On July 25, 2023, the Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) denied the Freedom of Information (FOIA) appeal filed by Susan Maret from a final determination letter (Determination Letter) issued by the Department of Energy's Office of Public Information (OPI). On May 16, 2023, OPI sent the Appellant a final Determination Letter informing the Appellant of the searches conducted and the results they yielded. In a timely filed appeal, the Appellant argued that OPI should have conducted a proper search.
Regarding the searches that were conducted, OHA learned that searches had been conducted in the network where classified information is customarily maintained, as well as the dissemination platform that allows other members of the intelligence community to access DOE -IN products. DOE also learned that no searched were conducted for physical files, as all intelligence information pertaining to COVID-19 was maintained electronically.
Because OHA determined that an adequate search for responsive documents was conducted, OHA denied the appeal. (OHA Case No. FIA-23-0023)