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The NOAA FOIA Staff welcomes you to the NOAA FOIA Home Page. We hope you will find this site informative and that it will give you a better understanding of NOAA's public information programs. We will continue to improve this site to bring you current program information. |
NOAA FOIA Staff |
Jean Carter-Johnson, NOAA FOIA Officer
(E-mail address -
Jean.Carter.Johnson@noaa.gov)
Telephone number: (301) 713-3540 , extension 209
Table of Contents |
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. |
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: |
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:
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.
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.
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Location of Electronic Reading Room |
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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.
Description of Publicly Available Information |
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 .
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.
Major Information Systems |
NOAA Management Information Home Page provides access to administrative information system within NOAA.
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)
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)
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
URL: http://www.rdc.noaa.gov/~foia/ |