This part is issued in accordance with 7 CFR 1.3 of the Department of Agriculture regulations governing the availability of records (7 CFR 1.1-1.23 and Appendix A) under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552. The Department's regulations, as supplemented by the regulations in this part, provide guidance for any person wishing to request records from Office of Operations.
(a) Background. 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(2) requires that each agency maintain and make available for public inspection and copying certain kinds of records.
(b) Procedure. To gain access to OO records that are available for public inspection, contact the division that maintains them. See Appendix A, List of Addresses, for the location and hours of operation.
(a) Background. 15 U.S.C. 552(a)(2) also requires that each agency maintain and make available for public inspection and copying current indexes provided identifying information for the public with regard to any records which are made available for public inspection and copying. OO does not maintain any materials within the scope of these requirements.
(a) Background. The head of each OO division, each OO contracting officer, each OO leasing officer, and the OO FOIA officer is authorized to:
(1) Grant or deny requests for OO records.
(2) Make discretionary release of OO records when it is determined that the public interest in disclosure outweighs the public and/or private ones in withholding.
(3) Reduce or waive fees to be charged where determined to be appropriate.
(4) Refer a request to the OO FOIA Officer for determination.
(b) Procedures. Persons wishing to request records from the Office of Operations may do so as follows:
(1) How. Submit each initial request for OO records as prescribed in 7 CFR 1.6.
(2) Where. Submit each initial request to the head of the unit that maintains the records. See Appendix A, List of Addresses. Contact the FOIA Officer for guidance as needed. Or, submit the request to the FOIA Officer for forwarding to the proper officials: FOIA Officer, Office of Operations, USDA, Room 134-W Administration Building, 14th & Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250.
Procedure. Any person whose initial request is denied in whole or in part may appeal that denial, in accordance with 7 CFR 1.6(e) and 1.8, to the Director, Office of Operations, USDA, Room 113-W Administration Building, 14th & Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250.
Department regulations provide for a schedule of reasonable standard charges for document search and duplication. See 7 CFR 1.2(b). Fees to be charged are set forth in 7 CFR part 1, subpart A, appendix A.
Section 1. General
This list provides the titles and mailing address of officials who have custody of OO records. The normal working hours of these offices are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, exclusing holidays, during which public inspection and copying of certain kinds of records is permitted.
Section 2. List of Addresses
All of the following addresses are located at 14th Street and Independence Avenue, Washington, DC. Address mail as follows:
Director, Office of Operations, USDA, Room 113-W Administration Building, Washington, DC 20250.
FOIA Officer, Office of Operations, USDA, Room 134-W Administration Building, Washington, DC 20250.
Chief, Administrative Unit, Office of Operations, USDA, Room 134-W, Washington, DC 20250.
Chief, Executive Services Division, Office of Operations, USDA, Room 10-A, Administration Building, Washington, DC 20250.
Chief, Facilities Management Division, Office of Operations, USDA, Room S-313 South Building, Washington, DC 20250.
Chief, Mail and Reproduction Management Division, Office of Operations, USDA, Room 1540 South Building, Washington, DC 20250.
Chief, Personal Property Management Division, Office of Operations, USDA Room 1524 South Building, Washington, DC 20250.
Chief, Procurement Division, Office of Operations, USDA, Room 1550 South Building, Washington, DC 20250.
Chief, Real Property Management Division, Office of Operations, USDA, Room 1566, South Building, Washington, DC 20250.