Categories: Freedom of Information Act / Research ToolsGovernment

FDIC Circular 1023.1 – Procedures for Processing Freedom of Information Act Requests

March 6, 2017

Background

The FOIA, enacted in 1966, generally provides that any person has a right to obtain access to federal agency records except to the extent that such records (or portions of them) are protected from public disclosure by one of nine exemptions or by one of three special law enforcement records exclusions.

The Privacy Act of 1974 may also be used by certain individuals to obtain access to records maintained by their names or other personal identifier in an agency system of records. Requests for Privacy Act records shall be processed in accordance with the Privacy Act, FDIC Regulations at 12 CFR, ~ 310, and the procedures in FDIC Circular 1031.1, The Privacy Act of 1974: Employee Rights and Responsibilities.

In 1996, Congress enacted the Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments (E-FOIA) requiring public access to information in an electronic format and for the establishment of electronic FOIA reading rooms through agency FOIA web sites. The FDIC’s E-FOIA web site is available at www.fdic.gov/aboutlfreedom/index.html where a variety of reference materials and links to component reading rooms of electronic records may be found.
In 2005, President Bush issued Executive Order 13392, Improving Agency Disclosure of Information, 70 FR 75373, dated December 14, 2005, directing agencies to ensure citizen centered and results-oriented FOIA operations. In accordance with this Executive Order, the FDIC has designated the General Counsel as its Chief FOIA Officer with corporate-wide responsibility for efficient and appropriate compliance with the FOIA.

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To ensure appropriate communication with FOIA requesters, a FOIA Requester Service Center has been established within the Legal Division to receive and respond to inquiries concerning the status of pending FOIA requests.