What is the difference between a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Consultation and a Referral?
In the course of processing FOIA requests, it is not uncommon to locate records that either originated with another agency or that contain information of interest to another agency. The practice in such situations is to either refer the requested record to the originating agency for it to process, or to consult with the other agency to get its views on the sensitivity of the document’s content prior to making a disclosure determination. Typically, agencies refer records for direct handling to another agency when the records originated with that other agency.
For more detailed information, see the Department of Justice’s Referrals, Consultations, and Coordination FOIA Guidance.
Related
Can I ask that any Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) processing fees be waived? Can I ask that any Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) processing fees be waived?
Yes, you can request a waiver of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) processing fees. Under the FOIA, fee waivers are limited to situations in which a requester can show that the disclosure of the requested information is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations and activities of the government and is not primarily in the...
How long will it take to process my Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request? How long will it take to process my Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request?
The USGS uses a multi-track processing system. We distinguish simple requests from more complex ones based on the estimated number of workdays needed to process the request. Factors include the number of pages involved in processing the request and the need for consultations with other federal agencies. Requests within each track are processed and responded to on a first-in/first-out basis...
How do I check the status of my U.S. Geological Survey Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request? How do I check the status of my U.S. Geological Survey Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request?
If you are a registered requester with the Department of the Interior’s FOIA Public Access Link (PAL), Sign In to view the status of your request(s), send a message to the FOIA Office, or download responsive records once they are delivered. If you are not a registered requester, you can still check the status of your request by clicking on Check Request Status in the PAL toolbar. Be prepared to...
Why does the USGS invoke Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Exemption 5 (deliberative process privilege)? Why does the USGS invoke Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Exemption 5 (deliberative process privilege)?
FOIA Exemption 5 (deliberative process privilege) applies to inter-agency or intra-agency records where, for instance, there is a work product that is in draft format or documents that contain deliberations between parties leading up to a decision (including what to publish or not to publish in one of our products). The purpose of the privilege is to: Encourage open, frank discussions on matters...
Related
Can I ask that any Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) processing fees be waived? Can I ask that any Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) processing fees be waived?
Yes, you can request a waiver of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) processing fees. Under the FOIA, fee waivers are limited to situations in which a requester can show that the disclosure of the requested information is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations and activities of the government and is not primarily in the...
How long will it take to process my Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request? How long will it take to process my Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request?
The USGS uses a multi-track processing system. We distinguish simple requests from more complex ones based on the estimated number of workdays needed to process the request. Factors include the number of pages involved in processing the request and the need for consultations with other federal agencies. Requests within each track are processed and responded to on a first-in/first-out basis...
How do I check the status of my U.S. Geological Survey Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request? How do I check the status of my U.S. Geological Survey Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request?
If you are a registered requester with the Department of the Interior’s FOIA Public Access Link (PAL), Sign In to view the status of your request(s), send a message to the FOIA Office, or download responsive records once they are delivered. If you are not a registered requester, you can still check the status of your request by clicking on Check Request Status in the PAL toolbar. Be prepared to...
Why does the USGS invoke Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Exemption 5 (deliberative process privilege)? Why does the USGS invoke Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Exemption 5 (deliberative process privilege)?
FOIA Exemption 5 (deliberative process privilege) applies to inter-agency or intra-agency records where, for instance, there is a work product that is in draft format or documents that contain deliberations between parties leading up to a decision (including what to publish or not to publish in one of our products). The purpose of the privilege is to: Encourage open, frank discussions on matters...