Revised Executive Order 13392, “Improving Agency Disclosure of Information”
U.S. Department of Commerce
Freedom of Information Act Implementation Plan
October 2006
U.S. Department of Commerce
Freedom of Information Act Implementation Plan
October 2006
A. BackgroundExecutive Order (E.O.) 13392, signed by President Bush on December 14, 2005, provides that federal agencies should be citizen-centered in implementing the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and that the processes used to respond to FOIA inquiries should be results-oriented. Section 3 of E.O. 13392 requires that federal agencies review their FOIA operations, develop a plan for ensuring that their administration of FOIA adheres to the policies established in the E.O., and submit the results of these efforts to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of Management and Budget. The Department of Commerce developed its plan in accordance with the E.O. and implementation guidance issued by DOJ. Additionally, the draft plan prepared by the Office of Information and Privacy (OIP) in the DOJ was used, at their recommendation, as a model for this plan. B. Nature of Commerce FOIA OperationsOverall responsibility for implementing FOIA rests with the Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary for Administration (CFO/ASA) as the Department’s Chief FOIA Officer. The CFO/ASA is supported by the Departmental FOIA Officer in providing oversight, policy guidance, and technical assistance to fourteen bureau FOIA Officers, who manage day-to-day activities within their bureaus. The Departmental FOIA Officer works in close collaboration with the Office of General Counsel (OGC). OGC’s role in connection with FOIA includes providing legal advice for processing FOIA inquiries, as needed; ruling on appeals; representing the Department in FOIA-related litigation; and providing FOIA training both in collaboration with the Departmental FOIA Officer and separately. For FY 2001 through FY 2005, the Department received an average of 2,031 FOIA inquiries per year. The largest share was received by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). During this five-year period, NOAA received an average of 579 requests per year or 28.5 percent of all FOIA inquiries coming into the Department. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the Office of the Secretary received the next largest number of inquiries, averaging approximately 318 requests (or 15.7 percent) and 256 requests (or 12.6 percent) per year, respectively. Together, these three bureaus received and processed more than half of all inquiries received by the Department during the last five fiscal years. C. Areas Selected for ReviewThe Department’s FOIA Officers Roundtable plays a crucial role in coordinating FOIA activities across Commerce. It is made up of the Departmental FOIA Officer, bureau FOIA Officers, and FOIA staff; and is attended by a representative from OGC to answer legal questions. In developing this plan, the Roundtable collectively discussed the provisions of E.O. 13392 and, specifically, its requirement for reviewing existing processes in order to identify opportunities for enhancement. Nine areas were considered in order to determine whether opportunities for improvement exist: ● Additional Training D. Summary of Review ResultsThe Department’s processing of FOIA requests is efficient. Through its review, the FOIA Officers Roundtable has, however, collaboratively identified options for enhancing Commerce’s implementation of FOIA. ● Additional Training Training was identified as the area with the most potential. Most employees, many of whom may have little, if any, knowledge of the FOIA process, will probably be required at some time in their career to search for and review documents responsive to a FOIA request. To meet this need, an in-house, web-based FOIA training course will be developed and made available to all employees. ● FOIA Web Pages / Reading Room Records Our review found that FOIA web sites and electronic reading rooms are user friendly and easy to navigate. To ensure that the information that they contain is kept up-to-date, we currently review all FOIA web sites on a quarterly basis. No additional action is needed in this area. ● Improvement of FOIA Reference Guide The FOIA Reference Guide on the Department’s web site warrants updating. The Guide will be enhanced with more comprehensive information, which will better assist potential requesters in understanding FOIA processes, and format changes. ● Contracting Out / Hiring of Contract Employees ● Customer Relations / Communications The Department and its bureaus effectively use customer relations and communications to facilitate the FOIA process and, thereby, adhere to the intent of FOIA.
● Use of Information Technology While evaluating information technology use, FOIA Officers expressed interest in obtaining electronic redacting capabilities. Several bureaus already have the capability to scan and electronically redact, but were interested in evaluating high speed/high volume scanners. Therefore, a decision was made to evaluate information technology available for scanning and redacting records, and to identify options for addressing bureau requirements. ● Backlog Reduction Through this review process, we examined the historical and current backlog of FOIA requests. Over the last five years, the overall backlog represented between 9 and 13 percent of the workload in any given year. Several bureaus consistently had no backlog, while a few had one or two requests that exceeded the twenty-day processing time provided by statute. The FOIA Officers have pledged that, to the extent possible, the number of requests in Commerce’s current backlog will serve as a ceiling and that they will work aggressively to reduce it throughout the year. Our goal is to reduce the existing backlog, per bureau, by a substantial percentage each year. Bureau FOIA Officers will focus particularly on the 10 oldest requests in the backlog, where applicable, and examine every option for resolving them. Bureau FOIA Officers will provide monthly status reports to the Department FOIA Officer. Quarterly, the FOIA Officers Roundtable will review progress in this area and assess any need to pursue alternatives, e.g., contract support, for achieving these goals. ● Expedited Processing Commerce FOIA regulations allow expedited processing of requests that involve a compelling need. The term “compelling need” is defined as: (1) in the case of a requester that is primarily engaged in disseminating information, an urgency to inform the public concerning actual or alleged Federal Government activity, or (2) an imminent threat to the life or physical safety of an individual. Under this provision, a FOIA requester must certify that a compelling need exists. If a request meets the established criteria and is approved, it receives priority handling and the requested records are processed as soon as practicable. All Commerce bureaus adhere to these procedures to the extent that such requests are received. In FY 2005, the Department received two requests for expedited processing; both were granted. ● Multi-track Processing Multi-track processing allows Departments and agencies to establish separate paths for processing FOIA requests based on their complexity and the projected level of effort that will be needed to respond. This system provides the flexibility to address relatively simple requests more quickly than through a single track process. Multi-track processing is used by Commerce bureaus depending on their particular circumstances relative to workload, backlog, and operations. Four bureaus currently use multi-track processing. E. Areas Chosen for ImprovementSix aspects of FOIA implementation at the Department of Commerce were identified for enhancement: ● Additional Training F. Improvement Plan
G. SummaryWhile the processes currently employed by the Department and its bureaus to implement FOIA are efficient, we recognize that opportunities exist for enhancing services provided to the American public. Through the FOIA Officers Roundtable, the Departmental FOIA Officer and bureau FOIA Officers will enhance its processes with respect to training, guidance provided to potential requesters, using contract employees, customer relations and communications, information technology, and reducing backlogs. As a result of these efforts, the Department will be equipped to better ensure that the quality of service it provides under FOIA is as effective as possible and, thereby, maximize customer satisfaction. |
Office of Privacy and Open Government
Office of the Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary for Administration
U.S. Department of Commerce
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Page last updated:October 26, 2012
- Catrina Purvis
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- Brenda Dolan
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