On what grounds can NARA deny my Privacy Act request?
36 C.F.R. § 1202.54
in effectEffective: 2024-07-01(a) NARA can deny your Privacy Act request for records if the records are maintained in an exempt systems of records are described in subpart F of this part.
(b) A system manager may deny your request for access to your records only if:
(1) NARA has published rules in the Federal Register exempting the pertinent system of records from the access requirement; and
(2) The record is exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
(c) Upon receipt of a request for access to a record which is contained within an exempt system of records, NARA will:
(1) Review the record to determine whether all or part of the record must be released to you in accordance with § 1202.40, notwithstanding the inclusion of the record within an exempt system of records; and
(2) Provide access to the record (or part of the record, if it is not fully releasable) in accordance with § 1202.46 or notify you that the request has been denied in whole or in part.
(d) If your request is denied in whole or in part, NARA's notice will include a statement specifying the applicable Privacy Act and FOIA exemptions and advising you of the right to appeal the decision as explained in § 1202.56.
Source: eCFRURL: https://www.ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2024-07-01/title-36.xmlFetched: 7/26/2026