Date

(Requester’s Address)

Subject:  Freedom of Information Act Request 2007-00___

Dear (Mr. Ms. Mrs. ________)

This letter is in reference to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request of (date of request letter) for records relating to (restatement of what requester is seeking).

NOAA has determined that the cost for searching for responsive documents will exceed $20.00. Pursuant to the Code of Federal Regulations 15 CFR Part 4.11(e), we are providing you with a fee estimate. The fee estimate is determined in accordance with the uniform fee schedule established in 15 CFR Part 4.11(c)(i) for requesters that fall in the (requester's fee category).

We estimate that the cost to search for responsive records will be approximately $_____. This estimate is based on approximately ____ hours of (search, review, or search and review) time at the actual salary rate plus 16 percent of the employee conducting the (search, review, or search and review), ($_____/hour). This estimate does not include the cost of reproducing documents because until the initial search is completed, we have no way to estimate how many documents, if any, would need to be copied. 

NOAA requests that you confirm in writing that you will pay the estimated fee prior to receiving the requested documents pursuant to 15 CFR 4.11(i)(2) because the fees exceeds $25.00, but less than $250.00.  In compliance with the FOIA regulations, the 20-business-day time frame for completing your FOIA request stops until payment is received. Once your agreement to pay and authorization to proceed are received, your requested documents will be forwarded to you. 

Immediately upon receipt of the documents please make your check or money order payable to the "Treasury of the United States," and send it to the NOAA Public Reference Facility 

(OFA56), 1315 East West Highway (SSMC3), Room 10730, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910.

If your written agreement to pay or other communication is not received within 30 calendar days from the date of this fee notification letter, your FOIA request will be considered “closed.”

If you have any questions regarding your request or the Department's FOIA regulations or procedures, you may contact (Responder) at (responder’s email address) or on (responder’s telephone number).

Sincerely,

(Responder’s TL or DD) 

Cc:  AGO FOIA Representative