Freedom of Information Act Requests

            The Transatlantic Programs Center, like other Army Corps of Engineers organizations, processes requests for its public information and records. Requests must be in writing and should include "Freedom of Information Act Request" on the front of the envelope and at the beginning of the letter. No special form is required for a FOIA request. Electronic requests are permitted unless a signature is required, such as a request for records subject to the Privacy Act. Electronic requests should include the notation "Freedom of Information Act Request" in the subject.
Mail requests to:
Transatlantic Programs Center
US Army Corps of Engineers
ATTN:  CETAC-OC (FOIA)
PO Box 2250
Winchester VA 22604-1450

Or fax to:
(540) 665-4064

Or email:
FOIA-TAC@usace.army.mil

            Requests must state a willingness to pay applicable fees and must describe the documents requested in sufficient detail to allow the FOIA Office to locate them with a reasonable amount of effort. In making a request, be as specific as possible with regard to names, titles, dates, places, events, subjects, recipients, type of document, etc.
FOIA requests can be made for any agency document; however, this does not mean that all documents will be disclosed. There are statutory exemptions that authorize the withholding of information of a sensitive nature. Additionally, you should be aware that the FOIA does not require FOIA Offices to research or analyze data for you, to answer written questions, or to create records to respond to a request.

Once received

            When the FOIA Office receives your FOIA request, it will ordinarily send you a letter acknowledging the request. If you do not provide the necessary information, the Office will advise you of what additional information is required before further processing your request.
To protect your privacy and the privacy of others, when you request information about yourself you will be asked to provide either a notarized statement or a statement signed under penalty of perjury confirming your identity.  

Response Time

            Under the FOIA statute, Corps of Engineers FOIA Offices are to respond to a FOIA request within 20 business days. This time period does not begin until the request is received by the FOIA Office that maintains the documents sought. Although every effort to respond to FOIA requests as quickly as possible will be made, in some cases, because of the size of the request, the location of the documents, or a backlog of previously received requests, the specified time period simply cannot be met.

References

FOIA Statute

• Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) - link to the full text of the Act at the Department of Justice Web site.

FOIA Regulations - The Corps of Engineers is subject to DoD and Army FOIA Regulations:

• Department of Defense Freedom of Information Act Regulations, DoD 5400.7-R (Sep 1998); 32 CFR Part 286 - link to the Department of Defense's FOIA web site.
• Department of the Army Freedom of Information Act Regulations, AR25-55 (1 Nov 1997); 32 CFR Part 518 - link to the Department of Army's FOIA web site.

Helpful FOIA Links

• Department of the Army FOIA
• US Army Corps of Engineers FOIA
• Department of Defense FOIA
• Department of Justice/FOIA
• A Citizen's Guide to FOIA - House Committee on Government Reform guide to both the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act.

Privacy Act Information

• The Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. § 552a, as amended
• Overview of the Privacy Act of 1974

Other Useful Resources:

• USACE Annual FOIA Report
• Army Freedom of Information Act Electronic Reading Room
• Federal Register
• Code of Federal Regulations
• Public and Private Laws