Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)| Privacy Act| Records Management

FOIA - Preliminary Steps

Before initiating a FOIA request, there are several important things to bear in mind:

Effective January 8, 2007, the FWS is implementing multitrack processing. FOIA requests received by the FWS will be placed into three processing "tracks," (Simple, Normal, and Complex) based on the time required for a request to be processed:
1. Simple: 1-5 workdays
2. Normal: 20 workdays
3. Complex: over 20 workdays

First, the information that you seek may already be accessible via existing websites, including:
- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Home Page;
- The Department of the Interior Home Page;
- FWS Regional websites;
- Sites maintained by Washington Program Offices; and
- FWS list of Frequently Asked Questions.
- FWS Electronic Reading Room (Frequently Requested Information)

Second, if you cannot find what you are looking for on our website, you can call the appropriate FWS program or Regional Office. The telephone numbers for these offices can be found by going to the FWS sites listed above.

Finally, while much of the information kept by Federal agencies is a matter of public record, some sensitive materials are exempt from disclosure requirements under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552). For a list of the nine statutory exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act, as well as other relevant reference materials, go to the Department of the Interior FOIA website.

Go to "How to file a FOIA Request" page.

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