[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 45, Volume 1]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 45CFR5.21]

[Page 19]
 
                        TITLE 45--PUBLIC WELFARE
 
                           AND HUMAN SERVICES
 
PART 5--FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REGULATIONS--Table of Contents
 
                      Subpart B--Obtaining a Record
 
Sec. 5.21  How to request records.


    (a) General. Our policy is to answer all requests, both oral and 
written, for records. However, in order to have the rights given you by 
the FOIA and by this regulation (for example, the right to appeal if we 
deny your request and the right to have our decisions reviewed in 
court), you must either make your request in writing or make it orally 
to a Freedom of Information Officer. Freedom of Information Officers and 
their staffs may put in writing any oral requests they receive directly.
    (b) Addressing requests. It will help us to handle your request 
sooner if you address it to the Freedom of Information Officer in the 
HHS unit that is most likely to have the records you want. (See 
Sec. 5.31 of this Part for a list of Freedom of Information Officers.) 
If you cannot determine this, send the request to: HHS Freedom of 
Information Officer, 645-F, Hubert H. Humphrey Building, Department of 
Health and Human Services, 200 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 
20201. Write the words ``Freedom of Information Act Request'' on the 
envelope and letter.
    (c) Details in the letter. You should provide details that will help 
us identify and find the records you are requesting. If there is 
insufficient information, we will ask you for more. Include your 
telephone number(s) to help us reach you if we have questions. If you 
are not sure how to write your request or what details to include, 
communicate with a Freedom of Information Officer.