Procedures for Disclosure of Records Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 14628-14633 [2019-06554]

Agencies

• National Aeronautics and Space Administration

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 70 (Thursday, April 11, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 14628-14633]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-06554]


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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

14 CFR Part 1206

RIN 2700-AE47
[Document Number NASA-19-002: Docket Number-NASA-2019-0001]


Procedures for Disclosure of Records Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA)

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is 
proposing to amend its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) regulations, 
in accordance with the FOIA Improvement Act of 2016.

DATES: Send comments on or before May 28, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, identified by 2700-AE47 to the 
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for send comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nikki Gramian, (202) 358-0625, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NASA's last rule amending its FOIA policies 
was published in the Federal Register at 79 FR 46678, August. 11, 2014.
    The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) at 5 U.S.C. 552, requires 
agencies to ``promulgate regulations, pursuant to notice and receipt of 
public comment, specifying the schedule of fees applicable to the 
processing of requests [the FOIA] and establishing procedures and 
guidelines for determining when such fees should be waived or 
reduced.'' Additionally, an agency may, in its regulation, designate 
those components that can receive FOIA requests, provide for the 
aggregation of certain requests, and provide for multitrack processing 
of requests. Finally, the FOIA requires agencies to ``promulgate 
regulations . . . providing for expedited processing of requests for 
records.''
    On June 30, 2016, the FOIA Improvement Act of 2016 (Act) was 
signed. The Act requires agencies to notify requesters for engaging in 
dispute resolution through the FOIA Public Liaison and the Office of 
Government Information Services. It also requires that agencies:
    (i) Make records that have been both released previously and 
requested three or more times available to the public in electronic 
format,
    (ii) establish a minimum of ninety days for requesters to appeal an 
adverse determination, and
    (iii) provide, or direct requesters to, dispute resolution services 
at various times throughout the FOIA process.
    The FOIA Improvement Act also adds restrictions to when agencies 
can charge certain fees if they are not able to meet FOIA's time 
limits.

II. Changes Proposed By NASA in This Rulemaking

    The revisions required by the 2016 FOIA Improvement Act codifies a 
``presumption of openness'' that was previously a matter of policy. 
Thus, under NASA's revised rule, the agency may refuse to disclose 
requested information ``only if the agency reasonably foresees that 
disclosure would harm an interest protected by an exemption . . . or 
disclosure is prohibited by law.''
    The 2016 FOIA Improvement Act requires NASA to make several changes 
beneficial to requesters.
     NASA must allow 90 days from the date of the adverse 
determination (to file an appeal. Previously, FOIA did not set a 
timeline for requestors to file an appeal, and many agencies set appeal 
deadlines of 30 days by regulation. The FOIA Improvement Act of 2016 
mandates agencies to inform requesters of appeal rights that is not 
less than 90 days after the date of an adverse determination letter has 
been issued.
     The Act created the Office of Government Information 
Services (OGIS) within National Archives and Records Administration. 
Its mission is to review FOIA policies, procedures and compliance of 
Federal agencies and identify ways to improve compliance as well as 
resolving FOIA disputes between Federal agencies and requesters. OGIS 
first opened in 2009 and since then has assisted requesters and 
agencies in several thousand FOIA disputes.
     The Act specifically requires all agencies to provide 
dispute resolution services at various times throughout the FOIA 
process. All forms of FOIA disputes (e.g., agencies release 
determination, or fee status/fee determination, denial of expedited 
review, etc.) can be mediated through the Office of Government 
Information Services (OGIS) or through NASA's internal FOIA Public 
Liaison (FPL). The OPEN Government Act of 2007 codified the role of FPL 
from provisions of the Executive Order 13392. The FPL are given the 
responsibilities of assisting in reducing delays, increasing 
transparency, and also resolving disputes.

[[Page 14629]]

    Additional information about NASA's FOIA program--including how to 
submit a FOIA request to NASA can be found at https://www.nasa.gov/FOIA/. NASA's latest Chief FOIA Officer Report can be 
accessed at https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/2018_chief_foia_officer_report.pdf.

III. Expected Impact of the Proposed Rule

    NASA actively works to make certain its FOIA system operates as 
efficiently as possible. NASA's website provides explicit instructions 
for those who wish to submit a FOIA request and has an electronic 
library listing categories of documents or information specifically 
identified for inclusion under FOIA as well as documents or links to 
information for which NASA has received multiple FOIA requests.
    NASA's FOIA requesters are a diverse community, including lawyers, 
industry professionals, reporters, and members of the public. Costs for 
these requestors can include the time required to research NASA's 
current FOIA rule and the time and preparation required to submit a 
request/appeal.
    The Agency receives about 900 FOIA requests per year. Half of these 
requests are from commercial entities seeking information about NASA 
contracts awarded to winning contractors for services or technology 
used in a center mission related activity. Other requests are from 
members of the general public for items such as an image or video, a 
NASA study or mission activity, or records about an individual 
associated with NASA.
    NASA believes these proposed edits will primarily impact the 450 
requestors who are members of the general public for the reasons 
discussed in Section 2 of the proposed rule. In addition to making it 
easier to research and review NASA's FOIA rule before submitting a 
request, the ``housekeeping measures'' also discussed in Section 2 of 
this rule should facilitate FOIA requests and production. Although NASA 
is unable to quantify these savings, the Agency does believe it is 
deregulatory in nature in that it provides relief to requestors.

IV. Regulatory Procedures

Executive Order 12866--Regulatory Planning and Review and Executive 
Order 13563--Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review

    Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess all 
costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if 
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize 
net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public 
health and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). Executive 
Order 13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and 
benefits, reducing costs, harmonizing rules, and promoting flexibility. 
This rule is not a significant regulatory action, under E.O. 12866.

Executive Order 13771--Reducing Regulations and Controlling Regulatory 
Costs

    This proposed rule is expected to be an E.O. 13771 deregulatory 
action. Details can be found in Section III--Expected Impact of the 
Proposed Rule.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    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.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This rule does not contain an information collection requirement 
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et 
seq.).

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    This rule will not result in the expenditure by State, local, and 
Tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of 
$100,000,000 or more in any one year, and it will not significantly or 
uniquely affect small governments.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 1206

    Administrative practice and procedure, Freedom of Information Act, 
Privacy Act.

    For reasons set forth in the preamble, NASA proposes to amend 14 
CFR part 1206 as follows:

PART 1206--PROCEDURES FOR DISCLOSURE OF RECORDS UNDER THE FREEDOM 
OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA)

0
1. The authority citation for part 1206 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552, 552a; 51 U.S.C. 20113(a).

Subpart A--Basic Policy

0
2. Amend Sec.  1206.100 by revising the section heading to read as 
follows:


Sec.  1206.100  Scope.

* * * * *
0
3. Amend Sec.  1206.101 by adding paragraph (c) to read as follows:


Sec.  1206.101  General policy.

* * * * *
    (c) Unofficial release of NASA information: The disclosure of 
exempt records, without authorization by the appropriate NASA official, 
is not an official release of information; accordingly, it is not a 
FOIA release. Such a release does not waive the authority of NASA to 
assert FOIA exemptions to withhold the same records in response to a 
FOIA request. In addition, while the authority may exist to disclose 
records to individuals in their official capacity, the provisions of 
this part apply if the same individual seeks the records in a private 
or personal capacity.

Subpart B--Types of Records to be Made Available


Sec.  1206.200  [Amended]

0
4. Amend Sec.  1206.200 by:
0
a. Removing ``and copying'' and adding in its place ``in an electronic 
format'' in paragraph (b)(1) introductory text.
0
b. Removing ``which'' and adding in its place ``that'' and adding ``, 
or that have been requested 3 or more times'' after ``documents'' in 
paragraph (b)(1)(iv).
0
c. Removing ``1997'' and adding in its place ``1996'' and removing 
``(b)(l)(i) through (b)(l)(iv)'' and adding in its place ``(b)(1)(i) 
through (iv)'' in paragraph (b)(2)(i).
0
d. Removing ``1997'' and adding in its place ``1996'' in paragraph 
(c)(2).


Sec.  1206.201  [Amended]

0
5. Amend Sec.  1206.201 by adding ``in an electronic format'' after the 
word ``copying'' in the first sentence.

Subpart C--Procedures

0
6. Amend Sec.  1206.300 by revising paragraphs (a), (b), (d), and 
(e)(1) to read as follows:


Sec.  1206.300  How to make a request for Agency records.

    (a) A requester submitting a request for records must include his/
her name, and an email or mailing address in order for the Agency to be 
able to send responsive records and/or to be able to contact the 
requester to obtain additional information or clarification of the 
request sought (see Sec.  1206.301). The request must also address fees 
or provide justification for a fee waiver (see Sec.  1206.302) as well 
as address the fee category in accordance with Sec.  1206.507. The 
request should also include a telephone number in case the FOIA office 
needs to contact the requester regarding the request;

[[Page 14630]]

however, this information is optional when submitting a request if an 
email or mailing address is provided. A requester may also submit a 
request online via the NASA FOIA website, https://www.nasa.gov/FOIA/Contacts.html. Do not include a social security number on any 
correspondence with the FOIA office. If the FOIA unit determines 
processing fees will exceed the fee category entitlement, the unit will 
require a personal mailing address for billing purposes or for 
commercial use requesters, a business mailing address.
    (b) NASA does not have a central location for submitting FOIA 
requests and it does not maintain a central index or database of 
records in its possession. Instead, Agency records are decentralized 
and maintained by various Centers and offices throughout the country. 
All NASA Centers have the capability to receive requests 
electronically, either through email or a web portal. To make a request 
for any of the NASA Center records, a requester should write directly 
to the FOIA office of the center that maintains the records being 
sought. A request will receive the quickest possible response if it is 
addressed to the FOIA office of the Center that maintains the records 
requested. If a requester does not know which center(s) may have the 
requested records, he/she may send his/her request(s) to the NASA's 
Headquarters (HQ) FOIA Public Liaison, 300 E Street SW, Room 5L19, 
Washington, DC 20546, Fax number: (202) 358-4332, email address: [email protected], and the HQ FOIA unit will forward the request to the 
center(s) that it determines to be most likely to maintain the records 
that are sought.
* * * * *
    (d) A member of the public may submit a FOIA request for an Agency 
record by mail, facsimile (FAX), electronic-mail (email), or by 
submitting a written request in person to the FOIA office having 
responsibility over the record requested or to the NASA Headquarters 
(HQ) FOIA Office. A requester may also submit a request online via the 
NASA FOIA website.
    (e) * * *
    (1) For locations, mailing/email addresses of NASA FOIA Centers, 
visit our website at https://www.nasa.gov/FOIA/Contacts.html.
* * * * *
0
7. Amend Sec.  1206.301 by revising paragraphs (c) and (d) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  1206.301  Describing records sought.

* * * * *
    (c) If NASA after receiving a request determines that the request 
does not reasonably describe the records sought, it shall inform the 
requester what additional information is needed or why the request is 
otherwise insufficient. Requesters who are attempting to reformulate or 
modify such a request may discuss their request with the NASA's 
designated FOIA contact, or the Principal Agency FOIA Officer, each of 
whom is available to assist the requester in reasonably describing the 
records sought. If a request does not reasonably describe the records 
sought, the agency's response to the request may be delayed or NASA may 
at its discretion close the request administratively.
    (d) Requests for clarification or more information will be made in 
writing (either via U.S. mail or electronic mail whenever possible). 
Requesters may respond by U.S. Mail or by electronic mail regardless of 
the method used by NASA to transmit the request for additional 
information. In order to be considered timely, responses to requests 
for additional information must be postmarked or received by electronic 
mail within 20 working days of the postmark date or date of the 
electronic mail request for additional information or received by 
electronic mail by 11:59:59 p.m. ET on the 20th working day. If the 
requester does not respond to a request for additional information 
within the twenty (20) working days, the request may be 
administratively closed at NASA's discretion. This administrative 
closure does not prejudice the requester's ability to submit a new 
request for further consideration with additional information.
* * * * *
0
8. Amend Sec.  1206.302 by revising paragraph (c) to read as follows:


Sec.  1206.302  Fee agreements.

* * * * *
    (c) If the FOIA office does not receive a written response within 
20 working days after requesting the information, it will presume the 
requester is no longer interested in the records requested and will 
administratively close the request without further notification.
* * * * *
0
9. Amend Sec.  1206.305 by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:


Sec.  1206.305  Responding to requests.

    (a) Except in the instances described in paragraphs (e) and (f) of 
this section, the FOIA office that first receives a request for a 
record and maintains that record is the FOIA office responsible for 
responding to the request. The office shall acknowledge the request and 
assign it an individualized tracking number if it will take longer than 
ten working days to process. The NASA office responding to the request 
shall include in the acknowledgment a brief description of the records 
sought to allow requesters to more easily keep track of their requests.
* * * * *
0
10. Amend Sec.  1206.306 by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:


Sec.  1206.306  Granting a request.

    (a) Ordinarily, NASA shall have twenty (20) working days from when 
a request is received to determine whether to grant or deny the request 
unless there are unusual or exceptional circumstances. The FOIA office 
will not begin processing a request until all issues regarding scope 
and fees have been resolved. NASA will notify the requester of the 
availability of the FOIA Public Liaison to offer assistance in 
resolving these issues.
* * * * *
0
11. Amend Sec.  1206.307 by revising paragraphs (a)(2) and (b)(4) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  1206.307  Denying a request.

    (a) * * *
    (2) Records do not exist, cannot be located, are not in the 
Agency's possession, or the request does not reasonably describe the 
records sought; or
    (b) * * *
    (4) A statement that the denial may be appealed under subpart G of 
this part and a description of the requirements set forth therein. NASA 
shall also inform the requester of the availability of its FOIA Public 
Liaison to offer assistance, and include a statement notifying the 
requester of the dispute resolution services offered by the Office of 
Government Information Services (OGIS). Should the requester elect to 
mediate any dispute related to the FOIA request with OGIS, NASA will 
participate in the mediation process in good faith.
* * * * *

Subpart D--Procedures and Time Limits for Responding to Requests

0
12. Amend Sec.  1206.401 by revising paragraph (e) to read as follows:


Sec.  1206.401  Procedures and time limits for acknowledgement letters 
and initial determinations.

* * * * *
    (e) Any notification of an initial determination that does not 
comply fully with the request for an Agency record, including those 
searches that produce no responsive documents, shall include a 
statement of the reasons for

[[Page 14631]]

the adverse determination, include the name and title of the person 
making the initial determination, and notify the requester of the right 
to appeal to the Administrator or the Inspector General, as 
appropriate, pursuant to subpart G of this part, and the right to seek 
dispute resolution services from the NASA FOIA Public Liaison or Office 
of Government Information Services.
0
13. Amend Sec.  1206.403 by revising paragraph (c) to read as follows:


Sec.  1206.403  Time extensions

* * * * *
    (c) If initial processing time will exceed or is expected to exceed 
30 working days, the FOIA office will notify the requester of the delay 
in processing and:
    (1) Provide the opportunity to limit the scope of the request so 
that it may be processed within that time limit or an opportunity to 
arrange with the agency an alternative time frame for processing the 
request or a modified request;
    (2) Provide contact information for the NASA FOIA Public Liaison;
    (3) Offer the right of the requester to seek dispute resolution 
services from the Office of Government Information Services;
    (4) Provide information regarding the intended determination; and
    (5) Shall make available its designated FOIA contact and its FOIA 
Public Liaison for this purpose.
* * * * *

Subpart E--Fees Associated With Processing Requests

0
14. Amend Sec.  1206.502 by revising paragraphs (d) and (f) to read as 
follows:
* * * * *
    (d) For copies of records produced on tapes, disks, or other 
electronic media, FOIA offices will charge the direct costs of 
producing the copy in the form or format requested, including the time 
spent by personnel duplicating the requested records. For each quarter 
hour spent by personnel duplicating the requested records, the fees 
will be the same as those charged for a search under this subpart.
* * * * *
    (f) For other forms of duplication, FOIA offices will charge the 
direct costs as well as any associated personnel costs. For standard-
sized copies of documents such as letters, memoranda, statements, 
reports, contracts, etc., $0.15 per copy of each page; charges for 
double-sided copies will be $0.30. For copies of oversized documents, 
such as maps, charts, etc., fees will be assessed as direct costs. 
Charges for copies (and scanning) include the time spent in duplicating 
the documents. For copies of computer disks, still photographs, 
blueprints, videotapes, engineering drawings, hard copies of aperture 
cards, etc., the fee charged will reflect the direct cost to NASA of 
reproducing, copying, or scanning the record. In circumstances where a 
request for a videotape or other outdated media is requested and NASA 
does not have the capability to readily reproduce the record in the 
form or format requested and which requires the Agency to enlist the 
services of a private contractor to fulfill the request, the direct 
costs of any services by the private contractor will be charged to the 
requester. Specific charges will be provided upon request.
* * * * *
0
15. Revise Sec.  1206.503 to read as follows:


Sec.  1206.503  Restrictions on charging fees.

    (a) No search fees will be charged for requests by educational 
institutions, noncommercial scientific institutions, or representatives 
of the news media, unless the records are sought for a commercial use.
    (b) If NASA fails to comply with the FOIA's time limits in which to 
respond to a request, it may not charge search fees, or, in the 
instances of requests from requesters described in paragraph (a) of 
this section, may not charge duplication fees, except as described in 
paragraphs (b)(1) through (3) of this section.
    (1) If a NASA component has determined that unusual circumstances 
as defined by the FOIA apply and the component provided timely written 
notice to the requester in accordance with the FOIA, a failure to 
comply with the time limit shall be excused for an additional 10 days.
    (2) If NASA has determined that unusual circumstances, as defined 
by the FOIA, apply and more than 5,000 pages are necessary to respond 
to the request, the agency may charge search fees, or, in the case of 
requesters described in paragraph (a) of this section, may charge 
duplication fees, if the following steps are taken. The agency must 
have provided timely written notice of unusual circumstances to the 
requester in accordance with the FOIA and the component must have 
discussed with the requester via written mail, email, or telephone (or 
made not less than three good-faith attempts to do so) how the 
requester could effectively limit the scope of the request in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(6)(B)(ii). If this exception is 
satisfied, the agency may charge all applicable fees incurred in the 
processing of the request.
    (3) If a court has determined that exceptional circumstances exist, 
as defined by the FOIA, a failure to comply with the time limits shall 
be excused for the length of time provided by the court order.
    (c) No search or review fees will be charged for a quarter-hour 
period unless more than half of that period is required for search or 
review.
    (d) Except for requesters seeking records for a commercial use, 
NASA will provide without charge:
    (1) The first 100 pages of duplication (or the cost equivalent for 
other media); and
    (2) The first two hours of search.
    (e) When, after first deducting the 100 free pages (or its cost 
equivalent) and the first two hours of search, a total fee calculated 
under Sec.  1206.504 is less than $50.00 for any request, no fee will 
be charged.
0
16. Amend Sec.  1206.504 by revising paragraphs (a) through (c) to read 
as follows:


Sec.  1206.504  Charging fees.

    (a) NASA shall charge for processing requests under the FOIA in 
accordance with the provisions of this section and the OMB Guidelines. 
NASA will ordinarily use the most efficient and least expensive method 
for processing requested records. In order to resolve any fee issues 
that arise under this section, NASA may contact a requester for 
additional information. A component ordinarily will collect all 
applicable fees before sending copies of records to a requester. The 
submission of a FOIA request shall be considered a firm commitment by 
the requester to pay all applicable fees charged under this section, up 
to $50.00, unless the requester seeks a waiver of fees. Requesters must 
pay fees by check or money order made payable to the Treasury of the 
United States. When a FOIA office determines or estimates the fees to 
be assessed in accordance with this section will amount to or exceed 
$50.00, the FOIA office shall notify the requester unless the requester 
has indicated a willingness to pay fees as high as those anticipated. 
If a portion of the fees can be readily estimated, the FOIA office 
shall advise the requester accordingly.
    (b) In cases in which a requester has been notified that actual or 
estimated fees are in excess of $50.00, the request shall be placed on 
hold and further work will not be completed until the requester commits 
in writing to pay the actual or estimated fees. Such a commitment must 
be made by the

[[Page 14632]]

requester in writing, must indicate a given dollar amount or a 
willingness to pay all processing fees, and must be received by the 
FOIA office within 20 working days from the date of the letter 
providing notification of the fee estimate. If the requester is a 
noncommercial use requester, the notice shall specify that the 
requester is entitled to the statutory entitlements of 100 pages of 
duplication at no charge and, if the requester is charged search fees, 
two hours of search time at no charge, and shall advise the requester 
whether those entitlements have been provided.
    (c) After the FOIA office begins processing a request, if it finds 
that the actual cost will exceed the amount the requester previously 
agreed to pay, the FOIA office will stop processing the request and 
promptly notify the requester of the higher amount. The request will be 
placed on hold until the fee issue has been resolved. If the issue is 
not resolved within 20 working days from the date of the notification 
letter, NASA will provide the requester, if the requester is a non-
commercial use requester, the statutory entitlements of 100 pages of 
duplication at no charge and shall advise the requester that his 
statutory entitlements have been provided before closing the request.
* * * * *
0
17. Amend Sec.  1206.505 by revising paragraph (e) to read as follows:


Sec.  1206.505  Advance payments.

* * * * *
    (e) In cases in which a FOIA office requires advance payment, the 
request shall not be considered received and further work will not be 
completed until the required payment is received. If the requester does 
not pay the advance payment within 20 working days after the date of 
the FOIA office's letter, the request will be closed without further 
notification.
* * * * *
0
18. Amend Sec.  1206.506 by revising paragraphs (d) and (e) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  1206.506  Requirements for a waiver or reduction of fees.

* * * * *
    (d) In deciding whether the standards of paragraph (c)(1) of this 
section is satisfied the agency must consider the factors described in 
paragraphs (d)(1) through (3) of this section:
    (1) Disclosure of the requested information would shed light on the 
operations or activities of the government. The subject of the request 
must concern identifiable operations or activities of the Federal 
Government with a connection that is direct and clear, not remote or 
attenuated.
    (2) Disclosure of the requested information would be likely to 
contribute significantly to public understanding of those operations or 
activities. This factor is satisfied when the following criteria are 
met:
    (i) Disclosure of the requested records must be meaningfully 
informative about government operations or activities. The disclosure 
of information that already is in the public domain, in either the same 
or a substantially identical form, would not be meaningfully 
informative if nothing new would be added to the public's 
understanding.
    (ii) The disclosure must contribute to the understanding of a 
reasonably broad audience of persons interested in the subject, as 
opposed to the individual understanding of the requester. A requester's 
expertise in the subject area as well as the requester's ability and 
intention to effectively convey information to the public must be 
considered. NASA will presume that a representative of the news media 
will satisfy this consideration.
    (3) The disclosure must not be primarily in the commercial interest 
of the requester. To determine whether disclosure of the requested 
information is primarily in the commercial interest of the requester, 
components will consider the following criteria:
    (i) NASA and its centers processing requests must identify whether 
the requester has any commercial interest that would be furthered by 
the requested disclosure. A commercial interest includes any 
commercial, trade, or profit interest. Requesters must be given an 
opportunity to provide explanatory information regarding this 
consideration.
    (ii) If there is an identified commercial interest, NASA must 
determine whether that is the primary interest furthered by the 
request. A waiver or reduction of fees is justified when the 
requirements of paragraphs (d)(1) and (2) of this section are satisfied 
and any commercial interest is not the primary interest furthered by 
the request. NASA ordinarily will presume that when a news media 
requester has satisfied the requirements of paragraphs (d)(1) and (2) 
of this section, the request is not primarily in the commercial 
interest of the requester. Disclosure to data brokers or others who 
merely compile and market government information for direct economic 
return will not be presumed to primarily serve the public interest.
    (4) Where only some of the records to be released satisfy the 
requirements for a waiver of fees, a waiver shall be granted for those 
records.
    (5) Requests for a waiver or reduction of fees should be made when 
the request is first submitted to NASA and should address the criteria 
referenced in paragraph (d) of this section. A requester may submit a 
fee waiver request at a later time so long as the underlying record 
request is pending or on administrative appeal. When a requester who 
has committed to pay fees subsequently asks for a waiver of those fees 
and that waiver is denied, the requester shall be required to pay any 
costs incurred up to the date the fee waiver request was received.
    (e) FOIA offices may make available their FOIA Public Liaison or 
other FOIA professional to assist any requester in reformulating a 
request in an effort to reduce fees; however, the FOIA staff may not 
assist a requester in composing a request, advising what specific 
records to request, or how to write a request to qualify for a fee 
waiver.
* * * * *
0
19. Amend Sec.  1206.507 by revising paragraphs (c)(1) through (4) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  1206.507  Categories of requesters.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) Commercial use requesters. When NASA receives a request for 
documents appearing to be for commercial use, meaning a request from or 
on behalf of one whom seeks information for a use or purpose that 
furthers the commercial, trade, or profit interests, which can include 
furthering those interests through litigation, of either the requester 
or the person on whose behalf the request is made, it will assess 
charges to recover the full direct costs of searching for, reviewing 
for release, and duplicating the records sought. NASA will not consider 
a commercial-use request for a waiver or reduction of fees based upon 
an assertion that disclosure would be in the public interest. A request 
from a corporation (not a news media corporation) may be presumed to be 
for commercial use unless the requester demonstrates that it qualifies 
for a different fee category. Commercial use requesters are not 
entitled to two (2) hours of search time or to 100 pages of duplication 
of documents without charge.
    (2) Education and non-commercial scientific institution requesters. 
To be eligible for inclusion in this category, requesters must show 
that the request being made is authorized by and under the auspices of 
a qualifying institution and that the records are not being sought for 
a commercial use (not

[[Page 14633]]

operated for commerce, trade or profit), but are being sought in 
furtherance of scholarly (if the request is from an educational 
institution) or scientific (if the request is from a noncommercial 
scientific institution) research.
    (i) Educational institution is any school that operates a program 
of scholarly research. A requester in this fee category must show that 
the request is made in connection with the requester's role at the 
educational institution. NASA may seek assurance from the requester 
that the request is in furtherance of scholarly research and will 
advise requesters of their placement in this category. A request for 
educational purposes may be presumed if submitted on the Institution's 
letterhead and signed by the Dean of the School or Department.
    (A) Example 1. A request from a professor of geology at a 
university for records relating to soil erosion, written on letterhead 
of the Department of Geology, would be presumed to be from an 
educational institution.
    (B) Example 2. A request from the same professor of geology seeking 
drug information from the Food and Drug Administration in furtherance 
of a murder mystery he is writing would not be presumed to be an 
institutional request, regardless of whether it was written on 
institutional stationery.
    (C) Example 3. A student who makes a request in furtherance of the 
student's coursework or other school-sponsored activities and provides 
a copy of a course syllabus or other reasonable documentation to 
indicate the research purpose for the request, would qualify as part of 
this fee category.
    (ii) For the purposes of a non-commercial scientific institution, 
it must be solely for the purpose of conducting scientific research, 
the results of which are not intended to promote any particular product 
or industry. Requests must be sent on the letterhead of the scientific 
institution and signed by the responsible official in charge of the 
project/program associated with the subject of the documents that are 
being requested.
    (3) Representative of the news media. (i) NASA shall provide 
documents to requesters in this category for the cost of duplication 
alone, excluding charges for the first 100 pages when the requester 
demonstrates the following:
    (A) The requester's intended dissemination,
    (B) Whether the information is current news and/or of public 
interest, and
    (C) Whether the information sought will shed new light on agency 
statutory operations.
    (ii) Representative of the news media is any person or entity that 
gathers information of potential interest to a segment of the public, 
uses its editorial skills to turn the raw materials into a distinct 
work, and distributes that work to an audience. The term ``news'' means 
information that is about current events or that would be of current 
interest to the public. Examples of new media entities include 
television or radio stations that broadcast ``news'' to the public at 
large and publishers of periodicals that disseminate ``news'' and make 
their products available through a variety of means to the general 
public, including news organizations that disseminate solely on the 
internet. A request for records supporting the news-dissemination 
function of the requester will not be considered to be for a commercial 
use. ``Freelance'' journalists who demonstrate a solid basis for 
expecting publication through a news media entity will be considered as 
a representative of the news media. A publishing contract would provide 
the clearest evidence that publication is expected; however, agencies 
can also consider a requester's past publication record in making this 
determination. Agencies will advise requesters of their placement in 
this category. NASA's decision to grant a requester news media status 
for the purposes of assessing fees will be made on a case-by-case basis 
based upon the requesters intended use.
    (iii) Requesters seeking this fee category who do not articulate 
sufficient information to support their request will not be included in 
this fee category. Additionally, FOIA staff may grant a reduction of 
fees if the requester can articulate the information of this section 
for some of the documents.
    (4) All other requesters. NASA shall charge requesters who do not 
fit into any of the categories mentioned in this section fees in 
accordance with the fee table in paragraph (b) of this section.

Subpart G--Appeals


Sec.  1206.700  [Amended]

0
20. Amend Sec.  1206.700 by:
0
a. Removing the number ``30'' and adding in its place the number ``90'' 
in paragraph (a);
0
b. Adding ``Room 8U71, 300 E Street SW,'' after the second occurrence 
of the word ``Headquarters'' in paragraph (b)(2); and
0
c. Removing the number ``30'' and adding in its place the number ``90'' 
in paragraph (b)(6).

Subpart H--Responsibilities

0
22. Amend Sec.  1206.801 by revising paragraphs (b)(1) and (6) and (c) 
to read as follows:


Sec.  1206.801  Chief FOIA Officer.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) Developing regulations in consultation with the Office of 
General Counsel, providing guidelines, procedures, and standards for 
the Agency's FOIA program;
* * * * *
    (6) Preparing all other reports as required to DOJ, OGIS, and 
Congress or within the Agency;
* * * * *
    (c) The Chief FOIA Officer is responsible for ensuring NASA has 
appointed FOIA Public Liaisons, who are responsible for and able to 
assist in reducing delays, increasing transparency and understanding of 
the status of requests, and assisting in the resolution of disputes at 
each Center or Component.
0
23. Amend Sec.  1206.804 by revising paragraphs (b) and (c) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  1206.804  

* * * * *
    (b) This delegated authority has further been delegated to the FOIA 
Officers who are designated to work at NASA Centers and supervised by 
the Director of Public Affairs or Head of the Public Affairs Office for 
that Center. If a FOIA Officer working at a particular NASA center 
vacates the position, the Deputy Associate Administrator for 
Communications will designate a new FOIA Officer, supervised by the 
Principal Chief FOIA Officer, to process FOIA requests for that 
particular center.
    (c) When denying records in whole or in part, the FOIA Officer 
designated to process records for the Center will consult with the 
Chief Counsel or the Counsel charged with providing legal advice to 
that FOIA office before releasing an initial determination under Sec.  
1206.307.


Sec.  1206.805  [Amended]

0
24. Amend Sec.  1206.805 by adding a comma after the second occurrence 
of the word ``General'' in paragraph (a).
* * * * *

Cheryl E. Parker,
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2019-06554 Filed 4-10-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7510-13-P