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, 2025.

• If total fees are estimated to be less than $320, there is no charge.
• For chargeable requests over $320, 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 : $14 per quarter-hour.
  • GS-13 to GS-15 personnel : $23 per quarter-hour.

Advance Payment 

• If actual or estimated fees exceed $575 for chargeable requests, the agency may require a requester's agreement to pay before the request is processed.

For information about fees and rates for FOIA requests received earlier than January 1, 2025, contact EPA’s FOIA Requester Service center,  FOIA_HQ@epa.gov or 202-566-1667.