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Guide for Obtaining InformationThe following questions and answers are designed to assist you in obtaining information under the FOIA. A complete copy of the DOI FOIA regulations, 43 CFR, Part 2, Subparts A thru E can be located at: http://www.doi.gov/foia/policy.html.
A great deal of information is available to the public without filing a FOIA request. Examples are Departmental policies, procedures, and organizational descriptions. Many items are available electronically on either the Department or Bureau websites. If you are not sure where to begin your search, a list of FOIA contacts/liaisons is available at http://www.doi.gov/foia/contacts.html. Yes. Although a request for this type of information is not a FOIA request, the bureau will send you the requested information and charge you for the copies, according to the fee schedule in 43 CFR, Part 2, Appendix C. No. A request for documents under the FOIA must be in
writing. You may submit a request through the postal mail,
by email, or by fax. In accordance with the DOI regulations,
you must provide a return address. Additionally, if you
modify your request, you must verify the change in writing to
the appropriate FOIA office processing the request. Otherwise,
processing will not begin. In order for a record to be considered subject to your FOIA
request, it must be in the bureau’s possession and control
at the time the bureau begins its search for responsive records.
There is no obligation for the bureau to create or compile a
record to satisfy a FOIA request (for example, by combining or
compiling selected items from manual files, preparing a new computer
program, calculating proportions, percentages, frequency distributions,
trends and comparisons, or creating maps). If you are filing a Privacy Act request, include a written authorization signed by: You should also provide any additional information required in the Privacy Act System of Records Notice. Generally, you may choose the form or format of disclosure for records. Bureaus must provide the record(s) in the requested form/format if the office responding to the request can readily reproduce the record in that form/format with reasonable efforts. Applicable FOIA fees will apply regardless of the format. Submit your request in writing either through postal mail, email, or fax to the FOIA Contact at the bureau or office where you believe the records are maintained. If it is unclear where to send your request, seek assistance from the FOIA Contact of the bureau that manages the programs whose records you are requesting or the Departmental FOIA Officer. Addresses and other pertinent information are located at http://www.doi.gov/foia/contacts.html. When your request is received by the appropriate bureau or office, it will be given a processing number. At that time, the FOIA staff will determine whether your request is ‘perfected,’ meaning that the request addresses and complies with the Department’s requirements under the FOIA. The bureau or office will send an acknowledgement letter or card providing you with the processing or reference number. Ordinarily, a bureau has 20 workdays from the date of receipt to respond to your request. If you have not received a response within 20 workdays or 30 workdays if an extension has been taken (be sure to allow for mailing time), you may contact the bureau FOIA Office to ask about the delay. You should contact the person listed in the acknowledgement letter as the point of contact for your request to check the status. You may also contact the appropriate FOIA Requester Service Center or FOIA Public Liaison at www.doi.gov/foia/liaison.html to check the status of your request. You also have the right to consider any non-response within these time limits as a denial of records and file a formal appeal or lawsuit. NOTE: These time limits do not apply to requests for expedited processing. The 20 workday time limit begins to run when a request complying with the procedures in 43 CFR §§ 2.8 and 2.10, is received by the FOIA contact at the bureau/office that has the records you are seeking and all issues regarding fees and the scope of your request are resolved. The Department of the Interior uses three tracks in processing FOIA requests: Simple, Normal, and Complex. When the FOIA office acknowledges your request, if it has been placed in the Complex track for processing, it should include this in the letter. At that time, you may wish to modify your request. If you modify your request, you must provide written documentation stating what the modification is before the FOIA office can limit or modify the scope. The written documentation can be an email, fax. or another letter. It MAY NOT be verbal. The FOIA office will let you know if modification of your request changes the processing track. Bureaus will charge fees consistent with the provisions in 43 CFR, Part 2, §§ 2.16 and 2.17. Please see the FOIA fee chart to obtain the current processing fees. Further information regarding FOIA processing can be found at 43 CFR, Part 2, Subparts A thru E, as amended, located at: http://www.doi.gov/foia/policy.html; the DOI FOIA website: www.doi.gov/foia, and/or the bureau websites listed at www.doi.gov/foia/contacts.html. The DOI FOIA regulations can be located at: www.doi.gov/foia/policy.html. If you have comments or questions, you may contact the DOI FOIA Office at: 202-208-2588 or 202-208-5342. |