This electronic reading room complies with the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(2), as amended by P.L. 104-231. It contains "(a)(2)" materials and other FOIA-processed records likely to be requested under FOIA.
These (a)(2) materials include: final opinions, including concurring and dissenting opinions and orders made in the Mint's adjudication of cases; statements of policy and interpretations that have been adopted by the Mint and are not published in the Federal Register; and administrative staff manuals and instructions, or portions thereof, that establish Mint policy affecting a member of the Public.
Mint Directive on FOIA
MD 7B-7
January 30, 2004
Chapter 7 – Administrative Programs
Part B – Documentation Systems
Freedom of Information Act
Purpose: This Directive establishes the Mint’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Program.
Scope: All United States Mint activities.
Outcome: The uniform and consistent disclosure of Mint information made in accordance with applicable FOIA rules and regulations.
Policy: The Mint will conduct its FOIA Program in accordance with FOIA rules and regulations and in the spirit of providing requestors their appropriate and rightful access to information maintained by the Mint.
Responsibilities:
The Director of the Mint, as the Mint FOIA Appeals Officer, is responsible for signing all final responses to FOIA appeals.
The Office of Chief Counsel is responsible for:
Establishing internal procedures consistent with all applicable Federal rules and regulations to ensure the effectiveness of the Mint's FOIA Program
Ensuring that employees who are responsible in any part for FOIA processing are knowledgeable about the provisions and requirements of the FOIA and ensuring that these employees attend FOIA training at least once a year
Providing legal advice and reviewing all FOIA appeals
The Mint Disclosure Officer (DO) is responsible for:
Managing the Mint FOIA Program
Providing Program guidance, technical advice, and assistance
Determining and responding to requests for information, FOIA and related actions (e.g., fees, waivers)
Processing all FOIA requests
Conducting appropriate and necessary communication with requestors and liaison with other responsible parties/participants
Keeping Mint respondents informed of due dates and seeking on a case-by-case basis the support of the Director's Office in obtaining responses that are past due
Providing copies of requests from Congress to the Director's Office and agency Legislative Liaison
Providing copies of requests from the media to the Public Affairs Officer
Conducting or providing for Mint-wide FOIA training on a regular and systematic basis
Maintaining liaison with offices and agencies that have FOIA responsibilities that impact the Mint
Associate Directors, Plant Managers, and Assistant Directors are responsible for:
Forwarding requests for FOIA information immediately to the DO
Designating staff to support the DO in determining if requested information exists, is maintained by the unit, and can be provided to the DO within the allotted time period
Critical Requirements:
All requests made under the FOIA must be made in writing
Standard exclusions will be applied to Mint FOIA requests
Applicable fees of $25 or more will be charged to the requestor. Additional charges will be made in accordance with the fee schedule contained in 31 CFR 1.7
Requests will be processed within 20 workdays of the DO receiving the request
Requesters will be informed of the right and the procedures involved to seek administrative appeal and judicial review of:
Any partial or total denial of access to records
A fee waiver denial
An expedited processing denial
A determination of the requester's category for fee purposes
A "no records" determination
Authority:
Freedom of Information Act, Title 5, United States Code, Section 552, as amended
Title 31,CFR, Part 1, Subpart A
Executive Order 12600, "Pre-disclosure Notification Procedures for Confidential Commercial Information"
Executive Order 12958, "Classified National Security Information"
Treasury Directive 25-05, "The Freedom of Information Act"
Treasury's "Freedom of Information Act Handbook", TD P 25-05
Applicable Department of Justice, OMB, and NARA guidelines
Cancellation: Mint Directive MD 7B-7, dated January 1998.
Sunset Review Date: June 2006.
Responsible Office: Office of Chief Counsel.
Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs)
Pursuant to the E-Government Act of 2002, federal agencies are required to conduct Privacy Impact Assessments (PIA) for electronic information systems and collections and, in general, make them publicly available through the website of the agency. The PIA is an analysis of how information is handled "(a) to ensure handling conforms to applicable legal, regulatory, and policy requirements regarding privacy, (b) to determine risks and effects of collecting, maintaining and disseminating information in identifiable form in an electronic information system, and (c) to examine and evaluate protections and alternative processes for handling information to mitigate potential privacy risks."
Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act Tracking System
Until such time that this document is prepared for public posting on this Web page, copies of the following PIA document may be obtained by contacting the United States Mint Disclosure Officer at (202) 354-6788.
