DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT

ANNUAL REPORT

FOR

FISCAL YEAR 2011
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 2

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Freedom of Information Act Annual Report FY 2011

I. Basic Information Regarding Report 

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

questions about the report:

Trina L. Porter

USDA FOIA Officer 

Office of the Chief Information Officer

U.S. Department of Agriculture 

Patriot Plaza III 

355 E Street S.W. 

10th Floor 

Washington, DC 20250 

Tel. (202) 260-2657

USDAFOIA@usda.gov

Trina.Porter@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: 

Please contact Trina Porter at the aforementioned address.

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
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 3

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 - Office of the Secretary/Office of the Chief Information Officer

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, 
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 4

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

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 2011

Page 5

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 2011

Page 6

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

7 U.S.C. §136i1

Information in 

connection with 

the location and 

the use of 

pesticides

Doe v. Veneman, 380 

F.3d 807, 818 (5th Cir. 

2004)

AMS 

1

APHIS 1

ASCR 

DA 

FAS 

FNCS 

FSA 

FS 

FSIS 

GIPSA 

NAD 

NRCS 

OBPA 

OCFO 

OGC 

OIG 

OSEC/OCIO 

REE 

RMA 

RD 
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 7

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)

Personal 

information in 

connection with 

policy holders; 

yield data 

None

AMS 

11

APHIS

ASCR 

DA 

FAS 

FNCS 

FSA 2

FS 

FSIS 

GIPSA 

NAD 

NRCS 

OBPA 

OCFO 

OGC 

OIG 

OSEC/OCIO 

REE 

RMA 9

RD 
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 8

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. 

§2011-2036

(Food Stamp 

Act)

Names and other 

personally 

identifiable 

information of 

SNAP (Food 

Stamps) 

recipients and 

firms 

participating in 

program

None

AMS 

36

APHIS

ASCR 

DA 

FAS 

FNCS 36

FSA 

FS 

FSIS 

GIPSA 

NAD 

NRCS 

OBPA 

OCFO 

OGC 

OIG 

OSEC/OCIO 

REE 

RMA 

RD 
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 9

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(a)(2)

(Food Security 

Act of 1985)

Respondents’ 

identity and 

unaggregated 

survey data

Strunk v. U.S. Dept. of 

Interior, 752 F.Supp 

2d, 39, 44

AMS 

2

APHIS

ASCR 

DA 

FAS 

FNCS 

FSA 1

FS 

FSIS 

GIPSA 

NAD 

NRCS 

OBPA 

OCFO 

OGC 

OIG 

OSEC/OCIO 

REE 1

RMA 

RD 
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 10

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. 

§7411-7425

Confidential 

communication None

AMS 1

1

APHIS

ASCR 

DA 

FAS 

FNCS 

FSA 

FS 

FSIS 

GIPSA 

NAD 

NRCS 

OBPA 

OCFO 

OGC 

OIG 

OSEC/OCIO 

REE 

RMA 

RD 
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 11

Statute

Type of 

Information 

Withheld

Case Citation

Number of Times 

Relied upon per 

Component

Total 

Number of 

Times 

Relied upon 

by Agency

15 U.S.C. 

§3710(a)(c) 

(Federal 

Technology 

Transfer Act)

Trade secrets or 

commercial or 

financial 

information that 

pertain to 

cooperative 

research and 

development 

agreements for 

the purpose of 

technological and 

industrial 

innovation

Pub Citizen’s Health 

Research Group v. 

NIH, 209 F Supp 2d 

37, 43, 51 (DDC 

2002; DeLorme Pub 

Co. Inc. v. NOAA, 917 

F Supp 867, 871-72 

(D. Me 1996), appeal 

dismissed per 

stipulation, No 96-

1601 (1st Cir. July 8, 

1996). 

AMS 

3

APHIS

ASCR 

DA 

FAS 

FNCS 

FSA 

FS 

FSIS 

GIPSA 

NAD 

NRCS 

OBPA 

OCFO 

OGC 

OIG 

OSEC/OCIO 

REE 3

RMA 

RD 
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 12

Statute

Type of 

Information 

Withheld

Case Citation

Number of Times 

Relied upon per 

Component

Total 

Number of 

Times 

Relied upon 

by Agency

16 U.S.C. §470 

(h)(h)

(Archeological 

Resources 

Protection Act 

of 1979)

Archaeological 

site maps, 

cultural resources 

and historic sites

Hornbostel v. U.S. 

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).

AMS 

14

APHIS

ASCR 

DA 

FAS 

FNCS 

FSA 

FS 14

FSIS 

GIPSA 

NAD 

NRCS 

OBPA 

OCFO 

OGC 

OIG 

OSEC/OCIO 

REE 

RMA 

RD 
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 13

Statute

Type of 

Information 

Withheld

Case Citation

Number of Times 

Relied upon per 

Component

Total 

Number of 

Times 

Relied upon 

by Agency

16 U.S.C. §470 

w-3 

Archaeological 

site maps, 

cultural resources 

and historic sites

None.

AMS 

14

APHIS

ASCR 

DA 

FAS 

FNCS 

FSA 

FS 14

FSIS 

GIPSA 

NAD 

NRCS 

OBPA 

OCFO 

OGC 

OIG 

OSEC/OCIO 

REE 

RMA 

RD 

Type of Number of Times Total 
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 14

Statute Information 

Withheld

Case Citation Relied upon per 

Component

Number of 

Times 

Relied upon 

by Agency

35 U.S.C. §122

(Patent Act)

Information in 

connection with 

the application of 

patents 

Irons & Sears v. 

Dann, 606 F2d 1215, 

1219-21 (DC Cir. 

1979)

AMS 

1

APHIS

ASCR 

DA 

FAS 

FNCS 

FSA 

FS 

FSIS 

GIPSA 

NAD 

NRCS 

OBPA 

OCFO 

OGC 

OIG 

OSEC/OCIO 

REE 1

RMA 

RD 
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 15

Statute

Type of 

Information 

Withheld

Case Citation

Number of Times 

Relied upon per 

Component

Total 

Number of 

Times 

Relied upon 

by Agency

35 U.S.C. §205

Information in 

connection with a 

patent prior to the 

filing of an 

application

None.

AMS 

1

APHIS

ASCR 

DA 

FAS 

FNCS 

FSA 

FS 

FSIS 

GIPSA 

NAD 

NRCS 

OBPA 

OCFO 

OGC 

OIG 

OSEC/OCIO 

REE 1

RMA 

RD 
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 16

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)(m)(1) 

Confidential 

commercial 

information 

including 

contract 

proposals 

Hornbostel v. Dept of 

the Interior, 305 

F.Supp 2d 21 (D.D.C. 

2003)

AMS 

15

APHIS 1

ASCR 

DA 

FAS 

FNCS 

FSA 5

FS 9

FSIS 

GIPSA 

NAD 

NRCS 

OBPA 

OCFO 

OGC 

OIG 

OSEC/OCIO 

REE 

RMA 

RD 
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 17

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. 

§1320 d-6(a)

(Health 

Insurance 

Portability and 

Accountability 

Act of 1976 

HIPPA) 

Patient medical 

files None.

AMS 

1

APHIS

ASCR 

DA 

FAS 

FNCS 

FSA 

FS 

FSIS 

GIPSA 

NAD 

NRCS 

OBPA 

OCFO 

OGC 

OIG 

OSEC/OCIO 1

REE 

RMA 

RD 
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 18

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. 

§8791A(2)(a), 

Food, 

Conservation 

and Energy 

Act of 2008

Information 

provided by an 

agriculture 

producer or 

owner of 

agricultural land 

in connection 

with participation 

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 where 

producer 

provided 

information about 

agricultural land 

or operations 

Ctr. for Biological 

Diversity v. USDA, 

626 F. 3d 1113, 1118 

(9th Cir. 2010); Zanoni 

v. USDA, 605 F.Supp. 

2d 230, 237-381 

(D.D.C. 2009)

AMS 1

385

APHIS 7

ASCR 

DA 

FAS 

FNCS 

FSA 295

FS 

FSIS 

GIPSA 

NAD 

NRCS 73

OBPA 

OCFO 

OGC 

OIG 

OSEC 

REE 

RMA 9

RD 
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 19

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 11 121 116 16

APHIS 264 884 982 166

ASCR 0 69 67 2

DM 6 79 80 5

FAS 4 42 45 1

FNCS 22 252 239 35

FSA 161 17,076 16,948 289

FS 299 2,450 2,385 333

FSIS 268 294 375 218

GIPSA 4 46 49 1

NAD 1 8 8 1

NRCS 3 301 298 6

OBPA 0 16 16 0

OCFO 0 37 37 0

OGC 10 30 28 12

OIG 8 135 136 7

OSEC/OCIO 26 89 52 63

REE 14 165 176 3

RMA 13 112 117 8

RD 107 859 785 181

USDA 

OVERALL 1,221* 23,065 22,939 1,347

*Any inconsistencies in the number of requests pending at the start of FY2010, and 

the number reported as pending at the end of FY2010 is due to the migration of data 

into our new electronic FOIA tracking system.
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 20

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 17 60 2 16 4 8 6 1 1 1 0 0 116

APHIS 175 473 36 160 39 51 9 25 2 0 12 0 982

ASCR 12 17 8 16 9 0 1 0 0 4 0 0 67

DM 58 13 0 2 4 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 80

FAS 23 6 0 5 1 1 6 2 0 1 0 0 45

FNCS 59 101 6 45 16 6 0 1 3 0 2 0 239

FSA 15,243 400 205 450 400 50 98 26 10 13 28 25 16,948

FS 1,298 524 55 258 41 65 13 4 69 5 36 17 2,385

FSIS 59 144 8 58 0 70 1 1 2 10 15 7 375

GIPSA 9 8 13 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 49

NAD 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 5 0 0 8

NRCS 130 69 73 15 9 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 298

OBPA 6 1 0 88 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 16

OCFO 2 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7

OGC 5 5 4 8 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 28

OIG 15 38 17 34 3 3 2 0 3 1 0 20 136

OSEC/

OCIO

14 15 0 10 0 5 1 3 1 3 0 0 52

REE 103 29 1 8 22 3 1 4 0 3 0 2 176

RMA 35 30 25 19 5 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 117

RD 475 139 23 54 38 33 3 1 11 3 5 0 785

USDA 

OVERALL 17,470 2,072 476 1,185 592 300 143 70 104 50 98 79 22,909
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 21

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 N/A 0 0

ASCR N/A 0 0

DM NA 0 0

FAS N/A 0 0

FNCS N/A 0 0

FSA

Glomar 4

25

Requester referred to public website 11

Records not available in format requested 7

Requester failed to provide adequate mailing address 1

Closed due to litigation 2

FS No response from the requester 17

FSIS No authorization to release records 7 7

GIPSA Administratively closed 35 Not a proper FOIA request 2

NAD N/A 0 0

NRCS N/A 0 0

OBPA N/A 0 0

OCFO N/A 0 0

OGC

Request relates to litigation; administratively closed 2

Records referred from another agency but were non- 3

responsive 1

OIG Glomar 13 20

No authorization to release records 7

OSEC/OCIO N/A 0 0

REE Not a proper FOIA request 2

RMA N/A 0 0

RD N/A 0 0

USDA OVERALL 79

B. (3) Disposition of FOIA Requests – Number of Times Exemptions Applied
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 22

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 2 30 15 42 3 0 2 1 2 0 0 0

APHIS 0 30 9 78 53 428 90 0 215 0 3 17 0 0

ASCR 0 0 0 0 7 23 1 0 12 0 0 0 0 0

DM 0 0 0 5 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

FAS 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

FNCS 0 4 36 17 2 55 4 0 51 10 36 7 0 0

FSA 7 7 303 17 34 327 6 1 4 1 0 0 0 0

FS 0 54 31 80 110 305 23 6 95 1 21 3 0 1

FSIS 0 0 0 75 0 130 10 0 115 0 0 0 0 0

GIPSA 0 1 0 6 2 6 9 0 3 1 1 0 0 0

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

NRCS 0 1 73 0 0 26 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

OBPA 0 0 0 0 1 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 9 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

OIG 0 3 0 4 19 39 17 0 30 0 2 1 2 0

OSEC/OCIO 0 5 1 2 3 15 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 1

REE 0 2 5 12 1 22 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

RMA 0 3 14 2 4 23 37 0 1 0 1 0 0 0

RD 0 2 0 52 35 108 15 0 27 0 4 0 0 0

USDA 

Overall 7 110 474 387 295 1,558 215 7 560 14 69 28 2 1
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 23

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 7 7 6 8

APHIS 57 24 11 70

ASCR 0 3 3 0

DM 0 1 1 0

FAS 0 0 0 0

FNCS 7 35 30 12

FSA 3 31 29 5

FS 27 52 54 25

FSIS 5 1 1 5

GIPSA 0 2 1 1

NAD 1 0 0 1

NRCS 2 15 15 2

OBPA 0 0 0 0

OCFO 0 0 0 0

OGC 3 1 3 1

OIG 6 13 12 7

OSEC/OCIO 2 3 2 3

REE 0 2 2 0

RMA 2 12 1 13

RD 15 23 21 17

USDA 

OVERALL 137* 225 192 170

*FSA – The number of appeals pending at the end of FY2010 was reported as 4 and any 

inconsistencies in the number of appeals pending as of the start of Fiscal Year 2011 and the 

number of appeals pending at the end of Fiscal Year 2010 is due to the migration of data 

into our new electronic tracking system.
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 24

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 0 2 3 1 6

APHIS 2 1 0 8 11

ASCR 2 0 1 0 3

DM 1 0 0 0 1

FAS 0 0 0 0 0

FNCS 17 7 0 6 30

FSA 7 12 5 5 29

FS 10 15 2 27 54

FSIS 0 0 0 1 1

GIPSA 0 0 0 1 1

NAD 0 0 0 0 0

NRCS 11 2 0 2 15

OBPA 0 0 0 0 0

OCFO 0 0 0 0 0

OGC 1 1 0 1 3

OIG 5 3 2 2 12

OSEC/OCIO 0 0 0 2 2

REE 1 0 2 1 4

RMA 1 0 0 0 1

RD 5 8 4 4 21

USDA 

OVERALL 63 51 18 60 192
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 25

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 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

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

ASCR 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 2 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 1 1 0 1 5 1 0 12 0 14 0 0 0

FSA 0 0 4 0 7 9 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0

FS 0 3 1 1 8 12 1 0 6 0 1 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 15 4 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 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

OIG 0 1 0 0 4 5 1 2 4 0 0 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 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

RD 0 0 0 1 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

USDA OVERALL 0 6 23 10 29 39 6 2 27 0 15 0 0 0
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 26

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 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

APHIS 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

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

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

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

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

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

FS 5 0 3 0 0 1 0 3 7 0 0

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

GIPSA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

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

NRCS 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

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 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

OIG 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

OSEC 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

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

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

RD 2 0 5 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

USDA 

OVERALL 14 0 24 6 0 2 0 3 8 0 7
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 27

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 N/A 0

0 0

APHIS N/A 0

0 0

0

ASCR N/A 0 0

DM N/A 0 0

FAS N/A 0 0

FNCS Request received from NLRB; as a federal 

agency with the authority to conduct 

investigations the request for records should 

not have been processed as a FOIA

1 1

FSA Untimely appeal (received by FSA after final 

date to file appeal) 2

3

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. 1

FS N/A 0 0

FSIS N/A 0 0

GIPSA Requester withdrew appeal 1 1

NAD N/A 0 0

NRCS Requester not willing to pay processing fees 2 2

OBPA N/A 0 0

OCFO N/A 0 0

OGC N/A 0 0

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 7
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 28

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 179.00 194.00 46.00 398.00

APHIS 982.00 1,078.27 17.00 1,796.00

ASCR 15.00 17.33 15.00 22.00

DM 0.00 0.00 1.00 0.00

FAS 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

FNCS 100.50 159.27 17.00 784.00

FSA 26.00 41.00 1.00 172.00

FS 53.25 94.78 1.00 1,646.00

FSIS 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

GIPSA 43.00 43.00 43.00 0.00

NAD 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

NRCS 20.00 20.00 1.00 45.00

OBPA 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

OCFO 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

OGC 251.00 342.00 23.00 747.00

OIG 50.00 100.00 21.00 306.00

OSEC 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00

REE 97.00 97.00 16.00 177.00

RMA 21.00 21.00 21.00 1,796.00

RD 151.00 323.00 5.00 1,373.00

USDA Overall 23.50 126.58 0.00 1,796
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 29

C. (5) Ten Oldest Pending Administrative Appeals

10th

Oldest

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

AMS Date N/A N/A 2011-09-07 2011-08-16 2011-06-21 2011-06-27 2010-11-10 2009-10-16 2008-11-20 2008-09-26

Number of 

Days Pending 0 0 17 24 70 108 222 486 713 750

APHIS Date 2006-11-17 2006-11-17 2006-07-28 2005-11-14 2005-08-17 2005-05-24 2004-08-12 2003-10-27 2003-08-01 2003-07-31

Number of 

Days Pending

1222 1222 1405 1476 1538 1595 1790 1990 2049 2050

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 N/A

Number of 

Days Pending 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 Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

FNCS Date 2011-09-12 2011-09-12 2011-09-12 2011-07-28 2011-04 -15 2011-04-13 2011-02-23 2011-01-04 2010-06-09 2009-12-22

Number of 

Days Pending 14 14 14 45 117 119 154 188 331 443

FSA Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2011-09-26 2011-09-23 2011-09-06 2011-06-27 2002-04-22

Number of 

Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 4 5 18 69 2464

FS Date 2010-11-10 2010-11-08 2010-08-09 2010-04-20 2010-04-12 2009-12-15 2009-06-18 2009-05-27 2008-08-07 2004-09-07

Number of 

Days Pending 223 225 288 365 371 451 574 590 790 1773

FSIS Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2010-11-10 2010-04-10 2010-04-10 2010-04-10 2009-03-06

Number of 

Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 222 365 366 375 582

GIPSA Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2011-08-10

Number of 

Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 36

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 2011-08-21

Number of 

Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 55

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 2011

Page 30

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 N/A N/A 2008-04-28

Number of 

Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 586

OIG Date N/A N/A N/A 2011-06-27 2011-05-17 2011-03-21 2011-02-02 2011-01-24 2011-01-24 2010-10-20

Number of 

Days Pending 0 0 0 67 95 136 168 175 175 238

OSEC Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2011-05-23 2010-07-21 2010-07-21

Number of 

Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 109 168 168

REE Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2010-11-17 2010-10-21

Number of 

Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 177

RMA Date 2011-09-08 2011-09-07 2011-09-01 2011-09-01 2011-08-25 2011-08-24 2011-08-18 2011-08-18 2011-08-11 2011-03-17

Number of 

Days Pending 15 16 20 20 24 25 29 29 33 142

RD Date 2011-03-31 2011-03-29 2011-03-23 2011-01-13 2010-12-13 2010-10-01 2010-07-10 2009-07-01 2009-10-09 2009-08-04

Number of 

Days Pending 132 134 146 175 210 261 313 327 516 564

USDA 

Overall

Date 2006-02-28 2005-11-14 2005-08-17 2005-05-24 2004-09-07 2004-08-12 2003-10-27 2003-08-01 2003-07-31 2001-04-22

Number of 

Days Pending 1405 1476 1536 1595 1773 1790 1990 2049 2050 2464

 
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 31

VII. FOIA REQUESTS: RESPONSE TIME FOR PROCESSED AND PENDING 

 REQUESTS

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

SIMPLE COMPLEX EXPEDITED PROCESSING

*Medi

an 

Numb

er 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 18 17 1 83 39 50 10 304 0 0 0 0

APHIS 20 49.16 <1 729 320 350.06 <1 1027 19 38.67 3 94

ASCR 9.5 11.68 <1 36 32 32 32 32 0 0 0 0

DM 20 33 1 103 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 0

FAS 11 11.5 0.1 31 20 38.2 19 69 0 0 0 0

FNCS 17 25.88 1 361 28.5 33.5 6 86 N/A N/A 65 65

FSA 1 1 0 165 2 16 0 347 2 2 1 5

FS 15 23.92 0 590 25.5 45.25 0 352 3 6.14 1 24

FSIS 30 60 1 543 167 229.96 0 848 0 0 0 0

GIPSA 8 12 1 52 74 60 14 91 0 0 0 0

NAD 7 8 1 17 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

NRCS 15 12 1 20 20 22 1 55 0 0 0 0

OBPA 1 0.83 0 5 7 0.332 7 15 N/A N/A N/A N/A

OCFO 7 7 1 16 N/A N/A N/A 242 N/A N/A N/A N/A

OGC 6 64 0 969 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

OIG 16 22 2 305 20 47 1 N/A 0 0 0 0

OSEC/OCIO 10 11.5 1 28 29 50.6 4 242 8 8,3 2 15

REE 0 0 0 0 13 13 1 45 17 17.5 17 18

RMA 12 14 1 1 51 59 5 470 N/A N/A N/A N/A

RD N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 60 3 364 N/A N/A N/A N/A

USDA

OVERALL 10.5 18.6235 0 969 20 55.3451 0 1027 0 3.6305 0 94
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 32

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

Granted

SIMPLE COMPLEX EXPEDITED PROCESSING

*Medi

an 

Numb

er 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 22 22 3 75 39 46 26 74 0 0 0 0

APHIS 22 55.74 <1 729 273 349.48 12 1027 48.5 48.5 3 94

ASCR 14 14.14 <1 34 32 32 32 0 0 0 0 0

DM 19 29 1 91 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

FAS 11 11.6 0.1 31 20 38.2 38.2 69 0 0 0 0

FNCS 19 31.07 1 361 30 38.77 38.77 86 N/A N/A 65 65

FSA 1 1 0 220 11 22 22 439 2 2 1 5

FS 15 20.21 0 303 28 48.37 48.37 326 3 6.14 1 24

FSIS 29 92 1 416 121.85 205 205 848 0 0 0 0

GIPSA 7 19 1 52 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

NAD 7 8 1 17 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

NRCS 5 5 1 23 15 14 1 26 0 0 0 0

OBPA 1 1 0 1 11 11 7 15 0 0 0 0

OCFO 0 5 1 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

OGC 7 12 0 37 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

OIG 16 17 3 28 20 47 1 489 0 0 0 0

OSEC/OCIO 8.5 10.3 1 28 60 70;3 4 242 8 8.3 2 15

REE 0 0 0 0 13 13 1 45 45 17.5 17 18

RMA 19 19 5 51 30 91 6 470 N/A N/A N/A N/A

RD N/A N/A N/A N/A 14 18 3 46 N/A N/A N/A N/A

USDA

OVERALL 9.75 18.653 0 729 17 57.206 0 1027 0 4.1222 0 94
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 33

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 66 24 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 96

APHIS 433 199 62 37 18 14 13 7 4 5 26 8 16 842

ASCR 1 53 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 66

DM 43 10 7 10 9 1 0 0 1 4 1 1 0 86

FAS 29 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 32

FNCS 141 50 17 5 6 1 1 1 0 0 2 2 0 226

FSA 12,445 22 6 3 0 0 0 2 3 2 0 0 0 12,481

FS 1,359 337 85 36 16 18 8 5 6 3 19 4 6 1,902

FSIS 30 17 28 5 12 7 3 9 8 6 3 4 3 135

GIPSA 31 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 37

NAD 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7

NRCS

204 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 204

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

OCFO 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7

OGC 22 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 28

OIG 59 29 7 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 98

OSEC/OCIO 25 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 27

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

RMA 73 23 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 76

RD 429 59 22 10 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 535

USDA

OVERALL 15,419 837 250 108 65 41 31 24 24 18 55 20 27 16,919
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 34

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 6 7 0 4 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 20

APHIS 5 7 12 7 8 6 5 4 1 2 9 14 57 137

ASCR 0 0 1 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 3 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5

FNCS 4 5 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12

FSA 405 86 24 2 5 2 1 1 4 1 4 1 1 537

FS 180 146 48 28 17 16 12 6 7 5 8 3 0 476

FSIS 2 1 0 0 27 15 11 14 26 60 36 30 18 240

GIPSA 1 2 2 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11

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

NRCS

49 48 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 97

OBPA 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3

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 19 11 2 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 38

OSEC/OCIO 7 5 3 1 0 2 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 21

REE 126 12 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 139

RMA 6 13 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 25

RD 88 36 21 23 10 6 5 1 14 9 14 14 4 245

USDA

OVERALL 904 379 117 73 72 49 37 26 54 77 73 64 82 2,007
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 35

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 6 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9

APHIS 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3

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 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

FSA 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15

FS 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7

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

GIPSA 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3

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 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4

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

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 38 4 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 44
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 36

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 4 8 7 12 40 60 0 0 0

APHIS 156 47 88 9 295 393 1 76 76

ASCR 2 5.5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0

DM 5 63 58 0 N/A N/A 0 N/A N/A

FAS 0 N/A N/A 1 55 55 0 0 0

FNCS 31 13 33.09 4 26 33.25 0 N/A N/A

FSA 1 10 1 22 7 11 0 0 0

FS 134 75 99.64 54 80 96.72 0 0 0

FSIS 70 64 205 148 162 234.12 0 0 0

GIPSA 0 0 0 1 38 38 0 0 0

NAD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

NRCS 3 5 5 3 21 21 0 0 0

OBPA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

OCFO 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

OGC 12 209 293 0 N/A N/A 0 N/A N/A

OIG 4 7 10 3 36 39 0 0 0

OSEC/OCIO 0 0 0 63 142 188.4 0 0 0

REE 0 0 0 3 4 10 0 0 0

RMA 3 4 9 5 19 113 0 N/A N/A

RD 0 0 0 4 163 134 0 0 0

USDA

OVERALL 425 5.25 45 332 32 71 1 0 3.8
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 37

E. Pending requests – Ten Oldest Pending Perfected Requests

10th

Oldest

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

AMS Date

2011-09-22 2011-09-19 2011-09-19 2011-09-01 2011-08-10 2011-08-03 2011-06-20 2011-04-18 2011-03-23 2010-09-15

Numb

er of 

Days 9 9 20 20 35 40 71 115 133 261

APHIS

Date 2010-04-15 2010-04-09 2010-03-11 2010-03-01 2010-02-02 2009-12-23 2009-08-25 2009-01-28 2009-01-28 2007-05-22

Numb

er of 

Days 368 372 393 401 419 445 454 527 673 1095

ASCR

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2011-09-27 2011-09-20

Numb

er of 

Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 8

DM

Date

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2011-08-03 2011-07-25 2011-07-05 2011-06-30 2011-06-21

Numb

er of 

Days 0 0 0 0 0 49 57 74 77 85

FAS

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2011-08-31

Numb

er of 

Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 55

FNCS

Date 2011-08-30 2011-08-30 2011-08-26 2011-08-23 2011-07-14 2011-06-24 2011-06-17 2011-06-09 2010-12-03 2010-10-12

Numb

er of 

Days 22 22 24 27 55 68 72 79 208 244

FSA

Date 2011-08-29 2011-08-29 2011-08-25 2011-08-25 2011-08-17 2011-08-17 2011-08-17 2011-07-27 2011-07-07 2011-06-02

Numb

er of 

Days 24 24 26 26 32 32 32 47 61 85

FS Date 2010-11-30 2010-10-23 2010-10-18 2010-10-07 2010-09-16 2010-08-02 2010-06-16 2010-04-29 2010-01-20 2009-09-03

Numb

er of 

Days 242 243 246 253 274 293 327 378 429 520

FSIS

Date 2009-10-23 2009-10-20 2009-10-15 2009-10-09 2009-09-04 2009-07-01 2009-07-01 2009-04-14 2009-03-13 2009-02-18

Numb

er of 

Days 488 491 494 497 520 559 566 618 641 659

GIPSA

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

Numb

er 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

Numb

er of 

Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

NRCS

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A 2011-09-29 2011-09-27 2011-09-26 2011-09-16 2011-09-05 2011-08-29

Numb

er of 

Days 0 0 0 0 1 3 4 10 15 23

OBPA

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

Numb

er 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

Numb

er of 

Days

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Date 2011-07-07 2011-05-07 2011-03-29 2010-12-28 2010-11-08 2010-07-26 2010-03-25 2009-11-24 2008-11-12 2008-03-05
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 38

10th

Oldest

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

OGC Numb

er of 

Days 60 126 130 192 226 298 383 465 723 898

OIG

Date N/A N/A N/A 2011-09-27 2011-09-26 2011-09-16 2011-08-17 2011-08-17 2011-08-10 2011-07-21

Numb

er of 

Days 0 0 0 3 4 10 26 31 36 50

OSEC/OCIO

Date 2010-07-28 2010-07-28 2010-07-27 2010-07-21 2010-07-20 2010-07-20 2010-06-17 2010-02-16 2009-06-30 2008-05-06

Numb

er of 

Days 362 362 363 368 369 369 396 499 588 738

REE

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2011-09-27 2011-09-26 2011-08-26

Numb

er of 

Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 4 24

RMA

Date N/A N/A 2011-09-29 2011-09-26 2011-09-22 2011-09-13 2011-09-02 2011-08-30 2011-07-11 2009-11-16

Numb

er of 

Days 0 0 1 4 6 13 19 22 58 470

RD

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2011-06-20 2011-05-04 2011-04-06 2011-02-15

Numb

er of 

Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 75 119 134 192

192

USDA

OVERALL

Date 2009-07-01 2009-06-30 2009-04-14 2009-03-13 2009-02-18 2009-01-28 2008-11-12 2008-05-06 2008-03-05 2007-05-22

Numb

er of 

Days 566 588 618 641 662 676 728 748 913 1118
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 39

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 18 19 30

APHIS 0 0 0 0 0

ASCR 0 0 0 0 0

DM 0 0 0 0 0

FAS 0 0 0 0 0

FNCS 1 0 0 0 0

FSA 15 457 1 1 482

FS 13 15 5 12.32 20

FSIS 0 5 0 1.2 5

GIPSA 1 0 0 1 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 1 0

OSEC/OCIO 4 0 1 0 4

REE 2 0 10 10 2

RMA 0 0 0 0 0

RD 0 0 0 0 0

USDA

OVERALL 45 472 0 2.276 516
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 40

B. Requests for Fee Waiver

Number 

Granted

Number 

Denied

*Median 

Number of 

Days to 

Adjudicate

#Average 

Number of 

Days to 

Adjudicate

AMS 12 0 16 13

APHIS 13 0 42 255.85

ASCR 0 0 0 0

DM 0 0 0 0

FAS 0 0 0 0

FNCS 23 0 1 1

FSA 932 40 1 1

FS 242 15 1 7.8

FSIS 5 0 0 1.2

GIPSA 2 0 1 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/OCIO 7 1 1 1

REE 5 0 1 1

RMA 1 0 3 3

RD 0 0 0 0

USDA

OVERALL 1,242 56 0 14.245
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 41

IX. FOIA PERSONNEL AND COSTS

 PERSONNEL COSTS 

Number 

of “FullTime 

FOIA 

Employe

es”

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 CostsTotal Costs

AMS 1 4 5 $472,740.00 $0.00 $472,740.00

APHIS 19 0 19 $2,035,317.33 $46,970.11 $2,082,287.44

ASCR 1 0 1 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00

DM 0 0.25 0.25 $25,252.00 $0.00 $25,252.00

FAS 2 2 4 $230,000.00 $0.00 $230,000.00

FNCS 2 4.375 6.375 $408,068.00 $0.00 $408,068.00

FSA 16 186.48 202.48 $3,817,405.00 $7,800.00 $3,825,205.00

FS 13 60 73 $2,542,431.60 1,580.00 $2,544,011.60

FSIS 3 0.5 3.5 $543,802.00 $300.00 $544,102.00

GIPSA 1.5 0 1.5 $149,000.00 $0.00 $149,000.00

NAD 1 0 1 $155,896.00 $0.00 $155,896.00

NRCS 1 18 19 $158,908.00 $0.00 $158,908.00

OBPA 0 0.1 0.1 $10,090.00 $0.00 $10,090.00

OCFO 0 0.06 0.06 $1,070.91 $0.00 1,070.91

OGC 0 7.5 7.5 $750,000.00 $650,000.00 $1,400,000.00

OIG 2 2 4 $418,508.25 $11,963.74 $430,470.99

OSEC/OCIO 0 0 0 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00

REE 0 2 2 $144,869.00 $0.00 $144,869.00

RMA 0 1 1 $154,720.24 $0.00 $154,720.24

RD 5 7.05 12.05 $902,207.60 $0.00 $902,207.60

USDA

OVERALL 67.5 295.315 362.815 $12,920,285.93 $718,612.85 $13,638,898.78
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 42

X. FEES COLLECTED FOR PROCESSING

Total Amount of Fees

Collected

Percentage of Total 

Costs

AMS $9,810.79 2.08%

APHIS $0.00 0.00%

ASCR $0.00 0.00%

DM $0.00 0.00%

FAS $700.00 0.30%

FNCS $3,143.05 0.77%

FSA $51,169.00 1.34%

FS $15,437.00 0.61%

FSIS $1,550.80 0.25%

GIPSA $187.60 0.38%

NAD $0.00 0.00%

NRCS $702.00 0.44%

OBPA $0.00 0.00%

OCFO $0.00 0.00%

OGC $0.00 0.00%

OIG $309.20 0.07%

OSEC/OCIO $0.00 0.00%

REE $545.39 0.38%

RMA $5,541.65 3.58%

RD $0.00 0.00%

USDA

OVERALL $87,358.08 0.68%

XI – FOIA REGULATIONS

http://law.justia.com/cfr/title07/7-4.1.1.4.33.html
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 43

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 16 8

APHIS 36 68

ASCR 0 0

DM 5 0

FAS 1 0

FNCS 18 7

FSA 3 2

FS 125 14

FSIS 185 5

GIPSA 1 1

NAD 1 1

NRCS 0 0

OBPA 0 0

OCFO 0 0

OGC 10 1

OIG 3 7

OSEC/OCIO 59 2

REE 0 0

RMA 8 13

RD 179 18

USDA

OVERALL 650 147
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 44

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 3 3 0

FAS 1 19 20 0

FNCS 0 0 0 0

FSA 1 32 32 1

FS 0 5 4 1

FSIS 0 0 0 0

GIPSA 2* 1 2 1

NAD 0 0 0 0

NRCS 0 0 0 0

OBPA 0 5 4 0

OCFO 0 0 0 0

OGC 0 0 0 0

OIG 0 1 1 0

OSEC/OCIO 0 5 5 0

REE 1* 3 4 0

RMA 0 0 0 0

RD 0 0 0 0

USDA

OVERALL 5* 73 75 3

*Any inconsistencies in the number of consultations received from other agencies 

pending at the start of the Fiscal Year is due to the migration of data into our new 

electronic FOIA tracking system.
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 45

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 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 N/A 2008-09-

03

Number of 

Days

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 773

FS Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2011-09-

29

Number of 

Days

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

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 2011-09-

27

Number of 

Days

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3

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
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 46

Component 10th

Oldest

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

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 N/A N/A

Number of 

Days

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

OSEC/OCIO 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 2011-

09-29

2011-09-27 2008-09-

03

Number of 

Days

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 773
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 47

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 126 121 126 116

APHIS 711 884 905 982

ASCR 28 69 29 67

DM 63 79 65 80

FAS 30 42 27 45

FNCS 177 252 161 239

FSA 14,267 17,076 14,247 16,948

FS 2,794 2,450 2,664 2,385

FSIS 387 294 248 375

GIPSA 77 46 77 49

NAD 10 8 10 8

NRCS 476 301 473 298

OBPA 13 16 13 16

OCFO 0 37 0 37

OGC 24 30 25 28

OIG 121 135 140 136

OSEC/OCIO 83 89 75 52

REE 144 165 136 176

RMA 110 112 107 117

RD 750 859 703 785

USDA

OVERALL 20,391* 23,065 20,231* 22,939*

*Any inconsistencies in the number of requests received, processed and backlogged

during FY2010 and the number processed during FY2010 is due to the migration of 

data into our new electronic tracking system.
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 48

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 11 16

APHIS 219 36

ASCR 0 0

DM 6 5

FAS 0 1

FNCS 11 18

FSA 12 3

FS 100 125

FSIS 254 185

GIPSA 4 1

NAD 1 1

NRCS 3 0

OBPA 0 0

OCFO 0 0

OGC 7 10

OIG 5 3

OSEC/OCIO 20 59

REE 0 0

RMA 13 8

RD 15 179

USDA

OVERALL 681* 650

* Any inconsistencies in the number of requests received, processed

and backlogged during FY2010 is due to the migration of data into our new 

electronic tracking system
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 49

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 7 18 6

APHIS 17 24 30 11

ASCR 0 3 0 3

DM 2 1 1 1

FAS 0 0 0 0

FNCS 16 35 13 30

FSA 32 31 35 29

FS 66 52 75 54

FSIS 0 1 0 1

GIPSA 1 2 1 1

NAD 1 0 0 0

NRCS 0 15 0 15

OBPA 0 0 0 0

OCFO 0 0 0 0

OGC 6 1 6 3

OIG 15 13 11 12

OSEC/OCIO 3 3 1 2

REE 2 2 4 2

RMA 1 12 2 1

RD 23 23 20 21

USDA

OVERALL 197* 225 217* 192

* Any inconsistencies in the number of appeals received, processed and backlogged

during FY2010 is due to the migration of data into our new electronic tracking 

system.
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2011

Page 50

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 7 8

APHIS 57 68

ASCR 0 0

DM 1 0

FAS 0 0

FNCS 7 7

FSA 2 2

FS 25 14

FSIS 5 5

GIPSA 0 1

NAD 1 1

NRCS 0 0

OBPA 0 0

OCFO 0 0

OGC 3 1

OIG 6 7

OSEC/OCIO 2 2

REE 0 0

RMA 2 13

RD 15 18

USDA

OVERALL 133* 147

* Any inconsistencies in the number of appeals received, processed and backlogged 

during FY2010 is due to the migration of data into our new electronic tracking 

system.

F. Discussion of Other FOIA Activities (Optional)