Sample FOIA Request (Mailed Letter)

Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy 
Attention:  FOIA Coordinator 
121 Blake Road 
Annapolis, MD 21402-1300

Dear Sir/Madam:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. §552).

I request that a copy of the following record(s) be provided to me (describe the specific record(s) you are seeking with sufficient detail so that a knowledgeable official of the activity may locate the record with a reasonable amount of effort.  Be specific, include dates, timeframes, and the name(s) of individual(s) who may have knowledge of the subject of your request).

I am willing to pay all fees associated with processing this request up to $______ of the amount which exceeds 2 hours of search effort and duplication of 100 pages.

In order to help you determine my status for the purpose of assessing fees, you should know that I am [insert one of the descriptions below]

• A representative of the news media affiliated with the _______ newspaper (magazine, television station, etc.), and this request is made as part of news gathering and not for a commercial use.
• Affiliated with an educational or noncommercial scientific institution, and this request is made for a scholarly or scientific purpose and not for a commercial use.
• Affiliated with a private business and am seeking information for use in the company's business.
• An individual seeking information for personal use and not for commercial use.

(Optional) I request a waiver of fees for this request because disclosure of the requested information is in the public interest because ______________(list how it is in the public interest), and it is likely to contribute significantly to the public understanding of the operations or activities of the Department of the Navy by _________________(insert how this specific information will contribute significantly to the publics understanding) and is not primarily in my commercial interest (Include details about how the requested information will be disseminated by you to the general public).

You may contact me or (name of representative) concerning this request at (area code and telephone number).

Sincerely,

Telephone number

Note:  If you choose to receive electronic records, no duplication cost, provide your email address on the request.