Source: http://regulations.delaware.gov/register/december2011/final/15%20DE%20Reg%20864%2012-01-11.htm
Timestamp: 2018-12-18 19:17:14
Document Index: 128669150

Matched Legal Cases: ['§8003', '§10003', '§10113', '§8003', '§ 10118', '§10002', '§10002', '§10002', '§10002', '§10002', '§10002']

AND NOW, this 1st day of December, 2011 in accordance with 29 Del.C. §8003(7) and 29 Del.C. §10003(d), for the reasons stated below, this ORDER is adopted repealing the prior regulations and promulgating new regulations setting forth the Policies and Procedures regarding FOIA requests.
On October 20, 2011, the Governor of the State of Delaware signed Executive Order Number 31, directing each executive branch agency to implement and promulgate Uniform Freedom of Information Act policies in substantial compliance with the form attached to the Executive Order. In accordance with 29 Del.C. §10113(b)(1) the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is repealing its prior regulations and adopting new final regulations governing the Policies and Procedures regarding FOIA requests.
The purpose of the new regulations are to prescribe procedures relating to the inspection and copying of public records retained by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control pursuant to 29 Del.C. Ch. 100, the Freedom of Information Act. The regulations establish a reasonable fee structure for copying public records and streamlines procedures used to disseminate this information.
1.	The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has developed new procedures for responding to requests from the public for information as set forth in 29 Del.C. Ch. 100, The Freedom of Information Act. These regulations are in substantial compliance with, and necessary to, effectuate the Governor's Executive Order. The regulations reflect these procedures.
2.	The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has statutory authority to promulgate regulations pursuant to 29 Del.C. §8003(7).
NOW THEREFORE, under the statutory authority and for the reasons set forth above, the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control does hereby ORDER that the regulations be, and that they hereby are, adopted and promulgated as set forth below. The effective date of this Order is ten days from the date of its publication in the Delaware Register of Regulations, in accordance with 29 Del.C. § 10118(g).
3.1.2	The Department shall make all requested records available for review by requestor unless such records or portions of records are determined by the Secretary to be confidential in accordance with Section 6 of this regulation or otherwise exempted from disclosure as records deemed non-public pursuant to 29 Del.C. §10002(d).
3.2.2.1	The document’s author,
3.2.2.2	The addressee,
3.2.2.3	The date of the document,
3.2.2.4	The title of the document or a brief explanation of the document’s contents, and
3.2.3	The types of records deemed non-public are as contained in 29 Del.C. §10002(d).
4.1.1	Requests for access to records shall be made in writing and shall adequately describe the records sought in sufficient detail to enable the Department to locate the records with reasonable effort. The Department shall make every reasonable effort to assist the requestor in identifying the record being sought. The request may be denied in part or in full and returned to the requestor for the following reasons:
4.1.1.1	The request does not adequately describe the records;
4.1.1.3	Reasons set forth in Section 3.1.3 or as addressed in other areas of this regulation not specified here.
4.2.1	The Department shall make every reasonable effort to determine within twenty (20) business days after the receipt of a request whether it can fulfill the request. The actual disclosure of records shall follow promptly thereafter.
5.1.1.1	Staff time associated with processing FOIA requests;
5.1.1.2	Locating and reviewing files;
5.1.1.3	Monitoring file reviews;
5.1.1.4	Generating computer records (electronic or print-outs); and
5.1.1.5	Preparing logs of records deemed non-public.
5.1.2.1	Administrative charges will be billed to the requestor per quarter hour. These charges will be billed at the current, hourly paygrade rate (pro-rated for quarter hour increments) of the personnel performing the service. Administrative charges will be in addition to any copying charges.
5.1.2.2	Appointment Rescheduling/Cancellation – Requestors that do not reschedule or cancel appointments to view files at least one full business day in advance of the appointment may be subject to the administrative charges incurred by the Department in preparing the requested records. The Department will prepare an itemized invoice of these charges and mail to the requestor for payment.
5.2.1.1	8.5" x 11";
5.2.1.2	8.5" x 14"; and
5.2.1.3	11" x 17"
5.2.2.1	24" x 26"- $2.00 each;
5.2.2.2	24" x 36" - $3.00 each;
5.2.2.3	30" x 42" - $5.00 each; and
5.2.2.4	all copies larger than 30" x 42" shall be calculated at the rate of $0.60 per square foot.
5.2.3.1	8.5" x 11" - $1.00 per page;
5.2.3.2	8.5" x 14" - $1.50 per page;
5.2.3.3	11" x 17" - $2.00 per page; and
5.2.3.4	all color copies larger than 11" x 17" (including, but not limited to: blueprints, engineering drawings, photographic imagery, GIS print-outs, and maps) shall be calculated at the rate of$2.50 per square foot.
5.3.1	The administrative charge shall be waived for individuals making a FOIA request to the Department who are not deriving income or other forms of compensation from the use of the information obtained through the FOIA request. To qualify for this exemption, individuals must provide a signed affidavit accompanying the FOIA request, stating that they are not deriving income or other forms of compensation from the use of information obtained through FOIA.
5.3.2	The administrative charge shall be waived for not-for-profit organizations working in the public interest on the condition that such organizations provide, along with their FOIA request, proof of tax-exempt status and a signed affidavit from an officer or the governing body of the organization which indicates that the requestor is authorized to request the information on behalf of the organization.
5.3.3	Individuals and not-for-profit organizations that qualify under 5.3.1 or 5.3.2 shall also be granted a waiver for copying fees of $25.00 or less. For those requests exceeding $25.00 in copying fees, charges will be assessed pursuant to Section 5.2 of this regulation.
5.4.1	Payment for copies and/or administrative charges will be due at the time copies are released to the requestor. The Department reserves the right to refuse to make copies for requestors who have outstanding balances.
5.4.2	The Department may require pre-payment of copying and administrative charges prior to mailing copies of requested records and/or in preparing logs of records deemed non-public.
5.4.3	Department personnel will maintain a receipt register and, upon request, provide the requestor with a receipt when payment is received.
6.1.1	In order for the Department to make a determination that information submitted is of a confidential nature, and therefore to be afforded confidential status, a request must be made in writing to the Secretary at the time the record is submitted. The request shall provide substantiation for the allegation that the information should be treated as confidential.The request shall contain the following information:
6.1.2.1	Two public versions of the entire package of information that is submitted for determination, with alleged confidential information redacted (this version will be made available for public review).The public versions shall correspond page for page with the confidential versions, with the confidential portions having been redacted;
6.3.1	If the Secretary determines that disclosure of the information would violate 29 Del.C. §10002(d)(2), the information will be deemed confidential until such time as the basis for a determination of confidentiality changes. It is the responsibility of the person who requested that the information be given confidential status to notify the Department in writing of such changes.
6.4	Defense of Secretary’s Determination
6.4.2.2	Call upon each affected party to furnish assistance where necessary in preparation of the Department’s defense; and
3.7.1	Prior to disclosure, records may be reviewed by the Agency to ensure that those records or portions of records deemed non-public may be removed pursuant to 29 Del. C. §10002(g) or any other applicable provision of law. In reviewing the records, all documents shall be considered Public Records unless subject to one of the exceptions set forth in 29 Del. C. §10002(g) or any other applicable provision of law. Nothing herein shall prohibit the Agency from disclosing or permitting access to Public Records if the Agency determines to disclose such records, except where such disclosure or access is otherwise prohibited by law or regulation.
4.1.1.2	Oversized Copies/Printouts: The charge for copying oversized Public Records shall be as follows::
6.7.1	If the Secretary determines that disclosure of the information would violate 29 Del.C. §10002(g)(2), the information will be deemed confidential until such time as the basis for a determination of confidentiality changes. It is the responsibility of the person who requested that the information be given confidential status to notify DNREC in writing of such changes.
15 DE Reg. 864 (12/01/11) (Final)