To make a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, please send us your request in writing to the contact addressed below.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you may experience a delay in receiving an initial acknowledgment as well as a substantive response to your request. We will be able to acknowledge, process and respond to requests made electronically more quickly than by mail. You may reach out to our FOIA Contact or Public Liaison if you have any questions about your request. We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and patience.
FOIA Contact:
Charles Smiroldo
FOIA Coordinator
Department of Justice
Environment and Natural Resources Division
Law and Policy Section
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001
Telephone: (202) 514-0424
Submit via E-mail: FOIARouting.enrd@usdoj.gov
Component Description:
The Environment and Natural Resources Division is responsible for the civil and criminal enforcement of environmental laws, the defense of the Government's administration of Federal environmental laws, and litigation relating to the use and protection of Federally-owned public lands and natural resources. Some statutes that are within the Division's subject matter expertise are the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Federal Land Policy Management Act, the National Forest Management Act, and the Endangered Species Act. The Division also represents the United States in its trust capacity for Indian tribes; acquires land by purchase or condemnation for use by the Federal Government; and defends the Government against Fifth Amendment Takings Claims. To learn more, click here.
A comprehensive guide to the FOIA that serves as a handbook for obtaining information from the Department.
Special information required to make a FOIA request:
Requests for records from case files should include a case caption or name, civil action number, judicial district, and date or year of filing.
Requesters seeking information about themselves should provide verification of identity in the form of a signed request with either a notarized signature or an accompanying 
Certificate of Identity. For more information on identity verification, see 28 CFR § 16.41(d).
Publicly available information for which a FOIA request is not required:
Many documents are available to the public without having to make a FOIA request. These documents are called “proactive disclosures” because they are automatically posted online by all Department components.
Please see the FOIA Library.
For additional resources see Selected Documents.
Multitrack processing:FOIA requests are placed in one of three tracks. Track one is for those requests which seek and receive expedited processing pursuant to subsection (a)(6)(E) of the FOIA. The second track is for those requests which do not involve voluminous records or lengthy consultations with other entities. Track three is for those requests which involve voluminous records and for which lengthy or numerous consultations are required, or those requests which may involve sensitive records.