FOIA Fees and Rates
FOIA Fee Categories and Charges
EPA may recover fees for completing your request. Fees are assessed based on five categories.
- Commercial Use - Charged for searching for records, reviewing records, and duplication.
- Educational Institution - Charged for records duplication after the first 100 pages.
- Non-commercial Scientific Institution - Charged for records duplication after the first 100 pages.
- Representative of the News Media - Charged for records duplication after the first 100 pages.
- All Other Requests - Requests not classified into named categories are charged for records searching in excess of two hours and records duplication after the first 100 pages.
Requesters may seek a waiver or reduced fees by requesting a fee waiver.
FOIA Fee Rates
The following rates and thresholds apply to requests received by EPA after January 1, 2024.
- If total fees are estimated to be less than $310, there is no charge.
- For chargeable requests over $310, personnel time spent searching for, reviewing, and duplicating records may be charged.
- $0.15 per page for duplication; for non-paper formats, charges reflect personnel time.
- GS-9 to GS-12 personnel : $13 per quarter-hour.
- GS-13 to GS-15 personnel : $22 per quarter-hour.
Advance Payment
- If actual or estimated fees exceed $310 for chargeable requests, the agency may require a requester's agreement to pay before the request is processed.
- If actual or estimated fees exceed $550 for chargeable requests, the agency may require payment before the request is processed.
For information about fees and rates for FOIA requests received earlier than January 1, 2024, contact EPA’s FOIA Requester Service center, FOIA_HQ@epa.gov or 202-566-1667.