Source: https://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/About/Offices/Office-of-Counsel/
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 03:18:45+00:00

Document:
The Office of Counsel gives timely and innovative advice and representation in the areas of procurement, environmental, tort, admiralty, labor law and statutory construction. This page contains materials and references that may be helpful to persons seeking information about the Corps of Engineers legal services programs, such as the areas of practice within the Office of the District Counsel, the District Counsel's office directory, FOIA, the Claims program, legal services publications and forms, and links to other government legal websites.
This is an official US Government webpage. This webpage is intended to provide information of general interest to the public. The information contained herein is accurate as of the date of publication. The answers herein are of a general nature and are not fact specific. The answers to specific legal questions depend, in part, on the facts involved in the situation at issue. If you have any questions not answered on this website, please feel free to contact us directly.
How do I request documents under the FOIA?
8. If you are requesting a fee waiver, you must state your basis for the waiver.
Where should I send a FOIA request?
FAX REQUESTS: To fax a FOIA request, include a fax coversheet stating, "Attention: FOIA Coordinator." The fax number is (504) 862-2827.
Any person can file a FOIA request, including U.S. citizens and foreign nationals, Organizations, universities, businesses, and state and local governments may also file FOIA requests.
FOIA’s scope includes Federal Executive Branch Departments, agencies, and offices, Federal regulatory agencies, and Federal corporations. Congress, the Federal Courts, and parts of the Executive Office of the President are not subject to the FOIA. State and local governments are likewise not subject to the Federal FOIA, but some states have their own equivalent access laws for state records.
Agency records are those that are created or obtained by an agency and under the agency control at the time the FOIA request is made. Agency records include hard-copy files, computerized records, databases, e-mail maps, books, and photographs.
Can I ask questions under the FOIA?
FOIA does not require Federal Agencies to answer questions, render opinions, or provide subjective evaluations. Requesters must ask for existing records, such as those mentioned above. However, if there exists records which would respond to questions, those records would be provided.
Must I use FOIA to obtain all agency records?
No.There is no requirement for individuals to use FOIA to obtain routine public information, such as copies of contracts, daily stages of waterways, and issued permits. Such requests may be processed by the custodian offices without involvement of the FOIA Coordinator. Additionally, the New Orleans District's internet website at http://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/index.asp provides access to a wide variety of public information regarding our projects, contracts, regulatory program.
There are nine FOIA exemptions, described in 5 U.S.C. 552(b) (1)-(9).
9. (b) (9) -- records containing geological and geophysical information (including maps) concerning wells.
When information is withheld, whether partially or fully, this constitutes a denial under FOIA. A request may be denied for one or more of the aforementioned exemptions. When this happens, you will be notified in writing by an Initial Denial Authority (IDA) and given appeal rights. IDAs are denial authorities for records that fall under their custodial control. If your request is denied partially, you will receive information that has portions deleted. Redacted records have the denied information removed from where it was originally located within the document. The appropriate exemption(s) for deletion of the information should be listed next to the sanitized area(s) on the document. There are usually two methods for sanitizing a document; one is to blacken out the denied information, and the other is to completely remove it.
Yes. If your FOIA request is initially denied in whole or in part under one or more of the above exemptions, or denied for some other reason, you will be advised of your appeal rights and the proper procedures for submitting the appeal within 60 days. If you are not satisfied with the appeal determination, you may seek judicial review.
3. The need for consultation, which shall be conducted with all practicable speed, with other agencies having a substantial interest in the determination of the request, or among two or more DOD Components having a substantial subject-matter interest in the request.
How do I qualify for expedited processing of my request?
3. Other reasons that merit expedited processing are an imminent loss of substantial due process rights and humanitarian need.
FOIA allows fees to be charged for FOIA services, such as search and review time, duplication costs, and special services, like documentcertification. Whether fees are charged depends on the category of requester you are. If fees are to be charged, waivers or reductions in fees may be given under certain circumstances. In any case, no fees are charged to any requester if the amount to be charged does not exceed $15.
What are the categories of requesters and how are their fees determined?
Commercial. Requesters who seek information for a use or purpose that furthers their commercial, trade, or profit interest are considered commercial requesters. Commercial requesters pay all fees for search, review, and duplication.
Educational. Institutions of education, including preschools, elementary or secondary schools and institutions of higher learning, qualify as educational institutions. The records must be sought in furtherance of scholarly research. Educational requesters pay only duplication fees, unless it is determined that fees are waived or reduced in the public interest. The first 100 pages are provided at no cost.
News Media. A representative of the news media is a person actively gathering news for an entity organized and operated to publicize or broadcast news to the public. News media pay only duplication fees, unless it is determined that fees are waived or reduced in the public interest. The first 100 pages are provided at no cost.
"Other" Requester. Requesters who do not qualify in another category are considered "other" requesters, and normally make requests for agency records for their personal use. "Other" requesters receive two hours search time, all review costs, and the first 100 pages at no cost.
When and how can fee waivers be granted?
What is a"willingness to pay statement"?
All requesters must include a "willingness to pay statement" in their request, regardless of the fee category, however, this does not mean you will be charged fees. The requester can set a limit on the costs to be incurred. For example, he/she may state "not to exceed $50." If the estimate for answering the request exceeds the limit, the FOIA Officer will call the requester to discuss his/her options. The requester has four options: accept the copied documents up to the previous specified amount of money; cancel the entire request; authorize the money needed to complete the request; or authorize additional funds up to another specified amount. Except for commercial requesters whose fees total more than $15, waivers are always considered. A Citizen's Guide to Request Army Records Under the FOIA, May 1, 1998 We trust this information will be helpful to you when pursuing FOIA requests with the New Orleans District. If you have any questions, you may call (504) 862-2824 and ask for the FOIA Coordinator.
You must request in writing the employees appearance in accordance with Department of Defense directives, 32 CFR § 97.6(c), and Army regulations, 32 CFR §§ 516.40 - 516.57. The request must include the nature of the proceeding and the nature and relevance of the official information sought. Id. § 516.41. The written request must be received no later than 14 days from the date of any intended testimony. We cannot act upon your request until we receive the required information. See for example, United States ex rel. Touhy v. Ragen, 340 U.S. 462 (1951); Boron Oil Co. v. Downie, 873 F. 2d 67 (4th Cir. 1989).
4) The extent to which the testimony is available from other sources.
Please provide this written summary as soon as possible. By virtue of Touhy v. Ragen, 340 U.S. 462 (1951), the Supreme Court has recognized the authority of agency heads to restrict testimony of their subordinates.
In addition to the above requirements, each employee’s supervisor must approve their absence from duty so that their absence does not interfere with the mission. See 32 CFR § 516.50. In any event, should they be authorized to appear, you must subpoena them and pay all travel expenses, as this is purely private litigation and the witness' appearance must be at no expense to the United States. See Id. § 516.55(c).
Finally, should any of the employees appear as a witness, they may give factual testimony only. They may not testify as an opinion or expert witness. This limitation is based on Department of Defense and Army policy that generally prohibits Government employees from appearing as expert witnesses in private litigation. See Id. § 97.6 (e), § 516.49.
For a claim of personal injury or property damage, that a person alleges has been caused by the negligent acts of an employee of the United States Government, federal law requires that the claimant file a written claim with the appropriate federal agency, in this case the U.S. Army Engineer District, New Orleans, Louisiana. The applicable law in this instance is the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 United States Code § 2671 et seq. A standard form must be used to submit a claim under the Tort Claims Act. A copy may be obtained and printed by clicking Form SF-95.
A claim against the United States, in particular against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, must be presented, in writing, within two years from the date that the cause of action occurred. The written claim must indicate the date and location at which the alleged negligent act/damage occurred. The written claim must include a specified "sum certain" amount of monetary damages that you seek from the government. You should state in your claim the damage that has occurred, and should state how you contend that the damage occurred (i.e., what acts of a government employee occurred that caused the damage you seek compensation for). If the claim is for personal injury or property damage, you should submit information that would substantiate your claim. Medical Records, estimates of repair, etc., should be submitted, along with any other documentation you think would support your claim.
2) Upon the expiration of six months from the date of receipt by the Agency of the claim, if no written final decision has been issued by the Agency, the claimant may, at his or her option, treat the inaction of the agency as a final denial, and proceed to file suit.
Exclusive jurisdiction against the United States for suits filed under the Federal Tort Claims Act lies with the appropriate United States District Court. Any lawsuit filed under the Federal Tort Claims Act must name the "United States of America," and not the particular agency, as the defendant.

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