DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT

ANNUAL REPORT

FOR

FISCAL YEAR 2012
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 2

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Freedom of Information Act Annual Report FY 2012

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The mission of the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) is to provide 

leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, and related issues based on sound 

public policy, the best available science, and efficient management. Upon its creation in 

1862, President Abraham Lincoln called USDA “the people’s department,” because it 

affects so many people’s lives in so many different ways, and earlier, President Thomas 

Jefferson, a farmer, noted that “cultivators of the earth are the most valuable citizens.” 

USDA works hard to keep these sentiments alive as it pursues its mission to provide 

leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, and related issues based on sound 

public policy, the best available science, and efficient management. 

USDA programs and activities affect every American, every day, by providing a safe and 

stable food supply, nutrition assistance, renewable energy, rural economic development, 

care for forest and conservation lands, and global opportunities for farm and forest 

products. USDA holds answers to some of the most pressing problems faced by our 

Nation and world—from meeting needs for renewable energy, and increasing crop yields 

to fight hunger, protecting the food supply to improving our environment and optimizing 

international trade. To successfully accomplish its mission, USDA operates 300 programs 

worldwide through an extensive network of Federal, State, and local cooperators. 

USDA has a decentralized FOIA Program under the direction of the Chief FOIA Officer, 

the Assistant Secretary for Administration. There are twenty-one (21) FOIA Officers at 

the mission area and agency levels. Because we are such a large Department, with offices 

in every county of the United States, our FOIA programs differ greatly in scope and size 

from one agency to another. 

The FOIA Service Center is the focal point for the coordination of USDA’s FOIA 

program. The FOIA Service Center provides agency-wide oversight to ensure 

compliance with FOIA. In FY2011 and FY2012, the FOIA Service Center spearheaded 

several initiatives to increase transparency, timeliness and quality of FOIA responses. 

The largest of the FOIA Service Center initiatives is the launch and migration of data to 

the agency wide tracking database. As of September 30, 2012, seventeen (17) of the 

twenty-one (21) service agencies have completely migrated its data to the agency-wide 

tracking system. 
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 3

I. Basic Information Regarding Report 

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

questions about the report:

Ravoyne Payton 

Acting Department FOIA Officer

1400 Independence Avenue, SW 

Room 408-W, Whitten Building

Washington, DC 20250-0706

Email: USDAFOIA@ocio.usda.gov

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

Please see http://www.dm.usda.gov/foia/OCIOReading.htm.

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

Please contact the FOIA Service Center at USDAFOIA@ocio.usda.gov.

II. Making a FOIA Request

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

that receive FOIA requests. 

Agency FOIA Contacts 

AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE 

Valerie L. Emmer-Scott

FOIA/Privacy Officer

AG Stop 0202 Room 3521-S

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20250-0273

Tel. 202-720-2498

Email: AMS.FOIA@USDA.GOV

AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE

ECONOMIC RESEARCH SERVICE

NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Stasia Hutchison

FOIA Officer, Research, Education and Economics (REE)

5601 Sunnyside Avenue

Stop 5128

Beltsville, MD 20705-5128

Tel. 301-504-1655

Fax 301-504-1647; 

Monica Williams

FOIA Assistant
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 4

Tel. 301-504-1640

Email: reefoia@ars.usda.gov

ANIMAL & PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE

Tonya Woods

FOIA/Privacy Officer

4700 River Road, Unit 50

Riverdale, MD 20737-1232

Tel. 301-851-4076

Fax 301-734-5941

Email: FOIA.Officer@aphis.usda.gov

DEPARTMENTAL MANAGEMENT

Phyllis Holmes

FOIA Officer

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Room 2916-S

Washington, DC 20250

Tel. 202-720-0068

Fax 202-720-0105

Email: phyllis.holmes@dm.usda.gov

FARM SERVICE AGENCY 

Sue Ellen Sloca

FOIA Advisor

1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0506

Washington, DC 20250

Tel. 202-720-1598

Fax 202-720-4034

Email: FSA.FOIA@wdc.usda.gov

FOOD, NUTRITION & CONSUMER SERVICES 

Jennifer Weatherly

FOIA/Privacy Officer

3010 Park Center Drive

Alexandria, VA 22302

Tel. 703-605-0773

Fax 703-605-0793

Email: FOIA@fns.usda.gov

FOOD SAFETY & INSPECTION SERVICE 

Leilani Hannie

Supervisory FOIA Specialist

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Room 1142-S

Washington, DC 20250

Tel. 202-690-2760

Fax 202-690-3023

Email: Leilani.Hannie@fsis.usda.gov or FSIS.FOIA@usda.gov
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 5

FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE 

Henry Noland

FOIA Officer

Tel. 202-720-0154

Email: henry.noland@fas.usda.gov

FOREST SERVICE 

Sherry L. Turner

FOIA/Privacy Officer

ATTN: FOIA/Privacy Team

Stop 1143

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Yates Bldg 1st Floor SW, Ag Stop 1143

Washington, DC 20250-1143

Tel. 202-205-2497

Fax 202-260-3245

Email: wo_foia@fs.fed.us

GRAIN INSPECTION, PACKERS & STOCKYARDS

Joanne Peterson

FOIA/Privacy Officer

Room 2548, Ag Stop 3642

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, D.C. 20250-3642

Tel. 202-720-8087

Fax 202-690-2173

NATIONAL APPEALS DIVISION

Brenda V. Seegars

FOIA Officer and Legal Affairs Officer

3101 Park Center Dr., Suite 1100

Alexandria, VA 22302

Tel. 703-305-1164

Fax 703-305-2825

Email: Brenda.Seegars@nad.usda.gov

NATIONAL FINANCE CENTER

Cheri Alsobrook

FOIA Officer

P.O. Box 60000

New Orleans, LA 70160

Tel. 504-426-0327

Fax 504-426-9706

NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE 

John Wilson

Acting FOIA Officer

200 North High Street

Room 552
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 6

Columbus, OH 43215

John.Wilson@oh.usda.gov

OFFICE OF BUDGET & PROGRAM ANALYSIS 

Julie Hetrick

FOIA/Privacy Officer

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Room 120-E Whitten Building

Washington, DC 20250

Tel. 202-720-1269

Fax 202-690-3673

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 

Kathy Donaldson

FOIA Officer

Planning and Accountability Division

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Room 3426A South Building

Stop Box 9020

Washington, DC 20250

Tel. (202) 720-1893

Email: kathy.donaldson@cfo.usda.gov

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER

Ravoyne Payton

Acting Department FOIA Officer

1400 Independence Avenue, SW 

Room 408-W, Whitten Building

Washington, DC 20250-0706

Email: USDAFOIA@ocio.usda.gov

OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS 

Samantha Y. Wiggins

FOIA Specialist

OASCR, Office of Adjudication and Compliance

Room 541, Reporters Building

Washington, DC 20250

Tel. 202-720-5212

Fax 202-720-0953

OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL 

Betty Ollila

FOIA Officer

General Law Division

1400 Independence Avenue, SW 

Room 3311 South Building

Washington, DC 20250-1400

Tel. 202-720-5824

Fax 202-720-5837
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 7

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL 

Alison Decker

FOIA Officer

Albert Stewart

FOIA Contact

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Room 441-E Whitten Building

Mail Stop 2308

Washington, DC 20250

Tel. 202-720-5677

Fax 202-690-6305

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

Ravoyne Payton

Acting Department FOIA Officer

1400 Independence Avenue, SW 

Room 408-W, Whitten Building

Washington, DC 20250-0706

Email: USDAFOIA@ocio.usda.gov

RISK MANAGEMENT AGENCY

Bill Crews

FOIA Officer

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Room 6628-S

Washington, DC 20250

Tel. 202-720-9507

Fax 202-720-1162

Email: bill.crews@rma.usda.gov

RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Joseph Shunk

FOIA Liaison

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Stop 0706

Washington, DC 20250-0706

Tel. 202-690-5394 

USDA DEPARTMENT FOIA OFFICER

Ravoyne Payton

Acting Department FOIA Officer

1400 Independence Avenue, SW 

Room 408-W, Whitten Building

Washington, DC 20250-0706

Email: USDAFOIA@ocio.usda.gov

The listing of FOIA Officers and agency contact information can also be 

found at http://www.dm.usda.gov/foia/poc.htm. 
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 8

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

general categories of USDA records to which FOIA exemptions apply.

In accordance with 5 U.S.C § 552, President Obama’s FOIA memorandum and 

Attorney General Holder’s FOIA guidelines, USDA furnishes records to 

requesters in full if available and none of the nine FOIA Exemptions or three 

statutory exclusions authorizes a withholding. In FY2012, FOIA Exemption 

(b)(6) is the most frequently cited within USDA. Records withheld under this 

exemption included social security numbers, residential addresses, personal 

cellular and residential numbers. USDA also cannot satisfy request for records not 

clearly described or would require our FOIA professionals to create records, 

analyze data or address questions posed by requesters.

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 

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. 
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 9

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 

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. 
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 10

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. 

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: Information that is related solely to the internal personnel rules and 

practices of an agency.

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.
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 11

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 2012

Page 12

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

5 U.S.C.§

574(b)

Administrative 

Dispute 

Resolution Act

Information in 

connection with 

dispute 

resolution. 

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 2012

Page 13

Statute

Type of 

Information 

Withheld

Case Citation

Number of Times 

Relied upon per 

Component

Total 

Number of 

Times 

Relied upon 

by Agency

7U.S.C. § 136i-1

Federal 

Insecticide, 

Fungicide, and 

Rodenticide Act 

(FIFRA)

Data “that 

would directly 

or indirectly 

reveal the 

identity of 

individual 

producers [of 

certain 

pesticides].”

Doe v. Veneman, 380 

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

2004)

AMS 

2

APHIS 2

ASCR 

DA 

FAS 

FNCS 

FSA 

FS 

FSIS 

GIPSA 

NAD 

NRCS 

OBPA 

OCFO 

OGC 

OIG 

OSEC/OCIO 

REE 

RMA 

RD 
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 14

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. 

§608(d)(2)

Agriculture 

Adjustment Act

Information 

for marketing 

order programs 

that is 

categorized as 

trade secrets 

and 

commercial or 

financial 

information.

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 2012

Page 15

Statute

Type of 

Information 

Withheld

Case Citation

Number of Times 

Relied upon per 

Component

Total 

Number of 

Times 

Relied upon 

by Agency

7U.S.C.§1502(c)

Federal Crop 

Insurance Act

Personal 

information in 

connection 

with policy 

holders and/or

yield data.

None

AMS 

9

APHIS

ASCR 

DA 

FAS 

FNCS 

FSA 3

FS 

FSIS 

GIPSA 

NAD 

NRCS 2

OBPA 

OCFO 

OGC 

OIG 

OSEC/OCIO 

REE 

RMA 4

RD 
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 16

Statute

Type of 

Information 

Withheld

Case Citation

Number of Times 

Relied upon per 

Component

Total 

Number of 

Times 

Relied upon 

by Agency

7U.S.C.§2018(c)

Food Stamp 

Act

Names and other 

personally 

identifiable 

information of 

SNAP (Food 

Stamps) 

recipients and 

firms 

participating in 

program.

Argus Leader Media 

v. U.S. Dep’t of 

Agriculture, 2012 

WL 4482939 (Sept. 

27, 2012). 

AMS 

56

APHIS

ASCR 

DA 

FAS 

FNCS 56

FSA 

FS 

FSIS 

GIPSA 

NAD 

NRCS 

OBPA 

OCFO 

OGC 

OIG 

OSEC/OCIO 

REE 

RMA 

RD 
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 17

Statute

Type of 

Information 

Withheld

Case Citation

Number of Times 

Relied upon per 

Component

Total 

Number of 

Times 

Relied upon 

by Agency

7U.S.C.§2105(c)

Cotton 

Research and 

Promotion Act

Information 

provided by 

handlers or any 

class of 

handlers in 

preparation of 

the filing of 

reports. 

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 2012

Page 18

Statute

Type of 

Information 

Withheld

Case Citation

Number of Times 

Relied upon per 

Component

Total 

Number of 

Times 

Relied 

upon by 

Agency

7U.S.C.§2276(a)(2)

Food Security Act

of 1985

“Information 

furnished under 

a provision of 

law referred to 

in subsection 

(d) of this 

section...unless 

such 

information has 

been 

transformed 

into a statistical 

or aggregate 

form that does 

not allow the 

identification of 

the person who 

supplied 

particular 

information.” 

Strunk v. U.S. 

Department of 

Interior, 752 F. 

Supp. 2d, 39, 44

(D.D.C. 2010)

AMS 

5

APHIS

ASCR 

DA 

FAS 

FNCS 

FSA 2

FS 

FSIS 

GIPSA 

NAD 

NRCS 

OBPA 

OCFO 

OGC 

OIG 

OSEC/OCIO 

REE 3

RMA 

RD 
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 19

Statute

Type of 

Information 

Withheld

Case Citation

Number of Times 

Relied upon per 

Component

Total 

Number of 

Times 

Relied upon 

by Agency

7U.S.C.§2619(c)

Potato 

Research and 

Promotion Act

Confidential 

information 

furnished by 

handlers and 

importers for the 

filing of reports.

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 2012

Page 20

Statute

Type of 

Information 

Withheld

Case Citation

Number of Times 

Relied upon per 

Component

Total 

Number of 

Times 

Relied upon 

by Agency

7U.S.C.§7414(i)(4)

Agricultural 

Marketing Act

Information 

provided by 

handlers and 

importers of 

agricultural 

commodities in 

connection with 

the filing of 

reports. 

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 2012

Page 21

Statute

13

Type of 

Information 

Withheld

Case Citation

Number of Times 

Relied upon per 

Component

Total 

Number of 

Times 

Relied upon 

by Agency

7U.S.C.§8791

“Information 

provided by an 

agricultural 

producer or 

owner of 

agricultural land 

concerning the 

agricultural

operations, 

farming or 

conservation 

practices, or the 

land itself, in 

order to 

participate in 

programs of the 

Department” and 

certain 

“geospatial 

information 

...maintained by 

the Secretary.”

Ctr. for Biological 

Diversity v. USDA, 

626 F.3d 1113, 1118 

(9th Cir. 2010); 

Zanoni v. USDA, 

605 F. Supp. 2d 230, 

237-381 (D.D.C. 

2009).

AMS 1

340

APHIS 13

ASCR 

DA 

FAS 

FNCS 

FSA 248

FS 8

FSIS 

GIPSA 

NAD 

NRCS 70

OBPA 

OCFO 

OGC 

OIG 

OSEC/OCIO 

REE 

RMA 

RD 
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 22

Statute

Type of 

Information 

Withheld

Case Citation

Number of Times 

Relied upon per 

Component

Total 

Number of 

Times 

Relied upon 

by Agency

16U.S.C.§470hh

Archaeological 

Resources 

Protection Act 

of 1979

Information 

pertaining to the 

nature and 

location of 

certain 

archaeological 

resources.

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 

31

APHIS

ASCR 

DA 

FAS 

FNCS 

FSA 

FS 30

FSIS 

GIPSA 

NAD 

NRCS 1

OBPA 

OCFO 

OGC 

OIG 

OSEC/OCIO 

REE 

RMA 

RD 
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 23

Statute

Type of 

Information 

Withheld

Case Citation

Number of Times 

Relied upon per 

Component

Total 

Number of 

Times 

Relied upon 

by Agency

16U.S.C.§470w-3

Archaeological 

site maps, 

cultural 

resources and 

historic sites

None.

AMS 

12

APHIS

ASCR 

DA 

FAS 

FNCS 

FSA 

FS 11

FSIS 

GIPSA 

NAD 

NRCS 1

OBPA 

OCFO 

OGC 

OIG 

OSEC/OCIO 

REE 

RMA 

RD 
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 24

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 

disclosing any 

invention in 

which the 

Federal 

Government 

owns or may 

own a right, 

title, or interest.

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 2012

Page 25

Statute

Type of 

Information 

Withheld

Case Citation

Number of Times 

Relied upon per 

Component

Total 

Number of 

Times 

Relied upon 

by Agency

41U.S.C.§4702(b)

(Previously 41 

U.S.C. §253 

(b)(m)(1)

National Defense 

Authorization 

Act for Fiscal 

Year 1997)

Proposals not 

set forth or 

incorporated by 

reference in a 

contract 

entered into 

between the 

agency and the 

contractor.

Sinkfield v HUD, 

No. 10-885, 2012 

U.S. Dist. Lexis 

35233, at 13-15 

(S.D. Ohio Mar. 

15, 2012); 

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 

13

APHIS 1

ASCR 

DA 

FAS 

FNCS 

FSA 6

FS 5

FSIS 

GIPSA 

NAD 

NRCS 

OBPA 

OCFO 

OGC 

OIG 1

OSEC/OCIO 

REE 

RMA 

RD 
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 26

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 16 147 133 30

APHIS 168 943 899 212

ASCR 2 27 27 2

DM 5 71 41 35

FAS 1 41 40 2

FNCS 35 241 255 21

FSA 289 16,848 16,656 481

FSIS 218 308 426 100

FS 333 2,309 2,235 407

GIPSA 0 54 50 4

NAD 0 14 14 0

NRCS 6 361 313 54

OBPA 0 11 11 0

OCFO 1 30 29 2

OGC 12 29 27 14

OIG 7 128 113 22

OSEC/OCIO 65 111 144 32

RD 181 303 91 393

REE 3 127 127 3

RMA 8 72 55 25

USDA 

OVERALL 1,350 22,175 21,686 1,839

APHIS, GIPSA, NAD and OSEC/OCIO: The number of FOIA requests pending as of the start of 

FY2012 differs from the number of FOIA requests pending as of the end of FY2011 due to a recent 

migration initiative. 

OCFO: As in previous years, OCFO data includes that from the National Finance Center (NFC).

Note: Prior to the deployment of the agency-wide tracking system, USDA component agencies used 

numerous manual and automated tracking methodologies in preparation of the Annual FOIA Report. In 

FY2012, the agency wide tracking database was the primary source of data for compilation of the FY2012 

FOIA Annual Report. Other secondary sources included manual tracking methodologies. 
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 27

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 24 66 6 13 0 12 2 0 0 2 0 8 133

APHIS 148 401 45 165 9 36 7 52 13 8 15 0 899

ASCR 2 8 1 11 1 1 0 2 0 1 0 0 27

DM 11 11 3 8 0 1 1 0 0 5 1 0 41

FAS 14 5 0 6 1 6 2 0 0 4 2 0 40

FNCS 58 118 19 32 9 8 1 4 0 6 0 0 255

FSA 15,396 409 166 176 263 67 76 39 16 13 16 19 16,656

FSIS 76 243 10 48 4 33 5 1 3 2 1 0 426

FS 1,093 570 82 236 57 75 13 2 16 5 27 59 2,235

GIPSA 11 20 3 11 0 3 1 0 0 0 1 0 50

NAD 5 0 0 7 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 14

NRCS 121 88 44 33 9 7 1 1 3 2 4 0 313

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

OCFO 14 6 2 4 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 29

OGC 3 9 2 5 0 7 1 0 0 0 0 0 27

OIG 6 33 22 27 6 7 2 0 0 0 0 10 113

OSEC/

OCIO

52 43 1 11 2 32 0 1 1 1 0 0 144

RD 40 32 1 12 0 4 1 0 0 0 1 0 91

REE 64 25 2 13 2 4 2 2 3 10 0 0 127

RMA 24 10 12 3 0 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 55

USDA 

OVERALL 17,168 2,098 421 825 363 309 115 106 56 61 68 96 21,686
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 28

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 Requester failed to comply with multiple requests for 

clarification. 8 8

APHIS N/A 0 0

ASCR N/A 0 0

DM N/A 0 0

FAS N/A 0 0

FNCS N/A 0 0

FSA

Glomar response. 1

Records not available in requested format. 10 19

Requester referred to public website. 8

FSIS N/A 0 0

FS Requester failed to comply with multiple requests for 

clarification. 59 59

GIPSA N/A 0 0

NAD N/A 0 0

NRCS N/A 0 0

OBPA N/A 0 0

OCFO N/A 0 0

OGC N/A 0 0

OIG Glomar response. 9 10 No authorization to release records. 1

OSEC/OCIO N/A 0 0

RD N/A 0 0

REE N/A 0 0

RMA N/A 0 0

USDA OVERALL 96
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 29

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 4 6 37 12 61 3 0 4 0 2 1 0 0

APHIS 0 2 16 48 31 388 82 0 202 2 0 10 0 0

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

DM 0 0 0 8 1 9 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

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

FNCS 0 2 56 18 2 54 8 1 53 7 55 6 0 0

FSA 5 5 259 7 47 324 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 0

FSIS 0 1 0 95 12 143 5 3 99 0 0 0 0 0

FS 0 40 54 124 415 28 6 109 1 28 25 0 1 0

GIPSA 0 1 0 9 7 10 6 0 7 0 0 0 0 0

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

NRCS 0 1 74 12 2 44 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0

OBPA 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

OCFO 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

OGC 0 0 0 0 10 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

OIG 0 0 1 5 16 43 19 0 35 1 4 0 0 0

OSEC/OCIO 0 3 0 5 13 42 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0

RD 0 2 0 23 10 24 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0

REE 0 0 4 12 5 22 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

RMA 0 0 4 3 4 6 9 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

USDA 

Overall 5 61 474 410 589 1222 142 113 414 41 86 17 2 0
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 30

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 5 8 4

APHIS 71 36 23 84

ASCR 0 1 1 0

DM 0 2 1 1

FAS 0 0 0 0

FNCS 12 31 24 19

FSA 5 18 22 1

FSIS 5 3 7 1

FS 25 66 57 34

GIPSA 1 3 3 1

NAD 1 0 0 1

NRCS 2 11 13 0

OBPA 0 0 0 0

OCFO 0 4 2 2

OGC 1 0 1 0

OIG 7 10 12 5

OSEC/OCIO 2 4 3 3

RD 17 11 1 27

REE 0 2 1 1

RMA 13 3 1 15

USDA 

OVERALL 169 210 180 199

AMS, APHIS, and OSEC/OCIO: During FY2011, an appeal was closed due to litigation. This 

was not reflected however in the prior year’s Annual Report. 
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 31

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 3 3 1 1 8

APHIS 1 1 1 20 23

ASCR 1 0 0 0 1

DM 0 0 1 0 1

FAS 0 0 0 0 0

FNCS 15 7 0 2 24

FSA 4 9 4 5 22

FSIS 0 0 6 1 7

FS 10 13 6 28 57

GIPSA 2 1 0 0 3

NAD 0 0 0 0 0

NRCS 3 8 1 1 13

OBPA 0 0 0 0 0

OCFO 1 0 0 1 2

OGC 0 0 0 1 1

OIG 5 1 3 3 12

OSEC/OCIO 0 1 2 0 3

RD 0 0 0 1 1

REE 0 1 0 0 1

RMA 0 0 1 0 1

USDA 

OVERALL 45 45 26 64 180
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 32

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 1 2 1 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

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

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

DM 0 0 0 1 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 3 0 1 7 0 0 10 2 11 0 0 0

FSA 0 0 8 0 1 5 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

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

FS 0 0 3 3 6 10 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0

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

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

NRCS 0 0 11 1 2 6 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 2 2 6 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0

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

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

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

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

USDA OVERALL 0 0 26 11 13 40 4 2 18 2 11 0 0 0
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 33

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 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0

APHIS 0 0 12 0 1 0 0 1 6 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 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2

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

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

FS 6 1 7 1 0 3 0 2 0 0 8

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 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

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

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

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

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

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

RD 0 0 0 0 1 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

USDA 

OVERALL 10 2 25 2 2 4 0 3 8 1 12
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 34

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

APHIS N/A 0 0

ASCR N/A 0 0

DM N/A 0 0

FAS N/A 0 0

FNCS Untimely appeal. 2 2

FSA N/A 0 0

FSIS Untimely appeal. 1 1

FS Moot 8 8

GIPSA N/A 0 0

NAD N/A 0 0

NRCS N/A 0 0

OBPA N/A 0 0

OCFO N/A 0 0

OGC N/A 0 0

OIG Untimely appeal. 1 1

OSEC/OCIO N/A 0 0

RD N/A 0 0

REE N/A 0 0

RMA N/A 0 0

USDA 

Overall 12 12

FS: Eight appeals agency-wide were closed as “moot” meaning that the agency responded to the 

initial request (after 20 working days and the appeal was received) and issued new appeal rights 

to the requester for any portions withheld. Thus the appeal was declared “moot” and the 

requester had the right to re-appeal if they were not satisfied with the initial response. 
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 35

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 218 230 25 922

APHIS 315.5 383.03 4 2,249

ASCR 32 32 32 32

DM 1 1 1 1

FAS 0 0 0 0

FNCS 63 105.69 26 376

FSA 23 152.81 1 2,612

FSIS 809 705.29 19 1,062

FS 40 109.86 1 1,827

GIPSA 13.5 13.5 13.3 13.6

NAD 0 0 0 0

NRCS 36.5 46.5 1 118

OBPA 0 0 0 0

OCFO 29 29 20 38

OGC 0 0 0 0

OIG 62 111 28 362

OSEC/OCIO 12 32.33 11 74

RD 26 26 26 26

REE 105 105 105 105

RMA 11 11 11 11

USDA Overall 43.5 227 0 2,612
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 36

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 N/A N/A N/A 2012-08-08 2012-06-26 2011-11-10 2009-10-16

Number of 

Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 36 66 473 741

APHIS Date 2006-12-11 2006-11-20 2006-11-17 2006-11-17 2006-02-28 2005-11-14 2005-08-17 2005-05-24 2004-08-12 2003-07-31

Number of 

Days Pending

1457 1471 1472 1472 1655 1726 1786 1845 2040 2300

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 2012-07-27

Number of 

Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 44

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 2012-03-12 2012-03-12 2012-03-07 2011-12-01 2011-11-15 2011-11-09 2011-10-17 2011-09-23 2011-09-16 2009-12-22

Number of 

Days Pending 141 141 144 209 220 223 240 255 260 696

FSA Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2012-09-24

Number of 

Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4

FSIS Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2012-07-25 2012-06-12 2010-11-15

Number of 

Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 46 76 471

FS Date 2011-09-07 2011-07-25 2011-07-05 2011-03-28 2011-01-20 2010-11-17 2010-11-10 2010-04-20 2010-04-12 2008-08-07

Number of 

Days Pending 267 298 312 381 427 469 473 615 621 1040

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 N/A

Number of 

Days Pending 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 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 2012-07-19 2012-07-11

Number of 

Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 50 56
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 37

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 N/A

Number of 

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

OIG Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2012-09-04 2012-07-18 2011-05-17 2011-01-24 2010-09-27

Number of 

Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 19 52 346 426 505

OSEC/

OCIO

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2012-07-11

Number of 

Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 56

RD Date 2012-06-22 2012-05-16 2012-05-16 2012-04-26 2012-02-07 2011-11-18 2011-11-15 2011-11-07 2011-10-06 2011-10-06

Number of 

Days Pending 68 94 94 108 164 217 220 225 246 246

REE Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2012-09-05

Number of 

Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 17

RMA Date 2011-09-07 2011-09-01 2011-08-24 2011-08-18 2011-08-18 2011-08-11 2011-04-25 2011-04-25 2011-03-17 2010-12-13

Number of 

Days Pending 265 269 269 274 278 278 282 364 391 458

USDA 

Overall

Date 2006-12-11 2006-11-20 2006-11-17 2006-11-17 2006-02-28 2005-11-14 2005-08-17 2005-05-24 2004-08-12 2003-07-31

Number of 

Days Pending

1457 1471 1472 1472 1655 1726 1786 1845 2040 2300

 
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 38

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 15 17 1 68 58 87 1 509 10 22 1 57

APHIS 26 51.79 1 843 146 200.56 1 534 36 119 8 313

ASCR 18.5 18.65 1 55 119 119 119 119 N/A N/A N/A N/A

DM 7 14.95 1 92 6 10.33 1 24 N/A N/A N/A N/A

FAS 10 10.22 1 20 57 67.33 9 189 3 3.5 1 6

FNCS 16 26.18 1 226 20 28.68 1 262 14 14 14 14

FSA 1 2.7 0 746 13 15.2 0 223 3 3 1 5

FSIS 27 56.54 1 488 260 300.66 5 863 N/A N/A N/A N/A

FS 13 21.92 1 617 25 43.27 1 421 16 23.12 6 81

GIPSA 4 8.13 1 33 32.5 40.94 1 113 1 1 1 1

NAD 4 11 1 70 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

NRCS 10 17.38 1 177 44 49.3 1 109 N/A N/A N/A N/A

OBPA 5 6.4 0 19 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

OCFO 15 19.04 3 73 20 17.17 1 24 N/A N/A N/A N/A

OGC 23 157 0 954 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

OIG 13 13 1 30 64 68 31 133 N/A N/A N/A N/A

OSEC/

OCIO 28 142.36 1 774 102 168.4 1 642 71 71 45 97

RD 34 52.01 1 253 144 176.72 55 447 N/A N/A N/A N/A

REE 7 7.8 1 20 18 18 1 80 20 20 20 20

RMA 14 18.57 1 95 11.5 11.5 3 20 17.5 17.5 6 29

USDA

FY2012 

OVERALL

16 33.12 0 954 25 76.4 0 863 13 34.7 1 313

AMS: It should be noted that AMS has many complex requests that involved multiple interim 

releases. The final release however took several months to complete. 
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 39

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 17 20 2 68 80 103 11 509 21 25 1 57

APHIS 27 50.69 1 843 106.5 155.94 16 421 36 36 36 36

ASCR 24.5 24.1 2 55 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

DM 15 19.18 1 92 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

FAS 11 10.3 1 20 57 67.33 9 189 3 3.5 1 6

FNCS 17 25.61 1 150 24 40.18 9 262 14 14 14 14

FSA 1 2.22 1 154 17 22.97 1 223 3 3 1 5

FSIS 32 65.83 1 488 284 317.92 13 863 N/A N/A N/A N/A

FS 13 22.22 1 345 31 45.24 1 254 20 25.14 6 81

GIPSA 4 9.4 1 33 32.5 41.5 8 110 1 1 1 1

NAD 18 24 3 70 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

NRCS 11 17.3 1 123 28 43.56 1 109 N/A N/A N/A N/A

OBPA 2 7 0 19 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

OCFO 14 19.69 3 73 20 20.5 18 24 N/A N/A N/A N/A

OGC 31 156 0 954 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

OIG 15 15 1 30 81 79 31 133 N/A N/A N/A N/A

OSEC/

OCIO 19.5 116.49 1 774 126 183.84 1 642 71 71 45 97

RD 40 53.98 1 253 132 169.6 55 447 N/A N/A N/A N/A

REE 9.5 9.5 1 20 19 20 1 80 N/A N/A N/A N/A

RMA 18 24.29 1 95 20 20 20 20 17.5 17.5 6 29

USDA

OVERA

LL

16 31.9 0 954 29 83.33 1 863 14 24.89 1 81
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 40

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 21 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 80

APHIS 330 277 88 37 28 18 17 17 11 6 20 11 11 871

ASCR 1 16 7 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 26

DM 28 7 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 38

FAS 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 19

FNCS 154 32 7 9 4 3 3 3 1 0 1 0 0 217

FSA 15,957 48 10 4 4 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 16,027

FSIS 105 42 30 12 5 11 7 6 7 2 14 1 1 243

FS 1,242 284 88 36 21 10 7 6 6 8 15 2 1 1,726

GIPSA 8 18 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 31

NAD 12 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13

NRCS

149 107 21 4 3 1 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 290

OBPA 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11

OCFO 14 6 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 23

OGC 13 2 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 5 27

OIG 55 17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 72

OSEC/OCIO 46 11 2 2 1 0 0 3 2 1 16 17 6 107

RD 27 11 9 8 8 2 2 0 4 1 1 0 0 73

REE 2 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15

RMA 7 29 10 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 51

USDA

OVERALL 18,233 942 288 122 75 47 39 37 32 18 69 32 26 19,960
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 41

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 13 6 6 6 3 3 4 2 1 0 2 1 1 48

APHIS 3 1 4 2 1 1 0 2 0 1 1 4 5 25

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

DM 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3

FAS 21 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 21

FNCS 23 9 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 37

FSA 416 108 60 25 5 1 2 1 3 1 0 0 0 622

FSIS 10 14 4 6 3 3 5 9 2 12 38 25 52 183

FS 198 135 62 41 11 18 9 9 5 2 10 0 1 501

GIPSA 1 4 7 2 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 18

NAD 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

NRCS

11 3 3 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 23

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

OCFO 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6

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

OIG 0 10 10 6 8 5 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 41

OSEC/OCIO 6 3 2 4 2 1 2 1 1 1 0 11 1 35

RD 0 0 1 4 3 0 1 1 0 2 3 2 1 18

REE 3 73 29 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 111

RMA 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

USDA

OVERALL 712 370 190 104 41 34 29 25 12 19 55 43 62 1,696
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 42

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

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

FSA 7 0 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

FS 5 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8

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

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 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

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

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

RMA 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

USDA

OVERALL 18 6 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 30
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 43

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 5 14 45 25 78 104 0 N/A N/A

APHIS 196 55 106 14 169 277 1 34 34

ASCR 2 11 11 0 N/A N/A 0 N/A N/A

DM 16 57.5 84 7 81 80 0 N/A N/A

FAS 0 4 4 1 3 3 0 N/A N/A

FNCS 17 10 24 4 11.5 11 0 N/A N/A

FSA 19 12 12 30 11 20 0 N/A N/A

FSIS 69 62 104 30 525.5 525 0 N/A N/A

FS 245 28 91 162 47 92 0 N/A N/A

GIPSA 0 N/A N/A 4 64 97 0 N/A N/A

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

NRCS 16 63 74 2 144 144 0 N/A N/A

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

OCFO 1 85 85 1 103 103 0 N/A N/A

OGC 14 148 213 0 N/A N/A 0 N/A N/A

OIG 9 27 22 13 87 89 0 N/A N/A

OSEC/OCIO 8 119 144 24 102 189 0 N/A N/A

RD 222 113 122 18 23 229 0 N/A N/A

REE 0 N/A N/A 3 18 23 0 N/A N/A

RMA 8 24 39 11 85 163 0 N/A N/A

USDA

OVERALL 847 61 101 348 291 73 1 34 34
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 44

E. Pending requests – Ten Oldest Pending Perfected Requests

10th

Oldest

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

AMS Date

2012-05-02 2012-04-18 2012-04-12 2012-02-27 2012-01-24 2011-09-12 2011-09-01 2011-09-01 2011-08-03 2011-03-23

Numb

er of 

Days 102 114 116 147 167 255 260 260 281 370

APHIS

Date 2011-03-03 2011-02-09 2011-01-27 2011-12-28 2010-12-28 2010-12-27 2010-10-01 2010-05-14 2010-04-09 2009-01-28

Numb

er of 

Days 398 413 415 422 442 443 500 597 622 923

ASCR

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2012-09-18 2012-09-10

Numb

er of 

Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 14

DM

Date

2012-06-05 2012-03-30 2012-03-23 2012-03-14 2012-03-13 2012-02-14 2012-02-10 2012-02-10 2012-01-31 2011-12-22

Numb

er of 

Days 81 127 132 139 140 159 161 161 169 194

FAS

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2012-09-27 2012-09-27 2012-09-21 2012-09-19

Numb

er of 

Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 5 7

FNCS

Date 2012-09-14 2012-09-13 2012-09-11 2012-09-11 2012-09-10 2012-09-10 2012-09-04 2012-08-23 2012-08-16 2011-11-02

Numb

er of 

Days 10 11 13 13 14 14 18 25 30 228

FSA

Date 2012-08-14 2012-07-20 2012-07-16 2012-07-16 2012-06-21 2012-03-16 2011-12-28 2011-12-19 2011-11-16 2011-10-27

Numb

er of 

Days 32 49 54 54 69 137 191 197 219 232

FSIS Date 2010-07-14 2010-03-31 2010-03-05 2010-02-17 2009-12-02 2009-11-16 2009-11-12 2009-10-29 2009-10-23 2009-10-20

Numb

er of 

Days 556 629 647 659 710 721 723 732 736 739

FS

Date 2011-01-07 2011-01-05 2011-01-04 2011-01-03 2010-12-15 2010-11-09 2010-10-20 2010-10-07 2010-06-14 2010-01-19

Numb

er of 

Days 435 437 438 439 450 474 488 496 577 679

GIPSA

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2012-08-08 2012-06-28 2012-06-28 2012-03-09 2012-01-17

Numb

er of 

Days 0 0 0 0 0 36 64 64 142 179

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 2012-07-13 2012-06-04 2012-05-04 2012-03-20 2012-03-17 2012-03-15 2012-02-28 2012-02-27 2012-01-31 2011-12-05

Numb

er of 

Days 54 82 101 135 136 138 150 151 169 207

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 2012-05-30 2012-05-03

Numb

er of 

Days

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 85 103
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 45

10th

Oldest

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

OGC

Date 2012-07-10 2012-06-18 2012-04-19 2012-03-01 2011-12-22 2011-12-02 2011-11-15 2011-10-21 2011-03-29 2008-03-05

Numb

er of 

Days 57 85 113 148 194 208 220 235 380 1188

OIG

Date 2012-07-09 2012-06-19 2012-06-12 2012-05-29 2012-05-22 2012-05-09 2012-04-19 2012-04-19 2012-04-05 2012-01-11

Numb

er of 

Days 59 72 77 87 91 100 114 114 124 183

OSEC/OCIO

Date 2012-03-09 2011-11-15 2011-08-08 2011-08-05 2011-07-22 2011-06-22 2011-03-08 2010-12-12 2010-08-04 2010-03-12

Numb

er of 

Days 142 220 288 289 299 320 395 452 541 642

RD

Date 2011-10-05 2011-10-04 2011-08-26 2011-08-15 2011-07-11 2011-04-25 2011-02-07 2010-12-21 2010-11-30 2010-1124

Numb

er of 

Days 247 248 274 283 308 361 415 446 461 464

REE

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2012-09-17 2012-09-04 2012-07-31

Numb

er of 

Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 18 42

RMA

Date 2012-07-31 2012-07-31 2012-06-20 2012-05-30 2012-05-21 2012-03-08 2012-01-31 2011-09-02 2011-07-11 2009-11-16

Numb

er of 

Days 42 42 70 85 91 143 169 269 308 721

USDA

OVERALL

Date 2012-01-17 2009-12-02 2009-11-16 2009-11-16 2009-11-12 2009-10-29 2009-10-23 2009-10-20 2009-01-28 2008-03-05

Numb

er of 

Days 679 710 721 721 723 732 736 739 923 1188
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 46

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 5 3 1 1 8

APHIS 3 2 1 1 5

ASCR 0 0 0 0 0

DM 0 0 0 0 0

FAS 2 0 0 3.5 2

FNCS 1 0 1 1 1

FSA 7 444 0.5 1 451

FSIS 0 3 1 0.33 3

FS 8 9 7 13.94 9

GIPSA 1 0 1 1 1

NAD 0 0 0 0 0

NRCS 1 1 7 7 1

OBPA 0 0 0 0 0

OCFO 0 0 0 0 0

OGC 0 0 0 0 0

OIG 0 5 7 7 4

OSEC/OCIO 2 6 1 18.12 6

RD 0 0 0 0 0

REE 1 1 7 7 1

RMA 2 1 1 2.67 3

USDA

OVERALL 33 475 1 8.09 495
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 47

B. Requests for Fee Waiver

Number 

Granted

Number 

Denied

*Median 

Number of 

Days to 

Adjudicate

#Average 

Number of 

Days to 

Adjudicate

AMS 10 3 1 9

APHIS 3 0 1 0.33

ASCR 0 0 0 0

DM 1 2 5 7.67

FAS 1 0 4 4

FNCS 24 0 1 0.12

FSA 888 60 1 1

FSIS 6 8 1 1

FS 256 4 1 4.87

GIPSA 8 0 5 9.38

NAD 0 0 0 0

NRCS 10 1 8 8

OBPA 0 0 0 0

OCFO 2 0 11 11

OGC 0 0 0 0

OIG 0 0 0 0

OSEC/OCIO 7 0 1 1

RD 0 0 0 0

REE 9 0 1 1

RMA 8 0 0.5 13.38

USDA

OVERALL 1,233 78 1 4.93
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 48

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 6 7 $495,054.00 $0.00 $495,054.00

APHIS 19 0 19 $1,870,407.28 $52,385.34 $1,922,792.62

ASCR 1 0 1 $100,904.00 $0.00 $100,904.00

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

FAS 0 1 1 $134,261.00 $0.00 $134,261.00

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

FSA 12 100.03 112.03 $3,103,813.00 $0.00 $3,103,813.00

FSIS 6 1 7 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00

FS 15 60 75 $2,915,853.00 $6,000.00 $2,921,853.00

GIPSA 1.5 0.5 2 $150.00 $0.00 $150.00

NAD 1 0 1 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00

NRCS 1 2.6 3.6 $123,996.45 $0.00 $123,996.45

OBPA 0 0.1 0.1 $10,387.00 $0.00 $10,387.00

OCFO 2 0 2 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00

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

OIG 2 1.7 3.7 $423,856.41 $13,551.52 $437,407.93

OSEC/OCIO 4 1.7 5.7 $597,227.70 $0.00 $597,227.70

RD 3 1 4 $81,230 $0.00 $81,230

REE 1 0 1 $112,008.00 $0.00 $112,008.00

RMA 0 0.75 0.75 $1,529.04 $0.00 $0.00

USDA

FY2012

OVERALL

71.5 188.505 260.005 $11,153,996.88 $721,936.86 $11,875,933.74
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 49

X. FEES COLLECTED FOR PROCESSING

Total Amount of Fees

Collected

Percentage of Total 

Costs

AMS $2,894.00 0.58%

APHIS $1,123.54 0.06%

ASCR $163.00 0.16%

DM $0.00 0.00%

FAS $313.80 0.23%

FNCS $5,324.00 1.30%

FSA $32,419.00 1.04%

FSIS $0.00 0.00%

FS $457.87 0.02%

GIPSA $0.00 0.00%

NAD $0.00 0.00%

NRCS $145.00 0.12%

OBPA $0.00 0.00%

OCFO $0.00 0.00%

OGC $0.00 0.00%

OIG $0.00 0.00%

OSEC/OCIO $725.02 0.12%

RD $155.87 0.19%

REE $404.36 0.36%

RMA $861.62 56.35%

USDA

FY2012

OVERALL

$44,987.08 0.40%
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012 

Page 50 

XI – FOIA REGULATIONS

USDA’s FOIA regulations can be found at the following site: http://www.ecfr.gov/cgibin/retrieveECFR?gp=&SID=158c0aaf13f675cfd80cc507cb30b2bb&n=7y1.1.1.1.1&r=P

ART&ty=HTML#7:1.1.1.1.1.1. 

You can also access USDA’s regulations by clicking on the “FOIA Regulations” tab 

under “Related Topics” as shown below. 
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 51

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 4

APHIS 129 80

ASCR 0 0

DM 20 1

FAS 0 0

FNCS 1 18

FSA 12 0

FSIS 74 0

FS 215 29

GIPSA 4 0

NAD 0 1

NRCS 15 0

OBPA 0 0

OCFO 2 2

OGC 12 0

OIG 20 4

OSEC/OCIO 23 1

RD 189 10

REE 1 0

RMA 8 13

USDA

OVERALL 741 163
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 52

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 4 4 0

ASCR 0 0 0 0

DM 0 0 0 0

FAS 0 12 11 1

FNCS 0 0 0 0

FSA 0 0 0 0

FSIS 0 0 0 0

FS 1 5 6 0

GIPSA 1 0 1 0

NAD 0 0 0 0

NRCS 1 2 3 0

OBPA 0 5 5 0

OCFO 0 0 0 0

OGC 0 0 0 0

OIG 0 2 2 0

OSEC/OCIO 0 2 2 0

RD 0 1 0 1

REE 0 3 3 0

RMA 0 0 0 0

USDA

OVERALL 3 36 37 2

FSA: In FY2011, FSA reported (1) pending consultation. When this request was reviewed, it 

was determined that the request had been coded as a consultation in error. 

 

NRCS: In FY2011, NRCS had one pending consultation not noted. 
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 53

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 2012-09-19

Number of 

Days

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7

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 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

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

Number of 

Days

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

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

Number of 

Days

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

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

Number of 

Days

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

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

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 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 54

Component 10th

Oldest

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

Days

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

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

Number of 

Days

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 119

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

USDA

OVERALL

Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2012-09-19 2012-04-11

Number of 

Days

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 119
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 55

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 121 147 116 133

APHIS 884 943 982 899

ASCR 69 27 67 27

DM 79 71 80 41

FAS 42 41 45 40

FNCS 252 241 239 255

FSA 17,076 16,848 16,948 16,656

FSIS 294 308 375 426

FS 2,450 2,309 2,385 2,235

GIPSA 46 54 49 50

NAD 8 14 8 14

NRCS 301 361 298 313

OBPA 16 11 16 11

OCFO 37 30 37 29

OGC 30 29 28 27

OIG 135 128 136 113

OSEC/OCIO 89 111 52 144

RD 859 303 785 91

REE 165 127 176 127

RMA 112 72 117 55

USDA

OVERALL 23,065 22,175 22,939 21,686
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 56

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 16 16

APHIS 36 129

ASCR 0 0

DM 5 20

FAS 1 0

FNCS 18 1

FSA 3 12

FSIS 185 74

FS 125 215

GIPSA 1 4

NAD 1 0

NRCS 0 15

OBPA 0 0

OCFO 0 2

OGC 10 12

OIG 3 20

OSEC/OCIO 59 23

RD 179 189

REE 0 1

RMA 8 8

USDA

OVERALL 650 741
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 57

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 7 5 6 8

APHIS 24 36 11 23

ASCR 3 1 3 1

DM 1 2 1 1

FAS 0 0 0 0

FNCS 35 31 30 24

FSA 31 18 29 22

FSIS 1 3 1 7

FS 52 66 54 57

GIPSA 2 3 1 3

NAD 0 0 0 0

NRCS 15 11 15 13

OBPA 0 0 0 0

OCFO 0 4 2 2

OGC 1 0 3 1

OIG 13 10 12 12

OSEC/OCIO 3 4 2 3

RD 23 11 21 1

REE 2 2 2 1

RMA 12 3 1 1

USDA

OVERALL 225 210 194 180

OCFO: Please note that the number of appeals processed during the last fiscal year was 

modified. Specifically, in FY2011, OCFO reported having processed zero appeals. However, 

after data migration efforts, it was found that OCFO did in fact process two appeals. 
USDA FOIA Annual Report FY 2012

Page 58

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 4

APHIS 68 80

ASCR 0 0

DM 0 1

FAS 0 0

FNCS 7 18

FSA 2 0

FSIS 5 0

FS 14 29

GIPSA 1 0

NAD 1 1

NRCS 0 0

OBPA 0 0

OCFO 0 2

OGC 1 0

OIG 7 4

OSEC/OCIO 2 1

RD 18 10

REE 0 0

RMA 13 13

USDA

OVERALL 146 163

AMS: During FY2011 an appeal was closed due to litigation. Therefore the number of 

backlogged appeals as of the end of the fiscal year from the previous report has decreased by one. 

F. Discussion of Other FOIA Activities (Optional)