2021 FOIA Annual Report - Raw Data Definitions
Component: for agencies that process requests on a decentralized basis, a “component” is an entity, also sometimes referred to as an Office, Division, Bureau, Center, or Directorate, within the agency that processes FOIA requests.
FOIANumber: the tracking number assigned to each FOIA request
IsThisAConsultation: procedure whereby the agency responding to a FOIA request first forwards a record to another agency for its review because that other agency has an interest in the document. Once the agency in receipt of the consultation finishes its review of the record, it responds back to the agency that forwarded it. That agency, in turn, will then respond to the FOIA requester.
DaysAllowed: the statutory time limit within which an agency has to process a request
DateReceived: the date on which the agency’s FOI Office received the request from the requester
DateDue: the date on which the agency’s response should be provided to the requester
DatePerfected: the date on which a request for records reasonably describes such records and is made in accordance with published rules stating the time, place, fees (if any) and procedures to be followed
DateCompleted: the date on which the agency response was provided to the requester
DaysTolled: the number of days that the agency stopped processing the request to either obtain information from the requester or clarify fee-related issues with the requester
StatuteCitations: citations to federal law, such as the Freedom of Information Act or FRB regulations, in the agency’s response to the requester
TypesOfInfoWithHeld: description of the kinds of information that was not disclosed to the requester
CaseCitations: citations to case law in the agency’s response to the requester
Track: system in which simple requests requiring relatively minimal review are placed in one processing track; more voluminous and complex requests are placed in another track; and requests granted expedited processing are placed in another track
Disposition: agency determination to disclose all or portions of the records and to withhold all or portions of the records
Reason: agency’s basis for closing a request when the agency did not actually process any records for disclosure or make a determination on exemptions
Other Reason: agency’s basis for closing a request other than the eleven categories of dispositions DOJ describes in the reason category
Exemption(s) Applied: which of FOIA’s nine statutory exemptions were used to withhold information from release
Appeal - Date Received: the date on which the agency’s FOI Office received the appeal from the requester
Appeal - Date Closed: the date on which the agency’s response to the appeal was provided to the requester
Appeal – Disposition: agency decision to affirm, remand, or reverse the initial request determination
Appeal – Reason: agency’s basis on appeal for closing a request when the agency did not actually process any records for disclosure or make a determination on exemptions
Appeal - Other Reason: agency’s basis on appeal for closing a request when the agency neither affirms nor reverses or remands the initial request determination
Appeal - Exemption(s) Applied: which of FOIA’s nine statutory exemptions were used to withhold information from release on appeal
Expedited - Date Received: the date on which the agency received a request for expedited processing
Expedited - Date of Determination: the date on which the agency decided to grant or deny a request for expedited processing
Expedited - Number of Days to Adjudicate: number of days the agency took to adjudicate a request for expedited processing
Expedited - Granted / Denied: agency decision to grant or deny a request for expedited processing
Fee Waiver - Date Adjudication Began: the date on which the agency started to decide whether to grant or deny a request for a fee waiver
Fee Waiver - Date Adjudication Completed: the date on which the agency decided to grant or deny a request for a fee waiver
Fee Waiver - Number of Days to Adjudicate: number of days the agency took to adjudicate a request for a fee waiver
Fee Waiver – Amount: the amount of processing costs that the agency waives
Fee Waiver - Granted / Denied: agency decision to grant or deny a request for fee waiver