Revisions to Freedom of Information Act Regulations, 28001-28005 [2017-12775]

Agencies

• Commodity Futures Trading Commission

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 117 (Tuesday, June 20, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 28001-28005]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-12775]


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COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION

17 CFR Part 145

RIN 3038-AE57


Revisions to Freedom of Information Act Regulations

AGENCY: Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

ACTION: Interim final rule with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the ``Commission'') 
is revising certain provisions of its regulations for disclosing 
records under the Freedom of Information Act (``FOIA'') to comply with 
the FOIA Improvement Act of 2016. In addition, the regulations would 
streamline the language of procedural provisions concerning initial 
determinations and administrative appeals. The regulations have also 
been updated to incorporate changes in the Commission's administrative 
structure, remove superfluous verbiage, and correct inaccurate text.

DATES: Effective Date: This rule is effective July 20, 2017.
    Comment Date: Comments must be received on or before August 21, 
2017.
    Comments submitted by mail will be accepted as timely if they are 
postmarked on or before that date.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by RIN 3038-AE57, by one 
of the following methods:
     CFTC Web site: https://comments.cftc.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments through the Comments Online 
process on the Web site.
     Mail: Christopher Kirkpatrick, Secretary of the 
Commission, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Three Lafayette 
Centre, 1155 21st Street NW., Washington, DC 20581.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: Same as Mail, above.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    Please submit your comments using only one method.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and RIN number for this rulemaking. For additional details on 
submitting comments, see the ``Public Participation'' heading of the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Candace Ambrose, Counsel, Office of 
the General Counsel, (202) 418-5192.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This rule revises the Commission's FOIA 
regulations to incorporate certain changes codified by the FOIA 
Improvement Act of 2016, Public Law 114-185, 130 Stat. 538 (June 30, 
2016) (``Act''). The Act requires each agency to review its regulations 
and issue new regulations in accordance with the Act's provisions. The 
Act requires agencies to notify requesters of the availability of 
dispute resolution services from the agency's FOIA Public Liaison and 
the National Archives and Records Administration's Office of Government 
Information Services (``OGIS''). The Act also incorporates the 
Department of Justice's foreseeable harm standard, specifying that an 
agency shall withhold information only if the agency reasonably 
foresees that disclosure would harm an interest protected by an 
exemption. 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(8)(A)(i)(I). This provision requires 
agencies to consider whether partial disclosure is possible and to take 
reasonable steps to segregate and release nonexempt information. In 
accordance with the Act, this rule incorporates the sunset provision 
for the deliberative process privilege. The Act also increases the time 
limit for requesters to file an administrative appeal to 90 days. This 
rule updates the Commission's regulations in 17 CFR part 145 to 
incorporate those statutory changes. This rule also contains several 
technical amendments to reflect the Commission's current organizational 
structure, eliminate unnecessary text, and correct erroneous citations.
    Section 145.0 (Definitions) is revised to (1) eliminate the term 
Assistant Secretary because the position referred to--Assistant 
Secretary of the Commission for FOI, Privacy, and Sunshine Acts 
Compliance--is defunct; (2) update the definition of Compliance Staff 
to reflect the current organizational structure; and (3) add paragraph 
letters before each defined term for easier cross-reference throughout 
part 145.
    Section 145.4 (Public records available with identifying details 
deleted; nonpublic records available in abridged or summary form) is 
revised to update cross-references with the paragraph letters 
corresponding to the defined terms.
    Section 145.5 (Disclosure of nonpublic records) is revised to 
incorporate the foreseeable harm standard codified by the Act, which 
provides that an agency shall withhold information under FOIA only if 
the agency reasonably foresees that disclosure would harm an interest 
protected by an exemption, or disclosure is prohibited by law. This 
section is also revised to reflect the requirement in the Act that 
agencies consider whether partial disclosure of information is possible 
whenever agencies determine that full disclosure of a requested record 
is not possible.
    Paragraph (e) of Sec.  145.5 is revised to include the three 
traditional privileges incorporated into Exemption 5 of FOIA and to 
conform to the requirement of the Act which states that the 
deliberative process privilege shall not apply to records created 25 
years or more before the date on which the records were requested. This 
paragraph is also revised to remove superfluous text concerning 
Exemption 5.
    Section 145.6 (Commission offices to contact for assistance; 
registration records available) is revised to reflect the current 
addressee for requests for non-public records and to reflect the 
current addresses for the regional offices.
    Paragraph (b) of Sec.  145.7 (Requests for Commission records and 
copies thereof) is revised to indicate to whom requests for nonpublic 
records should be addressed and to delete references to Assistant 
Secretary of the Commission for FOI, Privacy and Sunshine Acts 
Compliance since that position is defunct, as noted above.
    Paragraph (c) of Sec.  145.7 is revised to remove oral requests for 
records because requests for records should be submitted in a written 
format for record keeping purposes and to eliminate unnecessary text 
concerning misdirected requests.
    Paragraph (f) of Sec.  145.7 is revised to replace the term 
Assistant Secretary with Office of General Counsel because the 
Assistant Secretary of the Commission for FOI, Privacy and Sunshine 
Acts Compliance position is defunct.
    Paragraph (g) of Sec.  145.7 is revised to correct erroneous text 
and to replace the term Assistant Secretary with Office of General 
Counsel because the Assistant Secretary of the Commission for FOI, 
Privacy and Sunshine Acts Compliance position is defunct.
    Paragraph (h) of Sec.  145.7 is revised to replace references to 
Assistant Secretary with the term Compliance Staff or Office of General 
Counsel where appropriate. This paragraph is also revised to 
incorporate the Act's requirement that

[[Page 28002]]

an affirmative determination informs the requester of the availability 
of assistance from the FOIA Public Liaison. Additionally, this 
paragraph is revised to incorporate the Act's requirement that an 
adverse determination informs the requester of the right to seek 
dispute resolution services from the FOIA Public Liaison and from OGIS. 
Further, this paragraph is revised to provide requesters an opportunity 
to modify the request and to seek assistance from the FOIA Public 
Liaison if the request involves unusual circumstances. This paragraph 
is also revised to conform to the requirement under the Act that 
agencies inform requesters of the right to seek dispute resolution 
services from OGIS if the request involves unusual circumstances.
    Paragraph (i) of Sec.  145.7 is revised to extend the time to file 
an administrative appeal to 90 days in conformity with the Act. 
Further, this paragraph is revised to include the requirement under the 
Act to inform the requester of mediation services offered by OGIS. This 
paragraph is also revised to streamline the process for administrative 
reviews and to replace the term Assistant Secretary with the term 
Compliance Staff because the Assistant Secretary of the Commission for 
FOI, Privacy and Sunshine Acts Compliance position is defunct. 
Moreover, this paragraph corrects typographical errors.
    Paragraph (j) of Sec.  145.7 is revised to replace the term 
Assistant Secretary with the term Compliance Staff because the 
Assistant Secretary of the Commission for FOI, Privacy and Sunshine 
Acts Compliance position is defunct.
    Section 145.8 (Fees for records services) is revised to replace the 
term Assistant Secretary with the term Compliance Staff because the 
Assistant Secretary of the Commission for FOI, Privacy and Sunshine 
Acts Compliance position is defunct.

Public Participation

    The Commission is issuing an interim rule to revise its FOIA 
regulations because these changes merely reflect the statutory 
amendments to FOIA that are contained in the Act. This approach enables 
these regulatory changes to take effect sooner than would be possible 
with the publication of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in advance. 
Nonetheless, the Commission welcomes public comments from interested 
persons regarding any aspect of the changes made by this interim final 
rule. Please refer to the ADDRESSES section above. The Commission will 
consider all public comments in drafting the final rule.
    All comments must be submitted in English, or if not, accompanied 
by an English translation. Except as described below regarding 
confidential business information, all comments are considered part of 
the public record and will be posted as received to https://comments.cftc.gov for public inspection. The information made available 
online includes personal identifying information (such as name and 
address) which is voluntarily submitted by the commenter. You should 
submit only information that you wish to make available publicly.
    If you want to submit material that you consider to be confidential 
business information as part of your comment, but do not want it to be 
posted online, you must submit your comment by mail or hand delivery/
courier and include a petition for confidential treatment as described 
in Sec.  145.9 of the Commission's regulations, 17 CFR 145.9.
    The Commission reserves the right, but shall have no obligation, to 
review, pre-screen, filter, redact, refuse or remove any or all of your 
submission from https://comments.cftc.gov that it may deem to be 
inappropriate for publication, such as obscene language. All 
submissions that have been redacted or removed that contain comments on 
the merits of the rulemaking will be retained in the rulemaking record 
and will be considered as required under the Administrative Procedure 
Act and other applicable laws, and may be accessible under the FOIA.

Regulatory Certifications

    Administrative Procedure Act. The Administrative Procedure Act 
(``APA''), 5 U.S.C. 553 et seq., requires federal agencies to publish a 
notice of proposed rulemaking and provide an opportunity for public 
comment before issuing a new rule. Rules are exempt from notice and 
comment if they are interpretive rules, general statements of policy, 
or rules of agency organization, procedure, or practice. 5 U.S.C. 
553(b)(3)(A). The Commission has determined that this exception 
applies. The subject rules do not change the substantive standards the 
agency applies in implementing FOIA to the extent they conform to the 
changes codified in the Act. Also, the Commission has determined that 
the rules concern its organization, procedure, and practice because 
they make updates to accurately reflect the organizational structure of 
the agency. Furthermore, an agency may also issue a new rule without a 
pre-publication public comment period when it for ``good cause'' finds 
that prior notice and comment is ``impracticable, unnecessary, or 
contrary to the public interest.'' 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B). The 
Commission has determined that there is good cause to find that a pre-
publication comment period is unnecessary. These revisions to the 
existing regulations in 17 CFR part 145 codify statutory changes and 
are technical-administrative in nature. For these reasons, the 
Commission's implementation of this rule as an interim final rule, with 
provision for post-promulgation public comment, is in accordance with 
section 553(b) of the APA.
    Regulatory Flexibility Act. The Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 
U.S.C. 601 et seq., requires federal agencies to consider whether the 
rules they propose will have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities and, if so, to provide a 
regulatory flexibility analysis regarding the economic impact on those 
entities. This rule amends the Commission's FOIA regulations to 
incorporate certain statutory changes required by the Act, and to 
reflect updates to the Commission's internal administrative structure 
and to make editorial changes to the regulations. Because the 
Commission is not required to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking 
for this rule, a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required. 5 
U.S.C. 603(a).
    Paperwork Reduction Act. The Paperwork Reduction Act (``PRA''), 5 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq., imposes certain requirements on federal agencies 
in connection with their conducting or sponsoring any collection of 
information. This rule does not contain any new collection of 
information requirements within the meaning of the PRA. Thus, the PRA 
is inapplicable to this rule.

List of Subjects in 17 CFR Part 145

    Administrative practice and procedure, Freedom of information.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Commodity Futures 
Trading Commission amends 17 CFR part 145 as set forth below:

PART 145--COMMISSION RECORDS AND INFORMATION

0
1. The authority citation for part 145 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority:  Pub. L. 99-570, 100 Stat. 3207; Pub. L. 89-554, 80 
Stat. 383; Pub. L. 90-23, 81 Stat. 54; Pub. L. 98-502, 88 Stat. 
1561-1564 (5 U.S.C. 552); Sec. 101(a), Pub. L. 93-463, 88 Stat. 1389 
(5 U.S.C. 4a(j)); Pub. L. 114-185, 130 Stat. 538; unless otherwise 
noted.
    Section 145.5 is also issued under 5 U.S.C. 552, 5 U.S.C. 552b, 
and secs. 2(a)(11), 4b, 4f,

[[Page 28003]]

4g, 5a, 8a, and 17 of the Commodity Exchange Act, 7 U.S.C. 2, 4a(j), 
6b, 6f, 6g, 7a, 12a, and 21, as amended, 92 Stat. 865 et seq.; secs. 
2(a)(1), 4c(a)-(d), 4d, 4f, 4g, 4k, 4m, 4n, 8a, 15 and 17, Commodity 
Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 2, 4, 6c(a)-(d), 6f, 6g, 6k, 6m, 6n, 12a, 19 
and 21; 5 U.S.C. 552 and 552b); secs. 2(a)(11) and 8 of the 
Commodity Exchange Act, 7 U.S.C. 4(j) and 12 (1983); secs. 8a(5) and 
19 of the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended, 7 U.S.C. 12a(5) and 23 
(1982); 5 U.S.C. 552 and 552b.
    Section 145.6 is also issued under 7 U.S.C. 2, 4, 6, and 12; 
secs. 2(a)(1), 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, 4k, 4m, 4n, 4p, 8, 8a and 19 of the 
Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 2 and 4, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f, 6k, 6m, 
6n, 6p, 12, 12a and 23 (1982)); 5 U.S.C. 552 and 552b.
    Section 145.8 is also issued under 7 U.S.C. 4a(j) and 16a as 
amended by Pub. L. 97-444, 96 Stat. 2294 (1983), and 5 U.S.C. 552, 
552a and 552b.

0
2. Revise Sec.  145.0 to read as follows:


Sec.  145.0  Definitions.

    For the purposes of part 145 the following definitions are 
applicable:
    (a) Compliance staff--refers to the FOI Compliance Staff of the 
Office of General Counsel at the Commission's principal office in 
Washington, DC assigned to respond to requests for information and to 
handle various other matters under the Freedom of Information Act.
    (b) Public records--in addition to the records described in Sec.  
145.1 (material published in the Federal Register) and in Sec.  145.2 
(records required to be made publicly available under the Freedom of 
Information Act), includes those records that have been determined by 
the Commission to be generally available to the public directly upon 
oral or written request from the Commission office or division 
responsible for the maintenance of such records. A compilation of 
Commission records routinely available to the public upon request 
appears in appendix A to this part 145.
    (c) Nonpublic records--are records not identified in Sec.  145.1, 
Sec.  145.2, or appendix A of this part 145. Nonpublic records must be 
requested, in writing, in accordance with the provisions of Sec.  
145.7.
    (d) Record--is any information or agency record maintained by the 
Commission in any format, including an electronic format. It includes 
any document, writing, photograph, sound or magnetic recording, 
videotape, microfiche, drawing, or computer-stored information or 
output in the possession of the Commission. The term ``record'' does 
not include personal convenience materials over which the Commission 
has no control, such as appointment calendars and handwritten notes, 
which may be retained or destroyed at an employee's discretion.

0
3. Amend Sec.  145.4 by revising the first sentence of paragraph (a) 
and by revising paragraph (b) to read as follows:


Sec.  145.4  Public records available with identifying details deleted; 
nonpublic records available in abridged or summary form.

    (a) To the extent required to prevent a clearly unwarranted 
invasion of personal privacy, the Commission may delete identifying 
details when it makes available ``public records'' as defined in Sec.  
145.0(b). * * *
    (b) Certain ``nonpublic records,'' as defined in Sec.  145.0(c), 
may, as authorized by the Commission, be made available for public 
inspection and copying in an abridged or summary form, with identifying 
details deleted.

0
4. In Sec.  145.5, revise the introductory text and paragraph (e) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  145.5  Disclosure of nonpublic records.

    The Commission shall withhold information in ``nonpublic records,'' 
as defined in Sec.  145.0(c), only if the Commission reasonably 
foresees that disclosure would harm an interest protected by an 
exemption described in paragraphs (a) through (i) of this section, or 
if disclosure is prohibited by law. The Commission shall consider 
whether partial disclosure of information is possible whenever the 
Commission determines that a full disclosure of the requested record is 
not possible. The Commission shall take reasonable steps necessary to 
segregate and release nonexempt information in ``nonpublic records'' 
subject to a request under Sec.  145.7 if those portions do not fall 
within an exemption described in paragraphs (a) through (i) of this 
section.
* * * * *
    (e) Inter-agency or intra-agency memoranda or letters, except those 
which by law would routinely be made available to a party other than an 
agency in litigation with the Commission. Exemption 5 (5 U.S.C. 
552(b)(5)) protects inter-agency or intra-agency communications that 
are protected by legal privileges, such as the attorney-client 
privilege, the attorney work-product privilege, and the deliberative 
process privilege. The deliberative process privilege shall not apply 
to records created 25 years or more before the date on which the 
records were requested.
* * * * *

0
5. In Sec.  145.6, revise paragraph (a) to read as follows:


Sec.  145.6  Commission offices to contact for assistance; registration 
records available.

    (a) All requests for non-public records shall be made in writing 
and shall be addressed or otherwise directed to the Office of General 
Counsel, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Three Lafayette Centre, 
1155 21st Street NW., Washington, DC 20581. Requests for public records 
directed to a regional office of the Commission pursuant to Sec.  145.2 
should be sent to:

Commodity Futures Trading Commission, 140 Broadway, 19th Floor, New 
York, New York 10005, Telephone: (646) 746-9700.
Commodity Futures Trading Commission, 525 West Monroe Street, Suite 
1100, Chicago, Illinois 60661, Telephone: (312) 596-0700.
Commodity Futures Trading Commission, 4900 Main Street, Suite 500, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64112, Telephone: (816) 960-7700.
* * * * *

0
6. Amend Sec.  145.7 as follows:
0
a. Revise paragraphs (b), (c), (f), and (g);
0
b. Revise paragraphs (h)(1) and (2) and paragraph (h)(3) introductory 
text;
0
c. Revise paragraphs (i)(2) and (5), (i)(6) introductory text, and 
(i)(6)(iii) and (i)(7); and
0
d. Revise paragraph (j).
    The revisions read as follows:


Sec.  145.7  Requests for Commission records and copies thereof.

* * * * *
    (b) Requests for nonpublic records. Except as provided in paragraph 
(a) of this section with respect to public records, all requests for 
records maintained by the Commission shall be in writing, shall be 
addressed to the Office of General Counsel of the Commission and shall 
be clearly marked ``Freedom of Information Act Request.''
    (c) Misdirected written requests. The Commission cannot ensure that 
a timely or satisfactory response will be given to requests for records 
that are directed to the Commission other than in the manner prescribed 
in paragraph (b) of this section. Any misdirected written request for 
nonpublic records should be promptly forwarded to the Office of General 
Counsel of the Commission. Misdirected requests for nonpublic records 
will be considered to have been received for purposes of this section 
only when they actually have been received by the Office of General 
Counsel.
* * * * *
    (f) Request for existing records. The Commission's response to a 
request for nonpublic records will encompass all

[[Page 28004]]

nonpublic records identifiable as responsive to the request that are in 
existence on the date that the written request is received by the 
Office of General Counsel. The Commission need not create a new record 
in response to a FOIA request.
    (g) Fee agreement. A request for copies of records pursuant to 
paragraph (b) of this section must indicate the requester's agreement 
to pay all fees that are associated with the processing of the request, 
in accordance with the rates set forth in appendix B to this part, or 
the requester's intention to limit the fees incurred to a stated 
amount. If the requester states a fee limitation, no work will be done 
that will result in fees beyond the stated amount. A requester who 
seeks a waiver or reduction of fees pursuant to paragraph (b) of 
appendix B of this part must show that such a waiver or reduction would 
be in the public interest. If the Office of General Counsel receives a 
request for records under paragraph (b) of this section from a 
requester who has not paid fees from a previous request in accordance 
with appendix B of this part, the staff will decline to process the 
request until such fees have been paid.
    (h) Initial determination, denials. (1) With respect to any request 
for nonpublic records as defined in Sec.  145.0(c), the Compliance 
Staff of the Commission will forward the request to the Commission 
divisions or offices likely to maintain records that are responsive to 
the request. If a responsive record is located, the Compliance Staff 
will, in consultation with the Commission office in which the record 
was located, determine whether to comply with such request. The 
Compliance Staff may, in their discretion, determine whether to comply 
with any portion of a request for nonpublic records before considering 
the remainder of the request. The Compliance Staff will inform the 
requester of the availability of the Commission's FOIA Public Liaison 
to offer assistance.
    (2) Where it is determined to deny, in whole or in part, a request 
for nonpublic records, the Compliance Staff will notify the requester 
of the denial, citing applicable exemptions of the Freedom of 
Information Act or other provisions of law that require or allow the 
records to be withheld. The Compliance Staff's response to the FOIA 
request should describe in general terms what categories of documents 
are being withheld under which applicable FOIA exemption or exemptions. 
The Compliance Staff's response will include a statement notifying the 
requester of the right to seek dispute resolution services from the 
Commission's FOIA Public Liaison and the National Archives and Records 
Administration's Office of Government Information Services. The 
Compliance Staff, in denying an initial request for records, is not 
required to provide the requester with an inventory of those documents 
determined to be exempt from disclosure.
    (3) The Compliance Staff will issue an initial determination with 
respect to a FOIA request within twenty business days after receipt by 
the Office of General Counsel. In unusual circumstances, as defined in 
this paragraph, the prescribed time limit may be extended by written 
notice to the person making a request for a record or a copy. The 
notice shall set forth the reasons for the extension and the date on 
which a determination is expected to be dispatched. Where the extension 
exceeds ten business days, the Compliance Staff will provide the 
requester with an opportunity to modify the request or arrange an 
alternative time period for processing the original or modified 
request. The Compliance Staff or the FOIA Public Liaison is available 
to assist the requester in unusual circumstances. The Compliance Staff 
will notify the requester of the right to seek dispute resolution 
services from the Office of Government Information Services. As used in 
this paragraph, ``unusual circumstances'' means, but only to the extent 
reasonably necessary to the proper processing of a particular request:
* * * * *
    (i) * * *
    (2) An application for review must be received by the Office of 
General Counsel within 90 days of the date of the denial by the 
Compliance Staff. This 90-day period shall not begin to run until the 
Compliance Staff has issued an initial determination with respect to 
all portions of the request for nonpublic records. An application for 
review shall be in writing and shall be marked ``Freedom of Information 
Act Appeal'' and be sent to the Commission's Office of General Counsel. 
If the appeal involves information as to which the FOIA requester has 
received a detailed written justification of a request for confidential 
treatment pursuant to Sec.  145.9(e), the requester must also serve a 
copy of the appeal on the submitter of the information.
* * * * *
    (5) If the appeal involves information that is subject to a 
petition for confidential treatment filed under Sec.  145.9, the 
submitter of the information shall have an opportunity to respond in 
writing to the appeal within 10 business days of the date of filing the 
appeal. Any response shall be sent to the Commission's Office of 
General Counsel. Copies shall be sent to the person requesting the 
information.
    (6) The General Counsel, or his or her designee, shall have the 
authority to consider all appeals under this section from initial 
determinations of the Compliance Staff of the Commission. The General 
Counsel, or his or her designee, may:
* * * * *
    (iii) Remand the matter to the Compliance Staff--
    (A) To correct a deficiency in the initial processing of the 
request, or
    (B) When an investigation as to which the staff originally claimed 
exemption from mandatory disclosure on the basis of 5 U.S.C. 
555(b)(7)(A) or 7 U.S.C. 12(a) is subsequently closed; or
* * * * *
    (7) If the initial denial of the request for nonpublic records is 
reversed, the Office of General Counsel shall, in writing, advise the 
requester that the records will be available on or after a specified 
date. If, on appeal, the denial of access to a record is affirmed in 
whole or in part, the person who requested the information shall be 
notified in writing of:
    (i) The reasons for the denial,
    (ii) The mediation services offered by the Office of Government 
Information Services as a non-exclusive alternative to litigation, and
    (iii) The provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(4) providing for judicial 
review of a determination to withhold records.
    (j) Expedited processing. A request may be given expedited 
processing if the requester demonstrates a compelling need for the 
requested records. For purposes of this provision, the term 
``compelling need'' means: That a failure to obtain 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 with respect 
to a request made by a person primarily engaged in disseminating 
information, urgency to inform the public concerning actual or alleged 
federal government activity. A requester who seeks expedited processing 
must demonstrate a compelling need by submitting a statement that is 
certified by the requester to be true and correct to the best of that 
person's knowledge and belief. The Compliance Staff will determine 
whether to provide expedited processing, and notice of the 
determination will be provided to requester, within ten days after the 
date

[[Page 28005]]

of the request. If the request for expedited processing is denied, the 
requester may file an appeal with the Office of General Counsel within 
ten days of the date of the denial by the Compliance Staff. The Office 
of General Counsel will respond to the appeal within ten days after the 
date of the appeal.

0
7. Revise Sec.  145.8 to read as follows:


Sec.  145.8  Fees for records services.

    A schedule of fees for record services, including locating, and 
making records available, and copying, appears in appendix B to this 
part. Copies of the schedule of fees may also be obtained upon request 
made in person, by telephone or by mail from the Compliance Staff or at 
any regional office of the Commission.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 14, 2017, by the Commission.
Christopher J. Kirkpatrick,
Secretary of the Commission.

    Note: The following appendix will not appear in the Code of 
Federal Regulations.

Appendix to Revisions to Freedom of Information Act Regulations--
Commission Voting Summary

    On this matter, Acting Chairman Giancarlo and Commissioner Bowen 
voted in the affirmative. No Commissioner voted in the negative.

[FR Doc. 2017-12775 Filed 6-19-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6351-01-P