FOIA Guidance

Below are links to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) statute, implementing regulations, executive orders, policies, and other guidance materials. 

The Statute

• The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), showing changes made by the FOIA Improvement Act of 2016 (5 U.S.C. 552)

Department of the Interior (DOI) Regulations

• DOI FOIA Regulations

DOI Policies

Secretary's Orders

• Secretary's Order No. 3378, "Improving the Department of the Interior Freedom of Information Act Program"
• Secretary's Order No. 3371, "The Department of the Interior Freedom of Information Act Program"

Departmental Manual

• Departmental Manual Chapter on FOIA (383 DM 15)

FOIA Handbook

• FOIA Handbook

Required Language

• Language for FOIA Responses

Policy Bulletins

• Preapprovals for Withholding Certain Categories of Information Bulletin
• Collecting Text Messages Responsive to Freedom of Information Act Requests Bulletin
• FOIAonline Electronic Tracking and Case Management System Bulletin
• eERDMS FOIA Search Policy Bulletin

Privacy-Related Resources

• Solicitor Guidance Regarding FOIA Requests for Personal Information of Commenters
• Information Resources Management Bulletin No. 96-04 Processing FOIA Requests for Personal and Personnel-Related Information
• DOI Privacy Act Regulations
• Privacy Act System of Records Notices

FOIA Fees

• DOI FOIA Fee Schedule
• Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidelines for FOIA Fees
• Revisions to OMB Guidelines for FOIA Fees

Foreseeable Harm

• Foreseeable Harm Standard Guidance Memorandum
• Foreseeable Harm Statements Guidance for FOIA Appeals

Exemptions and Exclusions

• Statutes the Department of Justice (DOJ) Found to Qualify Under Exemption 3 of the FOIA
• Exemption 3 Statutes Used in FY 2021 Annual Reports
• DOJ Guidance on Implementing FOIA's Statutory Exclusion Provisions

DOI Records Information

• Records Management Program

Government-Wide FOIA Related Resources

• DOJ Guide to the FOIA, updated on a rolling basis.
• DOJ Infographic on FOIA
• DOJ FOIA Post, providing DOJ-OIP FOIA guidance updates
• Attorney General Freedom of Information Act Guidelines
• FOIA.gov, DOJ's government-wide FOIA request portal
• National Archives and Records Administration General Records Schedule 4.2: Information Access and Protection Records
• Section508.gov, Making Electronic and Information Technology Accessible to People with Disabilities

The 2007 FOIA amendments created the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) to offer mediation services to resolve disputes between FOIA requesters and Federal agencies as a non-exclusive alternative to litigation. Using OGIS services does not affect your right to pursue litigation. You may contact OGIS in any of the following ways:

Office of Government Information Services
National Archives and Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Road - OGIS
College Park, MD 20740-6001
E-mail: ogis@nara.gov
Web: https://www.archives.gov/ogis 
Telephone: 202-741-5770
Fax: 202-741-5769
Toll-free: 1-877-684-6448

Disclaimer: To the extent that anything included on the DOI FOIA website may be or could be construed as inconsistent with the law or DOI's regulations, the law and regulations will control DOI's responsibilities under the FOIA.