[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 10, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 10CFR9.23]

[Page 216-217]
 
                            TITLE 10--ENERGY
 
                CHAPTER I--NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
 
PART 9--PUBLIC RECORDS--Table of Contents
 
            Subpart A--Freedom of Information Act Regulations
 
Sec. 9.23  Requests for records.

    (a)(1) A person may request access to records routinely made 
available by the NRC under Sec. 9.21 in person, by telephone, by e-
mail, facsimile, or U.S. mail from the NRC Public Document Room, One 
White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, 
Maryland 20852-2738.
    (i) Each record requested must be described in sufficient detail to 
enable the NRC Public Document Room staff to locate the record.
    (ii) In order to obtain copies of records expeditiously, a person 
may open an account at the NRC Public Document Room with the private 
contracting firm that is responsible for duplicating NRC records.
    (2) [Reserved]
    (b) A person may request agency records by submitting a request 
authorized by 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(3) to the Office of the Chief Information 
Officer, by an appropriate method listed in Sec. 9.6. The request 
should be clearly marked ``Freedom of Information Act Request.'' The NRC 
does not consider a request as received until it has been received and 
logged in by the office of the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy 
Act Officer.
    (1) A Freedom of Information Act request covers only agency records 
that are in existence on the date the Freedom of Information Act and 
Privacy Act Officer receives the request. A request does not cover 
agency records destroyed or discarded before receipt of a request or 
which are created after the date of the request.
    (2) All Freedom of Information Act requests for copies of agency 
records must reasonably describe the agency records sought in sufficient 
detail to permit the NRC to identify the requested agency records. Where 
possible, the requester should provide specific information regarding 
dates, titles, docket numbers, file designations, and other information 
which may help identify the agency records. If a requested agency record 
is not described in sufficient detail to permit its identification, the 
Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act Officer will contact the 
requester within 10 working days after receipt of the request and inform 
the requester of the additional information or clarification needed to 
process the request.
    (3) Upon receipt of a request made under paragraph (b) of this 
section, the NRC will provide written notification to the requester that 
indicates the request has been received, the name and telephone number 
of the NRC point of

[[Page 217]]

contact to find out the status of the request, and other pertinent 
matters regarding the processing of the request.
    (4)(i) The NRC shall advise a requester that fees will be assessed 
if--
    (A) A request involves anticipated costs in excess of the minimum 
specified in Sec. 9.39; and
    (B) Search and duplication is not provided without charge under 
Sec. 9.39; or
    (C) The requester does not specifically state that the cost involved 
is acceptable or acceptable up to a specified limit.
    (ii) The NRC has discretion to discontinue processing a request made 
under this paragraph until--
    (A) A required advance payment has been received;
    (B) The requester has agreed to bear the estimated costs;
    (C) A determination has been made on a request for waiver or 
reduction of fees; or
    (D) The requester meets the requirements of Sec. 9.39.
    (c) If a requested agency record that has been reasonably described 
is located at a place other than at the NRC Web site, http://
www.nrc.gov, the NRC Public Document Room, or the NRC headquarters, the 
NRC may, at its discretion, make the record available for inspection and 
copying at either of the locations.
    (d) Except as provided in Sec. 9.39--
    (1) If the record requested under paragraph (b) of this section is a 
record available through the National Technical Information Service, the 
NRC shall refer the requester to the National Technical Information 
Service; and
    (2) If the requested record has been placed on the NRC Internet Web 
site, under Sec. 9.21, the NRC may inform the requester that the record 
is available at the NRC Web site, http://www.nrc.gov, and/or at the NRC 
Public Document Room, and that the record may be obtained in accordance 
with the procedures set forth in paragraph (a) of this section.
    (e) The Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act Officer will 
promptly forward a Freedom of Information Act request made under 
paragraph (b) of this section for an agency record to the head of the 
office(s) primarily concerned with the records requested, as 
appropriate. The responsible office will conduct a search for the agency 
records responsive to the request and compile those agency records to be 
reviewed for initial disclosure determination and/or identify those that 
have already been made publicly available at the NRC Web site, http://
www.nrc.gov, and/or at the NRC Public Document Room.

[63 FR 2876, Jan. 20, 1998, as amended at 64 FR 48950, Sept. 9, 1999; 67 
FR 67098, Nov. 4, 2002; 68 FR 58800, Oct. 10, 2003]