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Military Sealift Command Freedom of Information & Privacy Act Program |
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Commander, Military Sealift Command's FOIA Web Site Welcome to the Commander, Military Sealift Command's FOIA web site. This web site was developed to ensure that the American public's right to information systems maintained at Commander, Military Sealift Command is protected. Inside you will find all the information you need to submit a request to the Freedom of Information Coordinator. If you require assistance contact the FOIA Coordinator. Please read the Privacy Policy. Thank you. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is the law that gives the public the right to request data from the government. Not all data are released. Some data are protected under one or more of FOIA's nine exemptions. The Privacy Act Program is the law that gives protection to individual's rights to privacy and tells the government how it is to be done. These two acts allow the release of data under legal criteria and privacy rights. Military Sealift Command's FOIA and Privacy Act Program is under the Department of Navy FOIA and Privacy Program which is located in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations. The Navy requires each command to have a knowledgeable program director under the title Coordinator. That Coordinator is the point of contact for all FOIA and Privacy Act matters of Military Sealift Command. Lorna Taylor is the FOIA and Privacy Act Coordinator for Military Sealift Command. You may direct questions about FOIA and the Privacy Act to her at (202) 685-5156. If you want information about the command, first check through the MSC web site. If you do not find what you are seeking, follow the instructions to the left to submit a request. Privacy Act requests cannot be submitted by way of the web, or the on-line request. Privacy Act requests must be submitted in writing and signed by the requester and sent to the command address and noted Attn: FOIA. Military Sealift Command Military Sealift Command (MSC) FOIA/PA Coordinators provides FOIA/PA services for records maintained at the following MSC commands to include MSC ships.
What Information Can Be Withheld In limited instances, information may be withheld from disclosure if it is:
Submitting Your Request This web page will help you through the Navy's Freedom of Information Act Request process. Step 1: Preparing Your Request In whatever form (written, electronic, or fax) you submit your request:
The next step in preparing to submit your request is deciding where to send the request. Because Navy records are decentralized you will get the fastest response by sending your request to the Department of the Navy component holding the record(s) you seek.
Who Do I Contact Concerning My FOIA Request Military Sealift Command is committed to providing you with the best possible customer service. FOIA requesters who have any questions concerning the processing of their requests with MSC FOIA Requester Service Center should contact this center at 202-685-5156. If you are not satisfied with the response from the center you may contact the USFF FOIA Liaison, Linda Alvers at (757) 836-3630 or via email at FOIA-PA.fct@navy.mil. How and Where to Make a FOIA Appeal How to File a FOIA Appeal You may file a FOIA appeal, in writing, for any of the following reasons: denial in whole or in part of information disapproval of a fee category claim disapproval of a request for waiver/reduction of fees dispute regarding fee estimates review of a determination not to grant expedited access to agency records a "no records" determination when you consider such response adverse in nature failure to provide a response determination within the statutory time limits or any determination found to be adverse in nature to you. To enable us to promptly act on your appeal, please include a copy of your initial FOIA request, a copy of the response letter, and include a brief statement regarding why you believe your appeal should be granted. Where to File Your Appeal The response letter you receive should list the name and address of the appellate authority should you choose to file an appeal. Additionally, it will advise you you're your appeal must be received within sixty (60) days of the date of response letter to be considered. The General Counsel (GC) and Judge Advocate General (JAG) are delegated authority to act on FOIA appeals for the Secretary of the Navy. Their areas of responsibility are: (1) GC: matters affecting DON legal services in subordinate commands, organizations, and activities in the areas of business and commercial law, real and personal property law, environmental law, and such other legal services as may be required to support the mission of the Navy and the Marine Corps, or the discharge of the GC's responsibilities. (2) JAG: matters where the initial request pertained to military justice, military law, and any other matter not under the cognizance of the GC. Their addresses are as follows: General Counsel of the Navy To ensure timely receipt, appeals may also be faxed to the attention of: "Navy OGC FOIA Appeals Office" at 703-614-9400. Judge Advocate General Welcome to the MSC Reading Room 1. U.S. Fleet Forces Command Freedom of Information Web Site 2. Frequently Requested Records Submitting a Privacy Act Request There are no forms to fill out. Simply, label your request "PRIVACY ACT REQUEST," on both the request and envelope; identify the specific PA systems of records notices you wish to have searched (See Index of PA Systems of Records), and submit your request according to the requirements set forth under "Record Access Procedures." Since PA requests must be signed, we cannot accept e-mail requests. Navy Freedom of Information Program The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is the law that gives the public the right to request data from the government. Not all data are released. Some data may be protected under one or more of FOIA's nine exemptions. The Navy's official FOIA site is available at: http://foia.navy.mil/ Freedom of Information Act The Freedom of Information Act 5 U.S.C. § 552, as amended in 2006, is available at: http://www.dod.gov/pubs/foi/dfoipo/docs/amended-foia-redlined.pdf A Citizen's Guide to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) A Citizen's Guide on using the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act of 1974 to request government records is available on the Navy FOIA site Navy Privacy Act Program The Privacy Act is the law that gives protection to individual's rights to privacy and tells the government how it is to be done. These two acts allow the release of data under legal criteria and privacy rights. The Navy's official Privacy Act site is available at: http://privacy.navy.mil/ Identifying Privacy Act (PA) Systems of Records You May be Using The Navy and Marine Corps maintain Privacy Act (PA) systems of records that are listed at http://privacy.navy.mil. Also on that web site are listings of all DoD PA systems of records and Government-wide PA systems of records. A PA system of records notice is the authority that allows you to collect, maintain, and disseminate information which is retrieved by an individual's name and personal identifier. Because many activities maintain similar kinds of records, we have written generic or "umbrella" PA systems of records notices to cover those activities having the need to collect those kinds of records. Here are the steps to follow to identify PA systems of records you may hold: STEP 1: Review this listing of "umbrella" PA systems of records that you may be using:
These systems can be downloaded from http://privacy.navy.mil/noticenumber/noticeindex.asp STEP 2: Some activities have written PA systems of records that are unique to their activity. Accordingly, if you are one of those activities, identify the specific records you hold. For example, the following activities have systems of records which are specific to the work they do: Board for Correction of Naval Records, Naval Council of Personnel Boards, White House Liaison, Naval Education and Training Command, Chief of Chaplains, Navy Personnel Command, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Strategic Systems Programs, Navy Installations Command, Military Sealift Command, Naval Health Research Center, Naval Sea Systems Command, General Counsel of the Navy, Naval Postgraduate School, US Naval Academy, Navy Exchange Command Service, Naval Safety Center, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Judge Advocate General, Civilian Human Resources, Office of Naval Intelligence, Office of Naval Research, etc. When looking for systems under your cognizance, focus on systems that carry the Standard Subject Identification Code (SSIC) you use. These systems can be downloaded from http://privacy.navy.mil/noticenumber/noticeindex.asp STEP 3: There are agencies within the U.S. Government that have developed Government-Wide systems of records that agencies may use. For example:
These systems can be downloaded from http://www.dod.mil/privacy/govwide STEP 4: The DOD also has systems of records that may be used by all or some activities. Review their inventory for records you may be using. For example:
These systems can be downloaded from http://www.dod.mil/privacy/notices STEP 5: If you can't identify a system of records notice that covers the records you are maintaining that are retrieved by an individual's name and personal identifier, contact CNO (DNS-36) at (202) 685-6545/46/30 for assistance or email to doris.lama@navy.mil. NOTE: This listing was last updated on August 9, 2006 and is subject to change. U.S. Fleet Forces Command Freedom of Information Program The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is the law that gives the public the right to request data from the government. Not all data are released. Some data may be protected under one or more of FOIA's nine exemptions. The U.S. Fleet Forces Command's official FOIA site is available at: http://www.public.navy.mil/usff/foia/Pages/default.aspx |
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