§1900.03. Contact for general information and requests. — Inbound Citations

(a) Members of the public shall address all communications to the CIA Coordinator as specified at § 1900.03. Any requests for access to records which are not directed to the Information and Privacy Coordinator, in accordance with the requirements set forth in §§ 1900.03 and 1900.12, shall not be considered proper FOIA requests.

(d) Fee waiver requests and appeals must be directed to the Coordinator in accordance with §§ 1900.03 and 1900.11. It is suggested that such requests and appeals be made and resolved prior to the initiation of processing and the incurring of costs. However, fee waiver requests will be accepted at any time prior to the release of documents or the completion of a case, and fee waiver appeals within forty-five (45) business days of our initial decision subject to the following condition: If processing has been initiated, then the requester must agree to be responsible for costs in the event of an adverse administrative or judicial decision. When making fee waiver requests or appeals, no particular format is required other than a statement of the basis for the request or appeal.

(b) As an alternative to extensive tasking, search, and review, some requesters may wish to consider limiting the scope of their requests to previously released records. Searches of such records can often be accomplished expeditiously. Moreover, requests for such records that are specific and well-focused will often incur minimal, if any, costs. Requesters interested in limiting their requests to previously released Agency information, in lieu of traditional processing of a FOIA request, should so indicate in their correspondence.

(c) As an alternative to receiving records by mail, a requester may arrange to inspect the records deemed releasable at a CIA “reading room” in the metropolitan Washington, DC, area. Access will be granted after applicable and accrued fees have been paid. All such requests shall be in writing and addressed pursuant to § 1900.03. The records will be available at such times as mutually agreed but not less than three (3) business days from our receipt of a request. The requester will be responsible for duplication charges for any copies of records desired. The Agency has an electronic FOIA reading room on its website, located at www.cia.gov/readingroom, which contains records that the Agency has previously publicly released under FOIA as well as under other information review and release activities.

(a) Requests for expedited processing shall be submitted to the Coordinator in accordance with §§ 1900.03, 1900.11, and 1900.12. Such requests will be approved only when a compelling need is established to the satisfaction of the Agency. Within ten (10) calendar days of receipt of a request for expedited processing, the Agency will decide whether to grant expedited processing and will notify the requester of its decision. A compelling need is deemed to exist:

(1) When the matter involves an imminent threat to the life or physical safety of an individual; or

(2) When the request is made by a person primarily engaged in disseminating information and the information is relevant to a subject of public urgency concerning an actual or alleged Federal Government activity.

(b) Appeals of decisions must be received by the Coordinator within ninety (90) calendar days of the date of the Agency's initial decision. The Agency may, for good cause and as a matter of administrative discretion, permit an additional thirty (30) business days for the submission of an appeal. All appeals shall be in writing and addressed as specified in § 1900.03. All appeals must identify the documents or portions of documents at issue with specificity and may present such information, data, and argument in support as the requester may desire.

The CIA remains committed to administering a results-oriented and citizen-centered FOIA program, to processing requests in an efficient, timely and appropriate manner, and to working with requesters and the public to continuously improve Agency FOIA operations. The Agency welcomes suggestions, comments, or complaints regarding its administration of the FOIA. Members of the public shall address all such communications to the FOIA Public Liaison as specified at § 1900.03(c). The Agency may respond as determined feasible and appropriate under the circumstances. Requesters seeking to raise concerns about the service received from the CIA FOIA Requester Service Center may contact the FOIA Public Liaison after receiving an initial response from the CIA FOIA Requester Service Center. The FOIA Public Liaison shall be responsible for assisting in reducing delays and assisting in the resolution of disputes between a FOIA requester and the Agency.