Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2009/07/22/E9-17242/availability-of-official-information
Timestamp: 2018-03-23 23:40:34
Document Index: 759710887

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 2411', '§\u20092411', '§\u20092411', '§\u20092411', '§\u20092411', '§\u20092411', '§\u20092411', '§\u20092411', '§\u20092411', '§\u20092411', '§\u20092411', '§\u20092411', '§\u20092411', '§\u20092411', 'art 2412', '§\u20092411', '§\u20092411', '§\u20092411', '§\u20092411', '§\u20092411', '§\u20092411', '§\u20092411', '§\u20092411', '§\u20092411', '§\u20092411', '§\u20092411', '§\u20092411', '§\u20092411', '§\u20092411', '§\u20092411', '§\u20092411', '§\u20092411', '§\u20092411', 'art 2411', 'art 2411', 'art 2412', '§\u20092411', '§\u20092411', '§\u20092411', '§\u20092411', '§\u20092411', '§\u20092411', '§\u20092411', '§\u20092411']

A Proposed Rule by the Federal Labor Relations Authority on 07/22/2009
74 FR 36121
36121-36129 (9 pages)
E9-17242
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/E9-17242 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/E9-17242
E-mail: solmail@flra.gov.
Include “FOIA PROPOSED RULEMAKING” in the subject line of message.
Fax: (202) 343-1007.
Mail: Office of the Solicitor, 1400 K Street, NW., Suite 300, Washington, DC 20424.
Hand Delivery Courier: Same as mailing address.
Instructions: All submissions must include your name, return address and e-mail address, if applicable. Please clearly label submissions as “FOIA PROPOSED RULEMAKING.” If you submit comments by e-mail, you will receive an automatic confirmation e-mail from the system indicating that we have received your submission. If, in response to your comments submitted via e-mail, you do not receive a confirmation e-mail within 5 working days, please contact us directly at (202) 218-7999.
The comprehensive revisions to part 2411 that the Authority proposes include changes to the language and structure of the regulations. Provisions have been revised, added, and/or in some cases, reorganized in order to clarify how the Authority implements the procedural requirements of the FOIA. The proposed revisions are not intended to change any rights under the FOIA.
The proposed regulations are intended to achieve compliance with the OPEN Government Act of 2007, Public Law 110-175, 121 Stat. 2524, and Executive Order 13392, 70 FR 75371-75371 (Dec. 9, 2005). Provisions which relate to implementation of the OPEN Government Act are as follows—(1) § 2411.4(b)(1) (identification of deleted information); (2) § 2411.8(a) (setting forth criteria for when the time period for processing requests begins to run and when that time period may be suspended or tolled); (3) §§ 2411.8(c)(5) and 2411.13(b)(3) (address waiver of fees when time limits for complying with FOIA requests are not met); and (4) § 2411.8(d) (assigns individual tracking numbers to requests requiring more than ten days to process and provides phone number/Web site address to inquire about status).
The proposed regulations would also add new provisions to explicitly implement Executive Order 12600, 52 FR 23781 (June 23, 1987), 3 CFR 235 (1987 Comp.) and the Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 1996, Public Law 104-231, 110 Stat. 3048 (E-FOIA). The Authority has been operating in compliance with these provisions of law, and based on its experience is now proposing to update the regulations to reflect this compliance. A new section implementing Executive Order 12600's procedural structure for notifying those who submit business information to the government when that information becomes the subject of a FOIA request can be found at § 2411.9. New provisions implementing the E-FOIA can be found at: (1) § 2411.2(a) (includes electronic formats within the meaning of the term “record”); (2) § 2411.4(a)(iv) (requires that records that “have become or are likely to become the subject of subsequent requests for substantially the same records” be included in FOIA reading room); (3) § 2411.4(a)(v) (requires general index of records be included in FOIA reading room); (4) § 2411.4(b)(2) (establishment of electronic reading room); (5) § 2411.7 (format of disclosure); (6) § 2411.13(a)(2) (searches for records in electronic form or format); and (7) § 2411.15 (modification of deadline for submission of Annual Report and requirement that it shall be available in electronic format).
Further, the proposed revisions are intended as a routine updating of the Authority's procedures—to streamline the existing procedures based on experience, to reflect certain changes in the procedural requirements of the FOIA since the current regulations issued, and to make the Authority's procedures easier for the public to understand. Provisions that implement these goals can be found at: (1) § 2411.2 (adds a new section clarifying that the regulations' scope includes information in electronic formats and the relation of the regulations to the Privacy Act regulations in part 2412); (2) § 2411.4(a) and (b) (merging paragraph (b) of § 2411.4 into paragraph (a) of § 2411.4 so that the policies of all three FLRA components are addressed in one Start Printed Page 36122paragraph); (3) § 2411.4(d) (eliminating explanatory discussion of specific FOIA exemptions from mandatory disclosures); (4) § 2411.4(f)(1) and (2) (providing Web site addresses to obtain copies of agency forms); (5) § 2411.5(b) (requiring requesters to state they will assume financial liability for FOIA processing fees); (6) § 2411.6(a) (adding language to give requester the opportunity to discuss/clarify request so that it may be modified, if necessary, to meet regulatory requirements); (7) § 2411.8(b) (moving language from § 2411.13(c)(4) to set forth earlier the objective that requesters reasonably describe records sought); (8) § 2411.10(a)(2) (adding language to explain how to calculate the twenty day period for responding to appeal); (9) § 2411.10(a)(2)(i) and (b)(2)(i) (providing consistency with other sections regarding the cut-off amount at which fees ($250 and above) will be requested in advance of information production); (10) § 2411.10(a)(2)(ii) and (b)(2)(ii) (providing for information production before payment of fees below $250 if no history of failure to pay fees on time); (11) § 2411.13(a)(2) (adding language to inform requesters that searches will be conducted in the most efficient and least expensive manner reasonably possible); (12) § 2411.13(b)(4)(ii)(A) thru (D) (adding language to set forth more clearly the factors to be considered in determining when fees should be waived because a disclosure is in the “public interest”); (13) § 2411.13(b)(4)(iii)(A) and (B) (adding language clarifying when a requester's interest is “primarily commercial”); (14) § 2411.13(b)(4)(v) (adding language to clarify when partial fees will be assessed); (15) § 2411.13(h) (adding language related to handling requests by other than a party to a proceeding before the agency for a copy of a transcript, diskette, or other recordation of the proceeding); and (16) § 2411.14 (providing information on record retention and preservation).
Accordingly, the Authority proposes to revise its regulations implementing the FOIA and put them out for public comment. The Authority reproduces proposed 5 CFR part 2411 in its entirety.
Pursuant to section 605(b) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 605(b), the Chairman of the Authority has determined that this regulation, as amended, will not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities, because this rule only applies to Federal employees, Federal agencies, and labor organizations representing Federal employees.
For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Authority proposes that 5 CFR part 2411 be revised as follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552, as amended and OPEN Government Act of 2007, Pub. L. No. 110-175, 121 Stat. 2524; E.O. 13392 (Dec. 14, 2005); and E.O. 12600 (June 23, 1987).
(a) For the purpose of this part, the term record and any other term used in reference to information includes any information that would be subject to the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 552 when maintained by the Authority, the General Counsel, the Panel or the IG in any format including an electronic format. All written requests for information from the public that are not processed under part 2412 of this chapter will be processed under this part. The Authority, the General Counsel, the Panel and the IG may continue, regardless of this part, to furnish the public with the information it has furnished in the regular course of performing its official duties, unless furnishing the information would Start Printed Page 36123violate the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a, or another law.
(b) Authority/General Counsel/Panel/IG. Regional Directors of the Authority, the Freedom of Information Officer of the Office of the General Counsel, Washington, DC, the Solicitor of the Authority, the Executive Director of the Panel and the IG are delegated the exclusive authority to act upon all requests for information, documents and records which are received from any person or organization under § 2411.5(a) & (b).
(v) A general index of the records referred to in paragraph (a)(1)(i) through (iv) of this section.
(b) Records Availability. (1) Any person may examine and copy items in § 2411.4(a)(1)(i) through (iv), at each regional office of the Authority and at the offices of the Authority, the General Counsel, the Panel and the IG, respectively, in Washington, DC, under conditions prescribed by the Authority, the General Counsel, the Panel and the IG, respectively, and at reasonable times during normal working hours so long as it does not interfere with the efficient operations of the Authority, the General Counsel, the Panel and the IG. To the extent required to prevent a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, identifying details may be deleted and, in each case, the justification for the deletion shall be fully explained in writing. On the released portion of the record, the amount of information deleted, and the exemption under which the deletion is made, shall be indicated unless an interest protected by the exemption would be harmed.
(2) All records covered by this section are available through the Internet/World Wide-Web site http://www.flra.gov/​foia/​reading_​room.html. The Web site containing these records may also be accessed:
(i) From a computer terminal located in the library at FLRA headquarters at 1400 K Street, NW., Washington, DC. Requests to use this terminal to access the FLRA's electronic Reading Room should be submitted to the FLRA's Office of the Solicitor (mail: Office of the Solicitor, FLRA, 1400 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20424; telephone: 202-218-7770; e-mail: solmail@flra.gov); or
(ii) From computer terminals located in the FLRA regional offices. A listing of these offices, including appropriate information for requesting the use of the terminal, is provided in Appendix A to this part or at http://www.flra.gov/​foia/​contacts.html.
(e)(1) The formal documents constituting the record in a case or proceeding are matters of official record and, until destroyed pursuant to applicable statutory authority, are available to the public for inspection and copying at the appropriate regional office of the Authority, or the offices of the Authority, the General Counsel, the Panel or the IG in Washington, DC, as appropriate, under conditions prescribed by the Authority, the General Counsel or the Panel at reasonable times during normal working hours so long as it does not interfere with the efficient operations of the Authority, the General Counsel or the Panel.
(f)(1) Copies of forms prescribed by the General Counsel for the filing of charges and petitions may be obtained without charge from any regional office of the Authority or on the Authority's Web site at: http://www.flra.gov/​forms/​forms.html#gc.Start Printed Page 36124
(2) Copies of forms prescribed by the Panel for the filing of requests may be obtained without charge from the Panel's offices in Washington, DC or on the Authority's Web site at: http://www.flra.gov/​forms/​flra_​14.pdf.
(a) Authority/General Counsel/Panel/IG. Any person who desires to inspect or copy any records, documents or other information of the Authority, the General Counsel, the Panel or the IG, covered by this part, other than those specified in paragraphs (a)(1) and (c) of § 2411.4, shall submit a written or e-mail request (see office and e-mail addresses listed at http://www.flra.gov/​foia/​contacts.html) to that effect as follows:
(b) Each request under this part should be clearly and prominently identified as a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act and, if submitted by mail or otherwise submitted in an envelope or other cover, should be clearly identified as such on the envelope or other cover. The request must contain a specific statement assuming financial liability for the direct costs of responding to the request. The request should identify any ceiling dollar amount applicable. Fee charges will be assessed for the full allowable direct costs of document search, review, and duplicating, as appropriate, in accordance with § 2411.13. If a request does not comply with the provisions of this paragraph, it shall not be deemed received by the appropriate Regional Director, the Freedom of Information Officer of the General Counsel, the Solicitor of the Authority, the Executive Director of the Panel, or the IG, as appropriate. A list of the office and e-mail addresses is in Appendix A to 5 CFR Chapter XIV and on the Federal Labor Relations Authority's World Wide Web site at http://www.flra.gov/​foia/​contacts.html.
(a) Each request under this part shall reasonably describe the records being sought in a way that they can be identified and located. A request shall be legible and include all pertinent details that will help identify the records sought. Requesters may be given an opportunity to discuss their requests so that they may be modified to meet the requirements of this section.
(b) A request for records shall be logged in by the appropriate Regional Director, the Freedom of Information Officer of the General Counsel, the Solicitor of the Authority, the Executive Director of the Panel or the IG, as appropriate, pursuant to § 2411.6(c). All requesters must reasonably describe the records sought. An oral request for records shall not begin any time requirement. A written request for records sent to other than the Start Printed Page 36125appropriate officer will be forwarded to that officer by the receiving officer, but in that event the applicable time limit for response shall begin as set forth in paragraph (a) of this section.
(4) Whenever possible, subject to the provisions of paragraph (g) of § 2411.13, the response relating to a request for records that involves a fee of less than $250.00 shall be accompanied by the requested records. Where this is not possible, the records shall be forwarded as soon as possible thereafter, consistent with other obligations of the Authority, the General Counsel or the Panel.
(5) Search fees shall not be assessed requesters (or duplication fees in the case of an educational or noncommercial scientific institution, whose purpose is scholarly or scientific research; or a representative of the news media requester, as defined by § 2411.13(a)(8)), under this subparagraph if an agency component fails to comply with any time limit under paragraph (a) of this section, if no unusual or exceptional circumstances (as those terms are defined for purposes of § 2411.11(a)) apply to the processing of the request.
(1) The Authority determines that the information should not be disclosed;Start Printed Page 36126
(a) Authority/General Counsel/Panel/IG. (1) Whenever any request for records is denied, a written appeal may be filed within thirty (30) days after the requester receives notification that the request has been denied or after the requester receives any records being made available, in the event of partial denial. If the denial was made by a Regional Director or by the Freedom of Information Officer of the General Counsel, the appeal shall be filed with the General Counsel in Washington, DC. If the denial was made by the Executive Director of the Panel, the appeal shall be filed with the Chairman of the Panel. If the denial was made by the Solicitor or the IG, the appeal shall be filed with the Chairman of the Authority in Washington, DC.
Failure by the Authority, the General Counsel, the Panel, or the IG either to Start Printed Page 36127deny or grant any request under this part within the time limits prescribed by the Freedom of Information Act, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 552, and these regulations shall be deemed to be an exhaustion of the administrative remedies available to the person making this request.
(8) The term representative of the news media refers to any person or entity that gathers information of potential interest to a segment of the public, uses its editorial skills to turn the raw materials into a distinct work, and distributes that work to an audience. The term ‘news’ means information that is about current events or that would be of current interest to the public. Examples of news-media entities include television or radio stations broadcasting to the public at large and publishers of periodicals (but only if such entities qualify as disseminators of ‘news’) who make their products available for purchase by or subscription by or free distribution to the general public. These examples are not intended to be all-inclusive. Moreover, as methods of news delivery evolve (for example, the adoption of the electronic dissemination of newspapers through telecommunications services), such alternative media shall be considered to be news-media entities. A freelance journalist shall be regarded as working for a news-media entity if the journalist can demonstrate a solid basis for expecting publication through that entity, whether or not the journalist is actually employed by the entity. A publication contract would present a solid basis for such an expectation; the Government may also consider the past publication record of the requester in making such a determination.
(b) Exceptions to fee charges. (1) With the exception of requesters seeking documents for a commercial use, the Authority, the General Counsel, the Panel or the IG will provide the first 100 pages of duplication and the first two hours of search time without charge. The word “pages” in this paragraph refers to paper copies of standard size, usually 81/2 by 11, or their equivalent in microfiche or computer disks. The term “search time” in this paragraph is based on a manual search for records. In applying this term to searches made by computer, when the cost of the search as set forth in paragraph (d)(2) of this section equals the equivalent dollar amount of two hours of the salary of the person performing the search, the Authority, the General Counsel, the Panel or the IG will begin assessing charges for computer search.
(4)(i) The Authority, the General Counsel, the Panel or the IG will provide documents without charge or at reduced charges if disclosure of the information is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations or activities of the government; and is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester.
(A) The subject of the request. Whether the subject of the requested Start Printed Page 36128records concerns “the operations or activities of the government.” The subject of the requested records must concern identifiable operations or activities of the Federal government, with a connection that is direct and clear, not remote or attenuated;
(A) The existence and magnitude of a commercial interest. Whether the requester has a commercial interest that would be furthered by the requested disclosure. Commercial interest of the requester (with reference to the definition of “commercial use” in paragraph (a)(5) of this section), or of any person on whose behalf the requester may be acting, that would be furthered by the requested disclosure. Requesters shall be given an opportunity in the administrative process to provide explanatory information regarding this consideration; and,
(4) The Authority, the General Counsel, the Panel or the IG shall charge requesters who do not fit into any of the categories of this section fees which recover the full direct cost of searching for and reproducing records that are responsive to the request, except that the first 100 pages of reproduction and the first two hours of search time shall be furnished without charge. Requests from record subjects for records about themselves filed in Authority, General Counsel, or Panel systems of records will continue to be treated under the fee provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, which permits fees only for reproduction.
(3) Review of records. The salary rate (i.e., basic pay plus 16 percent) of the employee(s) conducting the review. This charge applies only to requesters who are seeking documents for commercial use, and only to the review necessary at the initial administrative level to determine the applicability of any relevant FOIA exemptions, and not at the administrative appeal level of an exemption already applied.
(4) Duplication of records. Twenty-five cents per page for paper copy reproduction of documents, which the Authority, the General Counsel, the Panel and the IG determined is the Start Printed Page 36129reasonable direct cost of making such copies, taking into account the average salary of the operator and the cost of the reproduction machinery. For copies of records prepared by computer, such as tapes or printouts, the Authority, the General Counsel, the Panel or the IG shall charge the actual cost, including operator time, of production of the tape or printout.
(2) A requester has previously failed to pay a fee charged in a timely fashion (i.e., within 30 days of the date of the billing), in which case the Authority, the General Counsel, the Panel or the IG requires the requester to pay the full amount owed plus any applicable interest as provided of this section or demonstrate that the requester has, in fact, paid the fee, and to make an advance payment of the full amount of the estimated fee before the agency begins to process a new request or a pending request from that requester. When the Authority, the General Counsel, the Panel or the IG acts under paragraph (g)(1) or (2) of this section, the administrative time limits prescribed in subsection (a)(6) of the FOIA (i.e., 20 working days from receipt of initial requests and 20 working days from receipt of appeals from initial denial, plus permissible extension of these time limits) will begin only after the Authority, the General Counsel, the Panel or the IG has received fee payments described of this section.
[FR Doc. E9-17242 Filed 7-21-09; 8:45 am]