SNAP benefits for Hildale, UT & Colorado City, AZ
| Tracking # |
2016-FNS-03400-F; 16.00037 |
| Submitted | March 19, 2016 |
| Est. Completion | May 16, 2016 |
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Communications
From: Ben Winslow
To Whom It May Concern:
This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:
Data on Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program benefits administered to Hildale, Utah and Colorado City, Arizona, from 2005 to present. Specifically, I am looking for information on how many people applied for and received SNAP benefits from the U.S. Government during that time period. I am not requesting specific names (which can be redacted), but if there is data on how many people per household applied for and/or claimed food stamps and other government benefits.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Ben Winslow
FOX 13 News
Salt Lake City, Utah
From: FOIA STAFF
Your request has been received. Please see attachment for additional information. Thank you.
FOIA/PA
USDA Office of the Inspector General
--------------------------------
From: FOIA STAFF
Good morning Mr. Winslow.
This e-mail pertains to your FOIA request to USDA, OIG. Your request was assigned FOIA Log No. 16-00037.
After careful review of your FOIA request, we have determined that it does not specifically identify the records you are seeking. Records must be described in reasonably sufficient detail to enable government employees who are familiar with the subject area to locate records without placing an unreasonable burden upon the agency. See 7 C.F.R. § 1.5(b). Where possible, a requester should supply specific information regarding dates, titles, names of individuals, names of offices, and name of agencies or organizations that may help identify the records. The FOIA does not require an agency to create new records, answer questions posed by requesters, or attempt to interpret a request that does not identify specific records.
It is clear that you seek data pertaining to Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in the cities of Hildale, Utah and Colorado City, Arizona.
Can you please clarify the following portions of your request regarding the specific data you seek so that we can determine if OIG maintains that data:
· The time frame listed is 2005 – present. Do you seek data from January 1, 2005, up to today’s date (current data)?
· The information you seek is vaguely described; please clarify the specific data sets you seek.
· Please specify the “other government benefits” for which you seek data, and the specific data you seek pertaining to those benefits.
If we do not hear from you within 20 business days from the date of this e-mail, we will assume you are no longer interested in this FOIA request, and the case will be administratively closed. Please be advised that this action is not a denial of your request and will not preclude you from filing other requests in the future.
Sincerely yours,
FOIA Staff
USDA, OIG
From: Ben Winslow
Thank you very much for a speedy response to my query, which was assigned FOIA Log No. 16-00037
To answer your questions:
· The time frame listed is 2005 – present. Do you seek data from January 1, 2005, up to today’s date (current data)?
I would like data January 1, 2005 to March 24, 2016.
· The information you seek is vaguely described; please clarify the specific data sets you seek.
What I am seeking is numbers of how many households have claimed SNAP benefits in Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Arizona. I am also seeking numbers of how many people have claimed SNAP benefits in Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Arizona. If it possible, I would like a breakdown of adults and children and if that can even be divided per household.
· Please specify the “other government benefits” for which you seek data, and the specific data you seek pertaining to those benefits.
I believe the other benefit administered by DAG is Women, Infants & Children benefits, so I am requesting similar data on WIC for Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, if that is possible.
Regards,
-Ben Winslow
FOX 13 News
Salt Lake City, Utah
From: FOIA STAFF
The attached letter responds to your FOIA request to OIG, USDA.
Please see attachment.
Thank you,
FOIA/PA Staff
USDA Office of Inspector General
-------------------------
From: Ben Winslow
Please see the below request, which according to the last communication, was forwarded to your office. Thank you.
From: Department of Agriculture, Food, Nutrition and Consumer Sciences - FNCS
The request has been forwarded from one agency to another agency or department for further review or follow up.
From: Flavin, Jennifer
None
From: Weatherly, Jennifer
Please see attached response.
__________________
United States
Department of
Agriculture
Food and
Nutrition
Service
3101 Park
Center Drive
Alexandria, VA
22302-1500
April 28, 2016
Ben Winslow FOX 13 News - Salt Lake City, Utah MuckRock News DEPT MR 24606 411A Highland Ave Somerville, MA 02144-2516
Dear Ben Winslow:
This is in response to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request dated March 19, 2016. Your request was received on March 18, 1916. You requested the following information:
“Data on Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program benefits administered to Hildale, Utah and Colorado City, Arizona, from 2005 to present. Specifically, I am looking for information on how many people applied for and received SNAP benefits from the U.S. Government during that time period. I am not requesting specific names (which can be redacted), but if there is data on how many people per household applied for and/or claimed food stamps and other government benefits.
I believe the other benefit administered by DAG is Women, Infants & Children benefits, so I am requesting similar data on WIC for Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, if that is possible.”
The Food and Nutrition Service does not maintain city or county level data in our National Data Base for Arizona and Utah. This information is maintained by the State Agency. This is the same for the WIC data. Therefore, we are submitting a no records response. We recommend that you submit your request to each state.
If you are dissatisfied with our response to your FOIA request, you may appeal by writing to the Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service at 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302 or by email to FOIA@fns.usda.gov within 45 days from the date of this letter. The phrase “FOIA APPEAL” should be placed in capital letters on the front of the envelope or in the subject of the email containing the appeal.
Sincerely,
//Signed//
Jennifer Weatherly
FNS FOIA Officer
cc:
ISB:Bradshaw - 130
ITD:ISB:BRADSHAW:sb:305-2244:09/09/99
RECALL:MURPHY.DOC
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