[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 22, Volume 1]

[Revised as of April 1, 2006]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 22CFR171.5]



[Page 749-750]

 

                       TITLE 22--FOREIGN RELATIONS

 

                     CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF STATE

 

PART 171_AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION AND RECORDS TO THE PUBLIC--Table 

of Contents

 

                 Subpart A_General Policy and Procedures

 

Sec.  171.5  Requests for information--types and how made.



    (a) Requests for records in accordance with this chapter may be made 

by mail addressed to the Information and Privacy Coordinator, U.S. 

Department of State, SA-2, 515 22nd Street, NW., Washington, DC 20522-

6001. Facsimile requests under the FOIA only may be sent to: (202) 261-

8579. E-mail requests cannot be accepted at this time. Requesters are 

urged to indicate clearly on their requests the provision of law under 

which they are requesting information. This will facilitate the 

processing of the request by the Department. In any case, the Department 

will process the request under the provision of law that provides the 

greatest access to the requested records.

    (b) Requests may also be made by the public in person from 8:15 a.m. 

to 5 p.m. at the Department of State, SA-2, 515 22nd Street, NW., 

Washington, DC.

    (c) Although no particular request format is required, it is 

essential that a request reasonably describe the Department records that 

are sought. The burden of adequately identifying the record requested 

lies with the requester. Requests should be specific and include all 

pertinent details about the request. For FOIA requests, the request 

should include the subject, timeframe, any individuals involved, and 

reasons why the Department is believed to have records on the subject of



[[Page 750]]



the request. For Privacy Act requests, the request should state the type 

of records sought, the complete name and date and place of birth of the 

subject of the request, and the timeframe for the records. An original 

signature is required. See Sec.  171.12(b) for guidance regarding third 

party requests. Individuals may seek assistance regarding any aspect of 

their requests from the Chief, Requester Liaison Division, (202) 261-

8484.

    (d) While every effort is made to guarantee the greatest possible 

access to all requesters regardless of the specific statute under which 

the information is requested, the following guidance is provided for 

individuals in requesting records:

    (1) Freedom of Information Act. Requests for documents concerning 

the general activities of government and of the Department of State in 

particular (see subpart B of this part).

    (2) E.O. 12958. Requests for mandatory review and declassification 

of specific Department records and requests for access to such records 

by historical researchers and certain former government officials (see 

subpart C of this part).

    (3) Privacy Act. Requests from U.S. citizens or legal permanent 

resident aliens for records that pertain to them and that are maintained 

by the Department under the individual's name or personal identifier 

(see subpart D of this part).

    (4) Ethics in Government Act. Requests for the financial Disclosure 

Statements of Department Employees covered by this Act (see subpart E of 

this part).

    (e) First-in/first-out processing. As a general matter, information 

access requests are processed in the order in which they are received. 

However, if the request is specific and the search can be narrowed, it 

may be processed more quickly.

    (f) Cut-off date. In determining which records are responsive to a 

request, the Department ordinarily will include only records in its 

possession as of the date the search for responsive documents is 

initiated, unless the requester has specified an earlier time frame.

    (g) Records previously withheld or in litigation. Requests shall not 

be processed for records that have been reviewed and withheld within the 

past two years or whose withholding is the subject of litigation.