***[Total Denial Letter (Pre-decisional, Deliberative Process, Opinions,
Recommendations]{.underline}***

***[Exemption (b)(5))]{.underline}***

[Date]{.underline}

**Requesters Address**

Dear **(Mr. Ms. Mrs.** \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_)

This letter is in reference to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
request of **(date of request letter)** for records relating to
**(restatement of what requester is seeking)**.

The responsive internal record(***s***) **(is/are***)* exempt from
mandatory public disclosure, and **(is/are***)* being withheld, under
FOIA Exemption 5, 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(5), because it consists of opinions,
recommendations, and other reflections of staff thinking integral to the
pre-decisional, deliberative process.

You have the right to appeal this denial of the FOIA request.  An appeal
must be received within 30 calendar days of the date of this letter by
the Assistant General Counsel for Administration (Office), Room 5898-C,
U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20230.  Your appeal may also be sent by e-mail to
<FOIAAppeals@doc.gov>  or by facsimile (fax) to 202-482-2552.  The
appeal must include a copy of the original request, this response to the
request and a statement of the reason why withheld records should be
made available and why denial of the records was in error.  The
submission (including e-mail and fax submission) is not complete without
the required attachments.  The appeal letter, the envelope, the e-mail
subject line, and the fax cover sheet should be clearly marked \"Freedom
of Information Act Appeal.\"  The e-mail, fax machine, and Office are
monitored only on work days during normal business hours (8:30 a.m. to
5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday).  FOIA Appeals posted to
the e-mail box, fax machine, or Office after normal business hours shall
be deemed received on the next normal business day.

**CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPHS AND DELETE THE OTHER TWO.**

***[Be sure to tailor the letter to the category type of requester and
charge the requester only for those services allowed]{.underline}***

**(Under \$20.00)** Because the cost to process your request is less
than \$20.00, the fee is waived.

**(\$20.00 - \$250)**On (**date requester agreed)** you agreed to pay
the estimated search and review fees associated with this request. In
addition to these cost which are (**enter search/review costs)** the
cost for duplicating (**\# of pages**) pages at \$0.16 per page comes to
(**enter duplication costs)** for a total of (**enter total cost for
fulfilling the request).** Please make your check or money order payable
to the \"Treasury of the United States,\" and send it to the NOAA Public
Reference Facility (OFA56), 1315 East West Highway (SSMC3), Room 10730,
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. Please include the NOAA FOIA number on
the check.

**(Over \$250)** We received your check in the amount of (**enter
search/review costs)** for search and review costs associated with
fulfilling this request. Additional costs cost for duplication of (**\#
of pages**) pages at \$0.16 per page comes to (**enter duplication
costs).**

***Pick either:***

**(*If duplicating costs are \$20.00 or less)*** Because the cost of
duplication is less than \$20.00, the duplication fee is waived.

***(If duplicating costs are over \$20.00)*** Please make your check or
money order for the duplicating costs payable to the \"Treasury of the
United States,\" and send it to the

Department of Commerce,

Departmental Freedom of Information Act Officer,

Office of Management and Organization,

1401 Constitution Ave., N.W.,

Washington, D.C. 20230.

If you have any questions regarding your request, you may contact
**(name of Responder, phone number and email address)***.*

> Sincerely,

(**Division Director**)

cc: OAM FOIA Representative