This part is issued in accordance with the regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture at 7 CFR 1.1 through 1.16, 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 the FSA and Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to the public.

5 U.S.C. 552(a)(2) requires that certain materials be made available for public inspection and copying. Members of the public may request access to such materials maintained by FSA and/or CCC at the Office of the Director, Information Division, Farm Service Agency, Room 3608 South Building, P.O. Box 2415, Washington, DC 20013, between the hours of 8:15 and 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday.

5 U.S.C. 552(a)(2) requires that each agency publish or otherwise make available a current index of all materials required to be made available for public inspection and copying. FSA maintains an index of FSA National Handbooks, CCC Board Dockets, decisions of the Board of Contract Appeals of the Department of Agriculture affecting FSA or CCC, and Marketing Quota Review Committee determinations. In view of the small number of public requests for such index, publication of the index is unnecessary and impractical. The index is maintained and available to the public at the office shown in § 798.2 and copies of the index are available upon request in person or by mail to that office.

Request for records under 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(3) shall be made in accordance with 7 CFR 1.3. Reasonable requests for material not in existence may also be honored where their compilation will not unduly interfere with FSA operations and programs. Each FSA office in the field and each FSA office and division in Washington (see statement of Organization and Functions of FSA, 40 FR 18815, and of CCC, 35 FR 14951, and any amendments thereto) is designated as an “information center” and shall make space available to inspect and copy records in their custody not exempted from disclosure. Copies of records shall also be made available upon request. The head of each office or division is authorized to receive requests for records and to make determinations regarding requests for records in the office's custody in accordance with 7 CFR 1.4(c). Requests to Washington divisions and offices shall be addressed to USDA, FSA, P.O. Box 2415, Washington, D.C. 20013. The heads of FSA field offices shall be addressed as listed in the local telephone directory under “U.S. Government, Department of Agriculture, FSA”. Names and addresses of heads of field offices may also be obtained from the office indicated in § 798.2.

Any person whose request under § 798.4 of this part is denied shall have the right to appeal such denial. This appeal shall be submitted in accordance with 7 CFR 1.3(e) and addressed to the Administrator, FSA (Executive Vice-President, CCC), USDA, FSA, P.O. Box 2415, Washington, D.C. 20013.

This schedule supplements the fee schedule in 7 CFR, part 1, subpart A, appendix A and sets forth the fees to be charged by FSA for providing copies of records, materials, and services not covered in appendix A:

(a) Records, materials and services furnished without cost.

(1) One copy each of related directives, or blank forms required by FSA for program participation, if requester is a program participant.

(2) List of names and addresses of county and/or community committee members, and names of county employees in the county.

(3) One copy of an investigation report furnished to an appellant for a program appeal.

(b) Records, materials and services for which fees are charged.

(1) National handbooks. Three dollars for the first copy. One dollar for each additional copy. (The term “copy” includes all national amendments to date. They will be furnished separately for the requester to assemble).

(2) Field supplementation to national handbooks. Five cents per page, not to exceed $3, for each supplement.

(3) Computerized records. The requester shall furnish the necessary reels when computerized records are furnished on magnetic tape.