^ED ST4*.^ pro^ United States Environmental Protection Agency Freedom of Information Act Annual Report Fiscal Year 2019 ------- Section I: Basic Information Regarding This Report 1. Contact for questions about the report: Timothy R. Epp, Associate General Counsel National FOIA Office U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 1200 Pennsylvania Ave, NW Washington, DC 20460 202-564-2830 2. Access this report on the Agency website: https: //www, epa. gov/foia/foia-reports#annual 3. Obtain a paper copy of this report by contacting: National FOIA Office, Office of General Counsel U. S. Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Ave, NW Mail Code 2310 A Washington, DC 20460 202-564-4080 2 ------- Section II: Making a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request 1. Submit a FOIA request directly to EPA though FOIAonline: https://www.foiaonline.gov/foiaonline/action/public/home 2. Send a FOIA request by regular mail or via courier services to: National FOIA Office, Office of General Counsel U. S. Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Ave, NW Mail Code 2310 A Washington, DC 20460 3. Search for property environmental data: For information regarding a specific property, perform a search immediately and without filing a FOIA request, by using the EPA's MyProperty tool: https: //enviro. epa. gov/facts/mypropertv/ 4. Review EPA FOIA Regulations: https: //www, ecfr. gov/c gi-bin/text- idx?SID=3alffcabdac3b04788a29bcf8c3da98c&node=40:1.0.1.1.2&rgn=div5 3 ------- Section III: Acronyms, Definitions, and Exemptions 1. Agency component abbreviations: Component Component Name Abbreviation HQ Headquarters Region 01 Region 1 States: CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT Region 02 Region 2 States: NJ, NY, PR VI, and 7 Tribal Nations Region 03 Region 3 States: DE, DC, MD, PA, VA, WV Region 04 Region 4 States: AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN Region 05 Region 5 States: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI Region 06 Region 6 States: AR, LA, NM, OK, TX Region 07 Region 7 States: IA, KS, MO, NE Region 08 Region 8 States: CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY Region 09 Region 9 States: AZ, CA, HI, NV, AS, GU Region 10 Region 10 States: AK, ID, OR, WA 2. Definitions of terms used in this report: a. Administrative Appeal - a request to a federal agency asking that it review at a higher administrative level a FOIA determination made by the agency at the initial request level. b. Average Number - the number obtained by dividing the sum of a group of numbers by the quantity of numbers in the group. For example, of 3, 7, and 14, the average number is 8. c. Backlog - the number of requests or administrative appeals that are pending at an agency at the end of the fiscal year that are beyond the statutory time period for a response. For requests, the statutory time period is twenty working days from receipt of the perfected request, see 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(A)(i), unless there are "unusual circumstances," in which case the time period may be extended for an additional ten working days, see id. § 552(a)(6)(B)(i). Although requesters might agree to an alternate time period for the agency to respond, or the agency may advise the requester that the "unusual circumstances" presented will require more than ten additional days to process, 4 ------- for purposes of the Annual FOIA Report, the request should be counted as backlogged once it is past the basic twenty-day (or, if applicable, the thirty-day) statutory response date. (DOJ Handbook...for Preparing the Annual Report p 19, November 4, 2019) d. Component - for agencies that process requests on a decentralized basis, a "component" is an entity, also sometimes referred to as an Office, Division, Bureau, Center, or Directorate, within the agency that processes FOIA requests. The FOIA now requires that agencies include in their Annual FOIA Report data for both the agency overall and for each principal component of the agency. e. Consultation - the procedure whereby the agency responding to a FOIA request first forwards a record to another agency or component within the same agency for its review because that other agency has an interest in the document. Once the agency in receipt of the consultation finishes its review of the record, it responds back to the agency or component within the same agency that forwarded it. That agency, in turn, will then respond to the FOIA requester. f. Exemption 3 Statute - a federal statute that exempts information from disclosure and which the agency relies on to withhold information under subsection (b)(3) of the FOIA. g. FOIA Request - a FOIA request is generally a request to a federal agency for access to records concerning another person (i.e., a "third party" request), or concerning an organization, or a particular topic of interest. FOIA requests also include requests made by requesters seeking records concerning themselves (i.e., "first-party" requests) when those requesters are not subject to the Privacy Act, such as non-U.S. citizens. Moreover, because all first-party requesters should be afforded the benefit of both the access provisions of the FOIA as well as those of the Privacy Act, FOIA requests also include any first-party requests where an agency determines that it must search beyond its Privacy Act "systems of records" or where a Privacy Act exemption applies, and the agency looks to FOIA to afford the greatest possible access. All requests which require the agency to utilize the FOIA in responding to the requester are included in this Report. Additionally, a FOIA request includes records referred to the agency for processing and direct response to the requester. It does not, however, include records for which the agency has received a consultation from another agency. (Consultations are reported separately in Section XII of this Report.) h. Full Grant - an agency decision to disclose all records in full in response to a FOIA request. i. Full Denial - an agency decision not to release any records in response to a FOIA request because the records are exempt in their entireties under one or more of the FOIA exemptions, or because of a procedural reason, such as when no records could be located. j. Median Number - the middle, not average, number. For example, of 3, 7, and 14, the median number is 7. k. Multi-Track Processing - a system in which simple requests requiring relatively minimal review are placed in one processing track and more voluminous and complex 5 ------- requests are placed in one or more other tracks. Requests granted expedited processing are placed in yet another track. Requests in each track are processed on a first in/first out basis. i. Expedited Processing - an agency will process a FOIA request on an expedited basis when a requester satisfies the requirements for expedited processing as set forth in the statute and in agency regulations. ii. Simple Request - a FOIA request that an agency using multi-track processing places in its fastest (non-expedited) track based on the low volume and/or simplicity of the records requested. iii. Complex Request - a FOIA request that an agency using multi-track processing places in a slower track based on the high volume and/or complexity of the records requested. 1. Partial Grant/Partial Denial - in response to a FOIA request, an agency decision to disclose portions of the records and to withhold other portions that are exempt under the FOIA, or to otherwise deny a portion of the request for a procedural reason. m. Pending Request or Pending Administrative Appeal - a request or administrative appeal for which an agency has not taken final action in all respects. n. Perfected Request - a request for records which reasonably describes such records and is made in accordance with published rules stating the time, place, fees (if any) and procedures to be followed. o. Processed Request or Processed Administrative Appeal - a request or administrative appeal for which an agency has taken final action in all respects. p. Range in Number of Days - the lowest and highest number of days to process requests or administrative appeals. q. Time Limits - the time period in the statute for an agency to respond to a FOIA request (ordinarily twenty working days from receipt of a perfected FOIA request). 6 ------- 3. Concise descriptions of the nine FOIA exemptions: a. Exemption 1: classified national defense and foreign relations information b. Exemption 2: information that is related solely to the internal personnel rules and practices of an agency c. Exemption 3: information that is prohibited from disclosure by another federal law d. Exemption 4: trade secrets and other confidential business information e. Exemption 5: inter-agency or intra-agency communications that are protected by legal privileges f. Exemption 6: information involving matters of personal privacy g. Exemption 7: records or information compiled for law enforcement purposes, to the extent that the production of those records (A) could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings, (B) would deprive a person of a right to a fair trial or an impartial adjudication, (C) could reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, (D) could reasonably be 26 Department of Justice Annual FOIA Report Handbook expected to disclose the identity of a confidential source, (E) would disclose techniques and procedures for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions, or would disclose guidelines for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions, or (F) could reasonably be expected to endanger the life or physical safety of any individual h. Exemption 8: information relating to the supervision of financial institutions i. Exemption 9: geological information on wells 7 ------- IV. EXEMPTION 3 STATUTES Statute Type of Information Withheld Case Citation Agency/ Component Number of Times Relied upon by Agency / Component Total Number of Times Relied upon by Agency Overall 5 U.S.C. § 7114(b)(4), 7132 (Civil Service Reform Act) Certain labor relations training and guidance materials (Dubin v. Dep't of Treasury, 555 F. Supp. 408, 412 (N.D. Ga. 1981) (5 U.S.C. §7114(b)(4)), affd, 697 F.2d 1093 (11th Cir. 1983) (unpublished table decision); NTEU v. OPM, No. 76-695, slip op. at 3-4 (D.D.C. July 9, 1979) (5 U.S.C. § 7114(b)(4) and 5 U.S.C. § 7132) HQ 2 2 7 U.S.C. § 136i-1 (Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act) "[D]ata, including the location from which the data was derived, that would directly or indirectly reveal the identity of individual producers [of certain pesticides]" Doe v. Veneman,380 F. 3d 807, 818 (5th Cir. 2004). HQ 2 2 5 U.S.C. app. 107(a) (Ethics and Govt Act of 1978) Confidential financial disclosure report pertaining to certain government employees Meyerhoffv. EPA, 958 F.2d 1498, 1500-02 (9th Cir. 1992); Boyd v. Exec. Office for U.S. Attorneys, 161 F. Supp. 3d 1, 7 (D.D.C. 2015); Seife v. NIH, 874 F. Supp. 2d 248, 254 (S.D.N.Y. 2012). Region 10 1 1 42 U.S.C. §7412 (r)(7)(H)(iii) Certain off-site consequence analysis information and any N/A Region 06 1 ------- ranking of stationary sources derived from the information. 1 Fed. R. Crim. P. 6(e), enacted by Act of July 30, 1977, Pub. L. No. 95-78, §2, 91 Stat. 319 Certain records that would reveal some secret aspect pertaining to grand jury proceedings Sussman v. USMS, 494 F.3d 1106, 1113 (D.C. Cir. 2007); Sorin v. DOJ, No. 18-99, 2018 WL 6431027 (2d Cir. Dec. 6, 2018) (per curium); Widi v. McNeil, No. 12-CV-00188, 2016 WL 4394724, at *23 (D. Me. Aug 16, 2016); Durham v. U.S. Atty. Gen., No. 06-843, 2008 WL 620744, at *2 (E.D. Tex. Mar. 3, 2008); Cozen O'Connor v. U.S. Dep't of Treasury, 570 F. Supp. 2d 749, 776 (E.D. Pa. 2008). HQ 2 3 Region 10 1 ------- V.A. FOIA REQUESTS - RECEIVED, PROCESSED AND PENDING FOIA REQUESTS Agency / Component Number of Requests Pending as of Start of Fiscal Year Number of Requests Received in Fiscal Year Number of Requests Processed in Fiscal Year Number of Requests Pending as of End of Fiscal Year HQ 2,781 4,707 5,009 2,479 Region 01 19 206 185 40 Region 02 188 493 538 143 Region 03 124 282 365 41 Region 04 99 621 666 54 Region 05 267 1,127 1,241 153 Region 06 79 419 429 69 Region 07 35 259 285 9 Region 08 13 173 174 12 Region 09 79 343 384 38 Region 10 67 239 249 57 AGENCY OVERALL 3,751 8,869 9,525 3,095 EPA audited its reports and, based upon that audit, adjusted the total number of requests pending at the start of the Fiscal Year for the following components: HQ, and Regions 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9, and 10. 10 ------- V. B. (1). DISPOSITION OF FOIA REQUESTS --ALL PROCESSED REQUESTS Number Number of Full Denials Based on Reasons Other than Exemptions Agency/ Component Number of Full Grants of Partial Grants / Partial Denials Number of Full Denials Based on Exemptions No Records All Records Referred to Another Component or Agency Request Withdrawn Fee- Related Reason Records not Reasonably Described Improper FOIA Request for Other Reason Not Agency Record Duplicate Request Other *Explain in Chart Below TOTAL HQ 3,054 975 60 289 3 362 2 59 17 10 160 18 5,009 Region 01 72 9 4 53 0 18 0 0 1 0 28 0 185 Region 02 279 15 0 106 0 77 4 26 1 0 30 0 538 Region 03 130 51 1 93 1 64 2 4 1 1 17 0 365 Region 04 229 59 1 305 0 49 0 2 1 0 20 0 666 Region 05 365 39 1 506 1 238 25 18 1 2 45 0 1,241 Region 06 167 35 0 90 1 84 5 39 0 0 8 0 429 Region 07 123 18 1 106 0 29 0 0 0 0 8 0 285 Region 08 63 31 1 28 0 30 0 1 1 0 19 0 174 Region 09 120 56 1 124 0 56 2 4 1 2 18 0 384 Region 10 63 55 0 38 2 54 6 7 4 1 19 0 249 AGENCY OVERALL 4,665 1,343 70 1,738 8 1,061 46 160 28 16 372 18 9,525 11 ------- V. B. (2). DISPOSITION OF FOIA REQUESTS -- "OTHER" REASONS FOR "FULL DENIALS BASED ON REASONS OTHER THAN EXEMPTIONS" Agency/ Component Description of "Other" Reasons for Denials from Chart B(1) Number of Times "Other" Reason Was Relied Upon TOTAL HQ Litigation 18 18 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 AGENCY OVERALL 18 12 ------- V. B. (3). DISPOSITION OF FOIA REQUESTS -- NUMBER OF TIMES EXEMPTIONS APPLIED Agency / Component Ex. 1 Ex. 2 Ex. 3 Ex.4 Ex. 5 Ex. 6 Ex. 7(A) Ex. 7(B) Ex. 7(C) Ex. 7(D) Ex. 7(E) Ex. 7(F) Ex. 8 Ex. 9 HQ 0 0 6 75 303 606 29 8 185 0 35 56 0 0 Region 01 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Region 02 0 0 0 1 3 5 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 Region 03 0 0 0 29 9 28 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 10 Region 04 0 0 0 6 24 46 10 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 Region 05 0 0 0 6 9 18 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 Region 06 0 0 1 1 7 17 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 Region 07 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Region 08 0 0 0 6 15 20 6 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 Region 09 0 0 0 4 21 33 5 2 0 1 1 0 0 5 Region 10 0 0 2 13 18 44 3 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 AGENCY OVERALL 0 0 9 143 410 818 63 11 200 2 38 56 0 17 13 ------- VI.A. ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS OF INITIAL DETERMINATIONS OF FOIA REQUESTS -- RECEIVED, PROCESSED, AND PENDING ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS Agency / Component Number of Appeals Pending as of Start of Fiscal Year Number of Appeals Received in Fiscal Year Number of Appeals Processed in Fiscal Year Number of Appeals Pending as of End of Fiscal Year HQ 132 124 187 69 AGENCY OVERALL 132 124 187 69 EPA audited its FY reports and, based upon that audit, adjusted the total number of requests pending in component HQ at the start of the Fiscal Year. 14 ------- VLB. DISPOSITION OF ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS -- ALL PROCESSED APPEALS Agency / Component Number Affirmed on Appeal Number Partially Affirmed & Partially Reversed/Remanded on Appeal Number Completely Reversed/Remanded on Appeal Number of Appeals Closed for Other Reasons TOTAL HQ 37 22 37 91 187 AGENCY OVERALL 37 22 37 91 187 15 ------- VI.C.(1). REASONS FOR DENIAL ON APPEAL - NUMBER OF TIMES EXEMPTIONS APPLIED Agency/ Component Ex. 1 Ex. 2 Ex. 3 Ex.4 Ex.5 Ex. 6 Ex. 7(A) Ex. 7(B) Ex. 7(C) Ex. 7(D) Ex. 7(E) Ex. 7(F) Ex. 8 Ex. 9 HQ 0 0 2 4 12 15 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 AGENCY OVERALL 0 0 2 4 12 15 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 ------- VI.C.(2). REASONS FOR DENIAL ON APPEAL - REASONS OTHER THAN EXEMPTIONS Agency/ Component No Records Records Referred at Initial Request Level Request Withdrawn Fee- Related Reason Records not Reasonably Described Improper Request for Other Reasons Not Agency Record Duplicate Request or Appeal Request in Litigation Appeal Based Solely on Denial of Request for Expedited Processing Other *Explain in chart below HQ 7 1 15 7 0 2 0 10 11 2 48 AGENCY OVERALL 7 1 15 7 0 2 0 10 11 2 48 ------- VI.C.(3). REASONS FOR DENIAL ON APPEAL - "OTHER" REASONS Agency / Component Description of "Other" Reasons for Denial on Appeal from Chart C (2) Number of Times "Other" Reason Was Relied Upon TOTAL HQ Moot 35 Appeal Withdrawn 8 48 Untimely 1 Unable to Locate or Contact Requester 4 AGENCY OVERALL 48 18 ------- VI.C.(4). RESPONSE TIME FOR ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS Agency / Component Median Number of Days Average Number of Days Lowest Number of Days Highest Number of Days HQ 107.00 256.93 <1 2,377.00 AGENCY OVERALL 107.00 256.93 <1 2,377.00 19 ------- VI.C.(5). TEN OLDEST PENDING ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS Agency/ Component 10th Oldest Appeal 9th 8th 7th 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd Oldest Appeal HQ Date of Appeal 2016-04-29 2015-05-28 2015-03-31 2014-12-12 2014-07-10 2014-06-20 2014-04-16 2013-11-20 2013-09-27 2013-05-30 Number of Days Pending 856 1088 1129 1201 1308 1321 1367 1467 1503 1587 AGENCY OVERALL Date of Appeal 2016-04-29 2015-05-28 2015-03-31 2014-12-12 2014-07-10 2014-06-20 2014-04-16 2013-11-20 2013-09-27 2013-05-30 Number of Days Pending 856 1088 1129 1201 1308 1321 1367 1467 1503 1587 ------- VILA. FOIA REQUESTS -- RESPONSE TIME FOR ALL PROCESSED PERFECTED REQUESTS Agency/ Component SIMPLE COMPLEX EXPEDITED PROCESSING Median Number of Days Average Number of Days Lowest Number of Days Highest Number of Days Median Number of Days Average Number of Days Lowest Number of Days Highest Number of Days Median Number of Days Average Number of Days Lowest Number of Days Highest Number of Days HQ 14 60.49 <1 903 168.5 240.46 <1 1504 493 459.23 5 631 Region 01 7 12.55 <1 101 100.5 108.61 26 273 N/A N/A N/A N/A Region 02 36 67.39 <1 687 72 142.51 <1 557 6 6 6 6 Region 03 22 28.76 <1 219 56 150.38 <1 1615 1205 1184.29 1031 1233 Region 04 14 14.56 <1 59 28 41.97 <1 459 N/A N/A N/A N/A Region 05 23 30.33 <1 355 46 65.56 <1 500 N/A N/A N/A N/A Region 06 17 16.62 <1 38 28 59.4 <1 1438 N/A N/A N/A N/A Region 07 10 11.2 <1 38 20 29.76 <1 266 N/A N/A N/A N/A Region 08 9 10.26 <1 47 25.5 43.11 <1 722 N/A N/A N/A N/A Region 09 14 14.46 <1 39 44 84.5 <1 1091 N/A N/A N/A N/A Region 10 14 15.73 <1 186 55 120 1 1141 N/A N/A N/A N/A AGENCY OVERALL 16 48.77 <1 903 44 117.95 <1 1615 493 541.77 5 1233 21 ------- VII.B. PROCESSED REQUESTS - RESPONSE TIME FOR PERFECTED REQUESTS IN WHICH INFORMATION WAS GRANTED Agency/ Component SIMPLE COMPLEX EXPEDITED PROCESSING Median Number of Days Average Number of Days Lowest Number of Days Highest Number of Days Median Number of Days Average Number of Days Lowest Number of Days Highest Number of Days Median Number of Days Average Number of Days Lowest Number of Days Highest Number of Days HQ 12 49.41 <1 631 128.5 206.6 <1 1504 449 482.12 5 631 Region 01 16.5 17.08 <1 99 84 107.53 26 273 N/A N/A N/A N/A Region 02 41 78.14 2 687 67.5 144.87 <1 557 N/A N/A N/A N/A Region 03 26 33.57 <1 138 60 92.19 <1 511 N/A N/A N/A N/A Region 04 14 15.23 <1 59 33 49.81 <1 459 N/A N/A N/A N/A Region 05 23 29.5 6 226 61 93.63 16 500 N/A N/A N/A N/A Region 06 19 18.93 1 38 36 79.11 8 1438 N/A N/A N/A N/A Region 07 9 11.18 <1 34 24 38.47 1 266 N/A N/A N/A N/A Region 08 12 14.19 3 47 30 56.49 8 722 N/A N/A N/A N/A Region 09 17 16.52 <1 39 52.5 88.13 <1 1091 N/A N/A N/A N/A Region 10 17.5 20.96 3 186 61.5 141.73 2 1141 N/A N/A N/A N/A AGENCY OVERALL 14 45.93 <1 687 55.5 126.32 <1 1504 449 428.12 5 631 22 ------- VII.C. PROCESSED SIMPLE REQUESTS - RESPONSE TIME IN DAY INCREMENTS Agency/ Component <1-20 Days 21-40 Days 41-60 Days 61-80 Days 81-100 Days 101-120 Days 121-140 Days 141-160 Days 161-180 Days 181-200 Days 201-300 Days 301-400 Days 401 + Days TOTAL HQ 2,549 540 138 92 77 55 60 41 68 61 181 173 103 4,138 Region 01 137 20 3 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 164 Region 02 120 127 55 27 30 13 21 11 5 2 19 9 5 444 Region 03 99 103 13 10 4 5 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 237 Region 04 286 60 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 349 Region 05 223 240 62 13 5 5 2 1 2 1 6 1 0 561 Region 06 56 17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 73 Region 07 167 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 187 Region 08 54 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 57 Region 09 211 44 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 255 Region 10 86 17 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 105 AGENCY OVERALL 3,988 1,190 275 145 117 79 84 54 75 65 207 183 108 6,570 ------- VII.C. PROCESSED COMPLEX REQUESTS -- RESPONSE TIME IN DAY INCREMENTS Agency/ <1-20 21-40 41-60 61-80 81-100 101-120 121-140 141-160 161-180 181-200 201-300 301-400 401 + TOTAL Component Days Days Days Days Days Days Days Days Days Days Days Days Days HQ 86 74 49 33 26 22 15 12 10 20 70 90 141 648 Region 01 0 2 4 1 2 1 1 5 0 1 1 0 0 18 Region 02 4 7 10 4 3 4 0 2 0 1 3 1 6 45 Region 03 12 20 19 7 5 7 5 1 1 0 7 1 7 92 Region 04 103 96 46 15 8 4 9 4 6 1 1 1 1 295 Region 05 38 160 130 61 42 15 13 5 2 4 15 7 3 495 Region 06 83 103 32 15 7 4 4 4 1 3 5 4 4 269 Region 07 49 37 6 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 96 Region 08 44 33 6 7 1 2 1 0 2 0 0 0 2 98 Region 09 21 21 24 13 6 1 6 5 2 2 2 1 3 107 Region 10 20 17 12 8 4 1 2 3 1 4 8 1 6 87 AGENCY OVERALL 460 570 338 164 104 63 56 41 25 36 114 106 173 2,250 ------- VII.C. PROCESSED REQUESTS GRANTED EXPEDITED PROCESSING -- RESPONSE TIME IN DAY INCREMENTS Agency/ <1-20 21-40 41-60 61-80 81-100 101-120 121-140 141-160 161-180 181-200 201-300 301-400 401 + TOTAL Component Days Days Days Days Days Days Days Days Days Days Days Days Days HQ 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 36 48 Region 02 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Region 03 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 7 AGENCY OVERALL 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 43 56 ------- VII.D. PENDING REQUESTS --ALL PENDING PERFECTED REQUESTS Agency / Component SIMPLE COMPLEX EXPEDITED PROCESSING Number Pending Median Number of Days Average Number of Days Number Pending Median Number of Days Average Number of Days Number Pending Median Number of Days Average Number of Days HQ 1271 330 303.1 876 358 382.16 40 568.5 573.95 Region 01 12 11.5 26.08 25 27 41.76 0 N/A N/A Region 02 97 80 170.45 30 100 204.93 0 N/A N/A Region 03 15 15 38.93 16 13.5 152 1 1406 1406 Region 04 7 8 12.29 31 13 37.45 0 N/A N/A Region 05 69 48 105.93 52 58.5 91.35 0 N/A N/A Region 06 2 5.5 5.5 55 57 113.47 0 N/A N/A Region 07 3 7 10.67 3 24 305 0 N/A N/A Region 08 0 N/A N/A 11 43 38.91 0 N/A N/A Region 09 20 10.5 29.65 7 23 59.86 0 N/A N/A Region 10 21 26 72 35 169 243.37 0 N/A N/A AGENCY OVERALL 1517 275 272.15 1141 265 321.5 41 573 594.24 26 ------- VII.E. PENDING REQUESTS -- TEN OLDEST PENDING PERFECTED REQUESTS Agency/ Component 10th Oldest Request 9th 8th 7th 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd Oldest Request HQ Date of Receipt 2013-05-17 2013-05-16 2012-12-28 2012-11-02 2012-09-10 2012-06-11 2012-04-13 2012-03-22 2012-02-21 2011-08- 22 Number of Days Pending 1592 1595 1678 1728 1760 1824 1840 1882 1908 2030 Region 01 Date of Receipt 2019-08-12 2019-08-09 2019-08-05 2019-07-12 2019-06-27 2019-05-10 2019-03-28 2019-03-25 2018-12-19 2018-12- 11 Number of Days Pending 27 35 36 54 56 98 119 121 195 201 Region 02 Date of Receipt 2017-05-25 2017-05-09 2017-03-31 2017-03-15 2017-02-17 2017-02-06 2016-12-21 2016-02-10 2015-09-15 2014-05- 23 Number of Days Pending 574 579 627 639 647 658 694 912 1013 1304 Region 03 Date of Receipt 2019-06-18 2019-05-16 2019-03-06 2019-03-04 2018-12-18 2018-11-21 2018-04-03 2017-06-14 2014-07-28 2014-02- 14 Number of Days Pending 71 92 129 133 174 214 346 575 1294 1406 Region 04 Date of Receipt 2019-07-29 2019-07-09 2019-07-02 2019-06-17 2019-06-13 2019-06-10 2019-05-28 2018-12-17 2018-10-04 2018-06- 27 Number of Days Pending 43 56 62 73 75 78 87 196 238 313 Region 05 Date of Receipt 2018-02-23 2018-02-21 2018-01-19 2018-01-17 2017-09-26 2017-06-28 2017-06-02 2017-05-08 2017-04-25 2016-11- 08 ------- Number of Days Pending 397 401 409 425 489 554 579 600 609 724 Region 06 Date of Receipt 2019-03-29 2019-03-20 2019-02-28 2019-02-11 2019-01-28 2018-12-03 2018-11-21 2018-11-06 2017-10-13 2010-04- 07 Number of Days Pending 114 134 145 160 165 203 212 224 458 2377 Region 07 Date of Receipt N/A N/A N/A N/A 2019-09-17 2019-09-13 2019-09-03 2019-08-26 2019-07-30 2016-03- 01 Number of Days Pending 0 0 0 0 7 11 18 24 43 882 Region 08 Date of Receipt 2019-08-27 2019-07-29 2019-07-12 2019-06-27 2019-06-26 2019-06-20 2019-06-12 2019-05-10 2019-05-01 2019-04- 15 Number of Days Pending 18 43 54 65 66 70 76 98 105 117 Region 09 Date of Receipt 2019-08-21 2019-07-23 2019-07-12 2019-06-14 2019-06-14 2019-06-03 2019-05-14 2019-03-15 2019-03-08 2018-07- 10 Number of Days Pending 24 48 55 71 74 83 96 117 141 299 Region 10 Date of Receipt 2017-12-18 2017-11-07 2017-11-02 2017-09-28 2017-09-13 2017-07-25 2017-06-19 2017-01-27 2016-04-25 2016-04- 19 Number of Days Pending 317 473 477 501 509 541 547 608 731 751 AGENCY OVERALL Date of Receipt 2013-05-16 2012-12-28 2012-11-02 2012-09-10 2012-06-11 2012-04-13 2012-03-22 2012-02-21 2011-08-22 2010-04- 07 Number of Days Pending 1595 1678 1728 1760 1824 1840 1882 1908 2030 2377 ------- VIII.A. REQUESTS FOR EXPEDITED PROCESSING Agency/ Component Number Granted Number Denied Median Number of Days to Adjudicate Average Number of Days to Adjudicate Number Adjudicated Within Ten Calendar Days HQ 1 190 7 12.17 129 Region 01 0 5 10 10.8 3 Region 02 1 39 8 11.13 27 Region 03 0 17 13 17.88 7 Region 04 0 43 9 12.51 24 Region 05 0 46 14 19.5 15 Region 06 0 32 9.5 15.47 17 Region 07 0 11 8 12.91 7 Region 08 0 19 6 9.53 14 Region 09 0 26 10 11.46 16 Region 10 0 20 5 6.65 17 AGENCY OVERALL 2 448 8 12.91 276 29 ------- VIII.B. REQUESTS FOR FEE WAIVER Agency/ Component Number Granted Number Denied Median Number of Days to Adjudicate Average Number of Days to Adjudicate HQ 69 147 13 3.76 Region 01 2 11 1 8.23 Region 02 3 17 1 2.5 Region 03 2 14 20 2.13 Region 04 8 31 0 2.23 Region 05 6 67 0 3.77 Region 06 3 17 18 6.3 Region 07 0 11 0 0.5 Region 08 1 9 34 0.5 Region 09 2 31 19 0.61 Region 10 14 13 1 1 AGENCY OVERALL 110 367 13 3.16 ------- IX. FOIA PERSONNEL AND COSTS Agency/ Component PERSONNEL COSTS Number of "Full- Time FOIA Employees" Number of "Equivalent Full- Time FOIA Employees" Total Number of "Full-Time FOIA Staff" Processing Costs Litigation- Related Costs Total Costs HQ 53 67.13 120.13 16,983,018 2,132,910.00 15,313,345.84 Region 01 2 .82 2.82 398,669 $0.00 398,669 Region 02 2 .82 2.82 398,669 $0.00 398,669 Region 03 2 6.28 8.28 1,170,560 $0.00 1,170,560 Region 04 8 2.74 10.74 1,518,335 $0.00 1,518,335 Region 05 13 15.07 28.07 3,938,312 $0.00 3,938,312 Region 06 5 8.22 13.22 1,868,938 $0.00 1,868,938 Region 07 1 31.21 32.21 4,553,592 $0.00 4,553,592 Region 08 3 .3 3.3 466,527 $0.00 466,527 Region 09 2 .3 2.3 325,155 $0.00 325,155 Region 10 3 4.11 7.11 1,005,155 $0.00 1,005,155 AGENCY OVERALL 94 136.46 231 $32,626,930 $2,132,910.00 $34,759,840 31 ------- X. FEES COLLECTED FOR PROCESSING REQUESTS Agency / Component Total Amount of Fees Collected Percentage of Total Costs HQ $32,822.56 0.19% Region 01 $17,579.39 4.41% Region 02 $11,380.06 2.85% Region 03 $1,679.31 0.14% Region 04 $5,198.58 0.34% Region 05 $8,975.72 0.23% Region 06 $12,749.14 0.68% Region 07 $5,782.64 0.13% Region 08 $12,062.78 2.59% Region 09 $9,969.75 3.07% Region 10 $14,840.62 1.48% AGENCY OVERALL $133,040.55 0.41% ------- XI.A. NUMBER OF TIMES SUBSECTION (C) USED Agency / Component Number of Times Subsection Used HQ 0 AGENCY OVERALL 0 33 ------- XI.B. NUMBER OF SUBSECTION (A)(2) POSTINGS Agency / Component Number of Records Posted by the FOIA Office Number of Records Posted by Program Offices HQ 3 3,395 AGENCY OVERALL 3 3,395 ------- XII.A. BACKLOGS OF FOIA REQUESTS AND ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS Agency / Component Number of Backlogged Requests as of End of Fiscal Year Number of Backlogged Appeals as of End of Fiscal Year HQ 1,960 64 Region 01 9 0 Region 02 107 0 Region 03 13 0 Region 04 10 0 Region 05 81 0 Region 06 37 0 Region 07 1 0 Region 08 6 0 Region 09 6 0 Region 10 42 0 AGENCY OVERALL 2,272 64 ------- XII.B. CONSULTATIONS ON FOIA REQUESTS -- RECEIVED, PROCESSED, AND PENDING CONSULTATIONS Agency / Component Number of Consultations Received from Other Agencies that were Pendinq at the Aaencv Number of Consultations Received from Other Agencies During the Fiscal Year Number of Consultations Received from Other Agencies that were Processed bv the Number of Consultations Received from Other Agencies that were Pendinq at the Aaencv as of Start of the Fiscal Year Agency During the Fiscal Year as of End of the Fiscal Year HQ 6 45 33 18 Region 02 0 1 1 0 Region 03 0 1 1 0 Region 04 0 1 0 1 Region 05 0 4 4 0 Region 06 1 1 1 1 Region 07 0 1 1 0 Region 10 0 4 4 0 Region 01 0 0 0 0 AGENCY OVERALL 7 58 45 20 36 ------- XII.C. CONSULTATIONS ON FOIA REQUESTS -- TEN OLDEST CONSULTATIONS RECEIVED FROM OTHER AGENCIES AND PENDING AT THE AGENCY Agency/ Component 10th Oldest Consultation 9th 8th 7th 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd Oldest Consultation HQ Date 2019-04-10 2019-03-11 2019-03-04 2019-02-13 2019-02-08 2018-12-10 2018-09-24 2018-06-13 2017-09-12 2017-09-11 Number of Days 120 142 147 159 162 202 324 324 512 513 Region 04 Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2019-09-17 Number of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 Region 06 Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2018-09-12 Number of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 261 Region 01 Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Number of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Region 02 Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Number of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Region 03 Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Number of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Region 05 Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Number of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Region 07 Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Number of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ------- Region 08 Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Number of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Region 09 Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Number of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Region 10 Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Number of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 AGENCY OVERALL Date 2019-03-11 2019-03-04 2019-02-13 2018-09-24 2018-09-19 2018-09-17 2018-09-12 2018-06-13 2017-09-12 2017-09-11 Number of Days 142 147 159 162 202 253 261 324 512 513 ------- XII.D.(1). COMPARISON OF NUMBERS OF REQUESTS FROM PREVIOUS AND CURRENT ANNUAL REPORT REQUESTS RECEIVED AND PROCESSED Agency / Component NUMBER OF REQUESTS RECEIVED NUMBER OF REQUESTS PROCESSED Number Received During Fiscal Year from Last Year's Annual Report Number Received During Fiscal Year from Current Annual Report Number Processed During Fiscal Year from Last Year's Annual Report Number Processed During Fiscal Year from Current Annual Report HQ 3,565 4,707 2,640 5,009 Region 01 371 206 375 185 Region 02 2,051 493 2,107 538 Region 03 699 282 709 365 Region 04 830 621 815 666 Region 05 1,581 1,127 1,529 1,241 Region 06 613 419 626 429 Region 07 451 259 451 285 Region 08 219 173 227 174 Region 09 661 343 646 384 Region 10 323 239 317 249 AGENCY OVERALL 11,364 8,869 10,442 9,525 ------- XII.D.(2). COMPARISON OF NUMBERS OF REQUESTS FROM PREVIOUS AND CURRENT ANNUAL REPORT - BACKLOGGED REQUESTS Agency / Component Number of Backlogged Requests as of End of the Fiscal Year from Previous Annual Report Number of Backlogged Requests as of End of the Fiscal Year from Current Annual Report HQ 2,360 1,960 Region 01 10 9 Region 02 128 107 Region 03 76 13 Region 04 22 10 Region 05 80 81 Region 06 24 37 Region 07 3 1 Region 08 2 6 Region 09 19 6 Region 10 37 42 AGENCY OVERALL 2,761 2,272 40 ------- XII.E.(1). COMPARISON OF NUMBERS OF ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS FROM PREVIOUS AND CURRENT ANNUAL REPORT -- APPEALS RECEIVED AND PROCESSED Agency / Component NUMBER OF APPEALS RECEIVED NUMBER OF APPEALS PROCESSED Number Received During Fiscal Year from Last Year's Annual Report Number Received During Fiscal Year from Current Annual Report Number Processed During Fiscal Year from Last Year's Annual Report Number Processed During Fiscal Year from Current Annual Report HQ 183 124 187 187 AGENCY OVERALL 183 124 187 187 ------- XII.E.(2). COMPARISON OF NUMBERS OF ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS FROM PREVIOUS AND CURRENT ANNUAL REPORT -- BACKLOGGED APPEALS Agency / Component Number of Backlogged Appeals as of End of the Fiscal Year from Previous Annual Report Number of Backlogged Appeals as of End of the Fiscal Year from Current Annual Report HQ 132 64 AGENCY OVERALL 132 64 42 ------- |