Organization and Functions; Implementation of Statutory Gift Acceptance Authority; Freedom of Information Act, 57070-57080 [2015-23561]

Agencies

• Office of Government Ethics

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 183 (Tuesday, September 22, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 57070-57080]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-23561]


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OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT ETHICS

5 CFR Parts 2600, 2601, and 2604

RIN 3209-AA40, 3209-AA41, 3209-AA39


Organization and Functions; Implementation of Statutory Gift 
Acceptance Authority; Freedom of Information Act

AGENCY: Office of Government Ethics (OGE).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) is issuing this 
final rule to update and streamline its organization and functions 
regulation and its statutory gift acceptance authority implementation. 
The final rule also updates and streamlines OGE's Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) regulation to reflect OGE's existing policy and 
practice and to implement changes to the FOIA. Finally, the final rule 
extends a requester's time to file an administrative appeal, makes 
administrative changes, and updates cost figures for calculating and 
charging fees.

DATES: Effective date: October 22, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Matis, Assistant Counsel, 
Office of Government Ethics, 202-482-9216.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Introduction

    On April 3, 2015, OGE published proposed amendments to update and 
streamline its organization and functions regulation, its statutory 
gift acceptance authority implementation,

[[Page 57071]]

and its FOIA regulation. OGE invited comments from the public and other 
agencies through June 2, 2015. OGE received one comment regarding the 
changes to its FOIA regulation, from the Office of Government 
Information Services (OGIS). This comment was generally supportive of 
the proposed changes but suggested clarifications and additional 
revisions beyond those proposed by OGE. OGE also received two comments 
objecting to OGE's exercise of its statutory gift acceptance authority. 
The comments are discussed further below.

II. Discussion of Public Comments and the Final Rule

    OGE received two comments objecting to its exercise of its 
statutory gift acceptance authority, asserting that the receipt of any 
gift by a government official is a conflict of interest. Part 2601 
implements the authority granted to OGE in section 403 of the Ethics in 
Government Act of 1978, 5 U.S.C. app. 403, to accept gifts on behalf of 
the United States for the purpose of facilitating the work of the 
agency. The proposed revisions merely update the regulation to reflect 
changes to OGE's organizational structure and will have no substantive 
effect on OGE's implementation of the authority granted it by section 
403 of the Ethics in Government Act. Furthermore, potential conflict of 
interest concerns are sufficiently addressed by Sec. Sec.  2601.203 and 
2601.204, which prohibit OGE from soliciting or accepting a gift that 
would reflect unfavorably upon the ability of the agency, or any 
employee of the agency, to carry out OGE responsibilities or official 
duties in a fair and objective manner, or would compromise the 
integrity or the appearance of the integrity of its programs or any 
official involved in those programs. OGE will adopt the revisions to 
part 2601 as proposed.
    OGE received one comment regarding the proposed revisions to its 
FOIA regulation, from the Office of Government Information Services 
(OGIS) of the National Archives and Records Administration. OGIS 
provided a number of constructive suggestions, primarily regarding 
language clarity and best practices in processing FOIA requests, many 
of which OGE has incorporated into the final rule.
    As suggested by OGIS, the language of Sec.  2604.102 was revised to 
further clarify the intersection between the FOIA and the Privacy Act. 
Definitions of ``requester category'' and ``fee waiver'' were added to 
Sec.  2604.103 and the definition of ``person'' was expanded. The 
definitions of ``FOIA Public Liaison'' and ``FOIA Requester Service 
Center'' were updated to refer to the relevant designations in the 
FOIA.
    OGIS suggested that OGE use the term ``perfected'' rather than 
``received'' in Sec. Sec.  2604.301 and 2604.504. OGE acknowledges that 
it may seem counterintuitive that, under some circumstances, a request 
may be deemed not to be ``received'' even though it has been 
successfully delivered to the agency. Upon consideration, however, OGE 
concluded that the principles of plain language, which caution against 
using jargon, support retention of the current language. The term 
``perfected'' is neither found in the text of the FOIA nor is used in 
this context in everyday language. Therefore, OGE concluded that the 
term ``received'' is clearer than the term ``perfected.'' In reaching 
this conclusion, OGE considered the fact that a number of agencies, 
including the Department of Justice, continue to use the term 
``received'' in their FOIA fee provisions. Although the suggested 
revision has not been incorporated into the final rule, OGE decided to 
clarify Sec.  2604.301 by adding language explaining that if, in the 
course of negotiating fees, the requester does not respond to 
correspondence from OGE, OGE will administratively close the request 
after 30 calendar days. This change has been incorporated into the 
final rule.
    OGE also revised Sec.  2604.304 to extend the period for a 
requester to appeal from 30 to 45 calendar days. OGIS suggested that 
OGE allow 60 days for requesters to appeal, noting that mail screening 
by Federal agencies can slow the time it takes appeals to reach their 
destination. Because Sec.  2604.304 calculates the period for appeal 
from the date the requester receives OGE's response until the date the 
requester sends an appeal, delays in mail processing will have no 
impact on the requester's right of appeal. Nonetheless, OGE is 
extending the period to appeal to 45 calendar days in the spirit of 
cooperation with the requester community, which has publically 
advocated for agencies to institute longer appeal deadlines.
    With regard to Sec.  2604.301(a), OGIS noted that the FOIA does not 
require requesters to indicate that their requests are being made under 
the FOIA. OGE will not refuse to process a request because it is not 
clearly marked as a FOIA request. The rule's language stating that 
requesters ``should . . . clearly indicate that the subject is a 
Freedom of Information Act request'' is intended to facilitate faster 
processing, not impose a mandatory requirement on requesters. As such, 
it is appropriately included in the rule's instructions on addressing 
requests and has not been revised in the final rule.
    In addition, OGIS made several suggestions regarding best practices 
in the processing of requests. Although OGE generally agrees with these 
best practices and follows them, it concluded that it is not necessary 
or advisable to incorporate all such practices into the agency's FOIA 
regulation, particularly if the suggested changes, on balance, add 
administrative burden to OGE's small FOIA program while providing 
little additional benefit to requestors. Specifically, OGIS suggested 
that acknowledgements include a brief description of the request and 
that requesters be advised that they can request an estimated date of 
completion. Although these suggestions are not incorporated into the 
final rule, it is OGE's practice to include a description of the 
request and estimated date of completion in all acknowledgements. 
Likewise, as suggested, OGE advises requesters when information they 
have requested is publically available and directs them to where the 
information can be located. OGIS suggested that the regulation be 
revised to notify requesters that OGE will provide a brief description 
of redacted information when possible. Although this suggestion is not 
incorporated into the final rule, it is OGE's practice to describe 
redacted information if it is not clear from the context and if it is 
possible without revealing exempt information. Finally, OGIS suggested 
that language be added to Sec.  2604.304(a) advising requesters that 
they may appeal the adequacy of OGE's search, even if the agency 
asserts that it has released all records. Although this suggestion is 
not incorporated into the final rule, OGE provides information on 
appeal rights in all response letters, including those granting 
requests in full.

III. Statutory Authority

    OGE is promulgating this rulemaking under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 
301, 552 (as amended), and 553 and 5 U.S.C. app 105(b).

IV. Matters of Regulatory Procedure

Regulatory Planning and Review (Executive Orders 12866 and 13563)

    In promulgating this rulemaking, OGE has adhered to the regulatory 
philosophy and the applicable principals of regulation set forth in 
Executive Orders 12866 and 13563. The rule has not been reviewed by the 
Office of Management and Budget because it is not a significant 
regulatory action for the purposes of Executive Order 12866.

[[Page 57072]]

Congressional Review Act

    The rule is not a major rule as defined in 5 U.S.C. Chapter 8, 
Congressional Review of Agency Rulemaking.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The rule is not subject to section 3504(h) of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501, because it does not contain any 
information collection requirements subject to approval by the Office 
of Management and Budget.

Federalism (Executive Order 13132)

    The rule will not have substantial direct effects on the States, on 
the relationship between the national government and the States, or on 
the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels 
of government. Therefore, in accordance with Executive Order 13132, OGE 
has determined that this rule does not have sufficient federalism 
implications to warrant the preparation of a federalism summary impact 
statement.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    The rule neither imposes an unfunded mandate of more than $100 
million per year nor imposes a significant or unique effect on State, 
local or tribal governments, or the private sector.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    As required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act, it is hereby 
certified that this rule will not have a significant impact on a 
substantial number of small entities because this regulation will 
affect only people and organizations who file FOIA requests with OGE.

Civil Justice Reform (Executive Order 12988)

    It is hereby certified that this rule does not unduly burden the 
judicial system and meets the requirements of Executive Order 12988.

List of Subjects

5 CFR Parts 2600 and 2601

    Administrative practice and procedure, Organization and functions 
(Government agencies).

5 CFR Part 2604

    Administrative practice and procedure, Archives and records, 
Confidential business information, Freedom of information, Reporting 
and recordkeeping requirements.

    Approved: September 14, 2015.
Walter M. Shaub, Jr.,
Director, Office of Government Ethics.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, OGE amends 5 CFR parts 
2600, 2601, and 2604 as follows:

PART 2600--ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS OF THE OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT 
ETHICS

0
1. The authority citation for part 2600 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. App. (Ethics in Government Act of 1978); 
E.O. 12674, 54 FR 15159, 3 CFR, 1989 Comp., p. 215, as modified by 
E.O. 12731, 55 FR 42547, 3 CFR, 1990 Comp., p. 306.


0
2. Amend Sec.  2600.101 by revising the first sentence of paragraph (a) 
to read as follows:


Sec.  2600.101  Mission and history.

    (a) The U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) was established by 
the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, Public Law 95-521, 92 Stat. 1824 
(1978). * * *
* * * * *
0
3. Amend Sec.  2600.102 by revising paragraphs (a) and (b) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  2600.102  Contact information.

    (a) Address. OGE is located at 1201 New York Avenue NW., Suite 500, 
Washington, DC 20005-3917. OGE does not have any regional offices. 
OGE's general email address is contactoge@oge.gov.
    (b) Web site. Information about OGE and its role in the executive 
branch ethics program as well as copies of publications that have been 
developed for training, educational and reference purposes are 
available electronically on OGE's Web site (www.oge.gov). OGE has 
posted on its Web site various Executive Orders, statutes, and 
regulations that together form the basis for the executive branch 
ethics program. The site also contains ethics advisory opinions and 
letters published by OGE, as well as other pertinent information.
* * * * *

0
4. Revise Sec.  2600.103 to read as follows:


Sec.  2600.103  Office of Government Ethics organization and functions.

    OGE's Director is appointed by the President and confirmed by the 
Senate for a five-year term. Additional information regarding OGE's 
organization and functions is available on its Web site at www.oge.gov.

PART 2601--IMPLEMENTATION OF OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT ETHICS STATUTORY 
GIFT ACCEPTANCE AUTHORITY

0
5. The authority citation for part 2601 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. App. (Ethics in Government Act of 1978).


0
6. Amend Sec.  2601.103 by revising the first sentence of paragraph (a) 
and the first sentence of paragraph (d) to read as follows:


Sec.  2601.103  Policy.

    (a) Scope. OGE may use its statutory authority to solicit, accept 
and utilize gifts to the agency that aid or facilitate the agency's 
work. * * *
* * * * *
    (d) Endorsement. Acceptance of a gift pursuant to this part will 
not in any way be deemed to be an endorsement of the donor, or the 
donor's products, services, activities, or policies. * * *
* * * * *
0
7. Amend Sec.  2601.105 by revising the introductory text, removing the 
definition of ``Administrative Division'' and revising the definitions 
of ``Agency,'' ``Authorized agency official,'' ``Director,'' and 
``Employee'' to read as follows:


Sec.  2601.105  Definitions.

    As used in this part:
    Agency means the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE).
    Authorized agency official means the Director of OGE or the 
Director's delegee.
    Director means the Director of OGE.
    Employee means an employee of OGE.
* * * * *

0
8. Amend Sec.  2601.202 by revising paragraphs (a), (b), (d), and (f) 
to read as follows:


Sec.  2601.202  Procedure.

    (a) The authorized agency official will have the authority to 
solicit, accept, refuse, return, or negotiate the terms of acceptance 
of a gift.
    (b) An employee, other than an authorized agency official, will 
immediately forward all offers of gifts covered by this part regardless 
of value to an authorized agency official for consideration and will 
provide a description of the gift offered. An employee will also inform 
an authorized agency official of all discussions of the possibility of 
a gift. An employee will not provide a donor with any commitment, 
privilege, concession or other present or future benefit (other

[[Page 57073]]

than an appropriate acknowledgment) in return for a gift.
* * * * *
    (d) Gifts may be acknowledged in writing in the form of a letter of 
acceptance to the donor. The amount of a monetary gift will be 
specified. In the case of nonmonetary gifts, the letter will not make 
reference to the value of the gift. Valuation of nonmonetary gifts is 
the responsibility of the donor. Letters of acceptance will not include 
any statement regarding the tax implications of a gift, which remain 
the responsibility of the donor. No statement of endorsement should 
appear in a letter of acceptance to the donor.
* * * * *
    (f) A gift of money or the proceeds of a gift will be deposited in 
an appropriately documented agency fund. A check or money order should 
be made payable to the ``U.S. Office of Government Ethics.''

0
9. Amend Sec.  2601.203 by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:


Sec.  2601.203  Conflict of interest analysis.

    (a) A gift will not be solicited or accepted if the authorized 
agency official determines that such solicitation or acceptance of the 
gift would reflect unfavorably upon the ability of the agency, or any 
employee of the agency, to carry out OGE responsibilities or official 
duties in a fair and objective manner, or would compromise the 
integrity or the appearance of the integrity of its programs or any 
official involved in those programs.
* * * * *

0
10. Amend Sec.  2601.204 by revising the Note to Sec.  2601.204 to read 
as follows:


Sec.  2601.204  Conditions for acceptance.

* * * * *

    Note to Sec.  2601.204: Nothing in this part will prohibit the 
agency from offering or providing the donor an appropriate 
acknowledgment of its gift in a publication, speech or other medium.


0
11. Amend Sec.  2601.301 by revising paragraphs (a) and (b) and the 
introductory text of paragraph (c) to read as follows:


Sec.  2601.301  Accounting of gifts.

    (a) OGE's Designated Agency Ethics Official (DAEO) will ensure that 
gifts are properly accounted for by following appropriate internal 
controls and accounting procedures.
    (b) The DAEO will maintain an inventory of donated personal 
property valued at over $500. The inventory will be updated each time 
an item is sold, excessed, destroyed or otherwise disposed of or 
discarded.
    (c) The DAEO will maintain a log of all gifts valued at over $500 
accepted pursuant to this part. The log will include, to the extent 
known:
* * * * *

PART 2604--FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT RULES AND SCHEDULE OF FEES 
FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PUBLIC FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORTS

0
12. Revise part 2604 to read as follows:

PART 2604--FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT RULES AND SCHEDULE OF FEES 
FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PUBLIC FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORTS

Subpart A--General Provisions
Sec.
2604.101 Purpose.
2604.102 Applicability.
2604.103 Definitions.
2604.104 Preservation of records.
2604.105 Other rights and services.
Subpart B--FOIA Public Reading Room Facility and Web Site; Index 
Identifying Information for the Public
2604.201 Public reading room facility and Web site.
2604.202 Index identifying information for the public.
Subpart C--Production and Disclosure of Records Under FOIA
2604.301 Requests for records.
2604.302 Response to requests.
2604.303 Form and content of responses.
2604.304 Appeal of denials.
2604.305 Time limits.
Subpart D--Exemptions Under FOIA
2604.401 Policy.
2604.402 Business information.
Subpart E--Schedule of Fees
2604.501 Fees to be charged--general.
2604.502 Fees to be charged--categories of requesters.
2604.503 Limitations on charging fees.
2604.504 Miscellaneous fee provisions.
Subpart F--Annual OGE FOIA Report
2604.601 Electronic posting and submission of annual OGE FOIA 
report.
Subpart G--Fees for the Reproduction and Mailing of Public Financial 
Disclosure Reports
2604.701 Policy
2604.702 Charges.

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552; 5 U.S.C. App. 101-505; E.O. 12600, 52 
FR 23781, 3 CFR, 1987 Comp., p. 235; E.O. 13392, 70 FR 75373, 3 CFR, 
2005 Comp., p. 216.

Subpart A--General Provisions


Sec.  2604.101  Purpose.

    This part contains the regulations of the U.S. Office of Government 
Ethics (OGE) implementing the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), as 
amended. It describes how any person may obtain records from OGE under 
the FOIA. It also implements section 105(b)(1) of the Ethics in 
Government Act of 1978 (Ethics Act), as amended, which authorizes an 
agency to charge reasonable fees to cover the cost of reproduction and 
mailing of public financial disclosure reports requested by any person.


Sec.  2604.102  Applicability.

    (a) General. The FOIA and this rule apply to all OGE records. 
However, if another law sets forth procedures for the disclosure of 
specific types of records, such as section 105 of the Ethics in 
Government Act of 1978, 5 U.S.C. appendix, OGE will process a request 
for those records in accordance with the procedures that apply to those 
specific records. See 5 CFR 2634.603 and subpart G of this part. If 
there is any record which is not required to be released under those 
provisions, OGE will consider the request under the FOIA and this rule, 
provided that the special Ethics Act access procedures cited must be 
complied with as to any record within the scope thereof.
    (b) The relationship between the FOIA and the Privacy Act of 1974. 
The Freedom of Information Act applies to third-party requests for 
documents concerning the general activities of the government and of 
OGE in particular. The Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a, applies to 
records that are about individuals, but only if the records are in a 
system of records as defined in the Privacy Act. When an individual 
requests access to his or her own records that are contained in an OGE 
system of records, the individual is making a Privacy Act request, not 
a FOIA request. Although OGE determines whether a request is a FOIA or 
Privacy Act request, OGE processes requests in accordance with both 
laws and will not deny access by a first party to a record under the 
FOIA or the Privacy Act if the record is available to that individual 
under both statutes. This provides the greatest degree of lawful access 
while safeguarding individuals' personal privacy.
    (c) Records available through routine distribution procedures. When 
the record requested includes material published and offered for sale 
(e.g., by the Government Publishing Office) or which is available to 
the public through an established distribution system (such as that of 
the National Technical Information Service of the Department of 
Commerce), OGE will explain how the record may be obtained through

[[Page 57074]]

those channels. If the requester, after having been advised of such 
alternative access, asks for regular FOIA processing instead, OGE will 
provide the record in accordance with its usual FOIA procedures under 
this part.


Sec.  2604.103  Definitions.

    As used in this part:
    Agency has the meaning given in 5 U.S.C. 551(1) and 5 U.S.C. 
552(f).
    Business information means trade secrets or other commercial or 
financial information, provided to OGE by a submitter, which arguably 
is protected from disclosure under Exemption 4 of the Freedom of 
Information Act.
    Business submitter means any person who provides business 
information, directly or indirectly, to OGE and who has a proprietary 
interest in the information.
    Chief FOIA Officer means the OGE official designated in 5 U.S.C. 
552(k) to provide oversight of all of OGE's FOIA program operations.
    Commercial use means, when referring to a request, that the request 
is from, or on behalf of one who seeks information for a use or purpose 
that furthers the commercial, trade, or profit interests of the 
requester or of a person on whose behalf the request is made. Whether a 
request is for a commercial use depends on the purpose of the request 
and the use to which the records will be put. When a request is from a 
representative of the news media, a purpose or use supporting the 
requester's news dissemination function is not a commercial use.
    Direct costs means those expenditures actually incurred in 
searching for and duplicating (and, in the case of commercial use 
requesters, reviewing) records to respond to a FOIA request. Direct 
costs include the salary of the employee performing the work and the 
cost of operating duplicating machinery. Not included in direct costs 
are overhead expenses such as costs of space and heating or lighting of 
the facility in which the records are stored.
    Duplication means the process of making a copy of a record. Such 
copies include photocopies, flash drives, and optical discs.
    Educational institution means a preschool, elementary or secondary 
school, institution of undergraduate or graduate higher education, or 
institute of professional or vocational education, which operates a 
program of scholarly research.
    Fee waiver means waiving or reducing processing fees if a requester 
can demonstrate that certain statutory standards are satisfied, 
including that the information is in the public interest and is not 
requested for a commercial interest.
    FOIA Officer means the OGE employee designated to handle various 
initial FOIA matters, including requests and related matters such as 
fees.
    FOIA Public Liaison means the OGE official designated in 5 U.S.C. 
552(a)(6)(B)(ii) and 552(l) to review upon request any concerns of FOIA 
requesters about the service received from OGE's FOIA Requester Service 
Center and to address any other FOIA-related inquiries.
    FOIA Requester Service Center means the OGE unit designated under 
E.O. 13392 and referenced in 5 U.S.C. 552(l) to answer any questions 
requesters have about the status of OGE's processing of their FOIA 
requests.
    Freedom of Information Act or FOIA means 5 U.S.C. 552.
    Noncommercial scientific institution means an institution that is 
not operated solely for purposes of furthering its own or someone 
else's business, trade, or profit interests, and that is operated for 
purposes of conducting scientific research the results of which are not 
intended to promote any particular product or industry.
    Office or OGE means the United States Office of Government Ethics.
    Person has the meaning given in 5 U.S.C. 551(2), including ``an 
individual, partnership, corporation, association, or public or private 
organization other than an agency.''
    Records means any handwritten, typed, or printed documents (such as 
memoranda, books, brochures, studies, writings, drafts, letters, 
transcripts, and minutes) and documentary material in other forms (such 
as electronic documents, electronic mail, magnetic tapes, cards or 
discs, paper tapes, audio or video recordings, maps, photographs, 
slides, microfilm and motion pictures) that are either created or 
obtained by OGE and are under its control. It does not include objects 
or articles such as exhibits, models, equipment, and duplication 
machines or audiovisual processing materials.
    Representative of the news media means a person or entity that 
gathers information of potential interest to a segment of the public, 
uses editorial skills to turn the raw materials into a distinct work, 
and distributes that work to an audience. In this clause, the term 
``news'' means information that is about current events or that would 
be of current interest to the public. Examples of news media entities 
include television or radio stations broadcasting to the public at 
large and publishers of periodicals (but only if such entities qualify 
as disseminators of ``news'') who distribute their products to the 
general public or who make their products available for purchase or 
subscription by the general public, and entities that may disseminate 
news through other media, such as electronic dissemination of text. 
Freelance journalists will be considered as representatives of a news 
media entity if they can show a solid basis for expecting publication 
through such an entity. A publication contract is such a basis, and the 
requester's past publication record may show such a basis.
    Request means any request for records made pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
552(a)(3).
    Requester means any person who makes a request for records to OGE.
    Requester category means one of three classifications that OGE 
assigns to requesters to determine whether OGE will charge fees for 
search, review and duplication. These categories are: Commercial 
requesters; noncommercial scientific or educational institutions or 
representatives of the news media; and all other requesters.
    Review means the process of initially, or upon appeal (see Sec.  
2604.501(b)(3)), examining documents located in a response to a request 
to determine whether any portion of any document is permitted to be 
withheld. It also includes processing documents for disclosure, such as 
redacting portions which may be withheld. Review does not include time 
spent resolving general legal and policy issues regarding the 
application of exemptions.
    Search means the time spent looking for material manually or by 
automated means that is responsive to a request, including page-by-page 
or line-by-line identification of material within documents.
    Working days means calendar days, excepting Saturdays, Sundays, and 
legal public holidays.


Sec.  2604.104  Preservation of records.

    OGE will preserve all correspondence pertaining to the requests 
that it receives under this part, as well as copies of all responsive 
records, until disposition or destruction is authorized by title 44 of 
the United States Code or the National Archives and Records 
Administration's General Records Schedule. Records will not be disposed 
of while they are the subject of a pending request, appeal, or lawsuit.


Sec.  2604.105  Other rights and services.

    Nothing in this part will be construed to entitle any person, as of 
right, to any service or to the disclosure of any record to which such 
person is not entitled under the FOIA.

[[Page 57075]]

Subpart B--FOIA Public Reading Room Facility and Web Site; Index 
Identifying Information for the Public


Sec.  2604.201  Public reading room facility and Web site.

    (a)(1) Location of public reading room facility. OGE maintains a 
public reading room facility at its offices located at 1201 New York 
Avenue NW., Suite 500, Washington, DC 20005-3917. Persons desiring to 
utilize the reading room facility should contact OGE, in writing or by 
telephone: 202-482-9300, TDD: 202-482-9293, or FAX: 202-482-9237, to 
arrange a time to inspect the materials available there.
    (2) Web site. The records listed in paragraph (b) of this section 
that were created on or after November 1, 1996, or which OGE is 
otherwise able to make electronically available, along with the OGE 
FOIA and Public Records Guide and OGE's annual FOIA reports, are also 
available via OGE's Web site (www.oge.gov). OGE will proactively 
identify additional records of interest to the public and will post 
such records on its Web site when practicable.
    (b) Records available. The OGE public reading room facility 
contains OGE records which are required by 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(2) to be 
made available for public inspection and copying, including:
    (1) Any final opinions, as well as orders, made in the adjudication 
of cases;
    (2) Any statements of policy and interpretation which have been 
adopted by OGE and are not published in the Federal Register;
    (3) Any administrative staff manuals and instructions to staff that 
affect a member of the public, and which are not exempt from disclosure 
under section (b) of the FOIA;
    (4) Copies of records created by OGE that have been released to any 
person under subpart C of this part which, because of the nature of 
their subject matter, OGE determines have become or are likely to 
become the subject of subsequent requests for substantially the same 
records, together with a general index of such records; and
    (5) A general index of the records referred to under Sec.  
2604.201(b)(4).
    (c) Copying. The cost of copying information available in OGE's 
public reading room facility will be imposed on a requester in 
accordance with the provisions of subpart E of this part.
    (d) OGE may delete from the copies of materials made available 
under this section any identifying details necessary to prevent a 
clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. Any such deletions 
will be explained in writing and the extent of such deletions will be 
indicated on the portion of the records that are made available or 
published, unless the indication would harm an interest protected by 
the FOIA exemption pursuant to which the deletions are made. If 
technically feasible, the extent of any such deletions will be 
indicated at the place in the records where they are made.


Sec.  2604.202  Index identifying information for the public.

    (a) OGE will maintain and make available for public inspection and 
copying a current index of the materials available at its public 
reading room facility which are required to be indexed under 5 U.S.C. 
552(a)(2).
    (b) The Director of the Office of Government Ethics has determined 
that it is unnecessary and impracticable to publish quarterly or more 
frequently and distribute (by sale or otherwise) copies of each index 
and supplements thereto, as provided in 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(2). The Office 
will provide copies of such indexes upon request, at a cost not to 
exceed the direct cost of duplication and mailing, if sending records 
by other than ordinary mail.

Subpart C--Production and Disclosure of Records Under FOIA


Sec.  2604.301  Requests for records.

    (a) Addressing requests. Requests for copies of records may be made 
by mail or email. Requests sent by mail should be addressed to the FOIA 
Officer, U.S. Office of Government Ethics, 1201 New York Avenue NW., 
Suite 500, Washington, DC 20005-3917. The envelope containing the 
request and the letter itself should both clearly indicate that the 
subject is a Freedom of Information Act request. Email requests should 
be sent to usoge@oge.gov and should indicate in the subject line that 
the message contains a Freedom of Information Act request.
    (b) Description of records. Each request must reasonably describe 
the desired records in sufficient detail to enable OGE personnel to 
locate the records with a reasonable amount of effort. A request for a 
specific category of records will be regarded as fulfilling this 
requirement if it enables responsive records to be identified by a 
technique or process that is not unreasonably burdensome or disruptive 
of OGE operations.
    (1) Wherever possible, a request should include specific 
information about each record sought, such as the date, title or name, 
author, recipient, and subject matter of the record.
    (2) If the FOIA Officer determines that a request does not 
reasonably describe the records sought, the FOIA Officer will either 
advise the requester what additional information is needed to locate 
the record, or otherwise state why the request is insufficient. The 
FOIA Officer will also extend to the requester an opportunity to confer 
with OGE personnel with the objective of reformulating the request in a 
manner which will meet the requirements of this section.
    (c) Agreement to pay fees. The filing of a request under this 
subpart will be deemed to constitute an agreement by the requester to 
pay all applicable fees charged under subpart E of this part, up to 
$25.00, unless a waiver of fees is sought. The request may also specify 
a limit on the amount the requester is willing to spend, or may 
indicate a willingness to pay an amount greater than $25.00, if 
applicable. In cases where a requester has been notified that actual or 
estimated fees may amount to more than $25.00, the request will be 
deemed not to have been received until the requester has agreed to pay 
the anticipated total fee. If, in the course of negotiating fees, the 
requester does not respond to correspondence from OGE, OGE will 
administratively close the FOIA request after 30 calendar days have 
passed from the date of its last correspondence to the requester.
    (d) Requests for records relating to corrective actions. No record 
developed pursuant to the authority of 5 U.S.C. app. 402(f)(2) 
concerning the investigation of an employee for a possible violation of 
any provision relating to a conflict of interest will be made available 
pursuant to this part unless the request for such information 
identifies the employee to whom the records relate and the subject 
matter of any alleged violation to which the records relate. Nothing in 
this subsection will affect the application of subpart D of this part 
to any record so identified.
    (e) Seeking expedited processing. (1) A requester may seek 
expedited processing of a FOIA request if a compelling need for the 
requested records can be shown.
    (2) ``Compelling need'' means:
    (i) Circumstances in which failure to obtain copies of the 
requested records on an expedited basis could reasonably be expected to 
pose an imminent threat to the life or physical safety of an 
individual; or
    (ii) An urgency to inform the public about an actual or alleged 
Federal Government activity, if the request is made by a person 
primarily engaged in disseminating information.
    (3) A requester seeking expedited processing should so indicate in 
the

[[Page 57076]]

initial request, and should state all the facts supporting the need to 
obtain the requested records quickly. The requester must also certify 
in writing that these facts are true and correct to the best of the 
requester's knowledge and belief.


Sec.  2604.302  Response to requests.

    (a) Acknowledgement of requests. If the FOIA Officer determines 
that a request will take longer than 10 working days to process, OGE 
will send a written acknowledgment that includes the request's 
individualized tracking number.
    (b) Response to initial request. The FOIA Officer is authorized to 
grant or deny any request for a record and to determine appropriate 
fees.
    (c) Referral to, or consultation with, another agency. When a 
requester seeks access to records that originated in another Government 
agency subject to the FOIA, OGE will normally refer the request to the 
other agency for response; alternatively, OGE may consult with the 
other agency in the course of deciding itself whether to grant or deny 
a request for access to such records. If OGE refers the request to 
another agency, it will notify the requester of the referral and 
provide a point of contact within the receiving agency. If release of 
certain records may adversely affect United States relations with 
foreign governments, OGE will usually consult with the Department of 
State. A request for any records classified by some other agency will 
be referred to that agency for response.
    (d) Honoring form or format requests. In making any record 
available to a requester, OGE will provide the record in the form or 
format requested, if the record already exists or is readily 
reproducible by OGE in that form or format. If a form or format request 
cannot be honored, OGE will so inform the requester and provide a copy 
of a nonexempt record in its existing form or format or another 
convenient form or format which is readily reproducible. OGE will not, 
however, generally develop a completely new record (as opposed to 
providing a copy of an existing record in a readily reproducible new 
form or format, as requested) of information in order to satisfy a 
request.
    (e) Record cannot be located. If a requested record cannot be 
located from the information supplied, the FOIA Officer will so notify 
the requester in writing.


Sec.  2604.303  Form and content of responses.

    (a) Form of notice granting a request. After the FOIA Officer has 
made a determination to grant a request in whole or in part, the 
requester will be notified in writing. The notice will describe the 
manner in which the record will be disclosed, whether by providing a 
copy of the record with the response or at a later date, or by making a 
copy of the record available to the requester for inspection at a 
reasonable time and place. The procedure for such an inspection may not 
unreasonably disrupt OGE operations. The response letter will also 
inform the requester in the response of any fees to be charged in 
accordance with the provisions of subpart E of this part.
    (b) Form of notice denying a request. When the FOIA Officer denies 
a request in whole or in part, the FOIA Officer will so notify the 
requester in writing. The response will be signed by the FOIA Officer 
and will include:
    (1) The name and title or position of the person making the denial;
    (2) A brief statement of the reason or reasons for the denial, 
including the FOIA exemption or exemptions which the FOIA Officer has 
relied upon in denying the request;
    (3) When only a portion of a document is being withheld, the amount 
of information deleted and the FOIA exemption(s) justifying the 
deletion will generally be indicated on the copy of the released 
portion of the document. If technically feasible, such indications will 
appear at the place in the copy of the document where any deletion is 
made. If a document is withheld in its entirety, an estimate of the 
volume of the withheld material will generally be given. However, 
neither an indication of the amount of information deleted nor an 
estimation of the volume of material withheld will be included in a 
response if doing so would harm an interest protected by any of the 
FOIA exemptions pursuant to which the deletion or withholding is made; 
and
    (4) A statement that the denial may be appealed under Sec.  
2604.304, and a description of the requirements of that section.


Sec.  2604.304  Appeal of denials.

    (a) Right of appeal. If a request has been denied in whole or in 
part, the requester may appeal the denial by mail or email to the 
Program Counsel of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics. Requests sent 
by mail should be addressed to 1201 New York Avenue NW., Suite 500, 
Washington, DC 20005-3917. The envelope containing the request and the 
letter itself should both clearly indicate that the subject is a 
Freedom of Information Act appeal. Email requests should be sent to 
usoge@oge.gov and should indicate in the subject line that the message 
contains a Freedom of Information Act appeal.
    (b) Letter of appeal. The appeal must be in writing and must be 
sent within 45 calendar days of receipt of the denial letter. An appeal 
should include a copy of the initial request, a copy of the letter 
denying the request in whole or in part, and a statement of the 
circumstances, reasons or arguments advanced in support of disclosure 
of the record.
    (c) Action on appeal. The disposition of an appeal will be in 
writing and will constitute the final action of OGE on a request. A 
decision affirming in whole or in part the denial of a request will 
include a brief statement of the reason or reasons for affirmance, 
including each FOIA exemption relied on. If the denial of a request is 
reversed in whole or in part on appeal, the request will be processed 
promptly in accordance with the decision on appeal.
    (d) Judicial review. If the denial of the request for records is 
upheld in whole or in part, OGE will notify the person making the 
request of the right to seek judicial review under 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(4).
    (e) Dispute Resolution Services. If the denial of the request for 
records is upheld in whole or in part, OGE will notify the requester 
about the dispute resolution services offered by the Office of 
Government Information Services (OGIS) and provide contact information 
for that office.


Sec.  2604.305  Time limits.

    (a)(1) Initial request. Following receipt of a request for records, 
the FOIA Officer will determine whether to comply with the request and 
will notify the requester in writing of the determination within 20 
working days.
    (2) Tolling. OGE may toll the 20-working day period once while 
awaiting a response to information reasonably requested from the 
requester. OGE may also toll the 20-working day period while awaiting a 
response to a request for clarification regarding fees. There is no 
limit on the number of times OGE may toll the statutory time period to 
request clarification regarding fees. In either case, the tolling 
period ends upon receipt of the requester's response to the request for 
information or clarification. If OGE does not receive a response to a 
request for clarification regarding fees within 30 calendar days, it 
will consider the request ``closed.''
    (3) Request for expedited processing. When a request for expedited 
processing under Sec.  2604.301(e) is received, the FOIA Officer will 
respond within 10 calendar days from the date of receipt of the 
request, stating whether or not the request for expedited processing 
has been granted. If the request for

[[Page 57077]]

expedited processing is denied, any appeal of that decision will be 
acted upon expeditiously.
    (b) Appeal. A written determination on an appeal submitted in 
accordance with Sec.  2604.304 will be issued within 20 working days 
after receipt of the appeal.
    (c) Extension of time limits. When additional time is required for 
one of the reasons stated in paragraph (d) of this section, OGE will, 
within the statutory 20-working day period, issue written notice to the 
requester setting forth the reasons for the extension and the date on 
which a determination is expected to be made. If more than 10 
additional working days are needed, the requester will be notified and 
provided an opportunity to limit the scope of the request or to arrange 
for an alternative time frame for processing the request or a modified 
request. To aid the requester, OGE will make available its FOIA Public 
Liaison to assist in the resolution of any disputes.
    (d) For the purposes of paragraph (c) of this section, unusual 
circumstances means that there is a need to:
    (1) Search for and collect records from archives;
    (2) Search for, collect, and appropriately examine a voluminous 
amount of separate and distinct records which are demanded in a single 
request; or
    (3) Consult with another agency having a substantial interest in 
the determination of the request, or consult with various OGE 
components that have substantial subject matter interest in the records 
requested.

Subpart D--Exemptions Under FOIA


Sec.  2604.401  Policy.

    (a) Policy on application of exemptions. A requested record will 
not be withheld from inspection or copying unless it comes within one 
of the classes of records exempted by 5 U.S.C. 552. In making its 
determination on withholding, OGE will consider making discretionary 
disclosures of records exempt under the FOIA whenever disclosure is not 
prohibited by statute, Executive Order, or regulation and would not 
foreseeably harm an interest protected by a FOIA exemption.
    (b) Pledge of confidentiality. Information obtained from any 
individual or organization, furnished in reliance on a provision for 
confidentiality authorized by applicable statute, Executive Order or 
regulation, will not be disclosed to the extent it can be withheld 
under one of the exemptions. However, this paragraph (b) does not 
itself authorize the giving of any pledge of confidentiality by any 
officer or employee of OGE.
    (c) Exception for law enforcement information. OGE may treat 
records compiled for law enforcement purposes as not subject to the 
requirements of the Freedom of Information Act when:
    (1) The investigation or proceeding involves a possible violation 
of criminal law;
    (2) There is reason to believe that the subject of the 
investigation or proceeding is unaware of its pendency; and
    (3) The disclosure of the existence of the records could reasonably 
be expected to interfere with the enforcement proceedings.
    (d) Partial application of exemptions. Any reasonably segregable 
portion of a record will be provided to any person requesting the 
record after deletion of the portions which are exempt under this 
subpart.


Sec.  2604.402  Business information.

    (a) In general. Business information provided to OGE by a submitter 
will not be disclosed pursuant to a Freedom of Information Act request 
except in accordance with this section.
    (b) Designation of business information. Submitters of business 
information should use good-faith efforts to designate, by appropriate 
markings, either at the time of submission or at a reasonable time 
thereafter, those portions of their submissions which they deem to be 
protected under Exemption 4 of the FOIA (5 U.S.C. 552(b)(4)). Any such 
designation will expire 10 years after the records were submitted to 
the Government, unless the submitter requests, and provides reasonable 
justification for, a designation period of longer duration.
    (c) Predisclosure notification. The FOIA Officer will provide a 
submitter with prompt written notice of a FOIA request regarding its 
business information if:
    (1) The information has been designated by the submitter as 
information deemed protected from disclosure under Exemption 4 of the 
FOIA; or
    (2) The FOIA Officer has reason to believe that the information may 
be protected from disclosure under Exemption 4 of the FOIA. Such 
written notice will either describe the exact nature of the business 
information requested or provide copies of the records containing the 
business information. The requester also will be notified that notice 
and an opportunity to object are being provided to a submitter.
    (d) Opportunity to object to disclosure. OGE will give a submitter 
a reasonable time, up to 10 working days, from receipt of the 
predisclosure notification to provide a written statement of any 
objection to disclosure. Such statement will specify all the grounds 
for withholding any of the information under any exemption of the FOIA 
and, in the case of Exemption 4, will demonstrate why the information 
is deemed to be a trade secret or commercial or financial information 
that is privileged or confidential. Information provided by a submitter 
pursuant to this paragraph (d) may itself be subject to disclosure 
under the FOIA.
    (e) Notice of intent to disclose. The FOIA Officer will consider 
all objections raised by a submitter and specific grounds for 
nondisclosure prior to determining whether to disclose business 
information. Whenever the FOIA Officer decides to disclose business 
information over the objection of a submitter, the FOIA Officer will 
send the submitter a written notice at least 10 working days before the 
date of disclosure containing:
    (1) A statement of the reasons why the submitter's objections were 
not sustained;
    (2) A copy of the records which will be disclosed or a written 
description of the records; and
    (3) A specified disclosure date. The requester will also be 
notified of the FOIA Officer's determination to disclose records over a 
submitter's objections.
    (f) Notice of FOIA lawsuit. Whenever a requester brings suit 
seeking to compel disclosure of business information, the FOIA Officer 
will promptly notify the submitter.
    (g) Exceptions to predisclosure notification. The notice 
requirements in paragraph (c) of this section do not apply if:
    (1) The FOIA Officer determines that the information should not be 
disclosed;
    (2) The information has been published previously or has been 
officially made available to the public;
    (3) Disclosure of the information is required by law (other than 5 
U.S.C. 552); or
    (4) The designation made by the submitter in accordance with 
paragraph (b) of this section appears obviously frivolous; except that, 
in such a case, the FOIA Officer will provide the submitter with 
written notice of any final decision to disclose business information 
within a reasonable number of days prior to a specified disclosure 
date.

[[Page 57078]]

Subpart E--Schedule of Fees


Sec.  2604.501  Fees to be charged--general.

    (a) Policy. Fees will be assessed according to the schedule 
contained in paragraph (b) of this section and the category of 
requesters described in Sec.  2604.502 for services rendered in 
responding to and processing requests for records under subpart C of 
this part. All fees will be charged to the requester, except where the 
charging of fees is limited under Sec.  2604.503(a) and (b) or where a 
waiver or reduction of fees is granted under Sec.  2604.503(c). 
Requesters will pay fees by check or money order made payable to the 
Treasury of the United States.
    (b) Types of charges. The types of charges that may be assessed in 
connection with the production of records in response to a FOIA request 
are as follows:
    (1) Searches--(i) Manual searches for records. Whenever feasible, 
OGE will charge at the salary rate (i.e., basic pay plus 16%) of the 
employee making the search. However, where a homogeneous class of 
personnel is used exclusively in a search (e.g., all clerical time or 
all professional time) OGE will charge $16.00 per hour for clerical 
time and $28.00 per hour for professional time. Charges for search time 
will be billed by 15minute segments.
    (ii) Computer searches for records. Requesters will be charged the 
actual direct cost of conducting a search using existing programming. 
These direct costs will include the cost of operating a central 
processing unit for that portion of operating time that is directly 
attributable to searching for records responsive to a request, as well 
as the cost of operator/programmer salary apportionable to the search. 
OGE will not alter or develop programming to conduct a search.
    (iii) Unproductive searches. OGE will charge search fees even if no 
records are found which are responsive to the request, or if the 
records found are exempt from disclosure.
    (2) Duplication. The standard copying charge for documents in paper 
copy is $0.15 per page. When responsive information is provided in a 
format other than paper copy, such as in the form of computer tapes, 
flash drives, and discs, the requester may be charged the direct costs 
of the medium used to produce the information, as well as any related 
reproduction costs.
    (3) Review. Costs associated with the review of documents, as 
defined in Sec.  2604.103, will be charged at the salary rate (i.e., 
basic pay plus 16%) of the employee conducting the review. Except as 
noted below, charges may be assessed only for review at the initial 
level, i.e., the review undertaken the first time the documents are 
analyzed to determine the applicability of specific exemptions to a 
particular record or portion of the records. A requester will not be 
charged for review at the administrative appeal level concerning the 
applicability of an exemption already applied at the initial level. 
However, when a record has been withheld pursuant to an exemption which 
is subsequently determined not to apply and the record is reviewed 
again at the appeal level to determine the potential applicability of 
other exemptions, the costs of such additional review may be assessed.
    (4) Other services and materials. Where OGE elects, as a matter of 
administrative discretion, to comply with a request for a special 
service or materials, such as certifying that records are true copies 
or sending records by special methods, the actual direct costs of 
providing the service or materials will be charged.


Sec.  2604.502  Fees to be charged--categories of requesters.

    (a) Fees for various requester categories. The paragraphs below 
state, for each category of requester, the type of fees generally 
charged by OGE. However, for each of these categories, the fees may be 
limited, waived or reduced in accordance with the provisions set forth 
in Sec.  2604.503. In determining whether a requester belongs in any of 
the following categories, OGE will determine the use to which the 
requester will put the documents requested. If OGE has reasonable cause 
to doubt the use to which the requester will put the records sought, or 
where the use is not clear from the request itself, OGE will seek 
clarification before assigning the request to a specific category.
    (b) Commercial use requester. OGE will charge the full costs of 
search, review, and duplication. Commercial use requesters are not 
entitled to two hours of free search time or 100 free pages of 
reproduction as described in Sec.  2604.503(a); however, the minimum 
fees provision of Sec.  2604.503(b) does apply to such requesters.
    (c) Educational and noncommercial scientific institutions and news 
media. If the request is from an educational institution or a 
noncommercial scientific institution, operated for scholarly or 
scientific research, or a representative of the news media, and the 
request is not for a commercial use, OGE will charge only for 
duplication of documents, excluding charges for the first 100 pages.
    (d) All other requesters. If the request is not one described in 
paragraph (b) or (c) of this section, OGE will charge the full and 
direct costs of searching for and reproducing records that are 
responsive to the request, excluding the first 100 pages of duplication 
and the first two hours of search time.


Sec.  2604.503  Limitations on charging fees.

    (a) In general. Except for requesters seeking records for a 
commercial use as described in Sec.  2604.502(b), OGE will provide, 
without charge, the first 100 pages of duplication and the first two 
hours of search time, or their cost equivalent.
    (b) Minimum fees. OGE will not assess fees for individual requests 
if the total charge would be $10.00 or less.
    (c) Waiver or reduction of fees. Records responsive to a request 
under 5 U.S.C. 552 will be furnished without charge or at a reduced 
charge if a requester can demonstrate that certain statutory standards 
are satisfied, including that the information is in the public interest 
because it is likely to contribute significantly to public 
understanding of the operations or activities of the Government and is 
not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester. Requests for 
a waiver or reduction of fees will be considered on a case-by-case 
basis.
    (1) In determining whether disclosure is in the public interest 
because it is likely to contribute significantly to public 
understanding of the operations or activities of the Government, OGE 
will consider the following factors:
    (i) The subject of the request: Whether the subject of the 
requested records concerns the operations or activities of the 
Government. The subject matter of the requested records, in the context 
of the request, must specifically and directly concern identifiable 
operations or activities of the Federal Government. Furthermore, the 
records must be sought for their informative value with respect to 
those Government operations or activities;
    (ii) The informative value of the information to be disclosed: 
Whether the information is likely to contribute to an understanding of 
Government operations or activities. The disclosable portions of the 
requested records must be meaningfully informative on specific 
Government operations or activities in order to hold potential for 
contributing to increased public understanding of those operations and 
activities. The disclosure of information which is already in the 
public domain, in either a duplicative or substantially identical form, 
would not be likely to contribute

[[Page 57079]]

to such understanding, as nothing new would be added to the public 
record;
    (iii) The contribution to an understanding of the subject by the 
public likely to result from disclosure: Whether disclosure of the 
requested information will contribute to public understanding. The 
disclosure must contribute to the understanding of the public at large, 
as opposed to the individual understanding of the requester or a narrow 
segment of interested persons. A requester's identity and 
qualifications--e.g., expertise in the subject area and ability and 
intention to convey information to the general public--will be 
considered; and
    (iv) The significance of the contribution to public understanding: 
Whether the disclosure is likely to contribute significantly to public 
understanding of Government operations or activities. The public's 
understanding of the subject matter in question, as compared to the 
level of public understanding existing prior to the disclosure, must be 
likely to be significantly enhanced by the disclosure.
    (2) In determining whether disclosure of the requested information 
is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester, OGE will 
consider the following factors:
    (i) The existence and magnitude of a commercial interest: Whether 
the requester has a commercial interest that would be furthered by the 
requested disclosure. OGE will consider all commercial interests of the 
requester, or any person on whose behalf the requester may be acting, 
which would be furthered by the requested disclosure. In assessing the 
magnitude of identified commercial interests, consideration will be 
given to the effect that the information disclosed would have on those 
commercial interests; and
    (ii) The primary interest in disclosure: Whether the magnitude of 
the identified commercial interest of the requester is sufficiently 
large, in comparison with the public interest in disclosure, that 
disclosure is primarily in the commercial interest of the requester. A 
fee waiver or reduction is warranted only where the public interest can 
fairly be regarded as greater in magnitude than the requester's 
commercial interest in disclosure. OGE will ordinarily presume that, 
where a news media requester has satisfied the public interest 
standard, the public interest will be served primarily by disclosure to 
that requester. Disclosure to data brokers and others who compile and 
market Government information for direct economic return will not be 
presumed to primarily serve the public interest.
    (3) Where only a portion of the requested record satisfies the 
requirements for a waiver or reduction of fees under this paragraph 
(c), a waiver or reduction will be granted only as to that portion.
    (4) A request for a waiver or reduction of fees must accompany the 
request for disclosure of records, and should include:
    (i) A clear statement of the requester's interest in the documents;
    (ii) The proposed use of the documents and whether the requester 
will derive income or other benefit from such use;
    (iii) A statement of how the public will benefit from release of 
the requested documents; and
    (iv) If specialized use of the documents is contemplated, a 
statement of the requester's qualifications that are relevant to the 
specialized use.
    (5) A requester may appeal the denial of a request for a waiver or 
reduction of fees in accordance with the provisions of Sec.  2604.304.
    (d) If OGE does not comply with one of the time limits under Sec.  
2604.305, it will not assess search fees (or, in the case of a 
requester described under Sec.  2604.502(c), duplication fees), unless 
unusual or exceptional circumstances apply, as defined in 5 U.S.C. 
552(a)(6)(B) and (C).


Sec.  2604.504  Miscellaneous fee provisions.

    (a) Notice of anticipated fees in excess of $25.00. Where OGE 
determines or estimates that the fees to be assessed under this section 
may amount to more than $25.00, it will notify the requester as soon as 
practicable of the actual or estimated amount of fees, unless the 
requester has indicated in advance the willingness to pay fees as high 
as those anticipated. Where a requester has been notified that the 
actual or estimated fees may exceed $25.00, the request will be deemed 
not to have been received until the requester has agreed to pay the 
anticipated total fee. A notice to the requester pursuant to this 
paragraph (a) will include the opportunity to confer with OGE personnel 
in order to reformulate the request to meet the requester's needs at a 
lower cost.
    (b) Aggregating requests. A requester may not file multiple 
requests, each seeking portions of a document or documents in order to 
avoid the payment of fees. Where there is reason to believe that a 
requester, or group of requesters acting in concert, is attempting to 
divide a request into a series of requests for the purpose of evading 
the assessment of fees, OGE may aggregate the requests and charge 
accordingly. OGE will presume that multiple requests of this type made 
within a 30-calendar day period have been made in order to evade fees. 
Multiple requests regarding unrelated matters will not be aggregated.
    (c) Advance payments. An advance payment before work is commenced 
or continued will not be required unless:
    (1) OGE estimates or determines that the total fee to be assessed 
under this section is likely to exceed $250.00. When a determination is 
made that the allowable charges are likely to exceed $250.00, the 
requester will be notified of the likely cost and will be required to 
provide satisfactory assurance of full payment where the requester has 
a history of prompt payment of FOIA fees, or will be required to submit 
an advance payment of an amount up to the full estimated charges in the 
case of requesters with no history of payment; or
    (2) A requester has previously failed to pay a fee charged in a 
timely fashion (i.e., within 30 calendar days of the date of the 
billing). In such cases the requester may be required to pay the full 
amount owed plus any applicable interest as provided by paragraph (e) 
of this section, and to make an advance payment of the full amount of 
the estimated fee before OGE begins to process a new request.
    (3) When OGE requests an advance payment of fees, the 
administrative time limits described in subsection (a)(6) of the FOIA 
will begin to run only after OGE has received the advance payment.
    (d) Billing and payment. Normally OGE will require a requester to 
pay all fees before furnishing the requested records. However, OGE may 
send a bill along with, or following the furnishing of records, in 
cases where the requester has a history of prompt payment.
    (e) Interest charges. Interest charges on an unpaid bill may be 
assessed starting on the 31st calendar day following the day on which 
the billing was sent. Interest will be at the rate prescribed in 31 
U.S.C. 3717 and will accrue from the date of billing. To collect unpaid 
bills, OGE will follow the provisions of the Debt Collection Act of 
1982, as amended (96 Stat. 1749 et seq.) including the use of consumer 
reporting agencies, collection agencies, and offset.

Subpart F--Annual OGE FOIA Report


Sec.  2604.601  Electronic posting and submission of annual OGE FOIA 
report.

    On or before February 1 of each year, OGE will electronically post 
on its Web site and submit to the Office of Information and Privacy at 
the United

[[Page 57080]]

States Department of Justice a report of its activities relating to the 
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) during the preceding fiscal year. The 
report will include the information required by 5 U.S.C. 552(e).

Subpart G--Fees for the Reproduction and Mailing of Public 
Financial Disclosure Reports


Sec.  2604.701  Policy.

    Fees for the reproduction and mailing of public financial 
disclosure reports requested pursuant to section 105 of the Ethics in 
Government Act of 1978, as amended, and Sec.  2634.603 of this chapter 
will be assessed according to the schedule contained in Sec.  2604.702. 
Requesters will pay fees by check or money order made payable to the 
Treasury of the United States. Except as provided in Sec.  2604.702(d), 
nothing concerning fees in subpart E of this part supersedes the 
charges set forth in this subpart for records covered in this subpart.


Sec.  2604.702  Charges.

    (a) Duplication. Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this 
section, copies of public financial disclosure reports requested 
pursuant to section 105 of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, as 
amended, and Sec.  2634.603 of this chapter will be provided upon 
payment of $0.15 per page furnished.
    (b) Mailing. Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, 
the actual direct cost of mailing public financial disclosure reports 
will be charged for all forms requested. Where OGE elects to comply, as 
a matter of administrative discretion, with a request for special 
mailing services, the actual direct cost of such service will be 
charged.
    (c) Minimum fees. OGE will not assess fees for individual requests 
if the total charge would be $10.00 or less.
    (d) Miscellaneous fee provisions. The miscellaneous fee provisions 
set forth in Sec.  2604.504 apply to requests for public financial 
disclosure reports pursuant to Sec.  2634.603 of this chapter.

[FR Doc. 2015-23561 Filed 9-21-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6345-03-P