1610.10—Responses: form and content.
(a)
Once a requested record is identified and available, the requester will be notified of when and where the record will be made available and the cost assessed for processing the request. Records shall be made available in the form or format indicated by the requester, if the record is readily reproducible in that form or format. Fees for processing requests will be determined in accordance with the schedule set forth in § 1610.15. Checks shall be made payable to the Treasurer of the United States.
(b)
A reply denying a written request for a record shall be in writing, signed by the Legal Counsel's designee, the regional attorney, or the regional attorney's designee, and shall include:
(2)
A reference to the specific exemption under the Freedom of Information Act authorizing the withholding of the record and a brief explanation of how the exemption applies to the record withheld, or a statement that, after diligent effort, the requested records have not been found or have not been adequately examined during the time allowed under § 1610.9(a), and that the denial will be reconsidered as soon as the search or examination is complete; and
(3)
A statement that the denial may be appealed to the Legal Counsel within 30 days of receipt of the denial or partial denial.
(c)
When denying a request for records, the estimated volume of denied material shall be indicated, unless providing such estimate would harm an interest protected by the exemptions in 5 U.S.C. 522(b). When providing a reasonably segregable portion of a record, the amount of information deleted from the released portion, and to the extent technically feasible, the place in the record where such deletion was made shall be indicated.
(d)
If a requested record cannot be located from the information supplied, or is known to have been destroyed or otherwise disposed of, the person making the request shall be so notified.