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You are here: Home >  FOIA

Regulations

Code of Federal Regulations
Title 7, Volume 4, Parts 210 to 299
Revised as of January 1, 1998
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
CITE: 7CFR295


TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
CHAPTER II--FOOD AND CONSUMER SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
PART 295--AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION AND RECORDS TO THE PUBLIC

Sec.  295.1 General statement.
Sec.  295.2 Organizational description.
Sec.  295.3 Informational and educational publications.
Sec.  295.4 Program evaluation status reports.
Sec.  295.5 Program statistical reports.
Sec.  295.6 Public inspection and copying.
Sec.  295.7 Indexes.
Sec.  295.8 Requests.
Sec.  295.9 Appeals.

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301, 552; 7 CFR 1.1-1.23.
Source: 61 FR 39047, July 26, 1996, unless otherwise noted.

Sec. 295.1 General statement.

This part is issued in accordance with the regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture at 7 CFR 1.1-1.23, and appendix A, implementing the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552). The Secretary's regulations, as implemented by the regulations in this part, govern the 
availability of records of FCS to the public.

Sec. 295.2 Organizational description.

The description of the central and field organization of FCS is published as a notice in the Federal Register and may be revised from time to time in like manner. Such description contains a listing of FCS headquarters and field organizational units and their functions.

Sec. 295.3 Informational and educational publications.

FCS publishes a wide variety of informational and educational periodicals, pamphlets, brochures, leaflets, guides, and educational aids explaining the operation of FCS food assistance programs. For more information concerning FCS publications and how to obtain them, write the Director, Public Information Staff, Food and Consumer Service, USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302-1500.

Sec. 295.4 Program evaluation status reports.

FCS also publishes summaries of objectives and findings of completed studies and projects concerning evaluation of FCS food assistance programs. A copy of the current status report on completed studies may be obtained by writing the Director, Office of Analysis and Evaluation, Food and Consumer Service, USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302-1500.

Sec. 295.5 Program statistical reports.

Current and historical information on FCS food assistance program size, monetary outlays, geographic distribution, racial and ethnic participation rates, and other data is published throughout the year. Limited supplies are available for public distribution upon request. Write the Director, Program Information Division, Food and Consumer Service, USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302-1500.

Sec. 295.6 Public inspection and copying.

5 U.S.C. 552(a)(2) requires that certain informational materials be made available for public inspection and copying. Such materials maintained by FCS may be inspected and copied during regular office hours (currently 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Interested parties may submit requests to the FCS Records Management Officer, Information Technology Division, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302-1500.

Sec. 295.7 Indexes.

5 U.S.C. 552(a)(2) also requires an index of the materials required to be made available for public inspection and copying be published quarterly. Copies of this Index for FCS materials will be maintained for public inspection and copying during regular office hours in FCS Library, Room 810, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, Va. 22302-1500. Free copies of the current index may be obtained by writing or visiting any of the FCS offices listed in the local telephone directory or those 
listed below:

(a)  Records Management Officer, Information Technology Division, Food and Consumer Service, USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, Va. 22302-1500.
(b)  Director, Financial Management, Food and Consumer Service, USDA, 300 Corporate Blvd., Mercer Corporate Park, Robbinsville, NJ 08691-1518.
(c)  Director, Financial Management, Food and Consumer Service, USDA, 77 Forsyth Street, SW, Atlanta, GA 30303-3427.
(d)  Director, Financial and Administrative Management, Food and Consumer Service, USDA, 77 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, Illinois 60604-3507.
(e)  Director, Financial Management, Food and Consumer Service, USDA, 1100 Commerce St., Dallas, Texas 75242-9980.
(f)  Director, Financial Management, Food and Consumer Service, USDA, 550 Kearney St., San Francisco, CA 94108-2518.
(g)  Director, Financial Management, Food and Consumer Service, USDA, 10 Causeway Street, Boston, MA 02222-1069.
(h)  Director, Financial and Administrative Management, Food and Consumer Service, USDA, 1244 Speer Blvd., Denver, CO 80204-3581.

Sec. 295.8 Requests.

(a)  Requests for FCS program records under 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(3) shall be made in accordance with USDA Administrative Regulations 7 CFR 1.6 and addressed to the appropriate FCS official listed below:
(1)  Food Stamp program records--Requests for Food Stamp information should be addressed to the Director of the appropriate Division (Program Development Division, Benefit Redemption Division, or Program Accountability Division) at the following address: Food and Consumer Service, USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA, 22302-1500.
(2)  Child Nutrition Program records--Director, Child Nutrition Division, Food and Consumer Service, USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302-1500.
(3)  Food Distribution Program records--Director, Food Distribution Division, Food and Consumer Service, USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302-1500.
(4)  Supplemental Food Program records--Director, Supplemental Food Programs Division, Food and Consumer Service, USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302-1500.
(b)  If the requester is unable to determine the official to whom his request should be addressed, he should address it to: Freedom of Information Act Officer, Information Technology Division, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302. The Freedom of Information Act Officer will refer such requests to the appropriate official.
(c)  The officials outlined in paragraph (a) are authorized to make determinations in accordance with USDA Administrative Regulations at 7 
CFR 1.8.

Sec. 295.9 Appeals.

(a) Any person whose request for records is denied shall have the right to appeal that denial in accordance with USDA Administrative Regulations 7 CFR 1.13. All appeals shall be addressed to: 
Administrator, Food and Consumer Service, USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302-1500.
(b)  The following officials are delegated authority to make decisions on Freedom of Information Act appeals at the address above:
(1)  Food Stamp program (general)--Deputy Administrator, Food Stamp Program;
(2)  Food Stamp program (appeals on names of Food Stamp Investigators and Investigative aids)--Director, Benefit Redemption Division;
(3)  Child Nutrition program--Deputy Administrator, Special Nutrition Programs;
(4)  Food Distribution program--Deputy Administrator, Special Nutrition Programs;
(5)  Supplemental Food program--Deputy Administrator, Special Nutrition Programs;
(6)  Management offices--Deputy Administrator, Management;
(7)  Financial Management offices--Deputy Administrator, Financial Management;
(8)  Appeals not covered above--Associate Administrator, FCS.


Last modified: 02/16/2012