NCPC routinely and promptly responds to informal requests from persons interested in reviewing a wide variety of agency documents. Materials such as project submissions and files, staff analyses and recommendations on projects, Commission meeting transcripts, and correspondence are available by calling the Commission's Office of the Secretariat at 202-482-7200. In addition, informal requests for information may be made thourgh NCPC's information line at info@ncpc.gov.
Depending on the information requested, Commission staff may be able to mail, fax, or electronically transmit the materials sought. In some cases, we will request that you come to the office to review the materials and in some instances there may be a nominal charge for photocopying. If the material you seek is substantial or requires significant staff time to locate or identify, NCPC may ask you to submit the request under the Freedom of Information Act.
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Procedures
The public is welcome to submit requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). NCPC addresses FOIA requests according to regulations issued to implement the Act. The regulations are available at 1 Code of Federal Regulations §456 and can be accessed here: http://www.access.gpo.gov.
Please address any FOIA request to: National Capital Planning Commission, 401 9th Street, NW, North Lobby, Suite 500, Washington, D.C. 20004, Attn: Chief FOIA Officer. NCPC’s Chief FOIA officer is: Lois Schiffer, General Counsel.
FOIA requests may also be submitted by email or fax to the attention of the Chief FOIA Officer. Email requests should be sent to Lois Schiffer and marked "FOIA Request" on the subject line. Send your fax to 202-482-7272.
NCPC has established a FOIA Requester Service Center. The Center will answer questions from FOIA requesters about the status of a FOIA request and appropriate information regarding the agency’s FOIA response. NCPC assigns a tracking number to each request and will notify a requester of the tracking number if NCPC has not responded to the request within 10 days. NCPC’s FOIA Center may be contacted by calling Priscilla Brown at 202-482-7212, or by email at Priscilla Brown.
NCPC’s Public Liaison for FOIA is Lois Schiffer, General Counsel. The Public Liaison may be reached by phone at 202-482-7223, or by e-mail at Lois Schiffer. A FOIA requester may raise concerns with the Public Liaison about the service the FOIA requester has received from the Center.
FOIA Plans and Reports
NCPC's 2008 Freedom of Information Act Annual Report
NCPC's 2007 Freedom of Information Act Annual Report
NCPC's 2006 Freedom of Information Act Annual Report
NCPC's 2005 Freedom of Information Act Annual Report
NCPC's Executive Order 13392 Implementation Plan
Updated Status Report on Executive Order 13392 Implementation for National Capital Planning Commission
Freedom of Information Act Resources
The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Information and Privacy provides guidelines for all federal agencies, including the National Capital Planning Commission. This Office has a helpful website http://www.usdoj.gov/oip/04_7.html that includes the following guides:
- Your Right to Federal Records: Questions and Answers on the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act (2006) (includes complete text of the law)
- DOJ FOIA Guide (March 2007)
- DOJ Privacy Act overview (May 2004)