Guidelines for
Submitting a Public Records Request
The Nevada
Department of Agriculture appreciates your interest in the public documents
associated with our programs and statutory duties. For your convenience,
below are some notes regarding public requests for information. Please feel
free to contact us if you have any questions.
- Due
to the volume of requests, records accessibility, staff availability,
and legal constraints, the Department may need a few days or even weeks
to locate and produce requested records.
- Complete the
Department's Public Records Request form and mail, email or deliver the
requests directly to the Department's Sparks headquarters. The office
will coordinate the records search and a response with appropriate
staff.
- Be specific and reduce the scope of the request as much
as possible. Details regarding locations, dates or contract numbers
are helpful. This will focus and expedite the records search.
- Include the requestor's contact information, preferably with
email and physical mailing addresses and a daytime phone
number.
- Pursuant to NRS Chapter 239.0107, the Department will
acknowledge receipt of a request and provide a status report within five
business days. The office will provide a staff contact point and, if
necessary, ask for clarification so it can expedite the search for
records relevant to your needs.
- Records are not always readily
accessible and may be located in archived files.
- To save
time, prior to visiting the office to see documents or files that may
or may not be on-hand, the Department asks that a request be made
by either letter or email before visiting the office.
- Please
keep in mind that the Department may also charge for copies and
staff time in accordance with NRS 239.055 (see policy below).
We appreciate your patience. Your request is a
priority for our staff, and we will respond as quickly, accurately and
thoroughly as possible.
Nevada Department of Agriculture's Public Records Request Form
Nevada Public Records Act Manual
A request may be made
to the Department's Public Records Officer by completing the Department's
Public Records request form and submitting it either by mail, email or
deliver it directly to the Department's Sparks headquarters office at:
Attn: Public Records
Request
Nevada Department of Agriculture - Main Office
405 South 21st
Street
Sparks, NV 89431
NDA
Records Official
Ciara Ressel, Public Information Officer
E-mail
Fee Schedule for Public Records
Requests
These fees
apply to the Nevada Department of Agriculture and will be posted in a
conspicuous place. The Department is responsible for implementing the
below procedures in accordance with the Nevada Open Records Law (Nevada
Revised Statute 239.055).
1. Invoices. Any fees imposed must be
invoiced and must detail each of the four costs: staff time, copies,
scanning/e-mail/online posting, and postage.
2.
Cost estimates. Before further processing, the
requester will be notified in writing and required to remit payment in
full. If the final costs are less than estimated, the requester will be
reimbursed any difference.
3. Staff time. In accordance with
Nevada Revised Statute 239.055, fees may be charged for extraordinary
staff time -- up to $0.50 per page -- for processing, researching, copying, legal/technical
review, or viewing.
4.
Copying costs:
- Black
& White: $0.10 per page.
- Color: $0.50 per page.
- Compact Disk/DVD: $5 per disk.
- Certified
Copies: $5 per page.
- Electronic Scanning to E-mail, CD or FTP: $0.10 per
page.
5.
Postage/shipping. All shipping will be via USPS unless
otherwise requested. Postage and shipping costs will be reimbursed by the
requester.
6. Payment. Checks or money orders must be
payable to the "Nevada Department of Agriculture". Partial payment of
estimated fees is required prior to commitment of substantial staff time
and effort. Full payment of actual fees is required before any records will
be provided.
7. Use of outside copying services. If
estimated staff time exceeds four (4) hours, outside vendors/contractors
may be utilized under the direction of the Department. Actual vendor costs
in addition to staff time, if warranted, will be charged to the
requester.
Additional
Information