Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2009/04/14/E9-8206/amendment-to-the-freedom-of-information-act-regulations
Timestamp: 2018-07-18 05:40:29
Document Index: 279956001

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A Rule by the Interior Department on 04/14/2009
With the exception of Sec. 2.3(k) and (r), this rule is effective May 14, 2009. Section 2.3(k) and (r) have been revised consistent with the OPEN Government Act of 2007 and are effective May 29, 2009 without further action unless significant adverse comments are received by May 14, 2009. If significant adverse comments to Sec. 2.3(k) and (r) comments are received, DOI will publish a timely withdrawal of these paragraphs in the Federal Register.
II. Procedural Matters and Required Documentation
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/E9-8206 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/E9-8206
Start Preamble Start Printed Page 17090
This document amends the Department of the Interior's (DOI) regulations implementing the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552. In particular, it: clarifies the time limit that requesters have for filing FOIA appeals; clarifies that requesters must include the required documentation with their appeals or their appeals may be rejected by the FOIA Appeals Officer; clarifies that requesters must file a FOIA request with each separate bureau/office from which they are seeking records; changes the language regarding requests for expedited processing to be consistent with the language used in the FOIA including removing a paragraph in that section pertaining to “due process rights;” makes the use of multitrack processing mandatory for all bureaus and offices; advises requesters that they may contact the bureau/office's FOIA Requester Service Center and the FOIA Public Liaison concerning the status of their requests; and includes current contact information for DOI's FOIA and Public Affairs/Office of Communications Contacts and its reading rooms (Headquarters). Additionally, the final rule revises the definitions of the terms: “representative of the news media” and “freelance journalist” in accordance with the Openness Promotes Effectiveness in Our National (OPEN) Government Act of 2007 (December 31, 2007). The term “news” is defined within the term “representative of the news media.”
With the exception of § 2.3(k) and (r), this rule is effective May 14, 2009. Section 2.3(k) and (r) have been revised consistent with the OPEN Government Act of 2007 and are effective May 29, 2009 without further action unless significant adverse comments are received by May 14, 2009. If significant adverse comments to § 2.3(k) and (r) comments are received, DOI will publish a timely withdrawal of these paragraphs in the Federal Register.
You may submit comments, identified by the number 1090-AA61, on the portions of this rule identified in Part II, Procedural Matters and Required Documentation, that have not previously been published for review by any of the following methods:
—Federal rulemaking portal: http://www.regulations.gov [Follow the instructions for submitting comments]; or
—Mail or hand delivery: OCIO/DOI, 1849 C Street, NW., Room 7456-MIB, Washington, DC 20240.
Alexandra Mallus, Office of the Chief Information Officer, MS-7438, Main Interior Building, 1849 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20240; Telephone (202) 208-5342. E-Mail: Alexandra_Mallus@ios.doi.gov.
The Department of the Interior published a final rule in the Federal Register on October 21, 2002, revising its regulations implementing the FOIA, 43 CFR part 2. In this publication, the language used in § 2.21(d)(6), “How will the bureau respond to my request?” and the language used in § 2.29, “How long do I have to file an appeal?” were inconsistent with each other concerning the timeframe for filing an appeal. This rule clarifies the 2002 final rule by noting that appeals must be received by the FOIA Appeals Officer no later than 30 workdays from the date of the final response. Additionally, this rule clarifies that a requester's failure to include all correspondence between himself/herself and the bureau concerning his/her FOIA request will result in the Department's rejection of the appeal unless the FOIA Appeals Officer determines that good cause exists to accept the defective appeal.
This rule also changes § 2.22, “What happens if a bureau receives a request for records it does not have or did not create?” to eliminate paragraph (a)(1) of § 2.22, which has been construed by some courts to require bureaus that had received a FOIA request to refer the request to another bureau for a search of its records, regardless of whether the bureau that received the request had responsive records. The result of this change is that FOIA requesters must submit their requests in accordance with § 2.10, which requires that the FOIA requester specify which bureau's records are being sought or, at a minimum, specify when the FOIA requester is seeking the records of more than one bureau.
Consistent with EO 13392, this rule adds a new paragraph (c) to § 2.12, “When can I expect the response?” advising requesters that they may contact the bureau/office's FOIA Requester Service Center and the FOIA Public Liaison concerning the status of their requests. Additionally, the language in §§ 2.3 and 2.14 regarding expedited processing has been amended to reflect the FOIA's statutory language; therefore, the term “exceptional need” has been replaced with “compelling need,” and paragraph (a)(3) in § 2.14 pertaining to “due process rights” has been removed.
This rule also revises the language in § 2.26, “Does the bureau provide multitrack processing of FOIA requests?” to make the use of multitrack processing mandatory for all bureaus and offices within the Department and remind the bureaus of the statutory requirement of due diligence.
Appendix A to part 2, Department of the Interior FOIA and Public Affairs Contacts and Reading Rooms, has been updated to include current contact information for DOI's FOIA and Public Affairs/Office of Communications Contacts and its reading rooms (Headquarters) and to delete the FOIA contacts and reading rooms for the field offices. In the future, bureaus/offices will maintain information pertaining to the field offices on their FOIA Web sites to ensure that their contact information is accurate and current.
Finally, this final rule revises the definition of the terms “representative of the news media” and “freelance journalist” (§ 2.3(k) and § 2.3(r)) in accordance with the OPEN Government Act of 2007 (December 31, 2007).
On October 25, 2007, DOI published a proposed rule that revised its existing regulations under the FOIA. See 72 FR 60611, October 25, 2007. Interested persons were afforded an opportunity to participate in the rulemaking through submission of written comments on the proposed rule. The Department did not receive any comments from the public in response to its proposed rule. Accordingly, those provisions previously published are now final. Additionally, the Department is publishing, as a direct final rule three additional administrative updates: (1) The contact information in Appendix A to part 2, Department of the Interior FOIA and Public Affairs Contacts and Reading Rooms; (2) incorporation of the definitions for the terms “representative of the news media” and “freelance journalist” in accordance with the OPEN Government Act of 2007; and (3) one technical change to § 2.29(a), which Start Printed Page 17091clarifies the time appellants have to file an appeal.
This document is not a significant rule and the Office of Management and Budget has not reviewed this rule under Executive Order 12866. We have made the assessments required by Executive Order 12866 and have determined that this rule will not:
This rule does not impose an unfunded mandate on State, local, or tribal governments, or the private sector of more than $100 million per year. The rule does not have a significant or unique effect on State, local, or tribal governments, or the private sector. Therefore, no actions were deemed necessary under the provisions of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Executive Order 12866 requires each agency to write regulations that are easy to understand. We invite your comments on how to make this rule easier to understand, including answers to such questions such as the following:
(4) Would the rule be easier to understand if it were divided into more (but shorter) sections? (A “section” appears in bold type and is preceded by the symbol “§” and a numbered heading; for example, “§ 2.7 What do I need to know before filing a FOIA request?”)
For the reasons given in the preamble, we hereby amend part 2 of title 43 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as set forth below:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301, 552 and 552a; 31 U.S.C. 9701; and 43 U.S.C. 1460
2. In § 2.3, revise paragraphs (i), (k), and (r) to read as follows:
(k) Free-lance journalist means an individual who is regarded as working for a news-media entity because he/she can demonstrate a solid basis for expecting publication through that entity, whether or not the journalist is actually employed by that entity. A publication contract would present a Start Printed Page 17092solid basis for such an expectation; the Government may also consider the past publication record of the requester in making such a determination.
(r) Representative of the news media means 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 are newspapers, 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 all inclusive. As methods of news delivery evolve (for example, the adoption of the electronic dissemination of newspapers through telecommunication services), such alternative media will be considered to be news-media entities.
(c) Determining the status of your request. To determine the status of your request, you should call, fax, or email the point of contact provided in the bureau/office's acknowledgment letter to you, referencing the FOIA control number assigned to your request. You may also contact the appropriate FOIA Requester Service Center. If you are dissatisfied with the FOIA Requester Service Center's response, you may contact the bureau/office's FOIA Public Liaison to resolve the issue. (The relevant names and telephone numbers are listed at http://www.doi.gov/​foia/​liaison.html).
(3) Complex: Over 20 workdays.
(c) A bureau should, if possible, give requesters in its “Complex” track the opportunity to limit the scope of their request in order to qualify for faster processing. A bureau doing so will contact the requester by telephone (which should be promptly followed up by a written communication) or in writing, whichever is more efficient in each case.
(a) Appeals covered by § 2.28(a)(1), (2), (4), and (5). Your FOIA appeal must be received by the FOIA Appeals Officer no later than 30 workdays from the date of the final response.
(d) Appeals covered by § 2.28(a)(7). You should file an appeal as soon as possible.
(b) You must include with your appeal copies of all correspondence between you and the bureau concerning your FOIA request, including your request and the bureau's response (if there is one). Failure to include with your appeal all correspondence between you and the bureau will result in the Department's rejection of your appeal, unless the FOIA Appeals Officer determines, in the FOIA Appeal Officer's sole discretion, that good cause Start Printed Page 17093exists to accept the defective appeal. The time limits for responding to your appeal will not begin to run until the documents are received.
Departmental FOIA Officer Senior FOIA Program Officer “Policy Only-No Requests” MS-7438-MIB 1849 C St., NW. Washington, DC 20240 Telephone No. (202) 208-5342 (202) 208-5412 Fax No. (202) 208-6867, (202) 501-2622 Departmental FOIA/Privacy Act Appeals Officer MS-6556-MIB 1849 C St., NW. Washington, DC 20240 Telephone No. (202) 208-5339 Fax No. (202) 208-6677 Departmental Privacy Officer MS-7438-MIB 1849 C St., NW. Washington, DC 20240 Telephone No. (202) 208-3909 Fax No. (202) 208-6867
Public Affairs Office Office of Communications MS-6013, MIB 1849 C St., NW. Washington, DC 20240 Telephone No. (202) 208-6416 Fax No. (202) 208-5133 Reading Room—DOI's Library MIB (C Street Entrance) 1849 C St., NW. Washington, DC 20240 Telephone No. (202) 208-5815 Fax No. (202) 208-6773
FOIA Officer MS-116, SIB 1951 Constitution Ave., NW. Washington, DC 20240 Telephone No. (202) 565-1076 Fax No. (202) 219-2374 Public Affairs Office Office of Communications MS-6013, MIB 1849 C St., NW. Washington, DC 20240 Telephone No. (202) 208-6416 Fax No. (202) 208-5133 Reading Room—DOI's Library MIB (C Street Entrance) 1849 C St., NW. Washington, DC 20240 Telephone No. (202) 208-5815 Fax No. (202) 208-6773
FOIA Officer MS-4428, MIB 1849 C St., NW. Washington, DC 20240 Telephone No. (703) 487-5436 Fax No. (703) 487-5406 Public Affairs Office MS-4428, MIB 1849 C St., NW. Washington, DC 20240 Telephone No. (202) 513-0326 Fax No. (202) 219-3856 Reading Room Room 4428, MIB 1849 C St., NW. Washington, DC 20240 Telephone No. (703) 487-5443 Fax No. (703) 487-5400
FOIA Officer MS-6556, MIB 1849 C St., NW. Washington, DC 20240 Telephone No. (202) 208-6221 Fax No. (202) 208-5206 Public Affairs Office Office of Communications MS-6013, MIB 1849 C St., NW. Washington, DC 20240 Telephone No. (202) 208-6416 Fax No. (202) 208-3231 Reading Room Room 2328, MIB 1849 C St., NW. Washington, DC 20240 Telephone No. (202) 208-6505 Fax No. (202) 208-5206
FOIA Officer Arlington Square, Room 380 4401 North Fairfax Dr. Arlington, VA 22203 Telephone No. (703) 358-2504 Fax No. (703) 358-2251 Public Affairs Office Arlington Square, MS-330 4401 North Fairfax Dr. Arlington, VA 22203 Telephone No. (703) 358-2220 Fax No. (703) 358-1930 Reading Room Arlington Square, MS-380 4401 North Fairfax Dr. Arlington, VA 22203 Telephone No. (703) 358-2504 Fax No. (703) 358-2251
FOIA Officer Office of the CIO Org Code 2550 1849 C St., NW. Washington, DC 20240 Telephone No. (202) 354-1925 Fax No. (202) 371-5584 Public Affairs Office P.O. Box 37127 Washington, DC 20013-7127 Telephone No. (202) 208-6843 Fax No. (202) 219-0910 Reading Room Contact: NPS FOIA Officer 1201 Eye St., NW. 8th Floor Washington, DC 20005 Telephone No. (202) 354-1925 Fax No. (202) 371-5584
FOIA Officer MS-WO-560 1620 L St., NW., Room 750 Washington, DC 20240 Telephone No. (202) 452-5013 Fax No. (202) 452-5002 Public Affairs Office MS-WO-610 1620 L St., NW., Room 406 Washington, DC 20240 Telephone No. (202) 452-5125 Fax No. (202) 452-5124 Reading Room 1620 L St., NW.—Room 750 Washington, DC 20240 Telephone No. (202) 452-5193 Fax No. (202) 452-0395
FOIA Officer 381 Elden St. MS-2200 Herndon, VA 20170-4817 Telephone No. (703) 787-1689 Fax No. (703) 787-1207 Public Affairs Office Office of Communications 1849 C St., NW., MS-4230 Washington, DC 20240 Telephone No. (202) 208-3985 Fax No. (202) 208-3968 Reading Room Public Information Office 1201 Elmwood Park Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70123-2394 Telephone No. (800) 200-GULF Fax No. (504) 736-2620
FOIA Officer MS-130, SIB 1951 Constitution Ave., NW. Washington, DC 20240 Telephone No. (202) 208-2961 Fax No. (202) 219-3092 Office of Communications MS-262, SIB 1951 Constitution Ave., NW. Washington, DC 20240 Telephone No. (202) 208-2565 Fax No. (202) 501-0549 Reading Room Contact: OSM FOIA Officer Room 263, SIB 1951 Constitution Ave., NW. Washington, DC 20240 Telephone No. (202) 208-2961 Fax No. (202) 501-4734
FOIA Officer 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr., MS-807 Reston, VA 20192 Telephone No. (703) 648-7158 Fax No. (703) 648-6853 Office of Communications 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr., MS-119 Reston, VA 20192 Telephone No. (703) 648-4460 Fax No. (703) 648-4466 Reading Room USGS Library 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr. Reston, VA 20192 Telephone No. (703) 648-4302 Fax No. (703) 648-6373
FOIA Officer P.O. Box 25007, 84-21300 Denver, CO 80225-0007 Telephone No. (303) 445-2048 Fax No. (303) 445-6575 Public Affairs Office P.O. Box 25007, 82-40000 Denver, CO 80225-0007 Telephone No. (303) 236-7000 Fax No. (303) 236-9235 Reading Room Reclamation Library P.O. Box 25007, 84-27960 Denver, CO 80225-0007 Telephone No. (303) 445-2072 Fax No. (303) 445-6303
FOIA Officer MS-3071, MIB 1849 C St., NW. Washington, DC 20240 Telephone No. (202) 208-4542 Fax No. (202) 208-6597 Public Affairs Office MS-3658, MIB 1849 C St., NW. Washington, DC 20240 Telephone No. (202) 208-3710 Fax No. (202) 501-1516 Reading Room Room 3071, MIB 1849 C St., NW. Washington, DC 20240 Telephone No. (202) 513-0883 Fax No. (202) 208-6597
For more information on FOIA, including the most current listing of FOIA Contacts and reading rooms, visit DOI's FOIA Web site at http://www.doi.gov/​foia/​. Henceforth, contact information will be maintained and updated on DOI's FOIA Web site. If you do not have access to the Web, please contact the appropriate bureau FOIA Officer or the Departmental FOIA Office.
[FR Doc. E9-8206 Filed 4-13-09; 8:45 am]