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Freedom of Information Act of 1966 and Ammendments (as of Jan. 2, 1991)

From GPO US Code on CD-ROM (GPO S/N 052-001-004-00439-6) $30.00


-CITE-
5 USC Sec. 552

-EXPCITE-
TITLE 5
PART I
CHAPTER 5
SUBCHAPTER II

-HEAD-
Sec. 552. Public information; agency rules, opinions, orders,
records, and proceedings

-STATUTE-
(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; and
(C) administrative staff manuals and instructions to staff that
affect a member of the public;
unless the materials are promptly published and copies offered for
sale. 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, or staff manual or instruction.
However, in each case the justification for the deletion shall be
explained fully in writing. 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. 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) Except with respect to the records made available under
paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection, each agency, upon any
request for records which (A) reasonably describes such records and
(B) 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.
(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.
(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 ten 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) 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 reasons 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. As used in this
subparagraph, 'unusual circumstances' means, but only to the extent
reasonably necessary to the proper processing of the particular
request -
(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.
(C) 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.
(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.
(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) On or before March 1 of each calendar year, each agency shall
submit a report covering the preceding calendar year to the Speaker
of the House of Representatives and President of the Senate for
referral to the appropriate committees of the Congress. The report
shall include -
(1) the number of determinations made by such agency not to
comply with requests for records made to such agency under
subsection (a) and the reasons for each such determination;
(2) 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;
(3) the names and titles or positions of each person
responsible for the denial of records requested under this
section, and the number of instances of participation for each;
(4) the results of each proceeding conducted pursuant to
subsection (a)(4)(F), including a report of the disciplinary
action taken against the officer or employee who was primarily
responsible for improperly withholding records or an explanation
of why disciplinary action was not taken;
(5) a copy of every rule made by such agency regarding this
section;
(6) a copy of the fee schedule and the total amount of fees
collected by the agency for making records available under this
section; and
(7) such other information as indicates efforts to administer
fully this section.
The Attorney General shall submit an annual report on or before
March 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
subsections (a)(4)(E), (F), and (G). 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 '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.

-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 89-554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 383; Pub. L. 90-23, Sec.
1, June 5, 1967, 81 Stat. 54; Pub. L. 93-502, Sec. 1-3, Nov. 21,
1974, 88 Stat. 1561-1564; Pub. L. 94-409, Sec. 5(b), Sept. 13,
1976, 90 Stat. 1247; Pub. L. 95-454, title IX, Sec. 906(a)(10),
Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1225; Pub. L. 98-620, title IV, Sec.
402(2), Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3357; Pub. L. 99-570, title I, Sec.
1802, 1803, Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207-48, 3207-49.)

-MISC1-
Historical and Revision Notes
1966 Act
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Derivation U.S. Code Revised Statutes and
Statutes at Large
---------------------------------------------------------------------
5 U.S.C. 1002. June 11, 1946, ch.
324, Sec. 3, 60
Stat. 238.
-------------------------------
In subsection (b)(3), the words 'formulated and' are omitted as
surplusage. In the last sentence of subsection (b), the words 'in
any manner' are omitted as surplusage since the prohibition is all
inclusive.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions
applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface
to the report.
1967 ACT
Section 1 (of Pub. L. 90-23) amends section 552 of title 5,
United States Code, to reflect Public Law 89-487.
In subsection (a)(1)(A), the words 'employees (and in the case of
a uniformed service, the member)' are substituted for 'officer' to
retain the coverage of Public Law 89-487 and to conform to the
definitions in 5 U.S.C. 2101, 2104, and 2105.
In the last sentence of subsection (a)(2), the words 'A final
order * * * may be relied on * * * only if' are substituted for 'No
final order * * * may be relied upon * * * unless'; and the words
'a party other than an agency' and 'the party' are substituted for
'a private party' and 'the private party', respectively, on
authority of the definition of 'private party' in 5 App. U.S.C.
1002(g).
In subsection (a)(3), the words 'the responsible employee, and in
the case of a uniformed service, the responsible member' are
substituted for 'the responsible officers' to retain the coverage
of Public Law 89-487 and to conform to the definitions in 5 U.S.C.
2101, 2104, and 2105.
In subsection (a)(4), the words 'shall maintain and make
available for public inspection a record' are substituted for
'shall keep a record * * * and that record shall be available for
public inspection'.
In subsection (b)(5) and (7), the words 'a party other than an
agency' are substituted for 'a private party' on authority of the
definition of 'private party' in 5 App. U.S.C. 1002(g).
In subsection (c), the words 'This section does not authorize'
and 'This section is not authority' are substituted for 'Nothing in
this section authorizes' and 'nor shall this section be authority',
respectively.
5 App. U.S.C. 1002(g), defining 'private party' to mean a party
other than an agency, is omitted since the words 'party other than
an agency' are substituted for the words 'private party' wherever
they appear in revised 5 U.S.C. 552.
5 App. U.S.C. 1002(h), prescribing the effective date, is omitted
as unnecessary. That effective date is prescribed by section 4 of
this bill.

-COD-
CODIFICATION
Section 552 of former Title 5, Executive Departments and
Government Officers and Employees, was transferred to section 2243
of Title 7, Agriculture.

-MISC3-
AMENDMENTS
1986 - Subsec. (a)(4)(A). Pub. L. 99-570, Sec. 1803, amended
subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (A) read as
follows: 'In order to carry out the provisions of this section,
each agency shall promulgate regulations, pursuant to notice and
receipt of public comment, specifying a uniform schedule of fees
applicable to all constituent units of such agency. Such fees
shall be limited to reasonable standard charges for document search
and duplication and provide for recovery of only the direct costs
of such search and duplication. Documents shall be furnished
without charge or at a reduced charge where the agency determines
that waiver or reduction of the fee is in the public interest
because furnishing the information can be considered as primarily
benefiting the general public.'
Subsec. (b)(7). Pub. L. 99-570, Sec. 1802(a), amended par. (7)
generally. Prior to amendment, par. (7) read as follows:
'investigatory records compiled for law enforcement purposes, but
only to the extent that the production of such records would (A)
interfere with enforcement proceedings, (B) deprive a person of a
right to a fair trial or an impartial adjudication, (C) constitute
an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, (D) disclose the
identity of a confidential source and, in the case of a record
compiled by a criminal law enforcement authority in the course of a
criminal investigation, or by an agency conducting a lawful
national security intelligence investigation, confidential
information furnished only by the confidential source, (E) disclose
investigative techniques and procedures, or (F) endanger the life
or physical safety of law enforcement personnel;'.
Subsecs. (c) to (f). Pub. L. 99-570, Sec. 1802(b), added subsec.
(c) and redesignated former subsecs. (c) to (e) as (d) to (f),
respectively.
1984 - Subsec. (a)(4)(D). Pub. L. 98-620 repealed subpar. (D)
which provided for precedence on the docket and expeditious
disposition of district court proceedings authorized by subsec.
(a).
1978 - Subsec. (a)(4)(F). Pub. L. 95-454 substituted references
to the Special Counsel for references to the Civil Service
Commission wherever appearing and reference to his findings for
reference to its findings.
1976 - Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 94-409 inserted provision
excluding section 552b of this title from applicability of
exemption from disclosure and provision setting forth conditions
for statute specifically exempting disclosure.
1974 - Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 93-502, Sec. 1(a), substituted
provisions relating to maintenance and availability of current
indexes, for provisions relating to maintenance and availability of
a current index, and inserted provisions relating to publication
and distribution of copies of indexes or supplements thereto.
Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 93-502, Sec. 1(b)(1), substituted
provisions requiring requests to reasonably describe records for
provisions requiring requests, for identifiable records, and struck
out provisions setting forth procedures to enjoin agencies from
withholding the requested records and ordering their production.
Subsec. (a)(4), (5). Pub. L. 93-502, Sec. 1(b)(2), added par. (4)
and redesignated former par. (4) as (5).
Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 93-502, Sec. 1(c), added par. (6).
Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 93-502, Sec. 2(a), designated existing
provisions as cl. (A), substituted 'authorized under criteria
established by an' for 'required by', and added cl. (B).
Subsec. (b)(7). Pub. L. 93-502, Sec. 2(b), substituted provisions
relating to exemption for investigatory records compiled for law
enforcement purposes, for provisions relating to exemption for
investigatory files compiled for law enforcement purposes.
Subsec. (b), foll. par. (9). Pub. L. 93-502, Sec. 2(c), inserted
provision relating to availability of segregable portion of
records.
Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 93-502, Sec. 3, added subsecs. (d) and
(e).
1967 - Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 90-23 substituted introductory
statement requiring every agency to make available to the public
certain information for former introductory provision excepting
from disclosure (1) any function of the United States requiring
secrecy in the public interest or (2) any matter relating to
internal management of an agency, covered in subsec. (b)(1) and (2)
of this section.
Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 90-23 incorporated provisions of: former
subsec. (b)(1) in (A), inserting requirement of publication of
names of officers as sources of information and provision for
public to obtain decisions, and striking out publication
requirement for delegations by the agency of final authority;
former subsec. (b)(2), introductory part, in (B); former subsec.
(b)(2), concluding part, in (C), inserting publication requirement
for rules of procedure and descriptions of forms available or the
places at which forms may be obtained; former subsec. (b)(3),
introductory part, in (D), inserting requirement of general
applicability of substantive rules and interpretations, added
clause (E), substituted exemption of any person from failure to
resort to any matter or from being adversely affected by any matter
required to be published in the Federal Register but not so
published for former subsec. (b)(3), concluding part, excepting
from publication rules addressed to and served upon named persons
in accordance with laws and final sentence reading 'A person may
not be required to resort to organization or procedure not so
published' and inserted provision deeming matter, which is
reasonably available, as published in the Federal Register when
such matter is incorporated by reference in the Federal Register
with the approval of its Director.
Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 90-23 incorporated provisions of former
subsec. (c), provided for public copying of records, struck out
requirement of agency publication of final opinions or orders and
authority for secrecy and withholding of opinions and orders
required for good cause to be held confidential and not cited as
precedents, latter provision now superseded by subsec. (b) of this
section, designated existing subsec. (c) as clause (A), including
provision for availability of concurring and dissenting opinions,
inserted provisions for availability of policy statements and
interpretations in clause (B) and staff manuals and instructions in
clause (C), deletion of personal identifications from records to
protect personal privacy with written justification therefor, and
provision for indexing and prohibition of use of records not
indexed against any private party without actual and timely notice
of the terms thereof.
Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 90-23 incorporated provisions of former
subsec. (d) and substituted provisions requiring identifiable
agency records to be made available to any person upon request and
compliance with rules as to time, place, and procedure for
inspection, and payment of fees and provisions for Federal district
court proceedings de novo for enforcement by contempt of
noncompliance with court's orders with the burden on the agency and
docket precedence for such proceedings for former provisions
requiring matters of official record to be made available to
persons properly and directly concerned except information held
confidential for good cause shown, the latter provision superseded
by subsec. (b) of this section.
Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 90-23 added par. (4).
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 90-23 added subsec. (b) which superseded
provisions excepting from disclosure any function of the United
States requiring secrecy in the public interest or any matter
relating to internal management of an agency, formerly contained in
former subsec. (a), final opinions or orders required for good
cause to be held confidential and not cited as precedents, formerly
contained in subsec. (c), and information held confidential for
good cause found, contained in former subsec. (d) of this section.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 90-23 added subsec. (c).
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1986 AMENDMENT
Section 1804 of Pub. L. 99-570 provided that:
'(a) The amendments made by section 1802 (amending this section)
shall be effective on the date of enactment of this Act (Oct. 27,
1986), and shall apply with respect to any requests for records,
whether or not the request was made prior to such date, and shall
apply to any civil action pending on such date.
'(b)(1) The amendments made by section 1803 (amending this
section) shall be effective 180 days after the date of enactment of
this Act (Oct. 27, 1986), except that regulations to implement such
amendments shall be promulgated by such 180th day.
'(2) The amendments made by section 1803 (amending this section)
shall apply with respect to any requests for records, whether or
not the request was made prior to such date, and shall apply to any
civil action pending on such date, except that review charges
applicable to records requested for commercial use shall not be
applied by an agency to requests made before the effective date
specified in paragraph (1) of this subsection or before the agency
has finally issued its regulations.'
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1984 AMENDMENT
Amendment by Pub. L. 98-620 not applicable to cases pending on
Nov. 8, 1984, see section 403 of Pub. L. 98-620, set out as an
Effective Date note under section 1657 of Title 28, Judiciary and
Judicial Procedure.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1978 AMENDMENT
Amendment by Pub. L. 95-454 effective 90 days after Oct. 13,
1978, see section 907 of Pub. L. 95-454, set out as a note under
section 1101 of this title.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1976 AMENDMENT
Amendment by Pub. L. 94-409 effective 180 days after Sept. 13,
1976, see section 6 of Pub. L. 94-409, set out as an Effective Date
note under section 552b of this title.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1974 AMENDMENT
Section 4 of Pub. L. 93-502 provided that: 'The amendments made
by this Act (amending this section) shall take effect on the
ninetieth day beginning after the date of enactment of this Act
(Nov. 21, 1974).'
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1967 AMENDMENT
Section 4 of Pub. L. 90-23 provided that: 'This Act (amending
this section) shall be effective July 4, 1967, or on the date of
enactment (June 5, 1967), whichever is later.'
SHORT TITLE OF 1986 AMENDMENT
Section 1801 of Pub. L. 99-570 provided that: 'This subtitle
(subtitle N (Sec. 1801-1804) of title I of Pub. L. 99-570, amending
this section and enacting provisions set out as a note under this
section) may be cited as the 'Freedom of Information Reform Act of
1986'.'
SHORT TITLE
This section is popularly known as the 'Freedom of Information
Act'.

-EXEC-
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 12174
Ex. Ord. No. 12174, Nov. 30, 1979, 44 F.R. 69609, which related
to minimizing Federal paperwork, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 12291,
Feb. 17, 1981, 46 F.R. 13193, set out as a note under section 601
of this title.
EX. ORD. NO. 12600. PREDISCLOSURE NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES FOR
CONFIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL INFORMATION
Ex. Ord. No. 12600, June 23, 1987, 52 F.R. 23781, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution
and statutes of the United States of America, and in order to
provide predisclosure notification procedures under the Freedom of
Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) concerning confidential commercial
information, and to make existing agency notification provisions
more uniform, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. The head of each Executive department and agency
subject to the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) shall, to
the extent permitted by law, establish procedures to notify
submitters of records containing confidential commercial
information as described in section 3 of this Order, when those
records are requested under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA),
5 U.S.C. 552, as amended, if after reviewing the request, the
responsive records, and any appeal by the requester, the department
or agency determines that it may be required to disclose the
records. Such notice requires that an agency use good-faith
efforts to advise submitters of confidential commercial information
of the procedures established under this Order. Further, where
notification of a voluminous number of submitters is required, such
notification may be accomplished by posting or publishing the
notice in a place reasonably calculated to accomplish notification.
Sec. 2. For purposes of this Order, the following definitions
apply:
(a) 'Confidential commercial information' means records provided
to the government by a submitter that arguably contain material
exempt from release under Exemption 4 of the Freedom of Information
Act, 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(4), because disclosure could reasonably be
expected to cause substantial competitive harm.
(b) 'Submitter' means any person or entity who provides
confidential commercial information to the government. The term
'submitter' includes, but is not limited to, corporations, state
governments, and foreign governments.
Sec. 3. (a) For confidential commercial information submitted
prior to January 1, 1988, the head of each Executive department or
agency shall, to the extent permitted by law, provide a submitter
with notice pursuant to section 1 whenever:
(i) the records are less than 10 years old and the information
has been designated by the submitter as confidential commercial
information; or
(ii) the department or agency has reason to believe that
disclosure of the information could reasonably be expected to cause
substantial competitive harm.
(b) For confidential commercial information submitted on or after
January 1, 1988, the head of each Executive department or agency
shall, to the extent permitted by law, establish procedures to
permit submitters of confidential commercial information to
designate, at the time the information is submitted to the Federal
government or a reasonable time thereafter, any information the
disclosure of which the submitter claims could reasonably be
expected to cause substantial competitive harm. Such agency
procedures may provide for the expiration, after a specified period
of time or changes in circumstances, of designations of competitive
harm made by submitters. Additionally, such procedures may permit
the agency to designate specific classes of information that will
be treated by the agency as if the information had been so
designated by the submitter. The head of each Executive department
or agency shall, to the extent permitted by law, provide the
submitter notice in accordance with section 1 of this Order
whenever the department or agency determines that it may be
required to disclose records:
(i) designated pursuant to this subsection; or
(ii) the disclosure of which the department or agency has reason
to believe could reasonably be expected to cause substantial
competitive harm.
Sec. 4. When notification is made pursuant to section 1, each
agency's procedures shall, to the extent permitted by law, afford
the submitter a reasonable period of time in which the submitter or
its designee may object to the disclosure of any specified portion
of the information and to state all grounds upon which disclosure
is opposed.
Sec. 5. Each agency shall give careful consideration to all such
specified grounds for nondisclosure prior to making an
administrative determination of the issue. In all instances when
the agency determines to disclose the requested records, its
procedures shall provide that the agency give the submitter a
written statement briefly explaining why the submitter's objections
are not sustained. Such statement shall, to the extent permitted
by law, be provided a reasonable number of days prior to a
specified disclosure date.
Sec. 6. Whenever a FOIA requester brings suit seeking to compel
disclosure of confidential commercial information, each agency's
procedures shall require that the submitter be promptly notified.
Sec. 7. The designation and notification procedures required by
this Order shall be established by regulations, after notice and
public comment. If similar procedures or regulations already
exist, they should be reviewed for conformity and revised where
necessary. Existing procedures or regulations need not be modified
if they are in compliance with this Order.
Sec. 8. The notice requirements of this Order need not be
followed if:
(a) The agency determines that the information should not be
disclosed;
(b) The information has been published or has been officially
made available to the public;
(c) Disclosure of the information is required by law (other than
5 U.S.C. 552);
(d) The disclosure is required by an agency rule that (1) was
adopted pursuant to notice and public comment, (2) specifies narrow
classes of records submitted to the agency that are to be released
under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552), and (3)
provides in exceptional circumstances for notice when the submitter
provides written justification, at the time the information is
submitted or a reasonable time thereafter, that disclosure of the
information could reasonably be expected to cause substantial
competitive harm;
(e) The information requested is not designated by the submitter
as exempt from disclosure in accordance with agency regulations
promulgated pursuant to section 7, when the submitter had an
opportunity to do so at the time of submission of the information
or a reasonable time thereafter, unless the agency has substantial
reason to believe that disclosure of the information would result
in competitive harm; or
(f) The designation made by the submitter in accordance with
agency regulations promulgated pursuant to section 7 appears
obviously frivolous; except that, in such case, the agency must
provide the submitter with written notice of any final
administrative disclosure determination within a reasonable number
of days prior to the specified disclosure date.
Sec. 9. Whenever an agency notifies a submitter that it may be
required to disclose information pursuant to section 1 of this
Order, the agency shall also notify the requester that notice and
an opportunity to comment are being provided the submitter.
Whenever an agency notifies a submitter of a final decision
pursuant to section 5 of this Order, the agency shall also notify
the requester.
Sec. 10. This Order is intended only to improve the internal
management of the Federal government, and is not intended to create
any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law
by a party against the United States, its agencies, its officers,
or any person. Ronald Reagan.

-CROSS-
CROSS REFERENCES
Federal Register Act, see section 1502 et seq. of Title 44,
Public Printing and Documents.
Section applicable to functions exercised under International
Wheat Agreement Act of 1949, see section 1642 of Title 7,
Agriculture.

-SECREF-
SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS
This section is referred to in sections 551, 552a, 552b, 584,
586, 1216, 7133 of this title; title 2 sections 472, 501, 502;
title 7 sections 509, 608d, 948, 958, 1314g, 1359hh, 1359ii, 1508,
1642, 5651, 5662, 5906; title 10 sections 128, 424, 1034, 1102,
2304, 2328; title 12 sections 1786, 1818; title 15 sections 18a,
57b-2, 78m, 78o-5, 78q, 78w, 78x, 78dd-1, 78dd-2, 278n, 719d, 773,
796, 1314, 1335a, 1418, 2029, 2032, 2055, 2217, 2613, 3364, 3710a,
4019, 4104, 4107, 4305, 4403, 4606, 4912, 5104, 5308; title 16
sections 973j, 1402, 4304; title 18 sections 207, 208; title 19
sections 1333, 1431, 1677f, 2418; title 20 sections 2422, 2836;
title 21 sections 360d, 360j, 379, 830; title 22 sections 2200a,
3902, 4415, 4604, 4607, 4833; title 25 sections 450c, 450k, 1951,
2716; title 26 sections 6110, 7611; title 28 sections 594, 1657;
title 30 section 1604; title 31 sections 716, 1352, 3729, 3733,
5319; title 33 sections 524, 941, 1513; title 35 sections 202, 209;
title 38 sections 223, 4141; title 39 section 410; title 41
sections 253, 706; title 42 sections 242k, 300v-2, 300aa-25, 405,
1306, 1320c-9, 2167, 2168, 2996d, 4332, 5916, 5919, 6272-6274,
7135, 8103, 9122, 9208, 9660, 10704; title 44 sections 2201, 2204,
2206; title 45 section 546; title 46 sections 4309, 7702, 9303;
title 46 App. sections 93, 1111c, 1705; title 49 sections 10310,
10706, 11164, 11346; title 49 App. sections 1357, 1805, 1806, 1905,
2511, 2608; title 50 section 431; title 50 App. sections 463, 2158,
2158a, 2159, 2170, 2406, 2411.

-END-