Jean Carter-Johnson, NOAA FOIA Officer
(E-mail address - Jean.Carter.Johnson@noaa.gov)
Telephone number: (301) 713-3540 , extension 209

Table of Contents

NOAA FOIA Staff Guide for Submitting FOIA Requests FOIA Exemptions FOIA Fees FOIA Appeals FOIA Electronic Reading Room Reference Guide

Publicly Available Information Federal Register Information Major Information Systems FOIA Policies FOIA Reports FOIA Training Frequently Requested Records

Background/Overview

The original Freedom of Information Act (5 USC 552) allowed the public to obtain government information, as long as the information is not protected by one of the nine specific FOIA exemptions, in the public domain, or on an established NOAA price list/available for sale. The FOIA allowed 10 business days, excluding weekends and holidays, to respond to the public. The Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 1996 amended the law to include the following changes:

	extend from 10 to 20 business days (excluding holidays) the time agencies must respond to requests for information;
	require agencies to make reasonable efforts to make records available in formats desired by requesters;
	require agencies to submit the NOAA Annual Report by fiscal year;
	require agencies to make the reports available to the public by computer telecommunications or other electronic means;
	require agencies to list their major information systems, record locator systems, and a reference guide or guide for obtaining information; and
	require agencies to establish electronic reading rooms that include agency policies, staff manuals, opinions made in the adjudication of cases, and an index of records released by FOIA that are likely to become the subject of subsequent FOIA requests.
	These amendments have to be implemented by specific dates.

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Guide for Submitting FOIA Requests

Before submitting FOIA requests, individuals should ensure that the information they seek is not already in the public domain. Offices maintaining information in the public domain are listed in NOAA's Electronic Reading Room. If the information is not in the public domain, please follow the suggestions listed below:

identify the records requested (be as specific as possible, i.e., describe the subject matter of the records, and, if known, indicate the dates of the records, the places where they originated, and the names of the originating persons or offices);

state that the records are requested under the Freedom of Information Act;

include daytime telephone numbers in case additional information is needed before answering requests; and

forward all requests to the NOAA FOIA Office as listed below:

1. Mail.Mark the outside of the envelope, "Freedom of Information Request" and mail to the following address:

2. Fax. Fax all requests to the FOIA Staff at (301) 713-1169

3. E-mail You may email your FOIA request to the following email address: FOIA@noaa.gov

Individuals with questions concerning their requests may call the FOIA Staff at (301) 713-3540.

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Guide for Submitting FOIA Appeals

You have the right to appeal this [denial or partial denial] of the FOIA request.  Your appeal must be received within 30 calendar days of the date of initial denial letter by the Assistant General Counsel for Administration.  Address your appeal to the following office:
 
 

                                                                                               Assistant General Counsel for Administration (Office)
                                                                            Room 5898-C
                                                                            U.S. Department of Commerce
                                                                            14th and Constitution Avenue, N.W.
                                                                            Washington, D.C. 20230.
 

Your appeal may also be sent by e-mail to FOIAAppeals@doc.gov or by facsimile (fax) to Area Code (202) 482-2552.
 

The appeal must include:

  a copy of the original request;
  the response to your request; and
  a statement of the reason why the withheld records should be made available and why the denial of the records was in error.

The submission (including e-mail and fax submissions) is not complete without the required attachments. 
 

The appeal letter, the envelope, the e-mail subject line, and the fax cover sheet should be clearly marked "Freedom of Information Act Appeal."

The e-mail, fax machine, and Office of the General Counsel are monitored only on working days during the normal business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday). FOIA appeals posted to the e-mail box, fax machine, or Office of the General Counsel after normal business hours will be deemed received on the next normal business day.

ELECTRONIC READING ROOM Reference Guide

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Location of Electronic Reading Room

NOAA's Electronic Reading Room and NOAA Public Reference Facility is the central reference and records inspection facility for NOAA. It is located at 1315 East West Highway (SSMC3), Room 10730, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. The facility is open to the public Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except Federal holidays. Equipment for making copies is available for public use and the room is disabled accessible.

Requesters shall contact the NOAA FOIA Staff, (301) 713-3540, to schedule visits or to verify that specific documents are maintained in the reading room.  All reading room records created by NOAA on or after November 1, 1996, will be made available electronically at the site. The public is encouraged to access information electronically. They may also submit requests to NOAA under the Freedom of Information Act.

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Description of Publicly Available Information

The NOAA's Office of Public and Constitutent Affairs is NOAA's focal point for information in the public domain. The office maintains a broad range of NOAA publications, press releases, reports, and other pertinent information. The office address, contact person, and an index of frequently requested publications can be accessed from this link.

NOAA's mission statement, strategic plan, organizational structure, Line and Program Offices, and a wealth of scientific and administrative information can be accessed from the NOAA HomePage, NOAA Organizational Directory, and the NOAA Locator .

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Other Public Information Servers

Government Interactive Locator System (GILS) and the DOC GILS These systems locate and provide assistance in obtaining Federal public information, including DOC/NOAA-specific information.

National Technical Information Services (NTIS)
The NTIS is the official resource for government sponsored U.S. worldwide scientific, technical, engineering, and business information.

NOAA Library
The NOAA Library maintains publications on microfiche, microfilm, compact discs, and databases that support research in the atmospheric sciences, fisheries, marine biology, meteorology, oceanography, and related disciplines.

NOAAServer: Access to Distributed NOAA Data and Information
This server provides universal public access to environmental information databases. The system was created to satisfy NOAA's mission objective of providing universal public access to its information services.

U.S. Superintendent of Documents
All documents at the U.S. Superintendent of Documents are shelved by government organization and not by subject matter. The documents include information about U.S. Government laws, regulations, statistics, maps, and bibliographies.

Records that are "promptly published and offered for sale" are not subject to the requirements of FOIA, 5 U.S.C. 552(a) (2). These published materials are not required to be placed in agency conventional/electronic reading rooms.

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Major Information Systems

NOAA's major information and record locator systems are identified under the Government Interactive Locator System (GILS) and the DOC GILS.

NOAA Management Information Home Page provides access to administrative information system within NOAA.

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Policies and Administrative Manuals that Affect the Public

FOIA POLICIES

The Freedom of Information Act (5 USC 552)

Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendment of 1996

Title 15 - COMMERCE AND FOREIGN TRADE

15 CFR, Part 4, Public Information (Amended August 12, 2004)

FOIA Exemptions

Department Administrative Order 205-12 - Public Information

Department Administrative Order 205-14, Processing Requests Under the Freedom of Information Act

NOAA Administrative Order 205-14, Processing Requests Under the Freedom of Information Act

Effective Dates and Timetable for Implementing FOIA Amendment

Privacy Act of 1974 (and Amendments)

Department of Justice

Freedom of Information Act Guide, May 2004 Overview of the Privacy Act of 1974. (1996 ed) Your Right to Federal Records, 1996 Ed FOIA Updates FOIA Post FOIA Annual Reports FOIA Reference Guide FOIA Administrative and Legal Contacts at Federal Agencies Attorney General's Memorandum for Heads of All Federal Departments and Agencies Regarding the FOIA, October 12, 2001 Presidential Memorandum for Heads of Departments and Agencies Regarding the FOIA, October 4, 1993 Homeland Security Law Contains New Exemption 3 Statue Guidance on Homeland Security Information Issued FOIA Amended by Intelligence Authorization Bill Executive Order on National Security Classification Amended

OTHER TITLES

	Index of NOAA Administrative Orders
	NOAA Privacy Act Home Page
	Records Management Regulations, Publications, and Information
	Information Resources Management Staff Home Page
	Information Technology Management Reform Act of 1996
	NOAA's Paperwork Reduction Act Home Page
	National Marine Sanctuary Regulations
	NMFS Rules and Regulations
	NWS Technical Notes
	NWS Active Modification Notes
	NWS Technical Manual Change Requests
	NWS Operational Manuals
	Federal Advisory Committees

FINAL OPINIONS IN THE ADJUDICATION OF CASES The Office of the Inspector General, Department of Commerce, has the responsibility for final opinions. (OIG Final Opinions)

NOTICES, PROPOSED RULES, AND FINAL RULES All notices, proposed rules, and final rules are published in the Federal Register. The Federal Register ensures agency records are available to the public. Frequently Requested Records This section includes subjects on which NOAA receives multiple FOIA requests. Commerce Bankcard Listing DOC Field Location Handbook NOAA FOIA Annual Reports NOAA Organizational Chart NOAA Organizational Directory Comprehensive Final Report: Analysis of Operations and Structure of NOAA's Finance and Administration Services Send comments or questions about this website to: Marie.H.Marks@noaa.gov Table of Contents FOIA Staff FOIA Requests FOIA Appeals Electronic Reading Room Policies & Administrative Manuals Frequently Requested Records Top of Page NOAA Home Page | MBO Office Home Page | IMS Home Page | NOAA Locator NOAA Privacy Act Home Page DOC Home page | DOC FOIA Home Page | DOC Privacy Policy Number of visitors to FOIA Home Page URL: http://www.rdc.noaa.gov/~foia/