(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 his determination within 20 working days.
(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 his determination within 20 working days.
(2) Request for expedited processing. When a request for expedited processing under Sec. 2604.301(e) is received, the FOIA Officer will respond within ten 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 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. The time limits specified in either paragraph (a) or (b) of this section may be extended in unusual circumstances up to a total of 10 working days, after written notice to the requester setting forth the reasons for the extension and the date on which a determination is expected to be made.
(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. [60 FR 10007, Feb. 23, 1995, as amended at 64 FR 28091, May 25, 1999]