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FOMC Freedom of Information Office

Annual Report on the Freedom of Information Act for Fiscal Year 2011

FEDERAL OPEN MARKET COMMITTEE
Submitted on February 1, 2012

The following information is submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice by the Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve System (FOMC) in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. § 552(e)), as amended.

I. Basic Information Regarding Report

  1. The FOMC's contact person for questions about this report is Ms. Kimberley E. Braun, FOMC Senior Records Project Manager, Federal Open Market Committee, Mail Stop 74, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20551; (202) 736-5541; FAX (202) 452-2921.
  2. Electronic address for this report on the Federal Reserve Board's World Wide Web site: http://www.federalreserve.gov/foia/files/fomcfoia2011anrpt.pdf.
  3. A paper copy of this report may be obtained by printing it from the Board's Web site or requesting it from Ms. Kimberley E. Braun, (see I.1. above).

II. Making a FOIA Request

  1. The Federal Open Market Committee does not have individual agency components or offices that receive requests; all requests may be made to Mr. William B. English, Secretary of the Federal Open Market Committee, electronically on the FOMC FOIA web site at http://www.federalreserve.gov/forms/fomcform.aspx; or c/o Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20551 (Tel: 202-736-5541); or to the FOMC's contact person (see I.1. above).
  2. The types of information that the FOMC most often withheld consisted of privileged or confidential commercial or financial information (exemption 4), and inter- and intra-agency predecisional deliberative communications (exemption 5). All information withheld is carefully reviewed for compliance with the requirement in subsection (b) of the FOIA to identify and disclose any reasonably segregable nonexempt information.

III. Acronyms, Definitions, and Exemptions

  1. Agency-specific acronyms or other terms.
    1. Board -- Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
    2. FOMC -- Federal Open Market Committee
    3. FOIA -- Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. § 552)
    4. FY -- Fiscal year which covers the period from October 1 to September 30
    5. PA -- Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. §552)
  2. Basic terms used in this Report:
    1. Administrative Appeal -- a request to a federal agency asking that it review at a higher administrative level a FOIA determination made by the agency at the initial request level.
    2. Average number -- the number obtained by dividing the sum of a group of numbers by the quantity of numbers in the group. For example, of 3, 7, and 14, the average number is 8.
    3. Backlog -- the number of requests or administrative appeals that are pending at an agency at the end of the fiscal year that are beyond the statutory time period for a response.
    4. 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. The FOIA now requires that agencies include in their Annual FOIA Report data for both the agency overall and for each principal component of the agency.
    5. Consultation -- the 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.
    6. Exemption 3 Statute -- a federal statute that exempts information from disclosure and which the agency relies on to withhold information under subsection (b)(3) of the FOIA.

    7. FOIA Request -- a FOIA request is generally a request to a federal agency for access to records concerning another person (i.e., a "third-party" request), or concerning an organization, or a particular topic of interest. FOIA requests also include requests made by requesters seeking records concerning themselves (i.e., "first-party" requests) when those requesters are not subject to the Privacy Act, such as non-U.S. citizens. Moreover, because all first-party requesters should be afforded the benefit of both the access provisions of the FOIA as well as those of 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.)

    8. Full Grant -- an agency decision to disclose all records in full in response to a FOIA request.
    9. 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 because of a procedural reason, such as when no records could be located.
    10. Median Number -- the middle, not average, number. For example, of 3, 7, and 14, the median number is 7.
    11. 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.
      1. 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.
      2. Simple Request -- a FOIA request that an agency using multi-track processing places in its fastest (nonexpedited) track based on the low volume and/or simplicity of the records requested.
      3. 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.
    12. Partial Grant/Partial Denial -- in response to a FOIA request, an Agency decision to disclose portions of 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.
    13. Pending Request or Pending Administrative Appeal -- a request or administrative appeal for which an agency has not taken final action in all respects.
    14. Perfected Request -- a request for records which reasonably describes such records and is made in accordance with published rules stating the time, place, fees (if any) and procedures to be followed.
    15. Processed Request or Processed Administrative Appeal -- a request or administrative appeal for which an agency has taken final action in all respects.
    16. Range in Number of Days -- the lowest and highest number of days to process requests or administrative appeals.
    17. Time Limits -- the time period in the statute for an agency to respond to a FOIA request (ordinarily twenty working days from receipt of a perfected FOIA request).
  3. Concise descriptions of the nine FOIA Exemptions
    1. Exemption 1: classified national defense and foreign relations information
    2. Exemption 2: internal agency rules and practices
    3. Exemption 3: information that is prohibited from disclosure by another federal law
    4. Exemption 4: trade secrets and other confidential business information
    5. Exemption 5: inter-agency or intra-agency communications that are protected by legal privileges
    6. Exemption 6: information involving matters of personal privacy
    7. Exemption 7: records or information compiled for law enforcement purposes, to the extent that the production of those records (A) could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings, (B) would deprive a person of a right to a fair trial or an impartial adjudication, (C) could reasonably be expected to constitute an invasion of personal privacy, (D) could reasonably be expected to disclose the identity of a confidential source, (E) would disclose techniques and procedures for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions, or would disclose guidelines for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions, or (F) could reasonably be expected to endanger the life or physical safety of any individual
    8. Exemption 8: information relating to the supervision of financial institutions
    9. Exemption 9: geological information on wells

IV. Exemption 3 Statutes

A. Exemption 3 Statutes Relied Upon to Withhold Information
Statute Type of Information
Withheld		 Case Citation Total Number of
Times Relied upon
By Agency
None     0

V. FOIA Requests

  1. Received, Processed and Pending FOIA Requests
Number of
Requests Pending
as of Start of
Fiscal Year		 Number of
Requests Received
in Fiscal Year		 Number of
Requests
Processed in
Fiscal Year		 Number of
Requests
Pending as of
End of Fiscal
Year
1 35 35 1
  1. (1) Disposition of FOIA requests -- All Processed Requests.
Number of Full Grants Number of Partial Grants/
Partial Denials		 Number of Full Denials Based on Exemptions Number of Full Denials Based on Reasons Other Than Exemptions Total
No Records All Records Referred to Another Component or Agency Request Withdrawn Fee-Related Reason Records Not Reasonably Described Improper FOIA Request For Other Reason Not Agency Record Duplicate Request Other
16 4 1 3 9 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 35
  1. (2) Disposition of FOIA Requests -- "Other" Reasons for "Full Denials Based
    on Reasons Other than Exemptions" from Section V, B(1) Chart
Description of "Other" Reasons
For Denials from Chart B (1)
& Number of Times Those
Reasons Were Relied Upon		 TOTAL
None 0
  1. (3) Disposition of FOIA Requests -- Number of Times Exemptions Applied
Ex.
1		 Ex.
2		 Ex.
3		 Ex.
4		 Ex.
5		 Ex.
6		 Ex.
7(A)		 Ex.
7(B)		 Ex.
7(C)		 Ex.
7(D)		 Ex.
7(E)		 Ex.
8		 Ex.
9
0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

VI. ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS OF INITIAL DETERMINATIONS OF FOIA REQUESTS

  1. Received, Processed, and Pending Administrative Appeals
Number of
Appeals Pending
as of Start of
Fiscal Year		 Number of
Appeals Received
in Fiscal Year		 Number of
Appeals
Processed in
Fiscal Year		 Number of
Appeals Pending
as of End of
Fiscal Year
0 1 1 0
  1. Disposition of Administrative Appeals -- All Processed Appeals
Number Affirmed
on Appeal		 Number Partially
Affirmed & Partially
Reversed/Remanded
on Appeal		 Number Completely
Reversed/Remanded
on Appeal		 Number of
Appeals Closed
for other Reasons		 TOTAL
1 0 0 0 1
  1. (1) Reasons for Denial on Appeal -- Number of Times Exemptions Applied
Ex.
1		 Ex.
2		 Ex.
3		 Ex.
4		 Ex.
5		 Ex.
6		 Ex.
7(A)		 Ex.
7(B)		 Ex.
7(C)		 Ex.
7(D)		 Ex.
7(E)		 Ex.
7(F)		 Ex.
8		 Ex.
9
0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
  1. (2) Reason for Denial on Appeal -- Reasons Other than Exemptions
No
Records		 Records
Referred
at Initial
Request
Level		 Request
Withdrawn		 Fee-
Related
Reason		 Records
Not
Reasonably
Described		 Improper
Request
for
Other
Reasons		 Not
Agency
Record		 Duplicate
Request
Or
Appeal		 Request
In
Litigation		 Appeal
Based
Solely
on
Denial
of
Request
For
Expedited
Processing		 Other
*Explain
in chart
below
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
  1. (3) Reasons for Denial on Appeal -- "Other" Reasons from Section VI, C (2) Chart
Description of "Other" Reasons
for Denial On Appeal from Chart C (2)
& Number of Times Those
Reasons Were Relied upon		 TOTAL
0 0
  1. (4) Response Time for Administrative Appeals
Median Number
of Days		 Average Number
of Days		 Lowest Number
of Days		 Highest Number
of Days
21 21 21 21
  1. (5) Ten Oldest Pending Administrative Appeals
  10th Oldest Appeal 9th 8th 7th 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd Appeal
Date of Receipt of Ten Oldest Appeals Date                  
Number of Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

VII. FOIA REQUESTS: RESPONSE TIME FOR PROCESSED AND PENDING REQUESTS

  1. Processed Requests -- Response Time for All Processed Perfected Requests
SIMPLE COMPLEX EXPEDITED
Median Number of Days Average Number of Days Lowest Number of Days Highest Number of Days Median Number of Days Average Number of Days Lowest Number of Days Highest Number of Days Median Number of Days Average Number of Days Lowest Number of Days Highest Number of Days
8 10.4 2 19 19 21.4 19 27 0 0 0 0
  1. Processed requests -- Response Time for Perfected Requests in Which Information Was Granted
SIMPLE COMPLEX EXPEDITED
Median Number of Days Average Number of Days Lowest Number of Days Highest Number of Days Median Number of Days Average Number of Days Lowest Number of Days Highest Number of Days Median Number of Days Average Number of Days Lowest Number of Days Highest Number of Days
8 10.0 2 19 19 21.4 19 27 0 0 0 0
  1. Processed Requests -- Response Time in Day Increments
   Simple Request
1-20
Days		 21-40
Days		 41-60
Days		 61-80
Days		 81-100
Days		 101-120
Days		 121-140
Days		 141-160
Days		 161-180
Days		 181-200
Days		 201-300
Days		 301-400
Days		 401+
Days		 TOTAL
19 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 19
   Complex Requests
1-20
Days		 21-40
Days		 41-60
Days		 61-80
Days		 81-100
Days		 101-120
Days		 121-140
Days		 141-160
Days		 161-180
Days		 181-200
Days		 201-300
Days		 301-400
Days		 401+
Days		 TOTAL
3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
   Requests Granted Expedited Processing
1-20
Days		 21-40
Days		 41-60
Days		 61-80
Days		 81-100
Days		 101-120
Days		 121-140
Days		 141-160
Days		 161-180
Days		 181-200
Days		 201-300
Days		 301-400
Days		 401+
Days		 TOTAL
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
  1. Pending Requests -- All Pending Perfected Requests
SIMPLE COMPLEX EXPEDITED PROCESSING
Number Pending Median Number of Days Average Number of Days Number Pending Median Number of Days Average Number of Days Number Pending Median Number of Days Average Number of Days
0 0 0 1 51 51 0 0 0
  1. Pending Requests--Ten oldest Pending Perfected Requests
  10th Oldest Request and Number of Days Pending 9th 8th 7th 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd Oldest Request and Number of Days Pending
Date                   2011-07-20
Number of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 51

VIII. REQUESTS FOR EXPEDITED PROCESSING AND REQUESTS FOR FEE WAIVER

  1. Requests for Expedited Processing
Number
Granted		 Number
Denied		 Median
Number of
Days to Adjudicate		 Average
Number of
Days to
Adjudicate		 Number
Adjudicated
Within Ten
Calendar Days
0 0 0 0 0
  1. Requests for Fee Waiver
Number
Granted		 Number
Denied		 Median
Number of
Days to
Adjudicate		 Average
Number of
Days to
Adjudicate
12 0 0 0

IX. FOIA PERSONNEL and COSTS

PERSONNEL COSTS
Number of "Full-Time FOIA Employees" Number of "Equivalent Full-Time FOIA Employees" Total Number of "Full-Time FOIA Staff" Processing Costs Litigation-Related Costs Total Costs
0 0.93 0.93 $117,139.50 0 $117,139.50

X. FEES COLLECTED FOR PROCESSING REQUESTS

Total Amount of Fees
Collected		 Percentage of Total Costs
0 0

XI. FOIA REGULATIONS

http://www.federalreserve.gov/foia/fomc/regulations.htm

XII. BACKLOGS, CONSULTATIONS, AND COMPARISONS

  1. Backlogs of FOIA Requests and Administrative Appeals
Number of Backlogged
Requests as of End of
Fiscal Year		 Number of Backlogged
Appeals as of End of
Fiscal Year
1 0
  1. Consultations on FOIA Requests -- Received, Processed, and Pending Consultations
Number of
Consultations Received
from Other Agencies
that Were Pending at
the FOMC as of
Start of the Fiscal Year		 Number of
Consultations
Received from Other Agencies During the
Fiscal Year		 Number of
Consultations Received
from Other Agencies
that Were Processed by
the FOMC During
the Fiscal Year		 Number of
Consultations Received
from Other Agencies
that Were Pending at
the FOMC as of
End of Fiscal Year
0 0 0 0
  1. Consultations on FOIA Requests -- Ten Oldest Consultations Received from Other Agencies and Pending at the FOMC
  10th Oldest Consultation and Number of Days Pending 9th 8th 7th 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd Oldest Consultation and Number of Days Pending
Date                    
Number of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
  1. Comparison of Numbers of Requests from Previous and Current Annual Reports -- Requests Received, Processed and Backlogged
NUMBER OF REQUESTS RECEIVED NUMBER OF REQUESTS PROCESSED
Number Received During Fiscal Year from Last Year's Annual Report Number Received During Fiscal Year from Current Annual Report Number Processed During Fiscal Year from Last Year's Annual Report Number Processed During Fiscal Year from Current Annual Report
30 35 29 35
Number of Backlogged Requests
as of End of Fiscal Year from
Previous Annual Report		 Number of Backlogged Requests
as of End of Fiscal Year from
Current Annual Report
1 1
  1. Comparison of numbers of Administrative Appeals from Previous and Current Annual Report -- Appeals Received, Processed, and Backlogged
NUMBER OF APPEALS RECEIVED NUMBER OF APPEALS PROCESSED
Number Received During Fiscal Year from Last Year's Annual Report Number Received During Fiscal Year from Current Annual Report Number Processed During Fiscal Year from Last Year's Annual Report Number Processed During Fiscal Year from Current Annual Report
1 1 1 1
Number of Backlogged Appeals
as of End of Fiscal Year from
Previous Annual Report		 Number of Backlogged Appeals
as of End of Fiscal Year from
Current Annual Report
0 0
  1. Discussion of Other FOIA Activities (Optional)

  2. In FY 2011, the FOMC Secretariat continued to post to its public website additional text-searchable pages of recent and historical Committee material. In total, approximately 110,000 pages can be searched through the FOMC's historical website, which is accessible from the FOMC FOIA electronic reading room. It is anticipated that this large amount of electronically available information will continue to obviate the need for many formal FOIA requests.

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Last Update: March 14, 2017