Home > About USPS & News > Forms & Publications > Postal Periodicals and Publications > Handbooks > Handbook AS-353 - Guide to Privacy, the Freedom of Information Act, and Records Management > 4 Freedom of Information Act Procedures
4 Freedom of Information Act Procedures
4-1 General
4-2 How to Make a Freedom of Information Act Request
4-2.1 Format and Content
4-2.2 Requests for Expedited Processing
4-2.3 Requests for Fee Waivers
4-2.4 Where to Direct Freedom of Information Act Requests
4-3 How to Process a Freedom of Information Act Request
4-3.1 General
4-3.2 Requests That Are Insufficient, Misdirected, or for Records That Do Not Exist
4-3.3 Searches
4-3.4 Releasing Records
4-3.5 Withholding Records
4-3.6 Appeal Rights
4-3.7 Time Limits
4-3.8 Retention
4-4 Records Available to the Public
4-4.1 Reading Rooms
4-4.2 Business Change of Address
4-4.3 Permit Holder Data
4-4.4 Postage Evidencing System User Data
4-5 Records Which May Be Withheld From Disclosure
4-5.1 Exemption 1 (5 USC 552(b)(1)) — National Defense and Foreign Relations
4-5.2 Exemption 2 (5 USC 552(b)(2)) — Personnel Rules and Practices
4-5.3 Exemption 3 (5 USC 552(b)(3)) — Federal Law
4-5.4 Exemption 4 (5 USC 552(b)(4)) — Trade Secrets and Privileged Information
4-5.5 Exemption 5 (5 USC 552(b)(5)) — Internal or Interagency Information
4-5.6 Exemption 6 (5 USC 552(b)(6)) — Personal Information
4-5.7 Exemption 7 (5 USC 552(b)(7)) — Law Enforcement Records
4-5.8 Exemption 8 (5 USC 552 (b)(8)) — Financial Institutions
4-5.9 Exemption 9 (5 USC 552 (b)(9)) — Geological Information
4-6 Fees
4-6.1 General
4-6.2 Aggregate Requests
4-6.3 Fee Waivers
4-6.4 Requester Categories
4-6.5 How to Assess Fees
4-6.6 Advance Notice and Payment
4-6.7 Accounting for Fees
4-7 Appeals
4-7.1 General
4-7.2 Time Limit
4-7.3 Required Appeal Elements
4-7.4 Final Decision
4-8 Reporting
4-8.1 General
4-8.2 Submissions
4-8.3 FOIA Annual Report
