PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTY CORPORATION – FY 2016 FOIA ANNUAL REPORT
the Privacy Act, FOIA requests also include any first-party requests where an
agency determines that it must search beyond its Privacy Act "systems of
records" or where a Privacy Act exemption applies, and the agency looks to
FOIA to afford the greatest possible access. All requests which require the
agency to utilize the FOIA in responding to the requester are included in this
Report. Additionally, a FOIA request includes records referred to the agency for
processing and direct response to the requester. It does not, however, include
records for which the agency has received a consultation from another agency.
(Consultations are reported separately in Section XII of this Report.)
NOTE: PBGC processed all requests for access to records, regardless of which
law was cited by the requester, under both the FOIA and PA, as appropriate.
h. Full Grant – an agency decision to disclose all records in full in response to a
FOIA request.
i. Full Denial – an agency decision not to release any records in response to a
FOIA request because the records are exempt in their entireties under one or
more of the FOIA exemptions, or for some procedural reason, such as when no
records could be located.
j. Median Number – the middle, not average, number. For example, of 3, 7, and
14, the median number is 7.
k. Multi-track Processing – a system in which simple requests requiring relatively
minimal review are placed in one processing track and more voluminous and
complex requests are placed in one or more other tracks. Requests granted
expedited processing are placed in yet another track. Requests in each track are
processed on a first-in/first out basis.
i. Expedited Processing – an agency will process a FOIA request on an
expedited basis when a requester satisfies the requirements for expedited
processing as set forth in the statute and in agency regulations.
ii. Simple Request – a FOIA request that an agency using multi-track
processing places in its fastest (non- expedited) track based on the low
volume and/or simplicity of the records requested.
iii. Complex Request – a FOIA request that an agency using multi-track
processing places in a slower track based on the high volume and/or
complexity of the records requested.
l. Partial Grant/Partial Denial – in response to a FOIA request, an agency
decision to disclose portions or the records and to withhold other portions that
are exempt under the FOIA, or to otherwise deny a portion of the request for a
procedural reason.