21st Century Pocket Guide to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Privacy Act - Your Right to Federal Government Records, Sample Request Letters
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART 1: FOIA Reference Guide
PART 2: Federal Departments and Agencies - Contacts
PART 3: Recent FOIA Litigation
PART 4: Your Right to Federal Records - Questions and Answers on FOIA and the Privacy Act
PART 5: A Citizen's Guide on Using FOIA and the Privacy Act to Request Government Records
PART 6: Sample Request and Appeal Letters
PART 7: Text of the FOIA Act
PART 8: Text of the Privacy Act of 1974
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FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REFERENCE GUIDE - U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
I. Introduction
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which can be found in Title 5 of the United States Code, section 552, was enacted in 1966 and generally provides that any person has the right to request access to federal agency records or information. All agencies of the Executive Branch of the United States Government are required to disclose records upon receiving a written request for them, except for those records (or portions of them) that are protected from disclosure by the nine exemptions and three exclusions of the FOIA. This right of access is enforceable in court. The FOIA does not, however, provide access to records held by state or local government agencies, or by private businesses or individuals. All states have their own statutes governing public access to state and local government records; state agencies should be consulted for further information about them.
This Reference Guide is designed to familiarize you with the specific procedures for making a FOIA request to the United States Department of Justice. The process is neither complicated nor time consuming. Following the guidance below will make it more likely that you will receive the information that you are seeking in the shortest amount of time possible. This Reference Guide also includes descriptions of the types of records maintained by different parts of the Department, some of which are readily available through means other than the FOIA.
Initially, it is important to understand that there is no central office in the government that processes FOIA requests for all federal agencies. Each agency responds to requests for its own records. Therefore, before sending a request to the Justice Department you should determine whether this agency is likely to have the records you are seeking. Each agency should have its own FOIA reference guide, so if the records you are interested in are kept by another agency you may wish to request a copy of that agency's guide from its FOIA office or view it on that agency's FOIA site on the World Wide Web. A list of the principal FOIA contacts at other federal agencies is attached as Attachment A.
Other general sources of information about how to make a FOIA request include:
"Your Right to Federal Records." This pamphlet is a joint publication of the General Services Administration and the Department of Justice. It is available for sale for one dollar per copy from the Consumer Information Center, Department 320K, Pueblo, CO 81009. It also can be accessed on the Justice Department's FOIA site on the World Wide Web (www.usdoj. gov/04foia/04 7.htm).
"A Citizen's Guide on Using the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act of 1974 to Request Government Records." This report is published by the Committee on Government Reform of the House of Representatives.
In addition, the "Consumer Action Handbook" describes which federal agencies are responsible for specific consumer problems and where to write for assistance on them. Single copies of this publication may be obtained for free by calling 1-888-878-3256.
The formal rules for the making of FOIA requests to the Justice Department are set forth in Chapter 16 of Volume 28 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This multiple-volume set is available in all law libraries and federal depository libraries. A copy of the portions of Chapter 16 pertaining to making FOIA requests may be obtained from the Justice Management Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20530-0001. These regulations also can be accessed on the Department of Justice's FOIA site on the World Wide Web (www.usdoj. gov/04foia/04 1 1.html). However, in most cases this Reference Guide should provide you with all the basic information that you will need.
II. Access to Certain Records Without a FOIA Request
All agencies are required by statute to make certain types of records, created by the agency on or after November 1, 1996, available electronically. If you have access to the World Wide Web, you will not need to make a FOIA request to obtain access to these records. These records include: (1) final opinions and orders made in the adjudication of cases; (2) final statements of policy and interpretations which have not been published in the Federal Register; (3) administrative staff manuals and instructions to staff that affect members of the public; (4) copies of records that have been the subject of a FOIA request and that also are the subject of sufficient public interest or curiosity that the agency believes that other persons are likely to request (or already have requested) them; and (5) the agency's annual FOIA report --which includes such information as the number of FOIA requests received by the agency, the amount of time taken to process requests, the total amount of fees collected by the agency, information regarding the backlog of pending requests, and other information about the agency's handling of FOIA requests.
The Department of Justice has a site on the World Wide Web, which can be accessed at www.usdoj.gov and which contains FOIA-related information. This Web site also includes links to the World Wide Web sites of all other federal executive branch agencies. Each Justice Department component maintains its own home page, which contains a wide variety of substantive information for which a FOIA request is not required. Another good general source of information can be found under "Publications and Documents" on the main Justice Department home page.
The Department of Justice maintains a FOIA home page, which can be accessed at www.usdoj.gov/04foia/index.html. This Web site includes the Justice Department's annual FOIA report, a variety of reference materials, information on how to make a FOIA request, and copies of all relevant statutes. Additionally, this Web site provides links to component electronic reading rooms that contain the records required by the FOIA to be made available.
The Department of Justice also makes certain information, such as publications, available in paper form without requiring a formal FOIA request. These types of materials are described on a component-by-component basis in Attachment B. Among these publications is the Justice Department's annual report on the Freedom of Information Act, which includes extensive statistical information about FOIA requests to the Justice Department. Copies of the Justice Department's annual FOIA report may be obtained from the Justice Management Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20530-0001, in addition to being accessible electronically through the Justice Department's Web site. The annual FOIA reports of all other federal agencies are available through the Justice Department's Web site. The Justice Department also submits a calendar year report to Congress which describes its efforts to "encourage agency compliance" with the FOIA and which also lists all FOIA litigation cases against all federal agencies in which decisions were rendered by the courts in that year.
Attachment C of this Reference Guide contains descriptions of the Department's major information systems, arranged in two ways -- by component and also alphabetically. These descriptions can be accessed on the World Wide Web (www.usdoj.gov/04foia/04 3.html).
III. Where to Make a FOIA Request
The Department of Justice is organized into a number of bureaus, divisions, and offices. These subdivisions of the Department are often referred to as "components." Within the Justice Department, each component processes its own records. Therefore, your request will receive the quickest possible response if it is addressed directly to the component that you believe has the records you are seeking. Attachment B contains a description of Justice Department components and their addresses.
The functions of each component are summarized in the Department's regulations (Volume 28 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 0). The "United States Government Manual" also describes the activities of the Justice Department's components. The "United States Government Manual" is issued annually by the Government Printing Office and is available in most libraries. It may be purchased by writing to: Superintendent of Documents, P. O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. To obtain the current price you can call (202) 512-1800; you also may call that telephone number to place an order using one of several major credit cards. In addition, the "United States Government Manual" can be accessed at the Government Printing Office's World Wide Web site (www.gpoaccess.gov/gmanual/index.html).
In almost all cases, you should send your FOIA request to a component's central FOIA office. For records held by a field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), however, you must write directly to that FBI office. On the other hand, for example, all requests for records held by a United States Attorney's Office should be sent directly to the Executive Office for United States Attorneys in Washington, D.C.
Because, over time, individual employees of the Justice Department may change job positions, it is not recommended that you address your request to a specific person. Rather, you should include the notation "Freedom of Information Act Request" on the front of your request envelope and also at the beginning of your request letter. In this way you will be sure that the responsible individual receives your request without delay.
If you believe that the Justice Department does maintain the records you are seeking, but you are uncertain about which component has the records, you may send your request to: FOIA/PA Mail Referral Unit, Justice Management Division, U.S. Department of Justice, Room 114 LOC, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20530-0001, Attention: FOIA Request. Personnel in that division will then forward your request to the component(s) of the Justice Department most likely to maintain the records you are seeking.
IV. How to Make a FOIA Request
A FOIA request can be made for any agency record. This does not mean, however, that the Department of Justice will disclose all records sought. As noted above, there are statutory exemptions that authorize the withholding of information of a sensitive nature. When the Justice Department does withhold information from you, it ordinarily must specify which exemption of the FOIA permits the withholding. You should be aware that the FOIA does not require agencies to do research for you, to analyze data, to answer written questions, or to create records in order to respond to a request.
Although, as discussed immediately below, certain information may be required from a FOIA requester, no special form is required by the Justice Department. Requests must be in writing, either handwritten or typed. While requests may be submitted by fax, most components of the Justice Department have not yet developed the capability to accept FOIA requests submitted through the World Wide Web.
In order to protect your privacy as well as the privacy of others, whenever you request information about yourself you will be asked to provide either a notarized statement or a statement signed under penalty of perjury stating that you are the person that you say you are. You may fulfill this requirement by: (1) completing and signing Form DOJ-361 (see Attachment D), (2) having your signature on your request letter witnessed by a notary, or
(3) including the following statement immediately above the signature on your request letter: "I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed on [date]." If you request information about yourself and do not follow one of these procedures, your request cannot be processed. This requirement helps to ensure that private information about you will not be disclosed to anyone else.
Likewise, files relating to another person regarding a matter the disclosure of which would invade that person's privacy ordinarily will not be disclosed. For example, if you seek information that would show that someone else (including even your spouse or another member of your immediate family) has ever been the subject of a criminal investigation -- or even was mentioned in a criminal file -- you will be requested to provide either: (1) a statement by that other person, authorizing the release of the information to you, that has been signed by that person and either was witnessed by a notary or includes a declaration made under penalty of perjury (using the language quoted in the preceding paragraph), or (2) evidence that the subject of your request is deceased, such as a death certificate, a newspaper obituary, or some comparable proof of death. Without proof of death or the subject's consent, in almost all cases the Justice Department will respond to a request made for information concerning another person's possible involvement in a law enforcement matter by advising that it will "neither confirm nor deny" the existence of responsive records. Such law enforcement information about a living person is released without that person's consent only when no privacy interest would be invaded by disclosing the information, when the information is already public or required to be made public, or when there is such a strong public interest in the disclosure that it overrides the individual's privacy interest.
In making your request you should be as specific as possible with regard to names, dates, places, events, subjects, etc. In addition, if you want records about a court case, you should provide the title of the case, the court in which the case was filed, and the nature of the case. If known, you should include any file designations or descriptions for the records that you want. You do not have to give a requested record's name or title, but the more specific you are about the records or types of records that you want, the more likely it will be that the Justice Department will be able to locate those records. For example, if you have been interviewed by a law enforcement component of the Justice Department (such as the FBI) in connection with a law enforcement investigation and you wish to request a copy of the interview report, your listing of the date and location of the interview, and the name of the interviewing agent and subject of the investigation, if known, will be helpful to the component in determining where to search and in determining which records respond to your request. Additionally, you should be aware that Justice Department components ordinarily will use the date upon which they begin a record search as the "cut-off" date for determining the records that are responsive to a FOIA request.
In addition to the statements or information that already have been discussed, some components of the Justice Department require additional specific information in order to process a request for particular types of records. These special requirements are noted, where applicable, as part of the descriptions of components in Attachment B.
When a Justice Department component receives your FOIA request, it ordinarily will send you a letter acknowledging the request and assigning it an initial request number. If you do not provide the necessary information, the component will advise you of what additional information is required before further processing your request.
Under certain circumstances you may be entitled to receive more information under the Privacy Act of 1974 (a separate federal statute) than under the FOIA. Under the FOIA anyone can request access to any agency record. Privacy Act requests are more limited and can be made only by (1) U. S. citizens or aliens lawfully admitted for permanent U.S. residence, (2) who are seeking information about themselves, (3) which is in a system of records maintained under their names or other personal identifiers. Even if a request does not mention the Privacy Act, however, the Justice Department automatically treats requests as being made under both the FOIA and the Privacy Act whenever it is appropriate to do so. In this way, requesters receive the maximum amount of information available to them under the law.
V. Response Times
Under the statute, all federal agencies are required to respond to a FOIA request within twenty business days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. This time period does not begin until the request is actually received by the FOIA office of the Department of Justice component that maintains the records sought. An agency is not required to send out the releasable documents by the last business day; it can send you a letter informing you of its decision and then send you the documents within a reasonable time afterward.
Some components of the Justice Department, such as the FBI and DEA, receive thousands of requests each year. Many of these requests require a line-by-line review of hundreds or even thousands of pages of documents. Although the Justice Department makes every effort to respond to FOIA requests as quickly as possible, in some cases it simply cannot do so within the specified time period. This may be due either to the size of the request or to the fact that the component has a backlog of previously received requests that are awaiting processing. Some components use "multitrack" processing queues to deal with their heavy FOIA workloads; components' descriptions of their multitrack processing systems are contained in Attachment B.
Under the FOIA, a component may extend the response time for an additional ten business days when: (1) the component needs to collect responsive records from field offices; (2) the request involves a "voluminous" amount of records that must be located, compiled, and reviewed; or (3) the component needs to consult with another agency or other components of the Justice Department that have a substantial interest in the responsive information. When such a time extension is needed, the component may notify you of this in writing and offer you the opportunity to modify or limit your request. Alternatively, you may agree to a different timetable for the processing of your request.
When a determination on your request is not made within the applicable time period and you have not agreed to a different response timetable, you may file suit in federal court to pursue a response. If, however, the court concludes that you have unreasonably refused to limit your request or to accept an alternate timetable for response, the court may find that the component's failure to comply within the statutory time period is justified. The court may excuse the lack of a timely response if the component demonstrates that it has a backlog of requests that were received before yours, that it processes its requests on a first-come/first-served basis, and that it is making reasonable progress in reducing its backlog of pending FOIA requests. In such cases, the court may postpone its consideration of your lawsuit until the agency reaches your request in its processing backlog.
VI. Expedited Processing
Under certain conditions you may be entitled to have your request processed on an expedited basis. However, you should realize that whenever a FOIA request is expedited for a particular requester, taking that action results in an additional delay for previous requesters who have been waiting for a response. Therefore, in an effort to treat all requesters equitably, the Department of Justice ordinarily will process a FOIA request ahead of others only in cases in which there will be a threat to someone's life or physical safety, or where an individual will suffer the loss of substantial due process rights if the records are not processed on an expedited bases. In most cases, a request will not be expedited merely on the basis that the requester is facing a court deadline in a judicial proceeding. In both criminal prosecutions and civil litigation there is a document-disclosure process known as "discovery," which gives the parties certain rights to obtain relevant information apart from the FOIA. These discovery rights usually are sufficient to protect the requester's due process rights.
The FOIA also requires that requests be processed on an expedited basis if made by a person primarily engaged in disseminating information to the public and the information is urgently needed to inform the public concerning some actual or alleged government activity. Requests are not expedited under this provision merely on the basis that the requester is a representative of the news media. Similarly, the Justice Department also expedites requests when the subject is of widespread and exceptional media interest and the information sought involves possible questions about the government's integrity which affect public confidence. Expedited processing decisions on this latter basis are made by the Department's Office of Public Affairs.
A request for expedited processing must be accompanied by a statement setting forth the reasons why your request should be expedited. You should certify that the reasons you have given are true and correct. The component will be required to notify you of its decision about whether to grant expedited processing within no more than ten calendar days after receiving your letter. If the component denies your request for expedited processing, you will be advised of your right to submit an administrative appeal of that denial, which will be handled expeditiously.
VII. Fees
There is no initial fee to file a FOIA request and, in the majority of requests made to the Justice Department, no fees are ever charged. By law, however, an agency is entitled to charge certain fees, which depend on the category of requester you fall into.
For the purposes of fees only, the FOIA divides requesters into three categories. Commercial requesters may be charged fees for searching for records, "processing" the records (i.e., reviewing them to determine the possible applicability of FOIA exemptions), and photocopying them. On the other hand, educational or noncommercial scientific institutions and representatives of the news media are charged only for photocopying expenses, after the first one hundred pages of copies. Requesters who do not fall into either of these two categories are not charged for processing; they are charged only for record searches and photocopying -- and there is no charge for the first two hours of search time or for the first one hundred pages of photocopies. The Justice Department charges ten cents per page for photocopying. In all cases, if the total fee does not exceed a minimum amount, currently $14, the Justice Department will not charge any fee at all.
You may always include in your request letter a specific statement limiting the amount that you are willing to pay in fees. If you do not do so, the Justice Department will assume that you are willing to pay fees of up to $25. If a component estimates that the total fees for processing your request will exceed $25, it will notify you in writing of the estimate and offer you an opportunity to narrow your request in order to reduce the fees. If you continue to want all of the records involved, you will be asked to express your commitment to pay the estimated fees and the processing of your request will be suspended until you agree to do so. You ordinarily will not be required to actually pay the fees until the records have been processed and are ready to be sent to you upon payment. If, however, you have failed to pay fees within thirty days of billing in the past, or if the estimated fees exceed $250, you may be required to pay the estimated fees in advance -- that is, before the records even are processed. If you agree to pay fees and then fail to do so within thirty days of billing, you may be charged interest on your overdue balance and the Justice Department will not proceed with any further requests from you until payment in full has been made. If you agree to pay fees for searching for records, be aware that you may be required to pay such fees even if the search does not locate any responsive records or, if records are located, even if they are withheld as entirely exempt.
VIII. Fee Waivers
If you expect or are advised that a fee will be charged, you may request a waiver of those fees. However, fee waivers are limited to situations in which a requester can show that the disclosure of the requested information is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations and activities of the government and is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester. Requests for fee waivers from individuals who are seeking records pertaining to themselves usually do not meet this standard because such disclosures usually will not result in any increase of the public's understanding of government operations and activities. In addition, a requester's inability to pay fees is not a legal basis for granting a fee waiver.
IX. Initial Request Determinations
Once the component has processed your request and any fee issues have been resolved, the component will send you a written initial determination. In the vast majority of cases, Department of Justice components will include any documents that can be disclosed along with the determination letter, though in some cases the documents themselves may be sent within a reasonable time afterward. The FOIA provides access to all federal agency records (or portions of those records), except for those records that are withheld under any of nine exemptions or three exclusions (i. e., the reasons for which an agency may withhold records from a requester). The determination letter will advise you of whether any information is being withheld pursuant to one or more of the exemptions. When a page of a record is being withheld in its entirety, the component usually either will specify the number of pages being withheld or will make a reasonable effort to estimate the volume of the withheld information.
The exemptions authorize federal agencies to withhold information covering: (1) classified national defense and foreign relations information; (2) internal agency rules and practices; (3) information that is prohibited from disclosure by another federal law; (4) trade secrets and other confidential business information; (5) inter-agency or intra-agency communications that are protected by legal privileges; (6) information involving matters of personal privacy; (7) certain types of information compiled for law enforcement purposes; (8) information relating to the supervision of financial institutions; and (9) geological information on wells. The three exclusions, which are rarely used, pertain to especially sensitive law enforcement and national security matters.
X. Appeals
You may file an administrative appeal if you are not satisfied with a Department of Justice component's initial response. You might disagree with the component's withholding of information or you might believe that there are additional records responsive to your request that the component failed to locate. You also may file an administrative appeal if you have requested expedited processing or a fee waiver and the component has not granted that request. You also may appeal a determination that a record does not exist, that a record is not readily reproducible in the form requested, that the requested information is not a record subject to the FOIA, or any disputed fee matter. You should be advised of your right to file an appeal in the initial determination letter sent by the component or in the letter denying your request for expedited processing or a fee waiver. Ordinarily, your appeal must be received within sixty days of the date of the component's determination letter. All appeals must be made in writing and addressed to:
Office of Information and Privacy
U.S. Department of Justice
Flag Building, Suite 570
Washington, D.C. 20530-0001
Both the front of the envelope and the appeal letter should contain the notation "Freedom of Information Act Appeal."
There is no specific form or particular language needed to file an administrative appeal. You should identify the component that denied your request and include the initial request number that the component assigned to your request and the date of the component's action. If no request number has been assigned, it will help if you enclose a copy of the component's determination letter. Please do not attach copies of released documents unless they pertain to some specific point you are raising in your appeal. You may explain the reasons why you disagree with the component's action, but a simple statement that you are appealing the decision ordinarily is sufficient. If, however, you are appealing because you believe there are additional records that have not been located in response to your request, you should specify why you think such records exist and, if possible, where you believe they might be located.
Administrative appeals from components of the Justice Department are reviewed by an attorney in the Office of Information and Privacy. The attorney ordinarily will have available all of the documents processed in connection with your request and will make an independent determination as to whether the component has properly processed your request.
Under the FOIA, the Office of Information and Privacy is required to make a determination on your administrative appeal within twenty business days. The Office of Information and Privacy may take one of several actions on your appeal. It may affirm the component's action in full, in which case it will identify which exemptions (if any) have been appropriately claimed. Or it may affirm part of the component's action (identifying the applicable exemptions), but order the release of other information previously withheld. Finally, under some circumstances, it may return or "remand" the request to the component for complete reprocessing. When a case is remanded, you will have an opportunity again to appeal to the Office of Information and Privacy after the component has reprocessed the records if you remain dissatisfied with the component's action in any respect.
XI. Judicial Review
If you still believe that the Department of Justice has not handled your FOIA request in accordance with the law after your appeal has been decided, you have the right to challenge the agency's action in a lawsuit filed in federal court. Before doing so, you ordinarily will be required first to have filed an administrative appeal and to have received a response. If the Justice Department fails to respond to either your initial request or your appeal within the time limits discussed above, however, you may file suit once the time limits have expired.
If you do bring a court action, you may file your suit in a federal district court in any of the following places: (1) where you reside, (2) where you have your principal place of business (if any), (3) in the District of Columbia, or (4) where the records are located, if they are not located in the District of Columbia. If you have waited until you have received an administrative appeal determination, that final administrative response letter will advise you of your right to seek judicial review and will specify where you can do so. You have six years to file suit from the time your right to sue begins. Lastly, please understand that attorneys and employees of the Justice Department are prohibited from giving legal advice to members of the public on any matters, including Freedom of Information Act litigation.
Principal FOIA Contacts at Federal Agencies
The Department of Justice's Office of Information and Privacy (OIP) is the principal contact point within the executive branch for advice and policy guidance on matters pertaining to the administration of the Freedom of Information Act. Through OIP's FOIA Counselor service, experienced FOIA advisers are available to respond to FOIA-related inquiries at (202) 514-3642 (514-FOIA). For inter-agency contact purposes, the following list contains the principal FOIA contacts at all federal agencies dealing regularly with FOIA matters. In some instances (e.g., the Department of Defense), all major agency components are listed individually under the agencies. In other instances (e.g., the Food and Drug Administration), major agency components are listed separately. In still other instances (e.g., the Department of Labor), no components are listed, as it is the agency's preference that all FOIA contacts be made through its main FOIA office. Fax numbers and e-mail addresses are provided as a matter of agency preference as well. All telephone and fax numbers are listed by local area code, which can be dialed in the federal long distance system. OIP should be notified whenever there is a change in a principal agency FOIA contact or any change in title, telephone or fax number, or address.
Federal Departments
Andrea E. Fowler
FOIA/PA Coordinator
Room 440AA, Whitten Building
Washington, D.C. 20250-1300
telephone number: (202) 720-8164
Department of Commerce
Brenda Dolan
FOIA/PA Officer, Room 5327
14th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20230
telephone number: (202) 482-3707
fax number: (202) 219-8979
e-mail address: bdolan1@doc.gov
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Jean Carter-Johnson
FOIA/PA Officer
Room 10641, SSMC-3
1315 East West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3281
telephone number: (301) 713-3540, ext. 209
fax number: (301) 713-1169
Department of Defense
James Hogan
Office of Freedom of Information/Security Review
Room 2C757
1155 Defense Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20301-1155
telephone number: (703) 697-1180
fax number: (703) 693-7341
e-mail address: dfoisr@dfoisr.whs.mil
Air Force
John Espinal
11 CS/SCS (FOIA)
1000 Air Force Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20330-1000
telephone number: (703) 696-7263
fax number: (703) 696-7273
e-mail address: foia@bolling.af.mil
Army
Bruno C. Leuyer
FOIA/PA Officer
7701 Telegraph Road, Suite 144
Alexandria, VA 22315-3860
telephone number: (703) 428-6508
fax number: (703) 428-6522
e-mail address: FOIA@rmda.belvoir.army.mil
Defense Contract Audit Agency
Mark Simon
8725 John J. Kingman Road
Suite 2135
Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-6219
telephone number: (703) 767-1005
fax number: (703) 767-1011
Defense Contract Management Agency
Cathy Alphin
P.O. Box 151300
Alexandria, VA 22315-9998
telephone number: (703) 428-1453
fax number: (703) 428-3580
Defense Finance and Accounting Service
Linda Krabbenhoft
FOIA/PA Program Manager
DFAS-DGD/DE
6760 East Irvington Place
Denver, CO 80279-8000
telephone number: (303) 676-7514
fax number: (303) 676-7730
e-mail address: linda.krabbenhoft@dfas.mil
Defense Information Systems Agency
Robin M. Berger
Code R/GC
701 South Courthouse Road
Arlington, VA 22204-2199
telephone number: (703) 607-6515
fax number: (703) 607-4344
e-mail address: bergerr@ncr.disa.mil
Defense Intelligence Agency
Robert P. Richardson
Chief, FOIA Staff
DAN-1A
Washington, D.C. 20340-5100
telephone number: (202) 231-3916
fax number: (202) 231-3909
Defense Logistics Agency
Susan Salus
FOIA/PA Officer
DSS-B, Stop 6220
8725 John J. Kingman Road
Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-6221
telephone number: (703) 767-6183
fax number: (703) 767-6312
Defense Security Service
Les Blake
Chief, Office of FOIA and Privacy
GCF 1340 Braddock Place
Alexandria, VA 22314-1651
telephone number: (703) 325-5991
fax number: (703) 325-5341
e-mail address: leslie.blake@mail.dss.mil
Defense Threat Reduction Agency
Sandy Ford BBMF (FOIA)
8725 John J. Kingman Road
Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-6201
telephone number: (703) 325-1205
fax number: (703) 325-2962
e-mail adress: foia@dtra.mil
Marine Corps
Teresa (Tracy) D. Ross
FOIA/PA Coordinator Headquarters
U.S. Marine Corps [CMC (ARSE)]
2 Navy Annex
Washington, D.C. 20380-1775
telephone number: (703) 614-4008/3685
fax number: (703) 614-6287
e-mail address: rosstd@hqmc.usmc.mil
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
Tonnette Fleming
Office of the General Counsel
4600 Sangamore Road (D-10)
Bethesda, MD 20816
telephone number: (301) 227-2268
fax number: (301) 227-2035
National Reconnaissance Office
Information Access and Release Center
14675 Lee Road
Chantilly, VA 20151-1715
telephone number: (703) 227-9128
fax number: (703) 227-9198
e-mail address: foia@nro.mil
National Security Agency
Pamela N. Phillips
Chief, FOIA/PA Services
Office of Information Policy
DC321
Ft. George G. Meade, MD 20755-6248
telephone number: (301) 688-6527
fax number: (301) 688-6198
Navy
Doris M. Lama
Head, DONPA/FOIA Policy Branch
CNO (N09B10)
2000 Navy Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20350-2000
telephone number: (202) 685-6545
fax number: (202) 685-6580
e-mail address: navyfoia@hq.navy.mil
Office of the Inspector General
Darryl R. Aaron
Chief, FOIA/PA Office
400 Army Navy Drive
Room U-226
Arlington, VA 22202-2885
telephone number: (703) 604-9775
fax number: (703) 602-0294
e-mail address: foia@dodig.osd.mil
Department of Education
Maria Teresa Cueva
FOIA Specialist
ROB3, Room 4050
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20202-4651
telephone number: (202) 708-4753
fax number: (202) 708-9346
Department of Energy
Abel Lopez
Director, FOIA/PA Division
ME-73
1000 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20585
telephone number: (202) 586-5955
fax number: (202) 586-0575
Department of Health and Human Services
Rosario Cirrincione
Director, FOIA/Privacy Division
Room 645F, HHH Building
Washington, D.C. 20201
telephone number: (202) 690-7453
fax number: (202) 690-8320
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Lee J. Jackson
Director, Divison of Freedom of Information
Room N2-20-16
7500 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21244-1850
telephone number: (410) 786-5353
fax number: (410) 786-0474
Food and Drug Administration
Betty B. Dorsey
Director, FOI Staff
5600 Fishers Lane (HFI-30)
Rockville, MD 20857
telephone number: (301) 827-6567
fax number: (301) 443-1726
National Institutes of Health
Susan R. Cornell
FOIA Officer
Building 31, Room 5B35
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20892
telephone number: (301) 496-5633
fax number: (301) 402-4541
Public Health Service
Darlene Christian
FOIA Officer
Room 17A46
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857
telephone number: (301) 443-5252
fax number: (301) 443-0925
e-mail address: dchristian@psc.gov
Department of Homeland Security
Tony Kendrick
Director, Departmental Disclosure
Room 3310-15
Washington, D.C. 20528
telephone number: (202) 772-9848
fax number: (202) 772-5036
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
Magda S. Ortiz, Director
FOIA/PA Program
425 Eye Street, N.W. 2nd Floor
ULLICO Building
Washington, D.C. 20536
telephone number: (202) 514-1722
fax number: (202) 514-4310
Bureau of Customs and Border Protection
Joanne Roman Stump
Chief, Disclosure Law Branch (Mint Annex)
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20229
telephone number: (202) 572-8720
fax number: (202) 572-8727
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Eileen Leshan FOI/PA Specialist
Room 840 500 C Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20472
telephone number: (202) 646-4115
fax number: (202) 646-4536
Transportation Security Administration
Patricia Riep-Dice
Associate Director Office of Security
West Building, 4th Floor
Room 432-N, TSA-20
601 South 12th Street
Arlington, VA 22202-4220
telephone number: (571) 227-2300
fax number: (571) 227-1946
United States Coast Guard
Donald G. Taylor HQ USCG Commandant
CG-611
Washington, D.C. 20593-0001
telephone number: (202) 267-1086 fax number: (202) 267-4814
United States Secret Service
Latita M. Huff
Branch Chief
Suite 3000
950 H Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20223
telephone number: (202) 406-5838
fax number: (202) 406-5154
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Richard Washington
Acting Assistant General Counsel
Room 10248
451 7th Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20410
telephone number: (202) 708-3866
fax number: (202) 401-7901
e-mail address: foia hud@hud.gov
Department of the Interior
Alexandra Mallus
Departmental FOIA Officer (MS-5312 MIB)
Office of Information Resources Management
1849 C Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20240
telephone number: (202) 208-5342
fax number: (202) 501-2360
e-mail address: alexandra mallus@ios.doi.gov
Department of Labor
Miriam McD. Miller
Office of the Solicitor
Room N-2428
200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20210
telephone number: (202) 693-5500
fax number: (202) 693-5539
Department of State
Margaret P. Grafeld
Director, Office of IRM Programs and Services, SA-2
5th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20522-6001
telephone number for inquiries: (202) 261-8300
fax number: (202) 261-8579
Department of Transportation
Kathy Ray
FOIA Officer
Office of General Counsel (C-12/5432)
400 7th Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590
telephone number: (202) 366-4542
fax number: (202) 366-8536
Federal Aviation Administration
Tracy Paquin
Acting FOIA Program Director
ARC-40
800 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20591
telephone number: (202) 267-9165
fax number: (202) 493-5032
e-mail address: 7-AWA-ARC-FOIA@faa.gov
Department of the Treasury
Alana Johnson
Disclosure Officer
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20220
telephone number: (202) 622-0930
fax number: (202) 622-3895
Comptroller of the Currency
Frank Vance, Jr.
Disclosure Officer
Washington, D.C. 20219
telephone number: (202) 874-4700
fax number: (202) 874-5274
e-mail address: foia-pa@occ.treas.gov
Internal Revenue Service
Maureen Sapero
FOIA Disclosure Manager
Office of Disclosure
1111 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20224
telephone number: (202) 622-6200
Office of Thrift Supervision
Roslyn Weeks
Program Specialist (FOIA) Dissemination Branch
1700 G Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20552
telephone number: (202) 906-5922
fax number: (202) 906-7755
e-mail address: public.info@ots.treas.gov
Department of Veterans Affairs
Loise A. Russell
Acting Director, Records Management Service (005E3)
810 Vermont Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20420
telephone number: (202) 273-7501
fax number: (202) 273-5981
Federal Agencies
Agency for International Development
M. Paskar
FOIA Coordinator
Room 2.07C, RRB
Washington, D.C. 20523-2701
telephone number: (202) 712-1217
fax number: (202) 216-3070
Amtrak (National Railroad Passenger Corporation)
Medaris W. Oliveri
FOIA Officer
60 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20002
telephone number: (202) 906-2728
fax number: (202) 906-2169
Broadcasting Board of Governors
Martha Diaz-Ortiz
FOIA/PA Officer
Office of the General Counsel
Suite 3349
330 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20237
telephone number: (202) 260-4395
fax number: (202) 260-4394
Central Intelligence Agency
Alan W. Tate
Acting Information and Privacy Coordinator
Washington, D.C. 20505
telephone number: (703) 613-1287
Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board
Christopher Kirkpatrick FOIA Officer
Suite C-100
2175 K Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20037
telephone number: (202) 261-7600
fax number: (202) 261-7650
Commission on Civil Rights
Emma Gonzalez-Joy
FOIA Officer
Room 730 624 9th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20425
telephone number: (202) 376-7700
fax number: (202) 376-1163
Committee for Purchase from People who Are Blind or Severely Disabled
John Heyer
General Counsel
Suite 10800
1421 Jefferson Davis Highway
Arlington, VA 22202-3259
telephone number: (703) 603-0665
fax number: (703) 603-0655
Commodity Futures Trading Commission
Eileen A. Donovan
Assistant Secretary of the Commission
1155 21st Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20581
telephone number: (202) 418-5096
fax number: (202) 418-5543
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Sandra K. Bradshaw
FOIA Officer
4330 East West Highway
Bethesda, MD 20814