records for which the agency has received a consultation from another agency. 

(Consultations are reported separately in Section XII of this Report.) 

8. Full Grant – an agency decision to disclose all records in full in response to a 

FOIA request. 

9. Full Denial – an agency decision not to release any records in response to a 

FOIA request because the records are exempt in their entireties under one or more 

of the FOIA exemptions, or because of a procedural reason, such as when no 

records could be located. 

10. Median Number – the middle, not average, number. For example, of 3, 10, and 

14, the median number is 10. 

11. Multi-Track Processing – a system in which simple requests requiring relatively 

minimal review are placed in one processing track and more voluminous and 

complex requests are placed in one or more other tracks. Requests granted 

expedited processing are placed in yet another track. Requests in each track are 

processed on a first in/first out basis. 

a. Expedited Processing – an agency will process a FOIA request on an 

expedited basis when a requester satisfies the requirements for expedited 

processing as set forth in the statute and in agency regulations. 

b. Simple Request – a FOIA request that an agency using multi-track 

processing places in its fastest (non-expedited) track based on the low 

volume and/or simplicity of the records requested. 

c. Complex Request – a FOIA request that an agency using multi-track 

processing places in a slower track based on the high volume and/or 

complexity of the records requested. 

12. Partial Grant/Partial Denial – in response to a FOIA request, an agency 

decision to disclose portions of the records and to withhold other portions that are 

exempt under the FOIA, or to otherwise deny a portion of the request for a 

procedural reason. 

13. Pending Request or Pending Administrative Appeal – a request or 

administrative appeal for which an agency has not taken final action in all 

respects. 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

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14. Perfected Request – a request for records which reasonably describes such 

records and is made in accordance with published rules stating the time, place, 

fees (if any) and procedures to be followed. 

15. Processed Request or Processed Administrative Appeal – a request or 

administrative appeal for which an agency has taken final action in all respects. 

16. Range in Number of Days – the lowest and highest number of days to process 

requests or administrative appeals. 

17. Time Limits – the time period in the statute for an agency to respond to a FOIA 

request (ordinarily twenty working days from receipt of a perfected FOIA 

request). 

C. Concise descriptions of the nine FOIA exemptions: 

1. Exemption 1: classified national defense and foreign relations information 

2. Exemption 2: internal agency rules and practices 

3. Exemption 3: information that is prohibited from disclosure by another federal 

law 

4. Exemption 4: trade secrets and other confidential business information 

5. Exemption 5: inter-agency or intra-agency communications that are protected by 

legal privileges 

6. Exemption 6: information involving matters of personal privacy 

7. Exemption 7: records or information compiled for law enforcement purposes, to 

the extent that the production of those records (A) could reasonably be expected 

to interfere with enforcement proceedings, (B) would deprive a person of a right 

to a fair trial or an impartial adjudication, (C) could reasonably be expected to 

constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, (D) could reasonably be 

expected to disclose the identity of a confidential source, (E) would disclose 

techniques and procedures for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions, or 

would disclose guidelines for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions, or 

(F) could reasonably be expected to endanger the life or physical safety of any 

individual 

8. Exemption 8: information relating to the supervision of financial institutions 

9. Exemption 9: geological information on wells 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 5 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IV. EXEMPTION 3 STATUTES 

Statute 

Type of 

Information 

Withheld 

Case Citation 

Number of 

Times Relied 

upon per 

Component 

Total 

Number of 

Times 

Relied upon 

by Agency 

Federal 

Insecticide, 

Fungicide, and 

Rodenticide 

Act (FIFRA) 7 

U.S.C. 136 

Disclosure of any 

information 

regarding the 

location and the 

use of pesticides. 

AMS 

1 

APHIS 1 

ASCR 

DA 

FAS 

FNCS 

FSA 

FS 

FSIS 

GIPSA 

NAD 

NRCS 

OBPA 

OCFO 

OGC 

OIG 

OSEC 

REE 

RMA 

RD 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

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Statute 

Type of 

Information 

Withheld 

Case Citation 

Number of 

Times Relied 

upon per 

Component 

Total 

Number of 

Times 

Relied upon 

by Agency 

41 U.S.C. 

253b(m) 

Proposal not set 

forth or 

incorporated by 

reference in a 

contract entered 

into between the 

agency and the 

contractor. 

Business/financial 

information 

Technical 

Proposals of 

Contracts -

Business/financial 

information 

Hornbostel v. Dept. of 

the Interior, 305 F. 

Suppl. 2nd 21 (D.D.C. 

2003) 

AMS 

5 

APHIS 2 

ASCR 

DA 

FAS 

FNCS 

FSA 

FS 2 

FSIS 1 

GIPSA 

NAD 

NRCS 

OBPA 

OCFO 

OGC 

OIG 

OSEC 

REE 

RMA 

RD 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 7 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statute 

Type of 

Information 

Withheld 

Case Citation 

Number of 

Times Relied 

upon per 

Component 

Total 

Number of 

Times 

Relied upon 

by Agency 

Agricultural 

Bioterrorism 

Protection Act 

of 2002, Sec. 

212, Regulation 

of Certain 

Biological 

Agents and 

Toxins 

Disclosure of use 

and locations of 

biological agents 

and toxins. 

AMS 

3 

APHIS 3 

ASCR 

DA 

FAS 

FNCS 

FSA 

FS 

FSIS 

GIPSA 

NAD 

NRCS 

OBPA 

OCFO 

OGC 

OIG 

OSEC 

REE 

RMA 

RD 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

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Statute 

Type of 

Information 

Withheld 

Case Citation 

Number of 

Times Relied 

upon per 

Component 

Total 

Number of 

Times 

Relied upon 

by Agency 

7 U.S.C. 20011-

2036, The Food 

Stamp Act 

(and 7 CRG 

272.1 (2) 11 

(e)(8) 

Names and 

personal 

information of 

SNAP (Food 

Stamps) 

recipients; 

confidential 

information 

provided by firms 

participating in 

SNAP. 

Roberts v. Austin, 632 

F.2d 1202. 1203 (5th 

Cir. 1980), cert. 

denied, 454 U.S. 975, 

102 S.Ct. 527, 70 L. 

Ed. 2nd 395 (1981). 

AMS 

10 

APHIS 

ASCR 

DA 

FAS 

FNCS 10 

FSA 

FS 

FSIS 

GIPSA 

NAD 

NRCS 

OBPA 

OCFO 

OGC 

OIG 

OSEC 

REE 

RMA 

RD 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 9 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statute 

Type of 

Information 

Withheld 

Case Citation 

Number of 

Times Relied 

upon per 

Component 

Total 

Number of 

Times 

Relied upon 

by Agency 

Section 1619 of 

the Food, 

Conservation, 

and Energy 

Act of 2008 

Information 

provided by an 

agricultural 

producer or 

owner of 

agricultural land 

in order to 

participate in a 

USDA program, 

and concerning 

agricultural 

operations, 

farming, or 

conservation 

practices or the 

land itself. 

Information 

contained in any 

type of USDA 

geospatial 

information 

system (GIS) 

with producerprovided 

information about 

agricultural land 

or operations. 

Central Platte Natural 

Resources District v. 

U.S. Department of 

Agriculture and Farm 

Service Agency, No. 

4:09CV3198 (WKU) 

(Dist of NE Sept. 8, 

2010) 

AMS 

301 

APHIS 

ASCR 

DA 

FAS 

FNCS 301 

FSA 

FS 

FSIS 

GIPSA 

NAD 

NRCS 

OBPA 

OCFO 

OGC 

OIG 

OSEC 

REE 

RMA 

RD 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 10 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statute 

Type of 

Information 

Withheld 

Case Citation 

Number of 

Times Relied 

upon per 

Component 

Total 

Number of 

Times 

Relied upon 

by Agency 

41 U.S.C. 

253(b) 

Confidential 

commercial 

information, 

including contract 

proposals. 

Business/financial 

information 

Hornbostel v. Dept. of 

the Interior, 305 F. 

Suppl. 2nd 21 (D.D.C. 

2003) 

AMS 

2 

APHIS 

ASCR 

DA 

FAS 

FNCS 1 

FSA 

FS 

FSIS 

GIPSA 

NAD 

NRCS 

OBPA 

OCFO 

OGC 

OIG 1 

OSEC 

REE 

RMA 

RD 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

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Statute 

Type of 

Information 

Withheld 

Case Citation 

Number of 

Times Relied 

upon per 

Component 

Total 

Number of 

Times 

Relied upon 

by Agency 

7 U.S.C. 2276 

Respondents’ 

identity and 

unaggregated 

survey data. 

Identities and 

respondents of 

unaggregated 

survey data. 

AMS 

7 

APHIS 

ASCR 

DA 

FAS 

FNCS 

FSA 4 

FS 

FSIS 

GIPSA 

NAD 

NRCS 

OBPA 

OCFO 

OGC 

OIG 

OSEC 

REE 3 

RMA 

RD 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 12 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statute 

Type of 

Information 

Withheld 

Case Citation 

Number of 

Times Relied 

upon per 

Component 

Total 

Number of 

Times 

Relied upon 

by Agency 

42 U.S.C. 

2000e-5(b), 

2000e-8(e) 

Information 

obtained by the 

EEOC in 

investigating 

charges of 

unlawful 

employment 

practices. 

Frito-Lay v. EEOC, 

964 F. Supp. 236, 240-

43 (W. D. Ky. 1997) 

AMS 

1 

APHIS 

ASCR 

DA 

FAS 

FNCS 

FSA 

FS 

FSIS 

GIPSA 

NAD 

NRCS 

OBPA 

OCFO 

OGC 

OIG 1 

OSEC 

REE 

RMA 

RD 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 13 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statute 

Type of 

Information 

Withheld 

Case Citation 

Number of 

Times Relied 

upon per 

Component 

Total 

Number of 

Times 

Relied upon 

by Agency 

26 U.S.C. 6103 

(b)(2)(A) 

Financial 

Information 

Linsteadt v. IRS, 729 

F.2d 998, 1000 (5th 

Cir. 1984) 

AMS 

1 

APHIS 

ASCR 

DA 

FAS 

FNCS 

FSA 

FS 

FSIS 

GIPSA 

NAD 

NRCS 

OBPA 

OCFO 1 

OGC 

OIG 

OSEC 

REE 

RMA 

RD 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 14 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statute 

Type of 

Information 

Withheld 

Case Citation 

Number of 

Times Relied 

upon per 

Component 

Total 

Number of 

Times 

Relied upon 

by Agency 

Exemption 3, 

Section 1619 of 

the Food, 

Conservation, 

and Energy 

Act of 2008 

Information 

provided by an 

agricultural 

producer or 

owner of 

agricultural land 

in order to 

participate in a 

USDA program, 

and concerning 

agricultural 

operations, 

farming or 

conservation 

practices or the 

land itself. 

Information 

contained in any 

type of USDA 

geospatial 

information 

system (GIS) with 

producerprovided 

information about 

agricultural land 

or operations. 

AMS 

43 

APHIS 

ASCR 

DA 

FAS 

FNCS 

FSA 

FS 

FSIS 

GIPSA 

NAD 

NRCS 43 

OBPA 

OCFO 

OGC 

OIG 

OSEC 

REE 

RMA 

RD 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 15 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statute 

Type of 

Information 

Withheld 

Case Citation 

Number of 

Times Relied 

upon per 

Component 

Total 

Number of 

Times 

Relied upon 

by Agency 

Agricultural 

Marketing 

Agreement Act 

of 1937, as 

amended 

(AMAA) (d)(3) 

Confidential and 

Financial 

Information 

AMS 1 

1 

APHIS 

ASCR 

DA 

FAS 

FNCS 

FSA 

FS 

FSIS 

GIPSA 

NAD 

NRCS 

OBPA 

OCFO 

OGC 

OIG 

OSEC 

REE 

RMA 

RD 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

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Statute 

Type of 

Information 

Withheld 

Case Citation 

Number of 

Times Relied 

upon per 

Component 

Total 

Number of 

Times 

Relied upon 

by Agency 

The National 

Defense 

Authorization 

Act of 1977 

Technical 

proposal 

submitted by 

unsuccessful 

contractors 

AMS 

9 

APHIS 

ASCR 

DA 

FAS 

FNCS 

FSA 

FS 8 

FSIS 

GIPSA 

NAD 

NRCS 

OBPA 

OCFO 

OGC 

OIG 

OSEC 

REE 

RMA 

RD 1 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 17 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statute 

Type of 

Information 

Withheld 

Case Citation 

Number of 

Times Relied 

upon per 

Component 

Total 

Number of 

Times 

Relied upon 

by Agency 

7 U.S.C. 

1502(c) FCIC 

Crop 

Insurance Act 

Section 502 

Personal 

information 

provided by the 

producer (policy 

information, yield 

data, etc.) 

AMS 

8 

APHIS 

ASCR 

DA 

FAS 

FNCS 

FSA 

FS 

FSIS 

GIPSA 

NAD 

NRCS 

OBPA 

OCFO 

OGC 

OIG 

OSEC 

REE 

RMA 8 

RD 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 18 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statute 

Type of 

Information 

Withheld 

Case Citation 

Number of 

Times Relied 

upon per 

Component 

Total 

Number of 

Times 

Relied upon 

by Agency 

16 USC 470hh 

Archaeological 

Resources 

Protection Act of 

1979 -

Archaeological, 

site maps, cultural 

resources and 

historic sites 

None 

AMS 

3 

APHIS 

ASCR 

DA 

FAS 

FNCS 

FSA 

FS 3 

FSIS 

GIPSA 

NAD 

NRCS 

OBPA 

OCFO 

OGC 

OIG 

OSEC 

REE 

RMA 

RD 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 19 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statute 

Type of 

Information 

Withheld 

Case Citation 

Number of 

Times Relied 

upon per 

Component 

Total 

Number of 

Times 

Relied upon 

by Agency 

16 USC 470w-3 

National Historic 

Preservation Act 

of 1966 -

Location, 

character, or 

ownership of 

historic resources 

None 

AMS 

11 

APHIS 

ASCR 

DA 

FAS 

FNCS 

FSA 

FS 11 

FSIS 

GIPSA 

NAD 

NRCS 

OBPA 

OCFO 

OGC 

OIG 

OSEC 

REE 

RMA 

RD 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 20 
 

 

 

V. FOIA REQUEST 

A. Received, Processed, and Pending FOIA Requests 

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 15 126 126 15 

APHIS1 462 708 909 261 

ASCR2 2 5 7 0 

DM 8 63 65 6 

FAS 1 30 27 4 

FNCS 6 177 161 22 

FSA3 141 14,267 14,247 161 

FS 265 2,771 2,378 658 

FSIS 160 387 248 299 

GIPSA 4 77 77 4 

NAD 0 10 10 0 

NRCS 5 475 476 4 

OBPA 0 13 13 0 

OCFO 1 27 27 1 

OGC 11 24 25 10 

OIG 27 121 145 3 

OSEC 18 83 75 26 

REE 6 144 136 14 

RMA 10 110 107 13 

RD 60 750 703 107 

USDA 

OVERALL 1,202 20,368 19,962 1,608 

1 APHIS - Five cases were inadvertently closed out of the database system in FY09 while they were 

actually still pending at the end of FY09, therefore making 462 the actual starting number of pending 

requests at the beginning of FY10. 

2 ASCR - Two cases were inadvertently closed out of the database system in FY09 while they were actually 

still pending at the end of FY09, therefore making 2 the actual starting number of pending requests at the 

beginning of FY10. 3 FSA - The number of request pending at the end of fiscal year 2009 was incorrect. It should have been 

reported as 141. This is because 29 Privacy Act requests were incorrectly entered into the system in fiscal 

year 2009, as FOIA requests. They were deleted prior to the start of fiscal year 2010. (This also reduces the 

number of FOIA requests received in fiscal year 2009 to 6416). 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 21 
 

 

B. (1) Disposition of FOIA Requests – All Processed Requests 

Number 

of Full 

Grants 

Number 

of 

Partial 

Grants/ 

Partial 

Denials 

Number of 

Full Denials 

Based on 

Exemptions 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 

Duplicat 

e 

Request 

Other 

TOTAL 

AMS 35 67 6 10 2 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 126 

APHIS 127 470 33 169 14 49 0 2 0 1 12 32 909 

ASCR 3 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 

DM 40 18 0 2 1 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 65 

FAS 15 6 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 27 

FNCS 50 52 5 28 0 6 1 1 4 14 0 0 161 

FSA 12,719 370 221 283 364 66 96 36 32 12 10 38 14,247 

FS 1,323 546 43 229 106 49 19 5 19 5 19 15 2,378 

FSIS 55 96 2 24 7 41 0 1 1 8 5 8 248 

GIPSA 45 17 4 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 77 

NAD 4 1 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 

NRCS 354 56 20 20 5 10 1 0 0 10 0 0 476 

OBPA 4 0 0 5 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 13 

OCFO 13 4 1 3 3 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 27 

OGC 2 7 1 9 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 1 25 

OIG 9 56 29 30 4 5 1 0 2 0 3 6 145 

OSEC 23 15 0 13 11 3 1 8 0 1 0 0 75 

REE 86 20 5 1 0 0 0 5 1 15 0 3 136 

RMA 46 30 5 7 1 11 0 1 2 4 0 0 107 

RD 462 117 16 29 30 36 3 1 5 2 2 0 703 

USDA 

OVERALL 15,415 1,949 393 870 557 289 124 62 67 78 51 107 19,962 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 22 
 

 

B. (2) Disposition of FOIA Requests – “Other” Reasons for “Full Denials Based on Reasons 

Other than Exemptions” from Section V, B(1) Chart 

Component 

Description of “Other” Reasons for Denials from Chart 

B (1) & Number of Times Those Reasons Were Relied 

upon 

Number of 

Time “Other” 

reason was 

relied upon 

TOTAL 

AMS N/A 0 0 

APHIS 

Refer to the web for records 30 32 

Litigation 2 

ASCR N/A 0 0 

DM NA 0 0 

FAS N/A 0 0 

FNCS N/A 0 0 

FSA 

Glomar Response 8 

38 Requester referred to public web site 10 

Records not available in format requested 18 

Requester Failed to provide adequate mailing address 2 

FS 

Glomar 6 

15 No 3rd Part Permission to Release Records 3 

Records publicly available 5 

Legal review 1 

FSIS Requestor referred to public Web site 8 8 

GIPSA Administratively closed 4 4 Glomar 0 

NAD N/A 0 0 

NRCS N/A 0 0 

OBPA N/A 0 0 

OCFO N/A 0 0 

OGC Requester left no forwarding address 1 1 

OIG No authorization to release records 4 6 

Glomarization 2 

OSEC N/A 0 0 

REE Not a FOIA Request 3 3 

RMA N/A 0 0 

RD N/A 0 0 

USDA OVERALL 107 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 23 
 

 

 

 

 

 

B. (3) Disposition of FOIA Requests – Number of Times Exemptions Applied 

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 3 1 38 11 47 6 0 6 1 0 0 0 0 

APHIS 0 47 6 75 37 446 79 0 277 0 1 21 0 0 

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

DM 0 0 0 8 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

FAS 0 0 0 6 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

FNCS 0 0 10 1 2 42 0 1 32 7 27 0 0 0 

FSA 8 5 306 11 32 293 3 0 6 1 0 0 0 0 

FS 0 41 29 82 71 293 10 2 99 2 6 0 0 2 

FSIS 0 5 1 48 7 63 3 0 54 0 0 0 0 0 

GIPSA 0 0 0 5 2 4 6 0 9 0 1 0 0 0 

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

NRCS 0 1 33 10 1 46 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 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OGC 0 0 0 0 8 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OIG 0 13 2 26 36 107 17 0 81 0 7 11 0 0 

OSEC 0 7 0 2 11 16 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 

REE 0 1 3 13 3 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

RMA 0 1 8 7 12 17 6 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 

RD 0 0 1 53 27 66 1 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 

USDA 

Overall 8 124 401 385 262 1472 131 3 577 11 43 32 0 3 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 24 
 

 

 

 

 

 

VI. ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS OF INITIAL DETERMINATIONS OF FOIA 

REQUESTS 

A. Received, Processed, and Pending Administrative Appeals 

Component 

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 8 17 18 7 

APHIS4 70 17 30 57 

ASCR 0 0 0 0 

DM 0 2 1 1 

FAS 0 0 0 0 

FNCS5 4 16 13 7 

FSA6 7 32 35 4 

FS7 36 63 68 31 

FSIS 5 0 0 5 

GIPSA 0 1 1 0 

NAD 1 0 0 1 

NRCS 1 13 12 2 

OBPA 0 0 0 0 

OCFO 0 0 0 0 

OGC 3 6 6 3 

OIG 2 15 11 6 

OSEC 0 3 1 2 

REE 2 2 4 0 

RMA 3 1 2 2 

RD 17 9 11 15 

USDA 

OVERALL 159 197 213 143 

4 APHIS - Two appeals which were actually closed in FY09 were not updated in the database system until 

FY10, making the number of pending appeals at the end of FY09 '70' not '72'. 5 FNCS - Number of appeals pending as of start of FY10 is different from the FY09 annual report due to an 

appeal being found that was never answered. 

6 FSA - The number of appeals reported pending in FY09 was reported as 6. The correct number should 

have been 7. 

7 FS - Some reporting inconsistencies with totals referenced from USDA’s FY 2009 FOIA Report may be 

attributable to the three different migrations of data actions from a proprietary tracking system to the newly 

procured FOIAXpress system. The national backlog increase may have been caused by either the data 

migration or the more accurate system capturing “open” cases as backlog. 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 25 
B. Disposition of Administrative Appeals – All Processed Appeals 

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 9 0 3 6 18 

APHIS 1 0 0 29 30 

ASCR 0 0 0 0 0 

DM 1 0 0 0 1 

FAS 0 0 0 0 0 

FNCS 2 9 1 1 13 

FSA 9 11 3 12 35 

FS 16 21 0 31 68 

FSIS 0 0 0 0 0 

GIPSA 0 0 1 0 1 

NAD 0 0 0 0 0 

NRCS 0 13 0 0 13 

OBPA 0 0 0 0 0 

OCFO 0 0 0 0 0 

OGC 1 1 0 4 6 

OIG 9 1 0 1 11 

OSEC 0 0 0 1 1 

REE 1 0 2 1 4 

RMA 1 1 0 0 2 

RD 3 2 1 5 11 

USDA 

OVERALL 53 58 11 91 213 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 26 
C. (1) Reasons for Denial on Appeal – Number of Times Exemptions Applied 

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 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 

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

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

DM 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 0 0 0 2 0 0 4 2 8 0 0 0 

FSA 0 0 10 0 2 10 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 

FS 0 0 1 1 7 15 1 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 

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

GIPSA 0 0 0 1 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 4 0 13 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 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OIG 0 2 0 0 2 5 1 0 7 0 1 1 0 0 

OSEC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

REE 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

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

RD 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

USDA OVERALL 0 2 12 8 13 52 3 0 24 2 9 1 0 0 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 27 
 

 

C. (2) Reasons for Denial on Appeal – Reasons Other than Exemptions 

Component No 

Records 

Records 

Referred 

at Initial 

Request 

Level 

Request 

Withdrawn 

FeeRelated 

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 3 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 

APHIS 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 26 

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

DM 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 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

FSA 7 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 

FS 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 5 

FSIS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 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 0 0 0 0 0 0 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 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 

OIG 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 

OSEC 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 

REE 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

RMA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

RD 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

USDA 

OVERALL 11 1 15 5 1 4 0 0 0 0 44 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 28 
 

 

C. (3) Reasons for Denial on Appeal – “Other” Reasons from Section VI, C (2) Chart 

Component Description of “Other” Reasons for Denial on 

Appeal from Chart C (2) 

Number of 

times “Other” 

Reason was 

Relied Upon 

Component 

TOTAL 

AMS Litigation Settlement with Requestor 4 

4 

APHIS Records provide as response to request 6 

Unable to contact appelent 18 26

Records destroyed 2 

ASCR N/A 0 0 

DM N/A 0 0 

FAS N/A 0 0 

FNCS N/A 0 0 

FSA Untimely appeal (received by FSA after final 

date to file appeal) 4 

8 

Not ripe for appeal (initial request not 

processed according to FSA’s Public 

regulations and policies, and returned to the 

record-holding office for additional 

processing. 4 

FS Moot 5 5 

FSIS 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 Requester left no forwarding address 1 1 

OIG N/A 0 0 

OSEC N/A 0 0 

REE N/A 0 0 

RMA N/A 0 0 

RD N/A 0 0 

USDA 

Overall 44 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 29 
C. (4) Response time for Administrative Appeals 

Component *Median Number 

of Days 

#Average 

Number 

of Days 

Lowest Number 

of Days 

Highest Number 

of Days 

AMS 23.50 163.00 1.00 1,197.00 

APHIS 922.00 964.00 107.00 1,741.00 

ASCR 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

DM 14.00 14.00 6.00 22.00 

FAS 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

FNCS 91.00 117.00 28.00 300.00 

FSA 16.00 219.00 1.00 2,160.00 

FS 55.50 100.44 0.00 720.00 

FSIS 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

GIPSA 31.00 31.00 31.00 31.00 

NAD 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

NRCS 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 

OBPA 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

OCFO 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

OGC 102.00 171.00 55.00 566.00 

OIG 12.00 38.00 9.00 128.00 

OSEC 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

REE 16.00 19.00 10.00 33.00 

RMA 238.00 238.00 59.00 417.00 

RD 617.00 651.00 22.00 1,265.00 

USDA Overall 461.00 131.82 0.00 2160.00 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 30 
 

C. (5) Ten Oldest Pending Administrative Appeals 

10th 

Oldest 

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

AMS Date N/A N/A N/A 2010-09-27 2010-08-23 2010-05-19 2009-10-16 2009-09-14 2008-11-20 2008-09-26 

Number of 

Days Pending 0 0 0 3 27 93 236 261 463 500 

APHIS Date 2005-06-14 2005-05-31 2005-05-03 2005-04-25 2004-11-02 2004-08-12 2004-06-15 2003-10-27 2003-08-01 2003-07-31 

Number of 

Days Pending 

1345 1354 1373 1378 1501 1558 1599 1764 1824 1825 

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 Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

DM Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2010-09-21 

Number of 

Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 22 

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 Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

FNCS Date N/A N/A 2010-09-29 2010-08-06 2010-06-24 2010-06-09 2009-12-17 2008-12-09 2007-12-21 2007-10-23 

Number of 

Days Pending 0 0 0 38 66 77 190 446 686 723 

FSA Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2010-09-27 2010-09-08 2010-06-03 2002-04-22 

Number of 

Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 16 85 2203 

FS Date 2009-09-15 2009-09-15 2009-06-22 2009-06-19 2009-06-18 2009-05-27 2009-04-09 2008-09-02 2008-08-25 2008-08-07 

Number of 

Days Pending 262 262 321 322 323 339 372 522 527 539 

FSIS Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2009-06-08 2009-05-01 2008-08-04 2008-08-04 2008-04-29 

Number of 

Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 331 356 542 542 609 

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 Pending 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 Pending 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 2010-09-13 

Number of 

Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 

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 Pending 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 Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 31 
 

10th 

Oldest 

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

OGC 

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2010-05-26 2008-08-14 2008-04-28 

Number of 

Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 88 541 586 

OIG Date N/A N/A N/A N/A 2010-09-27 2010-09-27 2010-09-21 2010-08-16 2010-07-16 2010-02-17 

Number of 

Days Pending 0 0 0 0 4 4 8 33 54 159 

OSEC Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2010-07-21 2010-07-21 

Number of 

Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 52 52 

REE Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2010-11-30 2010-05-21 2009-10-20 2009-09-25 

Number of 

Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 16 16 33 

RMA Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2009-05-07 2006-12-28 

Number of 

Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 355 957 

RD Date 2010-04-12 2010-02-23 2009-10-09 2009-08-04 2009-06-05 2008-08-22 2007-10-19 2007-08-24 2007-08-24 2006-01-20 

Number of 

Days Pending 124 158 255 303 345 550 770 810 810 1225 

USDA 

Overall 

Date 2005-05-31 2005-05-03 2005-04-25 2004-11-02 2004-08-12 2004-06-15 2003-10-27 2003-08-01 2003-07-31 2002-04-22 

Number of 

Days Pending 1354 1373 1378 1501 1558 1599 1764 1824 1825 2203 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 32 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VII. FOIA REQUESTS: RESPONSE TIME FOR PROCESSED AND PENDING 

REQUESTS 

A. Processed Requests – Response Time for All Processed Perfected Requests 

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 32 35 1 206 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

APHIS 46 112 1 1,106 322 368 12 1,042 161 383 3 1,189 

ASCR 15 15 1 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

DM 22.5 36 1 96 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

FAS 8 24.2 0.5 130 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

FNCS 12 19 1 178 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

FSA8 

1 2 0 200 2 18 0 349 1 1 1 1 

FS 13 16.42 0 262 29 38.5 0 328 0 0 0 0 

FSIS 21 44 <1 445 43 119 <1 643 0 0 0 0 

GIPSA 5 7.4 1 36 44 76 37 133 0 0 0 0 

NAD 2 3 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

NRCS 5 5 1 23 14 14 1 26 0 0 0 0 

OBPA 6 6 0 21 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OCFO 4 6 1 20 19 19 0 19 0 0 0 0 

OGC 28 75 3 581 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OIG 8 14 2 34 100 156 41 778 0 0 0 0 

OSEC 20 21 1 93 39 43 4 106 0 0 0 0 

REE 0 0 0 0 12 13 1 32 0 0 0 0 

RMA 9 12 1 36 32 32 6 89 0 0 0 0 

RD 13 45 <1 999 131 112 14 239 0 0 0 0 

USDA 

OVERALL 23 26.05 0 1,106 161 50.43 0 1,042 80.5 19.2 0 1,189 

8 FSA - For Section VII, FSA included in its Annual FOIA Report a fourth category titled "NORMAL". 

However, USDA's Annual FOIA Report does not maintain a NORMAL category. Therefore, throughout 

the entirety of Section VII, FSA's NORMAL category is incorporated into the SIMPLE category for 

inclusion and totaling therein. 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 33 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B. Processed Requests – Response Time for Perfected Requests in Which Information Was 

Granted 

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 27 35 8 181 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

APHIS 50 124 1 1,062 282 369 12 1,042 97 445 22 1,189 

ASCR 15 15 1 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

DM 21 33 1 96 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

FAS 8 14.8 .5 130 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

FNCS 16 21 1 145 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

FSA9 

1 2 0 200 6 17 1 209 1 1 1 1 

FS 13 16.64 0 262 31 40.56 0 274 0 0 0 0 

FSIS 15 60 1 400 101 144 1 586 0 0 0 0 

GIPSA 3 5.62 1 32 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

NAD 2 3 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

NRCS 8 6 1 22 14 14 1 26 0 0 0 0 

OBPA 7 8 1 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OCFO 6 6 1 14 19 19 0 19 0 0 0 0 

OGC 34 43 20 91 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OIG 6 11 6 23 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OSEC 17 19.6 1 93 45 43 4 85 0 0 0 0 

REE 0 0 0 0 11 12 1 32 0 0 0 0 

RMA 12 13 0 53 32 33 9 89 0 0 0 0 

RD 5 31 5 56 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

USDA 

OVERALL 25 24.55 0 1,062 141 34.38 0 1,042 48.5 22.3 0 1,189 

9 FSA - For Section VII, FSA included in its Annual FOIA Report a fourth category titled "NORMAL". 

However, USDA's Annual FOIA Report does not maintain a NORMAL category. Therefore, throughout 

the entirety of Section VII, FSA's NORMAL category is incorporated into the SIMPLE category for 

inclusion and totaling therein. 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 34 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

C. Processed Requests – Response Time in Day Increments 

Simple Requests 

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 53 41 9 2 3 2 3 2 0 1 1 0 0 117 

APHIS 183 139 87 59 36 30 13 15 18 7 32 29 53 701 

ASCR 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 

DM 25 8 8 10 8 0 0 0 1 4 1 0 0 65 

FAS 21 1 1 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 

FNCS 123 28 1 1 2 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 161 

FSA10 

13,787 80 10 1 3 2 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 13,886 

FS 52 1,418 328 70 20 13 4 2 2 0 2 3 0 1,914 

FSIS 26 15 1 3 3 1 2 0 0 1 0 1 1 54 

GIPSA 63 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 70 

NAD 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 

NRCS 

466 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 472 

OBPA 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 

OCFO 26 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 26 

OGC 12 7 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 25 

OIG 77 23 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 100 

OSEC 53 7 5 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 66 

REE 24 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 24 

RMA 62 13 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 76 

RD 468 94 37 14 15 12 7 5 1 2 15 7 15 692 

USDA 

OVERALL 15,550 1,887 489 163 91 62 35 25 23 17 52 41 70 18,505 

10 FSA - For Section VII, FSA included in its Annual FOIA Report a fourth category titled "NORMAL". 

However, USDA's Annual FOIA Report does not maintain a NORMAL category. Therefore, throughout 

the entirety of Section VII, FSA's NORMAL category is incorporated into the SIMPLE category for 

inclusion and totaling therein. 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 35 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Complex Requests 

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 1 4 6 7 6 8 7 7 8 17 20 23 78 192 

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

DM 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 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

FSA 258 53 15 9 1 3 1 1 0 0 2 5 0 348 

FS 1 155 159 70 26 28 15 5 2 0 0 2 1 464 

FSIS 76 17 18 8 9 4 6 3 5 8 14 5 21 194 

GIPSA 0 0 2 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 

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

NRCS 

3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 

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

OCFO 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 

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

OIG 0 0 10 3 4 7 2 4 2 2 9 0 2 45 

OSEC 1 3 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 

REE 98 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 112 

RMA 5 21 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 31 

RD 3 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 11 

USDA 

OVERALL 447 269 220 99 49 51 34 20 17 29 47 35 102 1,419 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 36 
 

 

 

 

 

Requests Granted Expedited Service 

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 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 

APHIS 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 3 6 16 

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

DM 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 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

FSA 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 

FS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

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

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 0 0 0 0 0 0 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 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

RD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

USDA 

OVERALL 16 7 2 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 3 6 38 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 37 
 

 

D. Pending Requests – All Pending Perfected Requests 

SIMPLE COMPLEX EXPEDITED 

PROCESSING 

Component 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 11 21 80 0 0 0 0 0 0 

APHIS 102 37 119 159 196 279 0 0 0 

ASCR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

DM 6 38 40 0 0 0 0 0 0 

FAS 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 

FNCS 22 26 37 0 0 0 0 0 0 

FSA11 10 95 111 8 230 195 0 0 0 

FS 498 117.5 142.62 131 94 120.1 0 0 0 

FSIS 16 241 226 249 211 225 0 0 0 

GIPSA 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 

NAD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

NRCS 5 16 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OBPA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OCFO 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OGC 10 172 262 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OIG 3 5 7 5 33 66 0 0 0 

OSEC 0 0 0 24 55 69 0 0 0 

REE 0 0 0 14 7 8 0 0 0 

RMA 6 20 21 7 38 74 0 0 0 

RD 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

USDA 

OVERALL 694 120.5 53.18 601 115 51.81 0 0 0 

11 FSA - For Section VII, FSA included in its Annual FOIA Report a fourth category titled "NORMAL". 

However, USDA's Annual FOIA Report does not maintain a NORMAL category. Therefore, throughout 

the entirety of Section VII, FSA's NORMAL category is incorporated into the SIMPLE category for 

inclusion and totaling therein. 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 38 
E. Pending requests – Ten Oldest Pending Perfected Requests 

10th 

Oldest 

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

AMS Date 

2010-09-15 2010-09-08 2010-08-31 2010-08-26 2010-8-26 2009-07-14 2009-07-09 2009-05-11 2009-05-11 2009-05-06 

Number 

of Days 11 16 22 25 25 308 311 355 355 358 

APHIS 

Date 2007-10-29 2007-10-15 2007-09-19 2007-08-07 2007-05-22 2007-05-17 2007-04-03 2007-02-07 2006-12-06 2006-10-16 

Number 

of Days 764 774 792 823 878 881 913 952 997 1034 

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 

DM 

Date 

N/A N/A N/A N/A 2010-08-09 2010-08-02 2010-07-26 2010-07-15 2010-07-01 2010-06-02 

Number 

of Days 0 0 0 0 39 44 49 56 65 86 

FAS 

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2010-09-29 2010-09-29 2010-09-27 2010-09-27 

Number 

of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 3 

FNCS 

Date 2010-09-18 2010-09-02 2010-08-09 2010-08-05 2010-06-24 2010-06-24 2010-06-09 2010-05-10 2010-03-11 2010-02-19 

Number 

of Days 16 21 38 40 70 70 81 102 144 158 

FSA 

Date 2010-07-16 2010-07-11 2010-04-28 2010-04-05 2010-02-26 2010-02-22 2010-02-16 2010-02-09 2010-02-08 2010-01-12 

Number 

of Days 54 58 109 126 152 156 160 164 165 183 

FS Date 2009-1-15 2009-01-08 2008-12-16 2008-12-02 2008-12-02 2008-12-02 2008-11-03 2008-10-13 2008-10-10 2008-10-01 

Number 

of Days 423 428 445 456 456 456 478 493 494 501 

FSIS 

Date 2008-03-05 2008-03-03 2008-02-28 2008-02-27 2008-02-15 2008-02-12 2008-02-05 2008-01-07 2008-01-03 2008-01-03 

Number 

of Days 689 691 693 694 701 704 709 729 731 731 

GIPSA 

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2010-08-26 2010-08-23 2010-08-18 2010-08-02 

Number 

of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 22 27 30 42 

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 2010-09-30 2010-09-28 2010-09-27 2010-09-23 

Number 

of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 3 4 

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 2010-09-28 2010-09-28 2010-09-21 2010-07-26 2010-03-25 2009-11-24 2009-02-06 2008-11-12 2008-03-05 2007-08-16 

Number 

of Days 2 2 7 47 132 213 435 471 583 816 

OIG 

Date N/A N/A 2010-09-28 2010-09-24 2010-09-13 2010-08-24 2010-08-24 2010-08-17 2010-08-17 2010-02-02 

Number 

of Days 0 0 3 5 14 28 28 33 33 171 

OSEC 

Date 2010-06-08 2010-06-08 2010-05-18 2010-04-21 2010-04-21 2010-03-29 2010-03-10 2010-03-10 2010-02-26 2010-02-23 

Number 

of Days 83 83 98 117 117 131 144 144 153 155 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 39 
10th 

Oldest 

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

REE 

Date 2010-09-28 2010-09-24 2010-09-23 2010-09-20 2010-09-17 2010-09-17 2010-09-08 2010-09-08 2010-09-07 2010-09-07 

Number 

of Days 2 4 5 8 9 9 16 16 17 17 

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 

RD 

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2010-08-30 

Number 

of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 22 

USDA 

OVERALL 

Date 2007-10-15 2007-09-19 2007-08-16 2007-08-07 2007-05-22 2007-05-17 2007-04-03 2007-02-07 2006-12-06 2006-10-16 

Number 

of Days 774 792 816 823 878 881 913 952 997 1034 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 40 
 

 

VIII. REQUESTS FOR EXPEDITED PROCESSING AND REQUESTS FOR FEE 

WAIVER 

A. Requests for Expedited Processing 

Number 

Granted 

Number 

Denied 

*Median 

Number of 

Days to 

Adjudicate 

#Average 

Number of 

Days to 

Adjudicate 

Number 

Adjudicated 

Within Ten 

Calendar Days 

AMS 9 0 25 28 0 

APHIS 0 0 0 0 0 

ASCR 0 0 N/A N/A 0 

DM 1 1 0 0 1 

FAS 0 0 0 0 0 

FNCS 0 0 0 0 0 

FSA 13 361 1 1 370 

FS 12 4 5.5 19.94 11 

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

GIPSA 0 0 0 0 0 

NAD 0 0 0 0 0 

NRCS 0 0 0 0 0 

OBPA 0 0 0 0 0 

OCFO 0 0 0 0 0 

OGC 0 0 0 0 0 

OIG 0 0 0 0 0 

OSEC 0 5 1 1 5 

REE 0 0 0 0 0 

RMA 0 0 0 0 0 

RD 0 0 0 0 0 

USDA 

OVERALL 35 371 12.5 2.5 387 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 41 
 

B. Requests for Fee Waiver 

Number 

Granted 

Number 

Denied 

*Median 

Number of 

Days to 

Adjudicate 

#Average 

Number of 

Days to 

Adjudicate 

AMS 13 0 22 35 

APHIS 0 0 0 0 

ASCR 0 0 N/A N/A 

DM 0 0 0 0 

FAS 0 0 0 0 

FNCS 4 0 0 0 

FSA 849 31 1 1 

FS 279 29 3 11.1 

FSIS 0 0 N/A N/A 

GIPSA 0 0 0 0 

NAD 0 0 0 0 

NRCS 1 0 1 1 

OBPA 0 0 0 0 

OCFO 0 0 0 0 

OGC 0 0 0 0 

OIG 0 0 0 0 

OSEC 16 0 1 1 

REE 0 0 0 0 

RMA 1 0 5 5 

RD 0 0 0 0 

USDA 

OVERALL 1,163 60 11 2.71 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 42 
 

IX. FOIA PERSONNEL AND COSTS 

PERSONNEL COSTS 

Number of 

“Full-Time 

FOIA 

Employees” 

Number of 

“Equivalent 

Full-Time 

FOIA 

Employees” 

Total Number 

of “Full-Time 

FOIA Staff” 

(The sum of 

Columns 1 & 2) 

Processing 

Costs (At 

initial request 

and appeal 

levels) 

LitigationRelated Costs Total Costs 

AMS 1 6 7 $564,000.00 $0.00 $564,000.00 

APHIS 18 0 18 $1,619,102.37 $397,421.13 $2,016,523.50 

ASCR 1 1 2 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 

DM 0 0.25 0.25 $24,484.00 $0.00 $24,484.00 

FAS 0 2 2 $230,000.00 $0.00 $230,000.00 

FNCS 1 4.375 5.375 $365,048.00 $0.00 $365,048.00 

FSA 15 75.57 90.57 $3,848,042.18 $7,800.00 $3,855,842.18 

FS 13 59.65 72.65 $3,227,375.13 0 $3,227,375.13 

FSIS 5 0.75 5.75 $623,802.00 $0.00 $623,802.00 

GIPSA 0 4.00 4.00 $50,00.00 $142,000.00 $192,000.00 

NAD 1 0 1 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 

NRCS 2 18 20 $155,896.00 $0.00 $155,896.00 

OBPA 0 0.1 0.1 $9,794.00 $0.00 $9,794.00 

OCFO 0 0.08 0.08 $6,901.79 $0.00 $6,901.79 

OGC 0 7.5 7.5 $1,000,000.00 $650,00.00 $1,650,000.00 

OIG 2 2.17 4.17 $423,565.45 $10,349.53 $433,914.98 

OSEC 2 0.33 2.33 $246,061.00 $0.00 $246,061.00 

REE 0 1.5 1.5 $144,869.00 $0.00 $144,869.00 

RMA 1 0.5 1.5 $6,742.24 $154,720.24 $161,462.48 

RD 5 7.05 12.05 $902,207.60 $30,000.00 $932,207.60 

USDA 

OVERALL 67 190.83 257.83 $13,397,891.00 $742,290.90 $14,840,182.00 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 43 
X. FEES COLLECTED FOR PROCESSING 

Total Amount of Fees 

Collected 

Percentage of Total 

Costs 

AMS $6,915.98 1.23% 

APHIS $0.00 0.00% 

ASCR $0.00 0.00% 

DM $0.00 0.00% 

FAS $663.33 0.29% 

FNCS $2,634.43 0.72% 

FSA $48,623.46 1.26% 

FS $16,922.63 0.52% 

FSIS $1,550.80 0.25% 

GIPSA $187.60 0.38% 

NAD $0.00 0.00% 

NRCS $571.00 0.37% 

OBPA $0.00 0.00% 

OCFO $0.00 0.00% 

OGC $0.00 0.00% 

OIG $4,682.54 1.11% 

OSEC $0.00 0.00% 

REE $444.00 .31% 

RMA $6,680.43 4.14% 

RD $2,607.75 0.29% 

USDA 

OVERALL $92,483.95 0.62% 

XI – FOIA REGULATIONS 

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

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 44 
 

XII. BACKLOGS, CONSULTATIONS, AND COMPARISONS 

A. Backlogs of FOIA Requests and Administrative Appeals 

Component Number of Backlogged 

Requests as of End of 

Fiscal Year 

Number of Backlogged 

Appeals as of End of 

Fiscal Year 

AMS 11 11 

APHIS 219 58 

ASCR 0 0 

DM 6 1 

FAS 0 0 

FNCS 11 7 

FSA 12 2 

FS 477 26 

FSIS 254 5 

GIPSA 4 0 

NAD 1 1 

NRCS 0 0 

OBPA 0 0 

OCFO 0 0 

OGC 7 3 

OIG 5 3 

OSEC 20 2 

REE 0 0 

RMA 2 2 

RD 107 15 

USDA 

OVERALL 1,136 136 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 45 
 

 

B. Consultations on FOIA Requests – Received, Processed, and Pending 

Consultations 

Component Number of 

Consultations Received 

from Other Agencies 

that Were Pending at 

Your 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 Your Agency 

During the Fiscal Year 

Number of Consultations 

Received from Other Agencies 

that Were Pending at Your 

Agency as of End of the Fiscal 

Year 

AMS 0 0 0 0 

APHIS 0 0 0 0 

ASCR 0 0 0 0 

DM 0 1 1 0 

FAS 0 4 3 1 

FNCS 0 0 0 0 

FSA 2 27 28 1 

FS 0 0 0 0 

FSIS 0 0 0 0 

GIPSA 0 0 0 0 

NAD 0 0 0 0 

NRCS 0 0 0 0 

OBPA 0 0 0 0 

OCFO 0 0 0 0 

OGC 0 0 0 0 

OIG 0 1 1 0 

OSEC 1 4 5 0 

REE 0 0 0 0 

RMA 0 0 0 0 

RD 0 0 0 0 

USDA 

OVERALL 3 37 38 2 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 46 
C. Consultations on FOIA Requests – Ten Oldest Consultations Received from 

Other Agencies 

Component 10th 

Oldest 

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

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 N/A N/A 

Number of 

Days 

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

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 

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 

FAS Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2010-09-27 

Number of 

Days 

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 

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 N/A 2008-09-03 

Number of 

Days 

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 522 

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 

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 

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 

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 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 47 
Component 10th 

Oldest 

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

OIG 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 

OSEC 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 

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 

RD 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 

USDA 

OVERALL 

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2010-09-27 2008-09-03 

Number of 

Days 

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 522 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 48 
 

 

 

 

D. Comparison of Number of Requests from Previous and Current Annual Report 

– Requests Received, Processed, and Backlogged 

NUMBER OF REQUESTS RECEIVED NUMBER OF REQUESTS PROCESSED 

Component 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 110 126 113 126 

APHIS 1,232 708 1,656 909 

ASCR 27 5 28 7 

DM 61 63 61 65 

FAS 48 30 53 27 

FNCS 142 177 136 161 

FSA 6,445 14,267 6,490 14,247 

FS12 2,573 2,771 2,521 2,378 

FSIS 318 387 377 248 

GIPSA 115 77 111 77 

NAD 9 10 9 10 

NRCS 448 475 458 476 

OBPA 4 13 4 13 

OCFO 23 27 22 27 

OGC 26 24 29 25 

OIG 148 121 136 145 

OSEC 102 83 87 75 

REE 163 144 159 136 

RMA 92 110 89 107 

RD 860 750 871 703 

USDA 

OVERALL 12,946 20,368 13,410 19,962 

12 FS - Some reporting inconsistencies with totals referenced from USDA’s FY 2009 FOIA Report may be 

attributable to the three different migrations of data actions from a proprietary tracking system to the newly 

procured FOIAXpress system. The national backlog increase may have been caused by either the data 

migration or the more accurate system capturing “open” cases as backlog. 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 49 
 

 

 

D.2. Comparison of Backlogged Requests from Previous and Current Annual 

Report 

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 8 11 

APHIS 387 219 

ASCR 2 0 

DM 8 6 

FAS 0 0 

FNCS 1 11 

FSA 4 12 

FS13 116 477 

FSIS 132 254 

GIPSA 4 4 

NAD 0 1 

NRCS 0 0 

OBPA 0 0 

OCFO 0 0 

OGC 7 7 

OIG 22 5 

OSEC 8 20 

REE 1 0 

RMA 0 2 

RD 60 107 

USDA 

OVERALL 760 1,136 

13 FS - Some reporting inconsistencies with totals referenced from USDA’s FY 2009 FOIA Report may be 

attributable to the three different migrations of data actions from a proprietary tracking system to the newly 

procured FOIAXpress system. The national backlog increase may have been caused by either the data 

migration or the more accurate system capturing “open” cases as backlog. 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 50 
 

 

 

 

 

 

E. Comparison of Numbers of Administrative Appeals from Previous and Current Annual 

Report – Appeals Received, Processed, and 

Backlogged 

NUMBER OF APPEALS RECEIVED NUMBER OF APPEALS PROCESSED 

Component 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 12 17 10 18 

APHIS 10 17 11 30 

ASCR 0 0 1 0 

DM 3 2 2 1 

FAS 4 0 5 0 

FNCS 9 16 14 13 

FSA 48 32 73 35 

FS14 66 63 56 68 

FSIS 6 0 14 0 

GIPSA 0 1 0 1 

NAD 1 0 0 0 

NRCS 8 13 12 12 

OBPA 0 0 0 0 

OCFO 0 0 0 0 

OGC 2 6 3 6 

OIG 11 15 10 11 

OSEC 1 3 1 1 

REE 5 2 3 4 

RMA 2 1 1 2 

RD 12 9 26 11 

USDA 

OVERALL 200 197 242 213 

14 FS - Some reporting inconsistencies with totals referenced from USDA’s FY 2009 FOIA Report may be 

attributable to the three different migrations of data actions from a proprietary tracking system to the newly 

procured FOIAXpress system. The national backlog increase may have been caused by either the data 

migration or the more accurate system capturing “open” cases as backlog. 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 51 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

E.2. Comparison of Backlogged Administrative Appeals from Previous and Current 

Annual Report 

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 6 11 

APHIS 72 58 

ASCR 0 0 

DM 0 1 

FAS 0 0 

FNCS15 4 7 

FSA 6 2 

FS16 26 26 

FSIS 5 5 

GIPSA 0 0 

NAD 1 1 

NRCS 4 0 

OBPA 0 0 

OCFO 0 0 

OGC 3 3 

OIG 1 3 

OSEC 0 2 

REE 2 0 

RMA 3 2 

RD 17 15 

USDA 

OVERALL 150 136 

F. Discussion of Other FOIA Activities (Optional) 

15 FNCS - FY09 Annual Report reflects 3 backlogged appeals as of the end of the fiscal year, whereas the 

actual number is 4. Number of appeals pending as of start of FY10 is different from the FY09 annual report 

due to an appeal being found that was never answered. 

16 FS - Some reporting inconsistencies with totals referenced from USDA’s FY 2009 FOIA Report may be 

attributable to the three different migrations of data actions from a proprietary tracking system to the newly 

procured FOIAXpress system. The national backlog increase may have been caused by either the data 

migration or the more accurate system capturing “open” cases as backlog. 

USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2010 

Page 52