[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 244 (Tuesday, December 21, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 71297-71299]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-32306]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

32 CFR Part 296


National Reconnaissance Office Freedom of Information Act Program 
Regulation

AGENCY: National Reconnaissance Office, DoD.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This final rule establishes the National Reconnaissance Office 
(NRO) regulation governing the disclosure of information under the 
Freedom of Information Act. This part is reissued pursuant to the 
Department of Defense rule, which implements the Freedom of Information 
Act and it conforms to the Department's rule and schedule. As a 
component of the Department of Defense, the Department rules and 
schedules with respect to the Freedom of Information Act, as amended, 
will also be the policy of the NRO.

Effective Date: October 20, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Friemann, Chief, Information 
Access and Release Center, (703) 808-5029, Reading Room Appointments 
(703) 808-2474 or (703) 808-5500.

SUPPLEMENTARY iNFORMATION: The NRO published a final rule of this part 
on November 16, 1993 (58 FR 60382). This rule does not constitute a 
significant regulatory action within the meaning of Executive Order 
12866. Neither the requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 
U.S.C. 601-612), nor the reporting or record-keeping requirements under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L.
104-13) apply. It is hereby certified that this final rule does not 
exert a significant economic impact nor impose new requirements on a 
number of small entities. This determination is made based upon the 
fact that the rule merely codifies the procedural aspects of the NRO 
Freedom of Information Act Program, as amended by the ``Electronic 
Freedom of Information Act Amendment of 1996''. It includes guidance 
on how and from whom to request information pertaining to the NRO.

List of Subjects 32 CFR Part 296

    Freedom of information.

    Accordingly, 32 CFR part 296 is revised to read as follows:

[[Page 71298]]

PART 296--NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 
PROGRAM REGULATION

Sec.
296.1  Purpose.
296.2  Definitions.
296.3  Indexes.
296.4  Procedures for request of records.
296.5  Appeals.
296.6  Reading room.

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552, as amended.


Sec. 296.1  Purpose.

    The purpose of this part is to provide policies and procedures for 
the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) implementation of the Freedom 
of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552 as amended) (FOIA), and to promote 
uniformity in the NRO FOIA program.


Sec. 296.2  Definitions.

    The terms used in this part, with the exception of the following, 
are defined in 32 CFR part 286:
    (a) Freedom of Information Act appellate authority. The Chief of 
Staff, NRO.
    (b) Initial denial authority. The Chief, Information Access & 
Release Center NRO.


Sec. 296.3  Indexes.

    (a) The NRO does not originate final orders, opinions, statements 
of policy, interpretations, staff manuals or instructions that affect a 
member of the public of the type covered by the indexing requirement of 
5 U.S.C. 552(a)(2). The Director, NRO, has therefore determined, 
pursuant to pertinent statutory and executive order requirements, that 
it is unnecessary and impracticable to publish an index of the type 
required by 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(2), except the index noted in paragraph (b) 
of this section.
    (b) A general index of FOIA-processed (a)(2) records shall be made 
available to the public, both in hard copy and electronically by 
December 31, 1999.


Sec. 296.4  Procedures for request of records.

    (a) Requests. Requests for access to records of the National 
Reconnaissance Office may be filed by mail or FAX addressed to the 
Chief, Information Access and Release Center, National Reconnaissance 
Office, 14675 Lee Road, Chantilly, VA 20151-1715, FAX Number (703) 808-
5082. Requests need not be made on any special form but must be by 
letter or FAX or other written statement identifying the request as a 
Freedom of Information Act request and setting forth sufficient 
information reasonably describing the requested record. All requests 
should contain a willingness to pay assessable FOIA fees.
    (b) Date of acceptance. The requestor shall be promptly informed by 
letter of the date of acceptance of the request. The search conducted 
pursuant to that request shall be for records in existence as of and 
through the acceptance date.
    (c) Determination and notification. When the requested record has 
been located and identified, the Initial Denial Authority shall 
determine whether the record is one which, consistent with statutory 
requirements, executive orders and appropriate directives, may be 
released or may contain information that is exempt under the provisions 
of 5 U.S.C. 552. Normally, the Initial Denial Authority shall notify 
the requestor of the determination within 20 working days of the 
receipt of the request.
    (d) Multi-track processing. The NRO has 3 queues in which requests 
may be processed when a significant number of pending requests prevents 
a response within 20 working days, all based on the date of receipt, 
first-in first-out, and the amount of work, time, and volume involved 
in processing the requests.
    (See subparagraph C1.5.4.2. of DoD 5400.7-R \1\, Sept 1998). The 
queues are:
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    \1\ Copies may be obtained via internet at http://
web7.whs.osd.mil/corrres/htm.
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    (1) Simple. Those requests which are easily handled and processed.
    (2) Complex. Those requests which are complicated by multiple 
searches, co-ordinations, consultations, volume etc.
    (3) Expedited. Expedited processing shall be granted to a requestor 
after the requestor asks for and demonstrates a compelling need for the 
information (paragraph C1.5.4.3. of DoD 5400.7-R)
    (e) Extension of response time. In unusual circumstances when 
additional time is needed to respond, the Initial Denial Authority 
shall notify the requestor in writing of the reasons therefore, and an 
anticipated date, not to exceed 10 additional working days, on which a 
determination is expected to be dispatched. The Initial Denial 
Authority will normally send this notification within 20 working days 
from receipt of the request. Should it be determined that this 10 
additional working days cannot be met, the requestor shall be notified 
and offered the opportunity to limit or narrow the scope of the request 
in order to facilitate faster processing, or to arrange an alternative 
time for processing the request (paragraph C1.5.2.6. of DoD 5400.7-R)
    (f) Fees.
    (1) General. As a component of the Department of Defense, the 
applicable published Department rules and schedules with respect to the 
schedule of fees chargeable and waiver of fees will also be the policy 
of NRO. See 32 CFR 286.33.
    (2) Advance payments. (i) Where a total fee to be assessed is 
estimated to exceed $250, advance payment of the estimated fee will be 
required before processing of the request, except where assurances of 
full payment are received from a requestor with a history of prompt 
payment. Where a requestor has previously failed to pay a fee within 30 
calendar days of the date of the billing, the requestor will be 
required to pay the full amount owed, plus any applicable interest, or 
demonstrate that he or she has paid the fee, as well as make an advance 
payment of the full amount of any estimated fee before processing of a 
new or pending request continues.
    (ii) For all other requests, advance payment, i.e., a payment made 
before work is commenced, will not be required. Payment for work 
already completed is not an advance payment. Responses will not be held 
pending receipt of fees from requestors with a history of prompt 
payment. Fees should be paid by certified check or postal money order 
forwarded to the Chief, Information Access and Release Center (IARC) 
and made payable to the Treasurer of the United States.


Sec. 296.5  Appeals.

    Any person denied access to records, denied a fee waiver, involved 
in a dispute regarding fee estimates, or who considers a no record 
determination, or any determination to be adverse in nature, may, 
within 60 days after notification of such denial, file an appeal to the 
Freedom of Information Act Appellate Authority, National Reconnaissance 
Office. Such an appeal shall be in writing addressed to the Chief, 
Information Access and Release Center, National Reconnaissance Office, 
14675 Lee Road, Chantilly, VA 20151-1715, should reference the initial 
denial, and shall contain the basis for disagreement with the initial 
denial. The Freedom of Information Act Appellate Authority shall 
normally make a final determination on an appeal within 20 working days 
after receipt of the appeal.


Sec. 296.6  Reading room.

    (a) The NRO shall provide a reading room equipped with hard copy 
and electronic records as required in the ``Electronic Freedom of 
Information Act Amendments of 1996''. The NRO Reading Room is located 
at 14675 Lee Road, Chantilly VA, 20151-1715 and is open weekdays only 
from 8:00 am until

[[Page 71299]]

4:00 p.m. Requestors must call for an appointment twenty-four (24) 
hours in advance so that optimum customer service can be provided. 
(703) 808-5029. Fees will be charged for duplication of hard copy 
records at $.15 per page after the first 100 pages. Softcopy media 
provided to visitors is assessed as follows:
    (1) 5.25'' Floppy diskette $0.50
    (2) 3.5'' Floppy diskette $0.50
    (3) CD-R Media $3.75
    (4) Video Tape $4.00.
    (b) The NRO FOIA Electronic Reading Room is located on the NRO Home 
Page: www.nro.odci.gov.

    Dated: December 9, 1999.
L.M. Bynum,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 99-32306 Filed 12-20-99; 8:45 am]
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