§ 171.17 - Preservation of records.

§ 171.17 Resolving disputes.

The Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) in the National Archives and Records Administration is charged with offering mediation services to resolve disputes between persons making FOIA requests and Federal agencies as a non-exclusive alternative to litigation. Additionally, the FOIA directs the Department's FOIA Public Liaison to assist in the resolution of disputes. The Department will inform requesters in its agency appeal response letter of services offered by OGIS and the FOIA Public Liaison. Requesters may reach the Department's FOIA Public Liaison at Office of Information Programs and Services, A/GIS/IPS/PP/LA, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC 20522–8100, or at (202) 261–8484. Requesters may contact OGIS at Office of Government Information Services (OGIS), National Archives and Records Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740–6001; at [e-mail]; and at (202) 741–5770, or toll-free at (877) 684–6448

Preservation of records.

The Department must preserve all correspondence pertaining to the requests that it receives under this subpart, as well as copies of all requested records, until disposition or destruction is authorized pursuant to title 44 of the United States Code and applicable records disposition schedules, including the General Records Schedule 4.2 of the National Archives and Records Administration. The Department must not dispose of or destroy records while they are the subject of a pending request, appeal, or lawsuit under the FOIA.