Dept of Interior Annual FOIA Report FY 2024
Download original document:

Document text

Document text
This text is machine-read, and may contain errors. Check the original document to verify accuracy.
Department of the Interior Annual Freedom of Information Act Report Fiscal Year 2024 (10/01/2023 - 09/30/2024) I. BASIC INFORMATION REGARDING REPORT 1. Questions about this Report should be directed to: Natasha Jones Chief, Coordination and Oversight Team, Departmental FOIA Office, Office of the Solicitor Solicitor, Department of the Interior (DOI) 1849 C. ST., NW Washington, D.C. 20240 888-603-7119 (p) II. 2. The electronic address for this Report on DOI's website is: https://www.doi.gov/foia/DOI-FOIA-Annual-Reports 3. A copy of this Report in paper form may be obtained by contacting the Departmental FOIA Office (see above). MAKING A FOIA REQUEST 1. FOIA requests may be made by using one of the written forms of submission listed on the Department's FOIA website, https://www.doi.gov/foia, or by utilizing the physical or facsimile addresses of an appropriate FOIA contact, located at https://www.doi.gov/foia/contacts. A list of DOI's bureaus/offices is located in the Acronyms, Definitions, and Exemptions section below. 2. DOI conserves and manages the Nation's natural resources and cultural heritage for the benefit and enjoyment of the American people, provides scientific and other information about natural resources and natural hazards to address societal challenges and create opportunities for the American people, and honors the Nation's trust responsibilities or special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives and affiliated island communities to help them prosper. When DOI withholds records requested under the FOIA, it most frequently does so under Exemption 5 (which safeguards inter‐agency or intra‐agency records which would normally be privileged in the civil discovery context), Exemption 6 (which safeguards personal privacy interests), and Exemption 7(C) (which safeguards personal information in law enforcement records). However, DOI's diverse mission and records ensures a wide variety of FOIA exemptions may sometimes be appropriately used. 3. The electronic address for DOI's FOIA regulation is: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-43/subtitle-A/part-2#part-2 The electronic address for DOI's fee schedule is: https://www.doi.gov/foia/fees-waivers 1 III. ACRONYMS, DEFINITIONS, AND EXEMPTIONS 1. 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. 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 firstparty 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. 2 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 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 multitrack processing places in a slower track based on the high volume and/or complexity of the records requested. l. 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. 3 2. 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). 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 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 4 3. Agency Component Abbreviations Component Abbreviation Component Name AS-IA Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs BIA Bureau of Indian Affairs BIE Bureau of Indian Education BLM Bureau of Land Management BOEM Bureau of Ocean Energy Management BOR Bureau of Reclamation BSEE Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement DFO Departmental FOIA Office FPAO FOIA & Privacy Act Appeals Office FWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service NPS National Park Service OIG Office of Inspector General OS Office of the Secretary OSMRE Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement SOL Office of the Solicitor USGS U.S. Geological Survey 5 IV. EXEMPTION 3 STATUTES Statute 10 U.S.C. § 3309(b) (formerly at 10 U.S.C. § 2305(g)) Type of Information Withheld Certain contractor proposals Case Citation Roman v. NSA, Nos. 09-2947, 09-4281, 093344, 09-2504, 09-5633, 2012 WL 569747, at *7 (E.D.N.Y. Feb. 22, 2012); Margolin v. NASA, No. 09-CV-00421, 2011 WL 1303221, at *6 (D. Nev. Mar. 31, 2011). 16 U.S.C. § 470aaa-8 Information concerning the nature and specific location of a paleontological resource N/A 16 U.S.C. § 470hh Information pertaining to the nature and location of certain archaeological resources Hornbostel v. U.S. Dep’t of the Interior, 305 F. Supp. 2d 21, 29-30 (D.D.C. 2003), summary affirmance granted, No. 03-5257, 2004 WL 1900562 (D.C. Cir. Aug. 25, 2004); Starkey v. U.S. Dep’t of the Interior, 238 F. Supp. 2d 1188, 1192-94 (S.D. Cal. 2002). Total Number of Number of Times Times Agency / Relied upon Relied Component upon by Agency / by Component Agency Overall AS-IA 1 BIA 1 BLM 2 FWS 1 NPS 2 OS 1 BLM 2 FWS 1 BIA 2 BLM 32 BOR 1 FWS 1 NPS 4 OSMRE 1 8 3 41 6 16 U.S.C. § 4304 “Information concerning the specific location of any significant cave . . . [that] create[s] a substantial risk of harm, theft, or destruction of such cave” Black Hills Clean Water All. v. USFS, No. 205034, 2022 WL 2340440, at *9 (D.S.D. June 29, 2022). BLM 18 U.S.C. § 3509(d) Certain records containing identifying information pertaining to children involved in criminal proceedings Corley v. DOJ, 998 F.3d 981, 982-85 (D.C. Cir. 2021). BIA 41 U.S.C. § 2102 (amending 41 U.S.C. § 423(a)(1)) Contractor bid or proposal information; source selection information Legal & Safety Emp. Rsch., Inc. v. U.S. Dep't of the Army, No. Civ. S001748, 2001 WL 34098652, at *3-4 (E.D. Cal. May 4, 2001) (dictum). AS-IA 1 BLM 2 BOR 3 FWS 1 NPS 2 USGS 1 AS-IA 1 BLM 2 BOR 4 FWS 1 NPS 8 OS 2 41 U.S.C. § 4702 (formerly at 41 U.S.C. § 253b(m)(1)) Contractor proposals that are in the possession or control of an executive agency and that have not been set forth or incorporated by reference into contracts Sinkfield v. HUD, No. 10-885, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 35233, at *13-15 (S.D. Ohio Mar. 15, 2012); Margolin v. NASA, No. 0900421, 2011 WL 1303221, at *6 (D. Nev. Mar. 31, 2011); Hornbostel v. U.S. Dep’t of the Interior, 305 F. Supp. 2d 21, 30 (D.D.C. 2003), summary affirmance granted, No. 03-5257, 2004 WL 1900562 (D.C. Cir. Aug. 25, 2004). 3 3 1 1 10 24 USGS 6 7 54 U.S.C. § 100707 (formerly at 16 U.S.C. § 5937) Information pertaining to: “endangered, threatened, rare, or commercially valuable” National Park System resources; “mineral or paleontological objects within units of the National Park System”; or “objects of cultural patrimony within units of the National Park System” Hornbostel v. U.S. Dep’t of the Interior, No. 03-5257, 2004 WL 1900562 (D.C. Cir. Aug. 25, 2004); Sw. Ctr. for Biological Diversity v. USDA, 314 F.3d 1060, 1062 (9th Cir. 2002); Pease v. U.S. Dep’t of Interior, No. 99-113, slip op. at 2, 4 (D. Vt. Sept. 17, 1999). NPS 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, 208) (per curium); Widi v. McNeil, No. 12-00188, 2016 WL 4394724, at *23 (D. Me. Aug. 16, 2016); Durham v. U.S. Atty. Gen., No. 06843, 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). OIG 11 11 1 1 8 V.A. FOIA REQUESTS -- RECEIVED, PROCESSED AND PENDING FOIA REQUESTS Agency / Component AS-IA 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 68 350 312 106 BIA 601 1211 946 866 BIE 28 101 104 25 1874 1215 1689 1400 BOEM 21 225 225 21 BOR 59 285 319 25 BSEE 73 185 195 63 FWS 399 924 851 472 NPS 927 1658 1286 1299 OIG 43 354 373 24 OS 926 1187 1482 631 24 132 144 12 103 268 268 103 48 210 232 26 5194 8305 8426 5073 BLM OSMRE SOL USGS AGENCY OVERALL After reviewing its database, DOI adjusted the number of requests pending at the start of the fiscal year for AS-IA, BIA, BLM, FWS, NPS, OIG, and OS. 9 V.B.(1). DISPOSITION OF FOIA REQUESTS -- ALL PROCESSED REQUESTS Number of Full Denials Based on Reasons Other than Exemptions Number of Full Grants Number of Partial Grants / Partial Denials Number of Full Denials Based on Exemptions 35 27 3 BIA 108 202 BIE 25 BLM All Records Referred to Another Component or Agency Request Withdrawn Records not Reasonably Described Improper FOIA Request for Other Reason 127 1 3 1 5 7 0 41 249 1 41 18 44 79 11 0 42 2 1 1 8 402 307 19 245 4 297 19 55 88 5 67 1 0 BOR 129 50 5 67 0 BSEE 34 33 6 72 FWS 286 196 41 NPS 315 331 OIG 14 OS Agency / Component Other *Explain in Chart Below TOTAL 8 95 312 3 62 98 946 0 0 6 8 104 22 24 2 108 240 1689 2 4 0 0 0 3 225 12 23 12 7 2 7 5 319 1 5 0 14 0 10 7 13 195 150 6 34 23 19 10 0 16 70 851 48 192 8 105 8 22 61 7 50 139 1286 57 24 92 63 4 1 17 10 82 2 7 373 110 210 3 160 2 90 11 13 4 5 11 863 1482 OSMRE 54 23 1 50 0 3 1 2 1 0 7 2 144 SOL 47 65 0 122 1 5 0 7 3 0 15 3 268 USGS 51 59 0 66 3 8 3 16 2 0 5 19 232 1665 1659 196 1701 93 608 111 205 208 111 304 1565 8426 AS-IA BOEM AGENCY OVERALL No Records FeeRelated Reason Not Agency Record Duplicate Request 10 V.B.(2). DISPOSITION OF FOIA REQUESTS -- "OTHER" REASONS FOR "FULL DENIALS BASED ON REASONS OTHER THAN EXEMPTIONS" Agency / Component AS-IA BIA BIE BLM Description of "Other" Reasons for Denials from Chart B(1) Aggregate Cases 76 Directed Requester to Publicly Available Information 16 Directed Requester to Another Entity Subject to the FOIA 3 Aggregate Cases 28 Directed Requester to Publicly Available Information 17 33 Unable to Locate or Contact Requester 20 Directed Requester to Publicly Available Information 7 Unable to Locate or Contact Requester 1 Aggregate Cases 10 Directed Requester to Publicly Available Information 27 Unable to Locate or Contact Requester BOR BSEE TOTAL 95 98 Directed Requester to Another Entity Subject to the FOIA Directed Requester to Another Entity Subject to the FOIA BOEM Number of Times "Other" Reason Was Relied Upon 8 240 4 199 Aggregate Cases 1 Directed Requester to Publicly Available Information 2 Directed Requester to Publicly Available Information 4 Unable to Locate or Contact Requester 1 Aggregate Cases 3 Directed Requester to Publicly Available Information 6 Directed Requester to Another Entity Subject to the FOIA 3 3 5 13 Unable to Locate or Contact Requester 1 11 FWS Aggregate Cases 38 Directed Requester to Publicly Available Information 10 Directed Requester to Another Entity Subject to the FOIA Unable to Locate or Contact Requester NPS 8 70 Directed Requester to Publicly Available Information 32 Unable to Locate or Contact Requester Directed Requester to Publicly Available Information Directed Requester to Another Entity Subject to the FOIA OS 14 Aggregate Cases Directed Requester to Another Entity Subject to the FOIA OIG 70 Aggregate Cases Directed Requester to Publicly Available Information Directed Requester to Another Entity Subject to the FOIA Unable to Locate or Contact Requester 139 4 33 6 7 1 646 13 863 54 150 OSMRE Directed Requester to Publicly Available Information 2 2 SOL Directed Requester to Another Entity Subject to the FOIA 1 3 Unable to Locate or Contact Requester 2 Aggregate Cases 1 USGS Directed Requester to Publicly Available Information Unable to Locate or Contact Requester AGENCY OVERALL 16 19 2 1565 12 V.B.(3). DISPOSITION OF FOIA REQUESTS -- NUMBER OF TIMES EXEMPTIONS APPLIED Agency / Ex. Ex. Ex. Component 1 2 3 Ex. 4 Ex. 5 Ex. 6 Ex. Ex. Ex. Ex. Ex. Ex. Ex. Ex. 7(A) 7(B) 7(C) 7(D) 7(E) 7(F) 8 9 AS-IA 0 0 1 5 8 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BIA 0 0 4 12 22 183 33 2 110 3 5 2 0 0 BIE 0 0 0 2 5 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BLM 0 5 35 65 162 225 7 0 43 2 6 3 0 7 BOEM 0 0 0 23 53 48 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 BOR 0 1 7 8 19 26 0 1 2 0 1 6 0 1 BSEE 0 0 0 13 8 28 5 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 FWS 0 2 5 12 85 144 38 0 34 6 4 2 0 0 NPS 0 11 23 61 74 276 45 0 148 0 14 23 0 0 OIG 0 0 1 3 7 39 13 0 69 7 6 0 0 0 OS 0 1 3 29 112 166 2 0 35 0 17 0 0 5 OSMRE 0 0 1 5 7 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 SOL 0 0 0 1 52 43 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 USGS 0 0 7 11 17 32 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 20 87 250 631 1248 143 3 445 18 54 39 0 16 AGENCY OVERALL 13 VI.A. ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS OF INITIAL DETERMINATIONS OF FOIA REQUESTS -- RECEIVED, PROCESSED, AND PENDING ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS Number of Appeals Pending as of Start of Fiscal Year Agency / Component FPAO Number of Appeals Processed in Fiscal Year Number of Appeals Pending as of End of Fiscal Year 226 176 207 195 0 3 3 0 226 179 210 195 OIG AGENCY OVERALL Number of Appeals Received in Fiscal Year VI.B. DISPOSITION OF ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS -- ALL PROCESSED APPEALS Agency / Component Number of Number Partially Number Completely Appeals Affirmed & Partially Reversed/Remanded Closed for Reversed/Remanded on Appeal Other on Appeal Reasons Number Affirmed on Appeal FPAO OIG AGENCY OVERALL TOTAL 23 5 43 136 207 1 1 0 1 3 24 6 43 137 210 VI.C.(1). REASONS FOR DENIAL ON APPEAL -- NUMBER OF TIMES EXEMPTIONS APPLIED Agency / Ex. Ex. Ex. Ex. Ex. Component 1 2 3 4 5 Ex. 6 Ex. Ex. Ex. 7(A) 7(B) 7(C) Ex. 7(D) Ex. 7(E) Ex. 7(F) Ex. 8 Ex. 9 FPAO 0 0 0 3 7 15 1 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 OIG 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 7 15 1 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 AGENCY OVERALL 14 VI.C.(2). REASONS FOR DENIAL ON APPEAL -- REASONS OTHER THAN EXEMPTIONS Appeal Based Records Other Solely on Records Improper Duplicate Referred FeeNot Request Denial of *Explain Agency / No Request not Request Request at Initial Related Agency in in chart Request Component Records Withdrawn Reasonably for Other or Request Reason Record Litigation below for Described Reasons Appeal Level Expedited Processing FPAO 9 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 6 2 145 OIG 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 6 2 145 AGENCY OVERALL 15 VI.C.(3). REASONS FOR DENIAL ON APPEAL -- "OTHER" REASONS Agency / Component FPAO OIG Description of "Other" Reasons for Denial on Appeal from Chart C(2) Number of Times "Other" Reason Was Relied Upon Agency performed adequate search 4 Appeal withdrawn 4 Improper appeal 96 Moot 28 No component response to adjudicate 11 Untimely 2 N/A 0 AGENCY OVERALL TOTAL 145 0 145 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 FPAO 36.0 351.00 <1 1622 OIG 13.0 12.30 5 19 24.5 181.65 <1 1622 AGECY OVERALL 16 VI.C.(5). TEN OLDEST PENDING ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS 10th Oldest Appeal Agency / Component FPAO OIG AGENCY OVERALL 9th 8th 7th 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd Oldest Appeal Date of Appeal 201905-13 201904-08 201903-19 201903-12 201901-17 201901-14 201901-10 201812-03 201811-19 2018-10-05 Number of Days Pending 1340 1364 1378 1383 1419 1422 1424 1449 1458 1487 Date of Appeal N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Date of Appeal 201905-13 201904-08 201903-19 201903-12 201901-17 201901-14 201901-10 201812-03 201811-19 2018-10-05 Number of Days Pending 1340 1364 1378 1383 1419 1422 1424 1449 1458 1487 Number of Days Pending 17 VII.A. FOIA REQUESTS -- RESPONSE TIME FOR ALL PROCESSED PERFECTED REQUESTS SIMPLE COMPLEX EXPEDITED PROCESSING Agency / Median Average Lowest Highest Median Average Lowest Highest Median Average Lowest Highest Component Number Number Number Number Number Number Number Number Number Number Number Number of Days of Days of Days of Days of Days of Days of Days of Days of Days of Days of Days of Days AS-IA 2.0 14.88 <1 253 48.0 78.48 5 327 N/A N/A N/A N/A BIA 30.0 86.86 <1 715 90.5 153.05 <1 1005 52 40.40 3 72 BIE 20.0 31.78 <1 235 114.0 168.33 4 681 61 61.00 61 61 BLM 60.0 286.35 <1 1774 295.0 577.37 <1 1854 27.5 220.16 2 1509 BOEM 9.0 9.46 <1 41 24.0 42.97 1 286 N/A N/A N/A N/A BOR 7.0 11.50 <1 91 23.0 61.90 <1 1367 N/A N/A N/A N/A BSEE 6.0 8.75 <1 51 20.0 181.45 <1 1116 1085 1085.00 1085 1085 FWS 23.0 60.44 <1 1283 98.5 172.36 <1 1829 20 21.00 4 39 NPS 27.0 124.02 <1 1385 95.0 246.93 <1 1551 65 103.67 12 241 OIG 7.0 13.63 <1 407 79.0 115.32 6 1019 N/A N/A N/A N/A OS 96.5 303.05 <1 1459 1263.5 983.30 <1 1764 1871 1871.00 1871 1871 OSMRE 10.0 20.30 <1 169 22.0 64.84 <1 1597 N/A N/A N/A N/A SOL 15.0 73.66 <1 1455 200.0 504.87 4 1749 N/A N/A N/A N/A USGS 10.0 16.11 <1 251 104.0 271.69 2 952 N/A N/A N/A N/A 20.0 132.43 <1 1774 95.5 335.46 <1 1854 28 223.09 2 1871 AGENCY OVERALL 18 VII.B. PROCESSED REQUESTS -- RESPONSE TIME FOR PERFECTED REQUESTS IN WHICH INFORMATION WAS GRANTED SIMPLE COMPLEX EXPEDITED PROCESSING Agency / Median Average Lowest Highest Median Average Lowest Highest Median Average Lowest Highest Component Number Number Number Number Number Number Number Number Number Number Number Number of Days of Days of Days of Days of Days of Days of Days of Days of Days of Days of Days of Days AS-IA 4 35.44 <1 253 117.0 110.85 7 327 N/A N/A N/A N/A BIA 33 77.53 <1 715 108.5 170.65 6 1005 61 49.25 3 72 BIE 35.5 52.62 4 235 124.0 190.40 44 681 N/A N/A N/A N/A BLM 34.5 172.83 <1 1561 103.0 318.43 3 1841 23 83.56 2 1509 BOEM 11 11.48 <1 41 30.0 51.21 3 286 N/A N/A N/A N/A BOR 13 15.08 <1 69 34.0 75.95 <1 577 N/A N/A N/A N/A BSEE 10 12.00 <1 39 67.0 337.42 8 1116 1085 1085.00 1085 1085 FWS 35 76.10 <1 1268 115.5 196.26 2 1829 12 12.00 4 20 NPS 29 110.96 <1 985 78.0 191.40 4 1204 87 122.00 19 241 OIG 14.5 31.00 <1 407 104.0 159.15 8 1019 N/A N/A N/A N/A OS 269 383.68 2 1459 509.0 788.49 6 1764 1871 1871.00 1871 1871 OSMRE 19 32.68 <1 169 29.0 68.09 3 468 N/A N/A N/A N/A SOL 27 138.01 2 1455 406.0 552.61 38 1537 N/A N/A N/A N/A 12.5 22.45 <1 251 186.5 292.14 19 952 N/A N/A N/A N/A 30 133.90 <1 1561 91.0 243.57 <1 1841 28 141.02 2 1871 USGS AGENCY OVERALL 19 VII.C. PROCESSED SIMPLE REQUESTS -- RESPONSE TIME IN DAY INCREMENTS Agency / Component 81100 Days 101120 Days 121140 Days 141160 Days 161180 Days 181200 Days 201300 Days <1-20 Days 21-40 Days 41-60 Days 61-80 Days AS-IA 124 5 4 3 3 0 0 1 2 1 1 BIA 236 55 45 33 28 17 8 11 14 13 BIE 36 17 11 3 2 1 0 1 0 BLM 243 91 40 33 19 10 22 9 BOEM 69 2 1 0 0 0 0 BOR 82 7 0 2 1 0 BSEE 54 4 1 0 0 FWS 226 102 38 28 NPS 360 132 67 OIG 224 21 OS 155 301400 Days 401+ Days TOTAL 0 0 144 30 20 24 534 0 1 0 0 72 5 6 34 27 207 746 0 0 0 0 0 0 72 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 92 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 59 17 12 8 12 7 5 19 4 10 488 34 17 16 8 14 4 8 53 37 98 848 6 7 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 263 26 16 8 12 6 6 4 6 8 37 28 120 432 47 9 1 3 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 63 SOL 134 23 7 9 1 1 5 4 2 4 7 5 7 209 USGS 140 22 5 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 171 2130 516 242 164 101 64 60 57 42 45 184 121 467 4193 OSMRE AGENCY OVERALL 20 VII.C. PROCESSED COMPLEX REQUESTS -- RESPONSE TIME IN DAY INCREMENTS Agency / Component 81100 Days 101120 Days 121140 Days 141160 Days 161180 Days 181200 Days 201300 Days <1-20 Days 21-40 Days 41-60 Days 61-80 Days AS-IA 12 14 6 6 2 6 3 4 4 0 3 BIA 31 22 20 12 14 9 11 3 6 2 BIE 2 0 2 1 1 3 2 0 1 BLM 50 70 35 29 26 23 12 17 BOEM 64 45 11 5 7 2 1 BOR 94 41 11 12 6 5 BSEE 56 18 4 3 1 FWS 35 38 24 17 NPS 25 34 22 OIG 12 6 OS 8 301400 Days 401+ Days TOTAL 1 0 61 12 30 14 186 0 0 1 2 15 10 9 28 22 286 617 2 4 0 5 0 0 146 7 11 3 0 8 3 2 203 0 0 1 0 0 2 3 20 108 20 18 20 6 7 13 28 6 30 262 18 11 12 9 3 4 4 13 12 47 214 9 10 9 8 4 4 1 1 5 2 3 74 2 3 4 1 2 2 0 1 2 10 6 129 170 36 24 3 1 3 1 1 1 1 0 2 1 2 76 SOL 4 1 2 4 1 6 2 0 3 0 2 1 20 46 USGS 3 4 4 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 2 8 26 432 319 156 123 103 95 75 52 45 31 120 90 563 2204 OSMRE AGENCY OVERALL 21 VII.C. PROCESSED REQUESTS GRANTED EXPEDITED PROCESSING -- RESPONSE TIME IN DAY INCREMENTS Agency / Component 81100 Days 101120 Days 121140 Days 141160 Days 161180 Days 181200 Days 201300 Days <1-20 Days 21-40 Days 41-60 Days 61-80 Days AS-IA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BIA 2 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 BIE 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 BLM 17 8 3 1 0 1 0 2 BOEM 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BOR 0 0 0 0 0 0 BSEE 0 0 0 0 0 FWS 2 1 0 0 NPS 2 0 1 OIG 0 0 OS 0 OSMRE 301400 Days 401+ Days TOTAL 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 5 38 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 SOL 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 USGS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 23 9 5 4 1 1 0 2 0 0 3 0 7 55 AGENCY OVERALL 22 VII.D. PENDING REQUESTS -- ALL PENDING PERFECTED REQUESTS SIMPLE Agency / Component COMPLEX Median Number of Days Average Number of Days Median Number of Days Average Number of Days 23 95.0 97.96 81 86.0 188.40 0 N/A N/A BIA 511 150.0 202.85 319 175.0 256.34 9 61.0 165.11 BIE 17 19.0 38.71 7 135.0 148.29 0 N/A N/A BLM 559 491.0 502.46 764 494.0 623.36 30 403.5 542.40 BOEM 0 N/A N/A 19 12.0 81.21 0 N/A N/A BOR 1 1.0 1.00 22 18.0 59.18 0 N/A N/A BSEE 3 1.0 109.00 58 222.0 329.53 0 N/A N/A FWS 220 106.0 159.33 238 188.5 280.85 0 N/A N/A NPS 1039 149.0 235.97 238 233.0 373.29 3 312.0 514.67 OIG 7 15.0 23.14 16 81.0 110.06 0 N/A N/A 360 385.0 556.98 259 476.0 696.11 7 1685.0 1546.86 2 1.5 1.50 10 28.5 120.80 0 N/A N/A 66 42.0 158.97 36 587.0 618.22 0 N/A N/A 4 7.5 18.25 18 382.0 460.06 1 996.0 996.00 2812 187.0 312.68 2085 264.0 463.19 50 417.0 622.52 AS-IA OS OSMRE SOL USGS AGENCY OVERALL Number Pending Number Pending Median Number of Days EXPEDITED PROCESSING Average Number of Days Number Pending 23 VII.E. PENDING REQUESTS -- TEN OLDEST PENDING PERFECTED REQUESTS 10th Oldest Request Agency / Component BLM 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd Oldest Request 202203-25 202203-25 202203-09 202112-03 202110-18 202109-02 202108-25 2019-07-02 530 559 630 630 642 706 745 775 781 1315 202012-03 202011-04 202010-19 202009-14 202004-20 201910-18 201907-15 201712-21 201704-25 2016-10-18 958 977 989 1013 1115 1240 1307 1698 1864 1993 202408-05 202408-05 202407-29 202407-25 202403-19 202402-27 202401-29 202401-10 202310-04 2022-11-29 39 39 44 46 135 150 170 182 247 460 Date of Receipt 201707-26 201707-17 201707-12 201707-11 201707-05 201707-05 201706-16 201706-16 201704-13 2017-04-13 Number of Days Pending 1800 1807 1810 1811 1815 1815 1827 1827 1872 1872 Date of Receipt 202409-12 202409-05 202408-20 202408-09 202407-25 202404-26 202404-12 202310-05 202303-22 2022-08-08 12 17 28 35 46 107 117 246 383 525 Number of Days Pending Number of Days Pending Date of Receipt BIE 7th 202207-07 Date of Receipt BIA 8th 202208-17 Date of Receipt AS-IA 9th Number of Days Pending Number of Days Pending BOEM 24 202408-26 202408-26 202408-20 202408-20 202408-20 202408-09 202405-02 202402-13 202401-02 2022-05-17 24 24 28 28 28 35 103 159 188 593 202203-29 202201-18 202110-29 202108-11 202106-14 202103-26 202010-13 202009-11 202002-13 2019-11-12 628 677 730 785 826 881 993 1014 1161 1224 202010-28 202010-23 202010-06 202009-03 202005-07 202002-10 201912-03 201902-14 201809-28 2018-09-11 982 985 997 1019 1102 1164 1210 1411 1504 1517 Date of Receipt 201908-19 201907-18 201907-08 201906-13 201906-04 201904-09 201903-08 201901-28 201810-11 2018-08-06 Number of Days Pending 1282 1304 1312 1328 1335 1374 1396 1424 1496 1542 Date of Receipt 202406-18 202406-12 202405-20 202405-20 202405-14 202403-26 202403-26 202401-29 202312-11 2022-04-12 71 75 91 91 95 130 130 170 202 618 Date of Receipt 201708-25 201707-19 201707-14 201707-12 201707-10 201706-01 201705-31 201705-04 201705-02 2017-04-20 Number of Days Pending 1778 1805 1808 1810 1812 1838 1839 1857 1859 1867 Date of Receipt BOR Number of Days Pending Date of Receipt BSEE Number of Days Pending Date of Receipt FWS NPS OIG Number of Days Pending Number of Days Pending OS 25 202409-25 202409-25 202409-19 202408-21 202408-09 202408-08 202405-21 202308-11 202306-05 2023-02-02 3 3 7 28 36 37 90 284 331 416 202012-11 202012-01 202011-09 202008-20 202005-05 202005-05 202003-23 201908-23 201801-05 2017-09-22 952 960 974 1029 1104 1104 1135 1278 1689 1759 202302-03 202302-01 202208-29 202208-26 202208-26 202104-29 202010-19 202010-15 202010-07 2020-10-05 415 417 522 523 523 857 989 991 996 998 Date of Receipt 201706-16 201706-01 201705-31 201705-04 201705-02 201704-25 201704-20 201704-13 201704-13 2016-10-18 Number of Days Pending 1827 1838 1839 1857 1859 1864 1867 1872 1872 1993 Date of Receipt OSMRE Number of Days Pending Date of Receipt SOL Number of Days Pending Date of Receipt USGS AGENCY OVERALL Number of Days Pending 26 VIII.A. REQUESTS FOR EXPEDITED PROCESSING Agency / Component AS-IA Number Granted Median Number of Days to Adjudicate Number Denied Average Number of Days to Adjudicate Number Adjudicated Within Ten Calendar Days 0 18 1 4.94 17 BIA 11 115 126 196.81 27 BIE 1 7 1.5 2.25 8 BLM 48 52 1 17.00 86 BOEM 0 7 6 5.14 6 BOR 0 19 1 6.79 14 BSEE 0 11 3 4.00 11 FWS 3 96 3 14.82 74 NPS 6 223 11 54.72 112 OIG 0 26 1 1.00 25 OS 0 27 1 3.30 26 OSMRE 0 3 1 3.00 3 SOL 0 7 10 74.00 4 USGS 0 17 4 4.59 16 69 628 6 59.58 429 AGENCY OVERALL 27 VIII.B. REQUESTS FOR FEE WAIVER Agency / Component Number Granted Number Denied Median Number of Days to Adjudicate Average Number of Days to Adjudicate AS-IA 65 12 1.0 9.55 BIA 26 22 15.5 44.56 BIE 36 22 16.0 28.43 BLM 225 11 1.0 30.31 BOEM 113 7 3.0 4.26 BOR 18 4 5.0 9.23 BSEE 7 3 6.0 6.20 FWS 296 13 2.0 10.60 NPS 95 21 5.0 15.43 OIG 52 10 1.0 0.15 OS 7 2 2.0 12.22 OSMRE 4 0 14.0 19.50 119 15 2.0 10.26 64 3 1.0 2.54 1127 145 2.0 15.14 SOL USGS AGENCY OVERALL 28 IX. FOIA PERSONNEL AND COSTS PERSONNEL COSTS Number of " FOIA Employees" Number of "Equivalent Full-Time FOIA Employees" Total Number of "FullTime FOIA Staff" AS-IA 5 0.00 5.00 414913.00 0.00 414913.00 BIA 1 15.00 16.00 1109022.00 0.00 1109022.00 BIE 3 0.00 3.00 178219.00 0.00 178219.00 BLM 20 3.00 23.00 2532055.00 247894.00 2779949.00 BOEM 5 0.00 5.00 782259.00 0.00 782259.00 BOR 4 1.25 5.25 653374.00 0.00 653374.00 BSEE 5 1.40 6.40 823486.00 0.00 823486.00 FPAO 1 0.00 1.00 337800.00 67560.00 405360.00 FWS 11 7.00 18.00 1547698.00 18065.00 1565763.00 NPS 11 17.00 28.00 1915403.00 15498.00 1930901.00 OIG 2 1.50 3.50 530829.00 0.00 530829.00 OS 7 0.50 7.50 1370000.00 183928.00 1553928.00 OSMRE 2 0.25 2.25 388516.00 0.00 388516.00 SOL 4 0.00 4.00 4242806.00 457633.00 4700439.00 USGS 5 0.00 5.00 600932.00 2953.00 603885.00 86 46.90 Agency / Component AGENCY OVERALL Processing Costs 132.90 17427312.00 LitigationRelated Costs Total Costs 993531.00 18420843.00 29 X. FEES COLLECTED FOR PROCESSING REQUESTS Agency / Component AS-IA Total Amount of Fees Collected Percentage of Total Costs 0.00 0.0000 BIA 1533.00 0.1400 BIE 0.00 0.0000 BLM 0.00 0.0000 BOEM 0.00 0.0000 BOR 0.00 0.0000 BSEE 0.00 0.0000 FWS 0.00 0.0000 NPS 0.00 0.0000 OIG 0.00 0.0000 3000.00 0.2200 OSMRE 0.00 0.0000 SOL 0.00 0.0000 7723.00 1.2900 12256.00 0.0700 OS USGS AGENCY OVERALL 30 XI.A. NUMBER OF TIMES SUBSECTION (C) USED Agency / Component Number of Times Subsection Used AS-IA 0 BIA 0 BIE 0 BLM 0 BOEM 0 BOR 0 BSEE 0 FWS 0 NPS 0 OIG 0 OS 0 OSMRE 0 SOL 0 USGS 0 AGENCY OVERALL 0 31 XI.B. NUMBER OF SUBSECTION (A)(2) POSTINGS Number of Records Posted by the FOIA Office Number of Records Posted by Program Offices AS-IA 0 0 BIA 1 0 BIE 7 0 BLM 0 0 12 1670 BOR 4111 11400 BSEE 1 1 FWS 4 0 NPS 37 10 OIG 0 0 OS 29 0 OSMRE 13 539 SOL 0 0 USGS 0 23 4215 13643 Agency / Component BOEM AGENCY OVERALL 32 XII.A. BACKLOGS OF FOIA REQUESTS AND ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS Agency / Component AS-IA Number of Backlogged Requests as of End of Fiscal Year Number of Backlogged Appeals as of End of Fiscal Year 84 N/A BIA 742 N/A BIE 13 N/A 1281 N/A BOEM 7 N/A BOR 4 N/A BSEE 52 N/A FPAO 0 193 FWS 358 N/A NPS 1151 N/A OIG 14 0 OS 598 N/A 5 N/A SOL 84 N/A USGS 19 N/A 4412 193 BLM OSMRE AGENCY OVERALL 33 XII.B. CONSULTATIONS ON FOIA REQUESTS -- RECEIVED, PROCESSED, AND PENDING CONSULTATIONS Number of Consultations Received from Other Agencies that were Pending at the Agency as of Start of the Fiscal Year Number of Consultations Received from Other Agencies During the Fiscal Year Number of Consultations Received from Other Agencies that were Processed by the Agency During the Fiscal Year Number of Consultations Received from Other Agencies that were Pending at the Agency as of End of the Fiscal Year AS-IA 0 6 6 0 BIA 0 1 0 1 BIE 0 0 0 0 BLM 1 5 6 0 BOEM 0 0 0 0 BOR 0 12 12 0 BSEE 0 0 0 0 FWS 0 48 44 4 NPS 1 28 25 4 OIG 0 0 0 0 OS 23 52 65 10 OSMRE 0 0 0 0 SOL 0 0 0 0 USGS 0 3 3 0 25 155 161 19 Agency / Component AGENCY OVERALL 34 XII.C. CONSULTATIONS ON FOIA REQUESTS -- TEN OLDEST CONSULTATIONS RECEIVED FROM OTHER AGENCIES AND PENDING AT THE AGENCY Agency / Component 10th Oldest Consultation Date AS-IA Number of Days Date BIA Number of Days Date BIE Number of Days Date BLM Number of Days Date BOEM Number of Days Date BOR Number of Days Date BSEE Number of Days 9th 8th 7th 6th 5th 4th 3rd Oldest Consultation 2nd N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2024-09-17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 35 Date FWS Number of Days Date NPS Number of Days Date OIG Number of Days Date OS Number of Days Date OSMRE Number of Days Date SOL Number of Days Date USGS Number of Days N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 202409-30 202409-25 202408-20 2024-04-02 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 28 125 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 202409-26 202409-03 202406-18 2024-01-12 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 19 71 180 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2024-09-25 202409-25 202409-16 202409-13 202409-11 202409-06 202408-28 202408-13 202408-13 2021-12-08 3 3 10 11 13 16 22 33 33 703 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 36 AGENCY OVERALL Date Number of Days 2024-09-06 202409-03 202408-28 202408-20 202408-13 202408-13 202406-18 202404-02 202401-12 2021-12-08 16 19 22 28 33 33 71 125 180 703 37 XII.D.(1). COMPARISON OF NUMBERS OF REQUESTS FROM PREVIOUS AND CURRENT ANNUAL REPORT -- REQUESTS RECEIVED AND PROCESSED NUMBER OF REQUESTS RECEIVED NUMBER OF REQUESTS PROCESSED Number Processed During Fiscal Year from Last Year's Annual Report Number Processed During Fiscal Year from Current Annual Report Number Received During Fiscal Year from Last Year's Annual Report Number Received During Fiscal Year from Current Annual Report 268 350 252 312 BIA 1290 1211 1024 946 BIE 64 101 75 104 1039 1215 819 1689 BOEM 128 225 112 225 BOR 237 285 206 319 BSEE 107 185 101 195 FWS 884 924 886 851 NPS 2004 1658 2623 1286 OIG 240 354 215 373 OS 429 1187 656 1482 83 132 83 144 SOL 145 268 182 268 USGS 167 210 154 232 7085 8305 7388 8426 Agency / Component AS-IA BLM OSMRE AGENCY OVERALL 38 XII.D.(2). COMPARISON OF NUMBERS OF REQUESTS FROM PREVIOUS AND CURRENT ANNUAL REPORT -- BACKLOGGED REQUESTS Agency / Component AS-IA 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 40 84 BIA 489 742 BIE 9 13 1519 1281 4 7 BOR 26 4 BSEE 62 52 FWS 331 358 NPS 807 1151 OIG 19 14 OS 888 598 5 5 SOL 87 84 USGS 34 19 4320 4412 BLM BOEM OSMRE AGENCY OVERALL 39 XII.E.(1). COMPARISON OF NUMBERS OF ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS FROM PREVIOUS AND CURRENT ANNUAL REPORT -- APPEALS RECEIVED AND PROCESSED NUMBER OF APPEALS RECEIVED Agency / Component 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 198 176 292 207 7 3 7 3 205 179 299 210 FPAO OIG AGENCY OVERALL XII.E.(2). COMPARISON OF NUMBERS OF ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS FROM PREVIOUS AND CURRENT ANNUAL REPORT -- BACKLOGGED APPEALS Agency / Component FPAO OIG AGENCY OVERALL 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 217 193 0 0 217 193 40