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U.S. Code as of:
01/03/05
Section 552. Public information; agency rules, opinions, orders, records, and proceedings
(a) Each agency shall make available to the public information as
follows:
(1) Each agency shall separately state and currently publish in
the Federal Register for the guidance of the public -
(A) descriptions of its central and field organization and the
established places at which, the employees (and in the case of a
uniformed service, the members) from whom, and the methods
whereby, the public may obtain information, make submittals or
requests, or obtain decisions;
(B) statements of the general course and method by which its
functions are channeled and determined, including the nature and
requirements of all formal and informal procedures available;
(C) rules of procedure, descriptions of forms available or the
places at which forms may be obtained, and instructions as to the
scope and contents of all papers, reports, or examinations;
(D) substantive rules of general applicability adopted as
authorized by law, and statements of general policy or
interpretations of general applicability formulated and adopted
by the agency; and
(E) each amendment, revision, or repeal of the foregoing.
Except to the extent that a person has actual and timely notice of
the terms thereof, a person may not in any manner be required to
resort to, or be adversely affected by, a matter required to be
published in the Federal Register and not so published. For the
purpose of this paragraph, matter reasonably available to the class
of persons affected thereby is deemed published in the Federal
Register when incorporated by reference therein with the approval
of the Director of the Federal Register.
(2) Each agency, in accordance with published rules, shall make
available for public inspection and copying -
(A) final opinions, including concurring and dissenting
opinions, as well as orders, made in the adjudication of cases;
(B) those statements of policy and interpretations which have
been adopted by the agency and are not published in the Federal
Register;
(C) administrative staff manuals and instructions to staff that
affect a member of the public;
(D) copies of all records, regardless of form or format, which
have been released to any person under paragraph (3) and which,
because of the nature of their subject matter, the agency
determines have become or are likely to become the subject of
subsequent requests for substantially the same records; and
(E) a general index of the records referred to under
subparagraph (D);
unless the materials are promptly published and copies offered for
sale. For records created on or after November 1, 1996, within one
year after such date, each agency shall make such records
available, including by computer telecommunications or, if computer
telecommunications means have not been established by the agency,
by other electronic means. To the extent required to prevent a
clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, an agency may
delete identifying details when it makes available or publishes an
opinion, statement of policy, interpretation, staff manual,
instruction, or copies of records referred to in subparagraph (D).
However, in each case the justification for the deletion shall be
explained fully in writing, and the extent of such deletion shall
be indicated on the portion of the record which is made available
or published, unless including that indication would harm an
interest protected by the exemption in subsection (b) under which
the deletion is made. If technically feasible, the extent of the
deletion shall be indicated at the place in the record where the
deletion was made. Each agency shall also maintain and make
available for public inspection and copying current indexes
providing identifying information for the public as to any matter
issued, adopted, or promulgated after July 4, 1967, and required by
this paragraph to be made available or published. Each agency shall
promptly publish, quarterly or more frequently, and distribute (by
sale or otherwise) copies of each index or supplements thereto
unless it determines by order published in the Federal Register
that the publication would be unnecessary and impracticable, in
which case the agency shall nonetheless provide copies of such
index on request at a cost not to exceed the direct cost of
duplication. Each agency shall make the index referred to in
subparagraph (E) available by computer telecommunications by
December 31, 1999. A final order, opinion, statement of policy,
interpretation, or staff manual or instruction that affects a
member of the public may be relied on, used, or cited as precedent
by an agency against a party other than an agency only if -
(i) it has been indexed and either made available or published
as provided by this paragraph; or
(ii) the party has actual and timely notice of the terms
thereof.
(3)(A) Except with respect to the records made available under
paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection, and except as provided
in subparagraph (E), each agency, upon any request for records
which (i) reasonably describes such records and (ii) is made in
accordance with published rules stating the time, place, fees (if
any), and procedures to be followed, shall make the records
promptly available to any person.
(B) In making any record available to a person under this
paragraph, an agency shall provide the record in any form or format
requested by the person if the record is readily reproducible by
the agency in that form or format. Each agency shall make
reasonable efforts to maintain its records in forms or formats that
are reproducible for purposes of this section.
(C) In responding under this paragraph to a request for records,
an agency shall make reasonable efforts to search for the records
in electronic form or format, except when such efforts would
significantly interfere with the operation of the agency's
automated information system.
(D) For purposes of this paragraph, the term "search" means to
review, manually or by automated means, agency records for the
purpose of locating those records which are responsive to a
request.
(E) An agency, or part of an agency, that is an element of the
intelligence community (as that term is defined in section 3(4) of
the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 401a(4))) shall not
make any record available under this paragraph to -
(i) any government entity, other than a State, territory,
commonwealth, or district of the United States, or any
subdivision thereof; or
(ii) a representative of a government entity described in
clause (i).
(4)(A)(i) In order to carry out the provisions of this section,
each agency shall promulgate regulations, pursuant to notice and
receipt of public comment, specifying the schedule of fees
applicable to the processing of requests under this section and
establishing procedures and guidelines for determining when such
fees should be waived or reduced. Such schedule shall conform to
the guidelines which shall be promulgated, pursuant to notice and
receipt of public comment, by the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget and which shall provide for a uniform
schedule of fees for all agencies.
(ii) Such agency regulations shall provide that -
(I) fees shall be limited to reasonable standard charges for
document search, duplication, and review, when records are
requested for commercial use;
(II) fees shall be limited to reasonable standard charges for
document duplication when records are not sought for commercial
use and the request is made by an educational or noncommercial
scientific institution, whose purpose is scholarly or scientific
research; or a representative of the news media; and
(III) for any request not described in (I) or (II), fees shall
be limited to reasonable standard charges for document search and
duplication.
(iii) Documents shall be furnished without any charge or at a
charge reduced below the fees established under clause (ii) if
disclosure of the information is in the public interest because it
is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of
the operations or activities of the government and is not primarily
in the commercial interest of the requester.
(iv) Fee schedules shall provide for the recovery of only the
direct costs of search, duplication, or review. Review costs shall
include only the direct costs incurred during the initial
examination of a document for the purposes of determining whether
the documents must be disclosed under this section and for the
purposes of withholding any portions exempt from disclosure under
this section. Review costs may not include any costs incurred in
resolving issues of law or policy that may be raised in the course
of processing a request under this section. No fee may be charged
by any agency under this section -
(I) if the costs of routine collection and processing of the
fee are likely to equal or exceed the amount of the fee; or
(II) for any request described in clause (ii) (II) or (III) of
this subparagraph for the first two hours of search time or for
the first one hundred pages of duplication.
(v) No agency may require advance payment of any fee unless the
requester has previously failed to pay fees in a timely fashion, or
the agency has determined that the fee will exceed $250.
(vi) Nothing in this subparagraph shall supersede fees chargeable
under a statute specifically providing for setting the level of
fees for particular types of records.
(vii) In any action by a requester regarding the waiver of fees
under this section, the court shall determine the matter de novo:
Provided, That the court's review of the matter shall be limited to
the record before the agency.
(B) On complaint, the district court of the United States in the
district in which the complainant resides, or has his principal
place of business, or in which the agency records are situated, or
in the District of Columbia, has jurisdiction to enjoin the agency
from withholding agency records and to order the production of any
agency records improperly withheld from the complainant. In such a
case the court shall determine the matter de novo, and may examine
the contents of such agency records in camera to determine whether
such records or any part thereof shall be withheld under any of the
exemptions set forth in subsection (b) of this section, and the
burden is on the agency to sustain its action. In addition to any
other matters to which a court accords substantial weight, a court
shall accord substantial weight to an affidavit of an agency
concerning the agency's determination as to technical feasibility
under paragraph (2)(C) and subsection (b) and reproducibility under
paragraph (3)(B).
(C) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the defendant
shall serve an answer or otherwise plead to any complaint made
under this subsection within thirty days after service upon the
defendant of the pleading in which such complaint is made, unless
the court otherwise directs for good cause shown.
[(D) Repealed. Pub. L. 98-620, title IV, Sec. 402(2), Nov. 8,
1984, 98 Stat. 3357.]
(E) The court may assess against the United States reasonable
attorney fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred in any
case under this section in which the complainant has substantially
prevailed.
(F) Whenever the court orders the production of any agency
records improperly withheld from the complainant and assesses
against the United States reasonable attorney fees and other
litigation costs, and the court additionally issues a written
finding that the circumstances surrounding the withholding raise
questions whether agency personnel acted arbitrarily or
capriciously with respect to the withholding, the Special Counsel
shall promptly initiate a proceeding to determine whether
disciplinary action is warranted against the officer or employee
who was primarily responsible for the withholding. The Special
Counsel, after investigation and consideration of the evidence
submitted, shall submit his findings and recommendations to the
administrative authority of the agency concerned and shall send
copies of the findings and recommendations to the officer or
employee or his representative. The administrative authority shall
take the corrective action that the Special Counsel recommends.
(G) In the event of noncompliance with the order of the court,
the district court may punish for contempt the responsible
employee, and in the case of a uniformed service, the responsible
member.
(5) Each agency having more than one member shall maintain and
make available for public inspection a record of the final votes of
each member in every agency proceeding.
(6)(A) Each agency, upon any request for records made under
paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of this subsection, shall -
(i) determine within 20 days (excepting Saturdays, Sundays, and
legal public holidays) after the receipt of any such request
whether to comply with such request and shall immediately notify
the person making such request of such determination and the
reasons therefor, and of the right of such person to appeal to
the head of the agency any adverse determination; and
(ii) make a determination with respect to any appeal within
twenty days (excepting Saturdays, Sundays, and legal public
holidays) after the receipt of such appeal. If on appeal the
denial of the request for records is in whole or in part upheld,
the agency shall notify the person making such request of the
provisions for judicial review of that determination under
paragraph (4) of this subsection.
(B)(i) In unusual circumstances as specified in this
subparagraph, the time limits prescribed in either clause (i) or
clause (ii) of subparagraph (A) may be extended by written notice
to the person making such request setting forth the unusual
circumstances for such extension and the date on which a
determination is expected to be dispatched. No such notice shall
specify a date that would result in an extension for more than ten
working days, except as provided in clause (ii) of this
subparagraph.
(ii) With respect to a request for which a written notice under
clause (i) extends the time limits prescribed under clause (i) of
subparagraph (A), the agency shall notify the person making the
request if the request cannot be processed within the time limit
specified in that clause and shall provide the person an
opportunity to limit the scope of the request so that it may be
processed within that time limit or an opportunity to arrange with
the agency an alternative time frame for processing the request or
a modified request. Refusal by the person to reasonably modify the
request or arrange such an alternative time frame shall be
considered as a factor in determining whether exceptional
circumstances exist for purposes of subparagraph (C).
(iii) As used in this subparagraph, "unusual circumstances"
means, but only to the extent reasonably necessary to the proper
processing of the particular requests -
(I) the need to search for and collect the requested records
from field facilities or other establishments that are separate
from the office processing the request;
(II) the need to search for, collect, and appropriately examine
a voluminous amount of separate and distinct records which are
demanded in a single request; or
(III) the need for consultation, which shall be conducted with
all practicable speed, with another agency having a substantial
interest in the determination of the request or among two or more
components of the agency having substantial subject-matter
interest therein.
(iv) Each agency may promulgate regulations, pursuant to notice
and receipt of public comment, providing for the aggregation of
certain requests by the same requestor, or by a group of requestors
acting in concert, if the agency reasonably believes that such
requests actually constitute a single request, which would
otherwise satisfy the unusual circumstances specified in this
subparagraph, and the requests involve clearly related matters.
Multiple requests involving unrelated matters shall not be
aggregated.
(C)(i) Any person making a request to any agency for records
under paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of this subsection shall be deemed
to have exhausted his administrative remedies with respect to such
request if the agency fails to comply with the applicable time
limit provisions of this paragraph. If the Government can show
exceptional circumstances exist and that the agency is exercising
due diligence in responding to the request, the court may retain
jurisdiction and allow the agency additional time to complete its
review of the records. Upon any determination by an agency to
comply with a request for records, the records shall be made
promptly available to such person making such request. Any
notification of denial of any request for records under this
subsection shall set forth the names and titles or positions of
each person responsible for the denial of such request.
(ii) For purposes of this subparagraph, the term "exceptional
circumstances" does not include a delay that results from a
predictable agency workload of requests under this section, unless
the agency demonstrates reasonable progress in reducing its backlog
of pending requests.
(iii) Refusal by a person to reasonably modify the scope of a
request or arrange an alternative time frame for processing a
request (or a modified request) under clause (ii) after being given
an opportunity to do so by the agency to whom the person made the
request shall be considered as a factor in determining whether
exceptional circumstances exist for purposes of this subparagraph.
(D)(i) Each agency may promulgate regulations, pursuant to notice
and receipt of public comment, providing for multitrack processing
of requests for records based on the amount of work or time (or
both) involved in processing requests.
(ii) Regulations under this subparagraph may provide a person
making a request that does not qualify for the fastest multitrack
processing an opportunity to limit the scope of the request in
order to qualify for faster processing.
(iii) This subparagraph shall not be considered to affect the
requirement under subparagraph (C) to exercise due diligence.
(E)(i) Each agency shall promulgate regulations, pursuant to
notice and receipt of public comment, providing for expedited
processing of requests for records -
(I) in cases in which the person requesting the records
demonstrates a compelling need; and
(II) in other cases determined by the agency.
(ii) Notwithstanding clause (i), regulations under this
subparagraph must ensure -
(I) that a determination of whether to provide expedited
processing shall be made, and notice of the determination shall
be provided to the person making the request, within 10 days
after the date of the request; and
(II) expeditious consideration of administrative appeals of
such determinations of whether to provide expedited processing.
(iii) An agency shall process as soon as practicable any request
for records to which the agency has granted expedited processing
under this subparagraph. Agency action to deny or affirm denial of
a request for expedited processing pursuant to this subparagraph,
and failure by an agency to respond in a timely manner to such a
request shall be subject to judicial review under paragraph (4),
except that the judicial review shall be based on the record before
the agency at the time of the determination.
(iv) A district court of the United States shall not have
jurisdiction to review an agency denial of expedited processing of
a request for records after the agency has provided a complete
response to the request.
(v) For purposes of this subparagraph, the term "compelling need"
means -
(I) that a failure to obtain requested records on an expedited
basis under this paragraph could reasonably be expected to pose
an imminent threat to the life or physical safety of an
individual; or
(II) with respect to a request made by a person primarily
engaged in disseminating information, urgency to inform the
public concerning actual or alleged Federal Government activity.
(vi) A demonstration of a compelling need by a person making a
request for expedited processing shall be made by a statement
certified by such person to be true and correct to the best of such
person's knowledge and belief.
(F) In denying a request for records, in whole or in part, an
agency shall make a reasonable effort to estimate the volume of any
requested matter the provision of which is denied, and shall
provide any such estimate to the person making the request, unless
providing such estimate would harm an interest protected by the
exemption in subsection (b) pursuant to which the denial is made.
(b) This section does not apply to matters that are -
(1)(A) specifically authorized under criteria established by an
Executive order to be kept secret in the interest of national
defense or foreign policy and (B) are in fact properly classified
pursuant to such Executive order;
(2) related solely to the internal personnel rules and
practices of an agency;
(3) specifically exempted from disclosure by statute (other
than section 552b of this title), provided that such statute (A)
requires that the matters be withheld from the public in such a
manner as to leave no discretion on the issue, or (B) establishes
particular criteria for withholding or refers to particular types
of matters to be withheld;
(4) trade secrets and commercial or financial information
obtained from a person and privileged or confidential;
(5) inter-agency or intra-agency memorandums or letters which
would not be available by law to a party other than an agency in
litigation with the agency;
(6) personnel and medical files and similar files the
disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted
invasion of personal privacy;
(7) records or information compiled for law enforcement
purposes, but only to the extent that the production of such law
enforcement records or information (A) could reasonably be
expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings, (B) would
deprive a person of a right to a fair trial or an impartial
adjudication, (C) could reasonably be expected to constitute an
unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, (D) could reasonably be
expected to disclose the identity of a confidential source,
including a State, local, or foreign agency or authority or any
private institution which furnished information on a confidential
basis, and, in the case of a record or information compiled by
criminal law enforcement authority in the course of a criminal
investigation or by an agency conducting a lawful national
security intelligence investigation, information furnished by a
confidential source, (E) would disclose techniques and procedures
for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions, or would
disclose guidelines for law enforcement investigations or
prosecutions if such disclosure could reasonably be expected to
risk circumvention of the law, or (F) could reasonably be
expected to endanger the life or physical safety of any
individual;
(8) contained in or related to examination, operating, or
condition reports prepared by, on behalf of, or for the use of an
agency responsible for the regulation or supervision of financial
institutions; or
(9) geological and geophysical information and data, including
maps, concerning wells.
Any reasonably segregable portion of a record shall be provided to
any person requesting such record after deletion of the portions
which are exempt under this subsection. The amount of information
deleted shall be indicated on the released portion of the record,
unless including that indication would harm an interest protected
by the exemption in this subsection under which the deletion is
made. If technically feasible, the amount of the information
deleted shall be indicated at the place in the record where such
deletion is made.
(c)(1) Whenever a request is made which involves access to
records described in subsection (b)(7)(A) and -
(A) the investigation or proceeding involves a possible
violation of criminal law; and
(B) there is reason to believe that (i) the subject of the
investigation or proceeding is not aware of its pendency, and
(ii) disclosure of the existence of the records could reasonably
be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings,
the agency may, during only such time as that circumstance
continues, treat the records as not subject to the requirements of
this section.
(2) Whenever informant records maintained by a criminal law
enforcement agency under an informant's name or personal identifier
are requested by a third party according to the informant's name or
personal identifier, the agency may treat the records as not
subject to the requirements of this section unless the informant's
status as an informant has been officially confirmed.
(3) Whenever a request is made which involves access to records
maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation pertaining to
foreign intelligence or counterintelligence, or international
terrorism, and the existence of the records is classified
information as provided in subsection (b)(1), the Bureau may, as
long as the existence of the records remains classified
information, treat the records as not subject to the requirements
of this section.
(d) This section does not authorize withholding of information or
limit the availability of records to the public, except as
specifically stated in this section. This section is not authority
to withhold information from Congress.
(e)(1) On or before February 1 of each year, each agency shall
submit to the Attorney General of the United States a report which
shall cover the preceding fiscal year and which shall include -
(A) the number of determinations made by the agency not to
comply with requests for records made to such agency under
subsection (a) and the reasons for each such determination;
(B)(i) the number of appeals made by persons under subsection
(a)(6), the result of such appeals, and the reason for the action
upon each appeal that results in a denial of information; and
(ii) a complete list of all statutes that the agency relies
upon to authorize the agency to withhold information under
subsection (b)(3), a description of whether a court has upheld
the decision of the agency to withhold information under each
such statute, and a concise description of the scope of any
information withheld;
(C) the number of requests for records pending before the
agency as of September 30 of the preceding year, and the median
number of days that such requests had been pending before the
agency as of that date;
(D) the number of requests for records received by the agency
and the number of requests which the agency processed;
(E) the median number of days taken by the agency to process
different types of requests;
(F) the total amount of fees collected by the agency for
processing requests; and
(G) the number of full-time staff of the agency devoted to
processing requests for records under this section, and the total
amount expended by the agency for processing such requests.
(2) Each agency shall make each such report available to the
public including by computer telecommunications, or if computer
telecommunications means have not been established by the agency,
by other electronic means.
(3) The Attorney General of the United States shall make each
report which has been made available by electronic means available
at a single electronic access point. The Attorney General of the
United States shall notify the Chairman and ranking minority member
of the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight of the House of
Representatives and the Chairman and ranking minority member of the
Committees on Governmental Affairs and the Judiciary of the Senate,
no later than April 1 of the year in which each such report is
issued, that such reports are available by electronic means.
(4) The Attorney General of the United States, in consultation
with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, shall
develop reporting and performance guidelines in connection with
reports required by this subsection by October 1, 1997, and may
establish additional requirements for such reports as the Attorney
General determines may be useful.
(5) The Attorney General of the United States shall submit an
annual report on or before April 1 of each calendar year which
shall include for the prior calendar year a listing of the number
of cases arising under this section, the exemption involved in each
case, the disposition of such case, and the cost, fees, and
penalties assessed under subparagraphs (E), (F), and (G) of
subsection (a)(4). Such report shall also include a description of
the efforts undertaken by the Department of Justice to encourage
agency compliance with this section.
(f) For purposes of this section, the term -
(1) "agency" as defined in section 551(1) of this title
includes any executive department, military department,
Government corporation, Government controlled corporation, or
other establishment in the executive branch of the Government
(including the Executive Office of the President), or any
independent regulatory agency; and
(2) "record" and any other term used in this section in
reference to information includes any information that would be
an agency record subject to the requirements of this section when
maintained by an agency in any format, including an electronic
format.
(g) The head of each agency shall prepare and make publicly
available upon request, reference material or a guide for
requesting records or information from the agency, subject to the
exemptions in subsection (b), including -
(1) an index of all major information systems of the agency;
(2) a description of major information and record locator
systems maintained by the agency; and
(3) a handbook for obtaining various types and categories of
public information from the agency pursuant to chapter 35 of
title 44, and under this section.
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