|
Welcome
Leadership
Organization
USDA Employee
Directory
Strategic Plan
Inside APHIS
APHIS
Visitor Center
USDA's
Quality of Information Requests
Email
Us
Privacy Statement
EEO Statement
USDA | MRP
Return to Home Page
|
|
United States Department of Agriculture
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Quality of Information Requests
In order to ensure the quality, objectivity, utility and objectivity
of information, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
has established procedures to allow members of the public to seek and
obtain correction of information it disseminates. We in APHIS have done
this in accordance with Section 515 of Public Law 106-554, codified
at 44 U.S.C. 3516, and in accordance with USDA’s Quality of Information
Guidelines available at: http://www.ocio.usda.gov/irm/qi_guide/index.html
Information to be Submitted with a Request for Correction
To seek a correction of information, please submit a written request
as follows:
• State that your request for correction of information is submitted
under Section 515 of Public Law 106-554 or under USDA's Information
Quality Guidelines.
• Include your name, mailing address, fax number (or e-mail address),
telephone number, and organizational affiliation, if any.
• Clearly describe the information you believe to be in error
and want corrected. Include the name of APHIS’ publication, report
or information product, the date of its issuance, and a detailed description
of the information you feel should be corrected.
• State in detail why you feel the information should be corrected
and, if possible, recommend specifically how it should be corrected.
Please clarify which USDA Information Quality Guidelines were not followed
or were not sufficient. Provide documentary evidence, such as comparable
data, which will help in our review.
• Explain how you use the information and how you have been harmed
by the alleged error.
We do not intend this guidance to be a set of legally binding requirements.
However, we may be unable to meet your request in a timely fashion,
or at all, if you omit one or more of these elements. We do not intend
to imply that, as an individual, you have any rights to request amendment
of your own records beyond those permitted by the Privacy Act of 1974
or other organization specific laws.
Where to Submit a Formal Request for Correction
Please submit your request for correction of APHIS information by
letter, fax, or email to:
Natalie A. Roberts, Ph.D.
Quality of Information Officer
USDA/APHIS/Policy and Program Development, Unit 120
Riverdale, MD 20737
FAX: 301 734-5899
EMAIL: natalie.a.roberts@usda.gov
Agency Review of Requests
Based on its review of the information you provide, APHIS will:
• Determine whether a correction is warranted and, if so, what
action to take. The nature, influence, and timeliness of the information
involved, the significance of the correction, and the magnitude of the
effort will be considered in deciding the level of review and any corrective
action.
• Respond to you by letter, e-mail, or fax within 20 working days.
Our response will explain the findings of the review and the actions
we will take. If your request will require more than 20 working days
to resolve, we will state the reason for the additional time and provide
an estimated decision date.
• Inform you of your appeal rights and the appeal process, if
your request will not be met.
We are continually seeking to improve our Quality of Information Guidelines.
Please submit comments and suggestions about these guidelines to: Natalie
A. Roberts, Ph.D., Quality of Information Officer.
Public Disclosure of Requests for Correction of Information Disseminated
by APHIS and Requests for Reconsideration of Decisions
Requests for Correction Received
Oct. 2002 – Mar. 2003 -- None
Apr. 2003 – Jun. 2003 – None
Jul. 2003 – Sep. 2003 – None
Oct. 2003 – Dec. 2003 – None
Jan. 2004 – May 2004 – None
Requests for Reconsideration of APHIS Decisions
Oct. 2002 – Mar. 2003 – None
Apr. 2003 – Jun. 2003 – None
Jul. 2003 – Sep. 2003 – None
Oct. 2003 – Dec. 2003 – None
Jan. 2004 – May 2004 – None
PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT
USDA is authorized to obtain certain information under Section 515
of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act for Fiscal
Year 2001 (Public Law No. 106-554, codified at 44 U.S.C. 3516, note).
Information is needed by USDA to process the request for correction
and allow USDA to reply accordingly. This information is needed by USDA
to respond to the requestor and initiate follow-up contact with the
requestor if required. Requestors should not send USDA their Social
Security Number. Requestors are advised that they do not have to furnish
the information but failure to do so may prevent their request from
being processed. The information requestors furnish is almost never
used for any purpose other than to process and respond to their request.
However, USDA may disclose information to a congressional office in
response to an inquiry made on behalf of the requestor, to the Department
of Justice, a court, other tribunal when the information is relevant
and necessary to litigation, or to a contractor or another Federal agency
to help accomplish a function related to this process.
|
|