The request should be addressed to the agency's FOIA Officer or to the head of the agency. The envelope containing the written request should be marked "FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST" in the bottom left-hand corner. Mail all requests for information held by the Naval Safety Center to:
COMMANDER, NAVAL SAFETY CENTER
ATTN CODE 03
375 A STREET
NORFOLK VA 23511-4399
OR
You can complete our Online FOIA Request Form
and send your request via the web.
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Both written and E-FOIA requests should contain the following:
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A specific statement that the request is being made pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act.
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A detailed description of the information being requested. If all you want from a mishap report is engineering data, say so. Limiting the amount of information requested may result in a substantially expedited response.
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Details of the mishap. Before we can provide you with the information you want, we have to be able to identify the event. Be sure to include:
~ the type of incident (plane crash, collision at sea, etc.);
~ the date it occurred (if the specific date is unknown,
then give time frame);
~ the geographic location of the mishap (as specifically as possible);
~ any additional details you may know (type of aircraft,
bureau number, name of command)
IF YOU ARE REQUESTING INFORMATION ABOUT MORE THAN ONE INCIDENT, BE CERTAIN TO GIVE ALL OF THIS INFORMATION ABOUT EACH SEPARATE EVENT.
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Indicate that you are willing to pay any fees that may apply. (See information on fees below).
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Be sure to give your name, complete mailing address and phone number. If applicable, also include your e-mail address.
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The Department of the Navy's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Program is decentralized to provide you with faster response times to your FOIA
requests.
This means that you should send your FOIA request directly to the Navy Command most likely to have the record(s) that you are seeking under FOIA.
If you aren't sure which command is the best place to start or just need an address, these are some good starting points:
Navy Online's Alphabetical List of Navy Commands
Subjects available on the Navy's Official Website
The Standard Navy Distribution List (SNDL) - alphabetic lists.
Our abbreviated Unit Identification Code (UIC) List - organizes commands by UICs.
A detailed listing of frequently requested addresses is included as enclosure (14) to Secretary of the Navy Instruction 5720.42F).
If you are unable to locate the address you seek or do not know which Navy or Marine Corps component may hold the records you seek, please feel free to contact the following officials:
FOIA REQUESTS FOR THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY AND CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
Chief of Naval Operations
(N09B30)
2000 Navy Pentagon
Washington, DC 20350-2000
POC: Doris Lama
Head, DON PA/FOIA Policy Branch
Comm: (202) 685-6545
FAX: (202) 685-6580
E-Mail: navyfoia@hq.navy.mil
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Each agency is required to determine within 20 days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays) after the receipt of a request whether to comply with the request. The actual disclosure of documents is required to follow promptly thereafter.
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FOIA requesters may have to pay fees covering some or all of the costs of processing their request. Fees can be imposed to recover the cost of copying documents. All agencies have a fixed price for making copies using copy machines. A requester is usually charged the actual cost of copying computer tapes, photographs, and other nonstandard documents.
Fees can also be imposed to recover the costs of searching for documents. This includes the time spent looking for material responsive to a request. A requester can minimize search charges by making clear, narrow requests for identifiable documents whenever possible.
Fees can be charged to recover review costs. Review is the process of examining documents to determine whether any portion is exempt from disclosure. Review charges only include costs incurred during the initial examination of a document. An agency may not charge for any costs incurred in resolving issues of law or policy that may arise while processing a request.
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Yes. Currently there are five categories of FOIA requesters.
COMMERCIAL REQUESTER. Requesters who seek information for a use or purpose that furthers their commercial, trade, or profit interest are considered commercial requesters. Commercial requesters pay all fees for
search, review and duplication incurred in processing their requests.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION. Preschools, public or private elementary or secondary schools, institutions of graduate higher education, institutions of undergraduate higher education, institutions of professional education, or institutions of vocational education operating programs of scholarly research qualify as educational institutions. When an educational institution can demonstrate that its request was made in furtherance of scholarly research rather than commercial use, only duplication fees are assessed. Further, the first 100 pages are provided at no cost.
NON-COMMERCIAL SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTION. A non-commercial scientific institution is operated solely for conducting scientific research, the results of which are not intended to promote any particular product or industry and is not operated on a "commercial" basis. The institution must demonstrate that its request is being made as a qualifying institution and the records are not sought for commercial use, but in furtherance of scientific research. When a non-commercial scientific institution can demonstrate that its request was made in furtherance of scientific research rather than commercial use, only duplication fees are assessed. Further, the first 100 pages are provided at no cost.
NEWS MEDIA REQUESTERS. A representative of the news media is a person actively gathering news for an entity organized and operated to publish or broadcast news to the public. "News" means information about current events or of current interest to the public. Examples of news media entities include television or radio stations broadcasting to the public at large and publishers of periodicals, when qualifying as disseminators of "news," who make their products available for purchase or subscription by the general public. "Freelance" journalists may be considered as working for a news organization if they can demonstrate a basis for expecting publication by that organization, even if not an actual employee. Proof may be by publication contract. A requester's past publication record may also be considered in determining their status. Private libraries, private repositories of Government records, or middlemen such as information vendors or data brokers do not qualify as news media requesters. News media requesters only pay duplication fees. Further, the first 100 pages are provided at no cost.
ALL OTHER REQUESTORS. Requestors who do not qualify in another category are considered other requesters. Examples are nonprofit organizations and persons having a personal interest in an accident or incident in which they were directly involved. Individuals who request commercial documents must demonstrate that the records are not sought for commercial use. Other requesters receive two hours search, all review, and the first 100 pages at no cost.
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All electronic correspondence should be addressed to:
SAFE-foia@navy.mil
Written requests should be addressed to:
Commander, Naval Safety Center
Attn: Code 03
375 A Street
Norfolk, VA 23511-4399
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Whenever a FOIA request is denied, either in whole or in part, you have a right to appeal this determination in writing to the designee of the Secretary of the Navy under the above statute. Address your appeal to:
OFFICE OF THE JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL
(CODE 14)
NAVY DEPARTMENT
1322 PATTERSON AVE, SE
SUITE 3000
WASHINGTON NAVY YARD, DC 20374-5066 |
