16 July 2005 Source: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/fr-cont.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [Federal Register: July 13, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 133)] [Proposed Rules] [Page 40249-40251] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr13jy05-27] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Office of the Secretary 32 CFR 285 [0790-ZA05] DoD Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Program (DoDD 5400.7) AGENCY: Department of Defense. ACTION: Proposed rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This proposed rule conforms to the requirements of the Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 1996. It promotes public trust by making the maximum amount of information available to the public, in both hard copy and electronic formats, on the operation and activities of the Department of Defense, consistent with DoD responsibility to protect national security and other DoD interests as provided by applicable law. It also allows a requester to obtain Agency records from the Department of Defense that are available through other public information services without invoking the FOIA. DATES: Comments must be received on September 12, 2005. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David W. Maier, 703-695-6428 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Executive Order 12866 This proposed regulatory action is not a significant regulatory action, as defined by Executive Order 12866. Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (5 U.S.C. 605(b)) This proposed regulatory action will not have a significant adverse impact on a substantial number of small entities. Unfunded Mandates Act of 1995 (Sec. 202, Pub. L. 104-4) This proposed regulatory action does not contain a Federal mandate that will result in the expenditure by State, local, and tribal governments, in aggregate, or by the private sector of $100 million or more in any one year. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) This proposed regulatory action will not impose any additional reporting or recordkeeping requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act. Federalism (Executive Order 13132) This proposed regulatory action does not have Federalism implications, as set forth in Executive Order 13132. It will not have substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. Public Law 96-354, ``Regulatory Flexibility Act'' (5 U.S.C. Chapter 6) It has been certified that this rule is not subject to the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601) because it would not, if promulgated, have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. This rule implements the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552), a statute concerning [[Page 40250]] the release of Federal Government records, and does not economically impact Federal Government relations with the private sector. Section 202, Public Law 104-4, ``Unfunded Mandates Reform Act'' It has been determined that this rule does not involve a Federal mandate that may result in the expenditure by State, local and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100 million or more and that such rulemaking will not significantly or uniquely affect small governments. List of Subjects in 32 CFR Part 285 Freedom of information. Accordingly, 32 CFR part 285 is proposed to be revised to read as follows: PART 285--DOD FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA) PROGRAM Sec. 285.1 Purpose. 285.2 Applicability and scope. 285.3 Policy. 285.4 Responsibilities. 285.5 Information requirements. Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552. Sec. 285.1 Purpose. This part: (a) Updates policies and responsibilities for the implementation of the DoD Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Program under 5 U.S.C. 552. (b) Continues to delegate authorities and responsibilities for the effective administration of the FOIA program and authorize the publication of DoD 5400.7-R,\1\ which is the DoD Regulation on the FOIA Program. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ This Regulation is codified at 32 CFR part 286. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sec. 285.2 Applicability and scope. (a) This part applies to the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), the Military Departments, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other organizational entities in the Department of Defense (hereafter referred to collectively as the ``DoD Components''). (b) National Security Agency/Central Security Service records are subject to this part unless the records are exempt under 50 U.S.C. 402 note of title 50. The records of the Defense Intelligence Agency, the National Reconnaissance Office, and the National Geospatial- Intelligence Agency are also subject to this Part unless the records are exempt under 10 U.S.C. 424. Sec. 285.3 Policy. It is DoD policy to: (a) Promote public trust by making the maximum amount of information available to the public, in both hard copy and electronic formats, on the operation and activities of the Department of Defense, consistent with DoD responsibility to protect national security and other DoD interests as provided by applicable law. (b) Allow a requester to obtain Agency records from the Department of Defense that are available through other public information services without invoking the FOIA. (c) Make available, under the procedures established by DoD 5400.7- R, those Agency records that are requested by a member of the public who explicitly or implicitly cites the FOIA. (d) Answer promptly all other requests for Agency information and records under established procedures and practices. (e) Release Agency records to the public unless those records are exempt from mandatory disclosure as outlined in 5 U.S.C. 552. (e) Process requests by individuals for access to records about themselves contained in a Privacy Act system of records under procedures set forth in DoD 5400.11-R \2\ and guidance outlined in this part, as amplified by DoD 5400.7-R. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \2\ Copies may be obtained via Internet at http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pub1.html . --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sec. 285.4 Responsibilities. (a) The Director, Administration and Management (DA&M) shall: (1) Serve as the appellate authority for appeals to decisions of respective Initial Denial Authorities within the OSD, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Combatant Commands, select Defense Agencies, and the DoD Field Activities. The DA&M may delegate this responsibility to an appropriate member of the DA&M or Washington Headquarters Services' staff. (2) Issue a DoD FOIA regulation and other discretionary instructions and guidance to ensure timely and reasonably uniform implementation of the FOIA in the Department of Defense. (b) The Director, Washington Headquarters Services, under the DA&M, shall: (1) Direct and administer the DoD FOIA Program to ensure compliance with policies and procedures that govern the administration of the program. (2) Internally administer the FOIA Program, inclusive of training, for the OSD, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and, as an exception to DoD Directive 5100.3,\3\ the Commanders of the Combatant Commands. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \3\ See footnote 2 to Sec. 285.3(e). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- (c) The General Counsel of the Department of Defense shall provide uniformity in the legal interpretation of this Part. The General Counsel shall also ensure that affected legal advisors, public affairs officers, and legislative affairs officers are aware of releases through litigation channels which may be of significant public, media, or Congressional interest, or of interest to senior DoD officials. (d) The Heads of the DoD Components shall: (1) Internally administer the FOIA Program and publish any instructions that are not prescribed by this Part or by other issuances of the DA&M which have a major impact on the public. The information specified in Section 552(a)(1) of 5 U.S.C. 552 shall be published in accordance with Administrative Instruction 102.\4\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \4\ See footnote 2 to Sec. 285.3(e). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- (2) Ensure that respective chains of command, affected legal advisors, public affairs officers and legislative affairs officers are aware of releases through the FOIA, inclusive of releases through litigation channels, which may be of significant public, media, or Congressional interest, or of interest to senior DoD officials. (3) Conduct training on the provisions of this part, 5 U.S.C. 552, and DoD 5400.7-R for officials and employees who implement the FOIA. (4) Submit the Annual Report prescribed in Chapter 7 of DoD 5400.7- R. (5) Make available for public inspection and copying in an appropriate facility or facilities, in accordance with rules published in the Federal Register, the records specified in 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(2), unless such records are published and copies are offered for sale. These records shall be made available to the public in hard copy, by computer telecommunications, or other electronic means. (6) Maintain and make available for public inspection and copying current indices of all (a)(2) records as required by 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(2) Sec. 285.5 Information requirements. The reporting requirements in Chapter 7 of DoD 5400.7-R have been assigned Report Control Symbol DD-DA&M(A)1365. [[Page 40251]] Dated: July 7, 2005. Jeannette Owings-Ballard, OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense. [FR Doc. 05-13742 Filed 7-12-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 5001-06-P