From the Privacy Act Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:agri_000-40]                         

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

USDA/FSA-10

System name: 

       Investigation and Audit Reports, USDA/FSA-10.
     System location: 
       Executive Secretariat Staff, USDA/FSA, Stop 0504, PO Box 2415, 
   Washington, DC 20013-2415, Kansas City Commodity Office, 9200 Ward 
   Parkway, PO Box 419205, Kansas City, Missouri 64141-0205, Kansas City 
   Management Office, 8930 Ward Parkway, PO Box 419205, Kansas City, 
   Missouri 64141-0205. Each State FSA office at address listed in local 
   telephone directory under the heading ``United States Government, 
   Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency.''
     Categories of individuals covered by the system: 
       Individuals who are subjects of a formal investigation of alleged 
   program or administrative irregularities.
     Categories of records in the system: 
       Information in this system consists of files on investigations 
   and individuals, including program documents, investigation reports, 
   statements of observers, accident reports and agency reports.
     Authority for maintenance of the system:
       5 U.S.C. 301.
   Purpose(s): 
       To facilitate FSA's obligation to issue payments or benefits only 
   to those who are eligible to receive such payments or benefits under 
   law or agreement.
     Routine uses of records maintained in the system, including 
   categories of users and the purposes of such uses: 
       Records contained in this system may be disclosed:
       (1) To the appropriate agency, whether Federal, State, local or 
   foreign, charged with the responsibility of investigating or 
   prosecuting a violation of law, or enforcing or implementing a 
   statute, or a rule, regulation or order issued pursuant thereto, when 
   information available indicates a violation or potential violation of 
   law, whether civil, criminal or regulatory in nature and whether 
   arising by general statute or particular program statute, or by rule, 
   regulation or order issued pursuant thereto;
       (2) To a court, magistrate or administrative tribunal, or to 
   opposing counsel in a proceeding before any of the above, information 
   which constitutes evidence in that proceeding, or which is sought in 
   the course of discovery to the extent that what is disclosed is 
   relevant to the subject matter involved in a pending judicial or 
   administrative proceeding; and
       (3) To a congressional office from the record of an individual in 
   response to an inquiry from the congressional office made at the 
   request of the individual to whom the record pertains.
     Policies and practices for storing, retrieving, accessing, 
   retaining, and disposing of records in the system: 
     Storage: 
       The records are maintained in file folders and Department 
   computers at the applicable addresses listed above.
     Retrievability: 
       The records may be indexed by name of individual being 
   investigated or investigation case number.
     Safeguards: 
       The records are kept in secured Government buildings. Access is 
   limited to authorized FSA representatives. Computer files are 
   protected by authorization codes, passwords and other safeguard 
   technology.
     Retention and disposal: 
       Investigation records are retained for 10 years after case is 
   closed. Audit records are destroyed eight years after case is closed.
     System manager(s) and address: 
       Director, Executive Secretariat Staff, USDA/FSA, Stop 0504, PO 
   2415, Washington, DC 20013-2415.
     Notification procedure: 
       An individual may request information regarding this system of 
   records, or information as to whether this system contains records 
   pertaining to such individual from the System Manager listed above.
     Record access procedures: 
       An individual may obtain information about a record in the system 
   which pertains to such individual by submitting a written request to 
   the above listed System Manager. The envelope and letter should be 
   marked ``Privacy Act Request.'' A request for information should 
   contain: Name, address, ZIP code, name of the system of records, year 
   of records in question, and any other pertinent information to help 
   identify the file.
     Contesting record procedures: 
       Individuals desiring to contest or amend information maintained 
   in the system should direct their request to the above listed System 
   Manager, and should include the reason for contesting it and the 
   proposed amendment to the information with supporting information to 
   show how the record is inaccurate. A request for contesting records 
   should contain: Name, address, ZIP code, name of the system of 
   records, year of records in question, and any other pertinent 
   information to help identify the file.
     Record source categories: 
       Information in this system is provided by the individual, FSA 
   employees and representatives, third party observers, the Office of 
   Inspector General and other investigatory agencies.
     Systems exempted from certain provisions of the act: 
       This system has been exempted pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(k)(2) 
   from the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 552a (c)(3),(d), (e)(1), (e)(4) 
   (G), (H), and (I) and (f) because it consists of investigatory 
   material compiled for law enforcement purposes. Individual access to 
   these files could impair investigations and alert subjects of 
   investigations that their activities are being scrutinized, and thus 
   allow them time to take measures to prevent detection of illegal 
   action or escape prosecution. Disclosure of investigative techniques 
   and procedures, and of existence and identity of confidential sources 
   of information would hamper law enforcement activity.