[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 248 (Wednesday, December 27, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 66862-66863]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-31185]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Economic Research Service

7 CFR Part 3701


Availability of Information

AGENCY: Economic Research Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This document amends regulations of the Economic Research 
Service (ERS) regarding the availability of information to the public 
in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to notify the 
public of a change in the location of the ERS FOIA Coordinator and the 
location where published data is available.

EFFECTIVE DATE: December 27, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Stasia A.M. Hutchison, FOIA Coordinator, Agricultural Research Service, 
USDA, 6303 Ivy Lane, Room 456, Greenbelt, MD 20770, (301) 344-2207.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FOIA (5 U.S.C. 552(a)(1)) requires 
Federal agencies to publish in the Federal Register regulations 
describing how the public may obtain information from the agency. This 
part is issued in accordance with the regulations of the Secretary of 
Agriculture at 7 CFR part 1, subpart A, implementing FOIA. This 
document amends 7 CFR part 3701 to inform the public of the change in 
location of the FOIA Coordinator for ERS delegated the authority to 
make initial determinations on FOIA requests in accordance with 7 CFR 
1.3(a)(3), and the location where published data are available to the 
public.
    This rule relates to internal agency management. Therefore, 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553, notice of proposed rulemaking and opportunity 
for comment are not required, and this rule may be made effective less 
than 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. Further, since 
this rule relates to internal agency management, it is exempt from the 
provisions of Executive Orders 12778 and 12866. Also, this rule will 
not cause a significant economic impact or other substantial effect on 
small entities. Therefore, the requirements of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., do not apply.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 3701

    Freedom of information.

    Accordingly, 7 CFR part 3701 is revised to read as follows:

PART 3701--PUBLIC INFORMATION

Sec.
3701.1  General statement.
3702.2  Public inspection, copying, and indexing.
3701.3  Request for records.
2701.4  Denials.
3701.5  Appeals.
3701.6  Requests for published data and information.

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301 and 552; 7 CFR part 1, subpart A.


Sec. 3701.1  General statement.

    This part is issued in accordance with the regulations of the 
Secretary of Agriculture in part 1, subpart A of this title, 
implementing the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552). The 
Secretary's regulations, as implemented by the regulations in this 
part, govern the availability of records of the Economic Research 
Service (ERS) to the public.


Sec. 3701.2  Public inspection, copying, and indexing.

    5 U.S.C. 552(a)(2) requires that certain materials be made 
available for public inspection and copying and that a current index of 
these materials be published quarterly or otherwise be made available. 
Members of the public may request access to such materials maintained 
by ERS at the following office: Information Staff, Agricultural 
Research Service, USDA, 6303 Ivy Lane, Room 456, Greenbelt, MD 20770; 
Telephone (301) 344-2207. Office Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.


Sec. 3701.3  Request for records.

    Requests for records of ERS shall be made in accordance with 
Sec. 1.6 (a) and (b) of this title and submitted to the FOIA 
Coordinator, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, 6303 Ivy Lane, Room 
456, Greenbelt, MD 20770; Telephone (301) 344-2207, Facsimile (301) 
344-2325, TDD (301) 344-2425. The FOIA Coordinator is delegated 
authority to make determinations regarding such requests in accordance 
with Sec. 1.3(a)(3) of this title.


Sec. 3701.4  Denials.

    If the FOIA Coordinator determines that a requested record is 
exempt from mandatory disclosure and that 

[[Page 66863]]
discretionary release would be improper, the FOIA Coordinator shall 
give written notice of denial in accordance with Sec. 1.8(a) of this 
title.


Sec. 3701.5  Appeals.

    Any person whose request is denied shall have the right to appeal 
such denial. Appeals shall be made in accordance with Section 1.6(e) of 
this title and should be addressed as follows: Administrator, Economic 
Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250.


Sec. 3701.6  Requests for published data and information.

    Information on published data from ERS programs is contained in the 
ERS ``Reports'' newsletter, available without cost from the Economic 
Research Service, Information Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
1301 New York Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20005.

    Done at Washington, DC, this 19th day of December 1995.
John Dunmore,
Acting Administrator, Economic Research Service.
[FR Doc. 95-31185 Filed 12-26-95; 8:45 am]
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