1004.5—Processing requests for records.
(a)
Freedom of Information Officers will be responsible for processing requests for records submitted pursuant to this part. Upon receiving such a request, the Freedom of Information Officer will, except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, ascertain which Authorizing Official has responsibility for, custody of, or concern with the records requested. The Freedom of Information Officer will review the request, consulting with the Authorizing Official where appropriate, to determine its compliance with § 1004.4. Where a request complies with § 1004.4, the Freedom of Information Officer will acknowledge receipt of the request to the requester and forward the request to the Authorizing Official for action.
(b)
The Authorizing Official will promptly identify and review the records encompassed by the request. The Authorizing Official will prepare a written response (1) granting the request, (2) denying the request, (3) granting/denying it in part, (4) replying with a response stating that the request has been referred to another agency under § 1004.4(f) or § 1004.6(e), (5) informing the requester that responsive records cannot be located or do not exist.
(c)
Where a request involves records which are in the custody of or are the concern of more than one Authorizing Official, the Freedom of Information Officer will identify all concerned Authorizing Officials, send copies of the request to them and forward the request for action to the Authorizing Official that can reasonably be expected to have custody of most of the requested records. This Authorizing Official will prepare a DOE response to the requester consistent with paragraph (b) of this section, which will identify any other Authorizing Official, having responsibility for the denial of records.
(d)
Time for processing requests. (1) Action pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section will be taken within 10 working days of receipt of a request for DOE records (“receipt” is defined in § 1004.4(a) ), except that, if unusual circumstances require an extension of time before a decision on a request can be reached and the person requesting records is promptly informed in writing by the Authorizing Official of the reasons for such extension and the date on which a determination is expected to be dispatched, then the Authorizing Official may take an extension not to exceed 10 working days.
(2)
For purposes of this section and § 1004.8(d), the term “unusual circumstances” may include but is not limited to the following:
(i)
The need to search for and collect the requested records from field facilities or other establishments that are separate from the offices processing the request;
(ii)
The need to search for, collect and appropriately examine a voluminous amount of separate and distinct records which are responsive to a single request; or
(iii)
The need for consultation, which shall be conducted with all practicable speed, with another agency having a substantial interest in the determination of the request, or among two or more components of the Department having substantial subject matter interest therein.
(3)
The requester must be promptly notified in writing of the extension, the reasons for the extension, and the date on which a determination is expected to be made.
(4)
If no determination has been made at the end of the 10-day period, or the last extension thereof, the requester may deem his adminstrative remedies to have been exhausted, giving rise to a right of review in a district court of the United States as specified in 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(4). When no determination can be made within the applicable time limit, the responsible Authorizing Official will nevertheless continue to process the request. If the DOE is unable to provide a response within the statutory period, the Authorizing Official will inform the requester of the reason for the delay; the date on which a determination may be expected to be made; that the requester can seek remedy through the courts, but ask the requester to forego such action until a determination is made.
(5)
Nothing in this part shall preclude the Authorizing Official and a requester from agreeing to an extension of time for the initial determination on a request. Any such agreement will be confirmed in writing and will clearly specify the total time agreed upon.