FY 2010 FOIA Initial Request Backlog Reduction Plan
U.S. Department of Labor
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
(5 U.S.C. § 552)
FY 2010 FOIA Initial Request Backlog Reduction Plan
Effective December 8, 2009, the Department of Labor implemented a FOIA Backlog Reduction Plan that is consistent with guidance set forth within OMB Memorandum M-10-06 (also referred to as the Open Government Directive).
In furtherance of the goal of continually improving the Department’s performance of its obligations under FOIA, DOL agencies must take the following steps to reduce the number of requests that are pending without response beyond the statutory time limit of 20 days.
I. Quarterly Backlog Reports
A. Agencies will report backlogs, if any, to the Chief FOIA Officer on a quarterly basis. Each quarter, DOL agencies will submit data demonstrating the following:
► Total Number of Pending FOIA Requests
► Total Number of Backlogged FOIA Requests
► Ten Oldest FOIA Requests
B. Data calls will occur based upon the schedule below.
► December 2009
► March 2010
► June 2010
► September 2010
II. Reduction in Backlog
A. By the end of the FY 2010, each agency will reduce the total number of backlog pending at the end of FY 2009 by 10%.
B. Each FOIA component should examine its own FOIA processes and operations to determine how it can best bring about a meaningful reduction in its approaches to reducing its backlog.
III. Ten Oldest Backlogged Requests
At a minimum, agencies should close their ten oldest backlogged requests each year.