The FOIA provides you the right to request access to Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) records. The Department of the Interior regulations are located at 43 CFR Part 2. It is the policy of the BSEE to make its records available to the public to the greatest extent possible in keeping with the spirit of the FOIA. The BSEE makes many of its records publicly available and a FOIA request may not be necessary.

Take a minute to search the BSEE home page to see if the information you want is already available. You may want to go to the BSEE Library or FOIA Reading Room to see if a document is already there. You can also use the Search feature which is found at the bottom of the Reading Room page. If you have any questions about the need for a FOIA request, call one of the FOIA contacts listed below.

Headquarters and Regional Offices

Categories of Requesters

• Commercial Use
  If you are in this category, you are charged for document search, review, and duplication.
• Educational and Noncommercial Scientific Institution
  If you are in this category, you are charged for the cost of duplication alone. Requesters receive the first 100 pages of paper copies free. There is no charge for search or review.
• News Media
  If you are in this category, you are charged for the cost of duplication alone. Requesters receive the first 100 pages of paper copies free. There is no charge for search or review.
• All Others
  If you are in this category, you are charged for search and duplication, except that the first 2 hours of search time and the first 100 pages of paper copies are free. There is no charge for review.

DOI Search and Review Fees

Bureaus/offices will charge for processing requests under the FOIA in accordance with the Department's FOIA regulations and the Office of Management and Budget's Guidelines. Bureaus/offices ordinarily will collect all applicable fees before sending copies of records to you and can charge search and review costs even if no records are found or the record reviewed is ultimately not disclosed.

Duplication Charge

$ .15 per page for standard-size paper.

Search and Review Fees

• Clerical Staff (GS-7 and below): $6.75 per 15 minutes, $27 per hour
• Professional Staff (GS-8 through GS-12): $12.00 per 15 minutes, $48 perhour
• Managerial Staff (GS-13 and above): $17.25 per 15 minutes, $69 per hour

Fee schedule based on date the request was received.

Fees will not be charged if the total amount to process your request is $50.00 or less.

For more detailed information on fees see 43 CFR Part 2, Subpart G.

FOIA Exemptions

Some documents are protected by the following exemptions:

• Exemption 1 - Matters of National Defense or Foreign Policy
• Exemption 2 - Internal Personnel Rules and Practices
• Exemption 3 - Information Exempted by Other Statutes
• Exemption 4 - Trade Secrets, Commercial or Financial Information (Confidential Business Information)
• Exemption 5 - Privileged Interagency or Intra-agency Memoranda or Letters
• Exemption 6 - Personal Information Affecting an Individual's Privacy
• Exemption 7 - Records Compiled for Law Enforcement Purposes
• Exemption 8 - Records of Financial Institutions
• Exemption 9 - Geological and Geophysical Information Concerning Wells

Exclusions

In amending the Freedom of Information Act in 1986, Congress created a novel mechanism for protecting certain especially sensitive law enforcement matters, under subsection (c) of the Act. These three special protection provisions, referred to as record "exclusions," are reserved for certain specified circumstances.  The record exclusions expressly authorize federal law enforcement agencies, under these exceptional circumstances, to "treat the records as not subject to the requirements of the FOIA." For more information regarding FOIA Statutory Exclusions, visit http://www.justice.gov/oip/foiapost/2012foiapost9.html

The (c)(1) Exclusion: 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.

The (c)(2) Exclusion: 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 [the FOIA] unless the informant's status as an informant has been officially confirmed.

The (c)(3) Exclusion: 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 [Exemption 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 [the FOIA].

FOIA Reading Room / e-Libraries

DOI

• DOI and DOI Bureaus' FOIA eLibraries
• DOI FOIA program annual, quarterly, and Chief FOIA Officer Reports
• Electronic Library of Interior Policies (ELIPS)

BSEE

• FOIA Reading Room - The FOIA Reading Room contains documents of public interest released in response to FOIA requests by the BSEE. Additional documents are added periodically after they are released in response to FOIA requests.
• FOIA Logs – Monthly Freedom of Information Act Logs.
• The Library contains information about BSEE programs, publications, studies and frequently asked questions. Visit the BSEE library often and “check out” our information!
• Offshore Data Center – Here, users can access public information and data pertaining to the appropriate subject matter such as leasing, wells, pipeline, production, plans, and platform/rig information.
• Research Records – In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, this page offers a platform for public viewing of information about completed research and supporting deliverables.
• News Items - The BSEE Office of Public Affairs provides information to the public, the media and to our external stakeholders including environmental organizations, industry, trade associations and academia. Check here often to access all BSEE press releases and media advisories regarding BSEE activities.
• Fact Sheets - BSEE Fact Sheets provide single points of information for significant issues in BSEE's regulation of the offshore energy industry.