The Bureau of Land Management FOIA
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Last updated: 01/11/01

Rediscover YOUR Public Lands

Filing a FOIA Request With the BLM

GENERAL:

Requests for public information do not require a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. You may wish to contact the Records Administrator/FOIA Coordinator regarding the information in which you are interested from the state of your interest. Click here to make a general inquiry to different Bureau of Land Management (BLM) offices via EMail.

Some installations do receive FOIA requests electronically through EMail.

Note: Agencies may not be able to protect the privacy interests of individuals as much as they would like when processing FOIAs via EMail. Electronic communication systems are harder to secure from unauthorized access, and it may not be wise for FOIA requesters to send some requests such as those for personal information to an EMail mailbox. We recommend that requests for information that are personal in nature be sent in writing to the respective Bureau FOIA Coordinator.

Privacy Act requests are not accepted electronically. Regulations require a signature for such requests. Please mail your request to the Privacy Act Coordinator at the address listed.

FILING STEPS:

If a FOIA request must be submitted to receive releasable portions of information identified as "non-public" please follow these procedures. Procedures are based on the FOIA and Departmental Regulations at 43 CFR Part 2.

Requesters are advised that the time for processing requests may be delayed if certain information below is not provided with the original FOIA request.

1. Your request must be in writing, indicate that you are making a request under the Freedom of Information Act, and be address the request to the Bureau FOIA Coordinator at the installation responsible for the information.

If the same information is requested from more than one Bureau installation send your request to the Washington Office FOIA Coordinator, at the following address:

Washington Office FOIA Coordinator
WO-530 750 LS
Bureau of Land Management
1849 C. St. NW
Washington, DC 20240

2. Make a notation on the envelope and top of the letter: "Freedom of Information Act Request".
3. Provide your phone number and mailing address so that Bureau employees may contact you if needed (for clarification of your request, etc.). Only affirmative requests will be sent via EMail if you choose to receive your response from the Bureau in that manner, and a signed paper response will be mailed to you.
4. Identify the records you want as accurately as possible, with as much detail that would be helpful for locating the information (subject matter, date, place where the record was made, the person or office that made it, the present custodian of the record, etc.). Contact the Records Administrator for clarification on how the files are set up (you must reasonably describe the records sought). A request may only seek records that are in existence at the time that the FOIA is received, and may not require that new records be created in response to the request.
5. You should specify the fee category (commercial use, news media, educational institution, noncommercial scientific institution, or other) in which you feel your request falls.
6. State the maximum amount of fees that you are willing to pay, or include a request for a fee waiver (include justification provided below).

Fee waivers are provided when disclosure is in the public interest because it: (a) Is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations or activities of the government (Does the record concern the operations or activities of the government? Is disclosure likely to contribute to the public understanding of these operations and activities? Will that contribution be significant?); and (b) is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester.

This page was created by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Office of Public Affairs 1849 C Street, Room 406-LS Washington, DC 20240 Phone: (202) 452-5125 Fax: (202) 452-5124

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