Public Justice Foundation v. Farm Service Agency

INTRODUCTION

18 In this FOIA action, food safety, environmental, and animal rights groups seek disclosure 19 of information held by the Farm Service Agency regarding federal loans to farmers.

STATEMENT

21 Plaintiffs Public Justice Foundation, Animal Legal Defense Fund, Center for Biological 22 Diversity, Center for Food Safety, and Food & Water Watch are advocacy organizations 23 promoting a sustainable and ethical food system. Plaintiffs use FOIA requests to monitor 24 compliance with applicable laws, to draw public attention to issues within our food system, and 25 to advocate for policy changes (Compl. ¶¶ 1–2). 26 Defendant Farm Service Agency, a division of the Department of Agriculture, provides 27 loans and loan guarantees to farmers and agricultural operations. Plaintiffs contend that FSA’s loan administration must comply with the National Environmental Policy Act by reviewing potential environmental impacts of projects that FSA supports with its farm loan program (Compl. ¶¶ 1–2). (This action, however, is not a NEPA action.) To monitor FSA’s administration of the farm loan program, plaintiffs have submitted FOIA requests for…