[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 25, Volume 1] [Revised as of April 1, 2005] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 25CFR517] [Page 865-866] TITLE 25--INDIANS CHAPTER III--NATIONAL INDIAN GAMING COMMISSION, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR PART 517_FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT PROCEDURES--Table of Contents Sec. 517.6 Response to requests for records. (a) Initial determinations. (1) The FOIA Officer shall make an initial determination regarding access to the requested information and shall so notify the requester within ten (10) working days after receipt of the request. This 10-day period may be extended ten (10) additional working days if unusual circumstances arise. If an extension is necessary, the FOIA Officer shall promptly notify the requester of the extension, briefly stating the reasons for the extension, and estimating when the FOIA Officer will respond. Unusual circumstances warranting extension are: (i) The need to search for and collect the requested records from field facilities or other establishments that are separate from the office processing the request; (ii) The need to search for, collect, and appropriately examine a voluminous amount of records which are demanded in a single request; or (iii) The need for consultation with another agency having a substantial interest in the determination of the request, which consultation shall be conducted with all practicable speed. (2) If the FOIA Officer decides that an initial determination cannot be reached within the time limits specified in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, he or she shall notify the requester of the reasons for the delay and include an estimate of when a determination will be made. [[Page 866]] (3) If no initial determination has been made at the end of the 10- day period provided in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, including any extension, the requester may appeal the action to the FOIA Appeals Officer. (4) If the FOIA Officer determines that another agency is responsible for responding to a request or part thereof, the FOIA Officer shall refer such request to the appropriate agency. The FOIA Officer shall inform the requester of the referral and of the name and address of the agency or agencies to which the request has been referred. (b) Granting of requests. When the FOIA Officer determines that the requested records shall be made available, he or she shall: (1) Provide copies of the requested records; or (2) Notify the requester of his or her decision, including a brief statement of when and how the records will be provided. Requested records shall then be promptly made available. (c) Denial of requests. When the FOIA Officer determines that access to requested records should be denied, he or she shall notify the requester of the denial, the grounds for withholding the records, and the procedures for appeal of the denial.