Laura Hoskins

Dear Ms. Hoskins:

This acknowledges receipt of your August 30 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (OIG) for records related to you.

Because you are requesting records related to you or another individual, further documentation is required before we can process your request.

Certification of Identity (Necessary to release information located by searching by your name.):

Under postal regulations found at 39 C.F.R. § 265.3(d), “First-party requests. A requester who is making a request for records about himself must provide verification of identity sufficient to satisfy the component as to his identity prior to release of the record. For Privacy Act-protected records, the requester must further comply with the procedures set forth in 39 CFR 266.6.”

This regulation requires requesters to provide proof of their identity before an agency can begin processing their request. This ensures records containing the requester’s name are not accidentally released to the wrong person.

Please complete and return the attached OIG Certification of Identity and Privacy Waiver along with a copy of a valid driver’s license, employee identification, passport, or other identification clearly showing your face.

Privacy Waiver (Necessary to release information requested on behalf of a client or about any person other than yourself. This includes names, statements, or any other identifying information):

Under postal regulations found at 39 C.F.R. § 265.3(e), “Third-party requests. Where a FOIA request seeks disclosure of records that pertain to a third party, a requester may receive greater access by submitting a written authorization signed by that individual authorizing disclosure of the records to the requester, or by submitting proof that the individual is deceased (e.g., a copy of a death certificate or an obituary).”

This regulation requires requesters to provide written authorization from the subject of a record when requesting records about someone other than themself. This ensures records about that person are not accidentally released to the wrong person.

Please have your client, or the subject of the complaint/investigation, complete the attached OIG Certification of Identity and Privacy Waiver authorizing the OIG to release records to you. Please return the completed form along with a copy of a valid driver’s license, employee identification, passport, or other identification clearly showing their face. If you are requesting records about more than one person, please have each person complete the form. This form can be photocopied, as necessary.

Not completing the certification and proof of identity/privacy waiver process will limit our ability to release any responsive records we find in our files. They may be withheld in full or contain redactions made under FOIA Exemptions 5 U.S.C. § 552 (b)(3), (b)(6), and(b)(7)(c).

Exemption (b)(3) provides agencies may withhold records exempted from disclosure by another statute that “establishes particular criteria for withholding or refers to particular types of matters to be withheld.” Under the Inspector General Act of 1978, an OIG is duty bound to protect information provided by agency employees during an investigation. Public Law 95–452 5 U.S.C. app. 3 § 7(b).

Exemption (b)(6) pertains to information the release of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of the personal privacy of third parties. The withheld material includes names, titles, and identifying information of private citizens. This information is not appropriate for discretionary disclosure.

Exemption (b)(7)(c) permits the withholding of records or information compiled for law enforcement purposes, the release of which could constitute an unwarranted invasion of the personal privacy of third parties. Lack¬ing an individual's consent or an overriding public interest, third party investigatory records and/or allegations of misconduct must be withheld under Exemption (7)(c). This includes the names of, or identifying statements made by, any persons making allegations against the subject of an OIG investigation.

When we receive the signed completed form(s) and appropriate proof of identity, we will search for records responsive to your request. Any responsive records located will be processed under established FOIA guidelines and a final determination will be issued.

If we do not receive the signed completed form and proof of identity, we will presume you are no longer interested in pursuing this request. You may file another request in the future when you are able to provide the required documentation. You may return the completed form via e-mail at foia@uspsoig.gov<mailto:foia@uspsoig.gov> or U.S. Mail at 1735 N. Lynn Street, Arlington, VA 22209.
Sincerely,

USPS OIG FOIA Team