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DOL Seal

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT ANNUAL REPORT
FOR FISCAL YEAR 2012
October 1, 2012 through September 30, 2013

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Department of Labor (DOL) has a decentralized Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) program in which each component agency responds directly to FOIA requests implicating its programs and activities. This allows for more accurate, complete, and timely responses to the public. While this report reflects FOIA activities at the Departmental level, it also distinguishes the volume and timeliness of each DOL component as it carries out its respective responsibilities under the FOIA.

Although FOIA processes at DOL are decentralized, departmental oversight is provided by the Office of Information Services (OIS), which operates under the supervision of the Solicitor of Labor, the Department's Chief FOIA Officer. OIS provides agency-wide leadership and guidance to ensure compliance with FOIA, particularly to increase the quality and timeliness of FOIA responses; reduce the backlog of pending FOIA requests; and review the effectiveness of each agency's FOIA processes in order to benchmark best practices, and make recommendations for programmatic improvements. Additional information about the Department's FOIA program is available online at https://www.dol.gov/general/foia.

The Department received a total of 18,755 initial requests for records during Fiscal Year 2013, a slight increase from 18,560 received in FY2012. The Department processed 19,175 initial FOIA requests in FY13, a slight decrease from the 19,224 processed in FY2012. At year's end, total requests in "backlog" status (meaning not processed within statutory time limits) had decreased from 740 at the end of FY2012 to 620 at the end of FY2013

As explained in the FY2012 Annual FOIA report, DOL conducted an audit of data in the Department's centralized FOIA tracking database, the Secretary's Information Management System for FOIA or "SIMS-FOIA" to ensure complete processing of FOIA requests received by the Department as well as to obtain the most accurate data for FOIA reporting purposes. As part of this audit in FY2012, we located a large number of records that had been improperly listed in the FOIA request system with a pending "Action Required" or "AR" code. When records are in an "AR" status, SIMS-FOIA does not track them for timeliness or any other processing milestone. An early review of our progress to reconcile the data indicated that the FY2012 efforts were successful. However, as we began preparing data for the current report, we located an additional 191 requests that remained in "AR" status at the close of FY2012, meaning requests were received by DOL in FY2012, but were not converted for processing and tracking purposes until after the close of the fiscal year. Since SIMS-FOIA records that are in "AR" status are not included in the tracking system's data collections, the addition of these 191 records to the FY2013 Annual Report means that the number of requests pending as of the start of FY2013 will not reconcile back to the number of requests pending as of the end of FY2012. Specifically, in FY2012 DOL reported 1,475 FOIA requests pending at the end of the fiscal year. This year, DOL is reporting 1,666 requests pending at the start of FY2013. The difference between these numbers represents the 191 requests discovered as a part of our continuing oversight of the data audit we began in FY2012. This report incorporates a footnote in Section V. (A.) to reconcile that difference. These additional requests do not impact backlog numbers for FY2012, nor result in differences in other parts of the report. Footnotes have been inserted where appropriate to address this issue.

I.    Basic Information Regarding Report.

    A.    For questions concerning this report, please contact Ramona Branch Oliver, Director, Office of Information Services (OIS), Office of the Solicitor, Room N-2420, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210, telephone number (202) 693-5391, fax number 202-693-5389.

    B.    The electronic address for this report is https://www.dol.gov/general/foia.

    C.    You may obtain a paper copy of this report by visiting the DOL website or by contacting OIS using the information above.

II.    How to Make a FOIA Request.

The Department of Labor is organized into divisions and agencies often referred to as components. Each component processes its own FOIA requests. Therefore, a request will receive the fastest possible response if it is addressed directly to the disclosure officer for the component that a requester believes has the records.

The DOL "Guide to Submitting a Request Under FOIA" provides general information about the FOIA program at DOL and provides basic information on how to submit a FOIA request. The Guide also contains links to the DOL agency components in both the national and regional offices, a brief description of expected response times and reasons why some requests cannot be granted by DOL. This Guide is available on DOL's website at https://www.dol.gov/general/foia/guide.

Requesters who cannot determine the proper disclosure officer to whom a request should be addressed may direct the request to the Office of Information Services (OIS), Office of the Solicitor, Division of Management and Administrative Legal Services, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room N-2420, Washington, D.C. 20210, by e-mail to foiarequests@dol.gov or by fax to 202-693-5389.

    A.    The following list contains the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the individual agency components and offices in the national and regional offices of the Department of Labor. The disclosure officer for each component is responsible for making records in the custody of that component available for inspection and copying, in accordance with the provisions of the FOIA. Unless otherwise specified, the mailing address for the following national office components is as follows:

U.S. Department of Labor
200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20210

1.    Office of the Secretary (OSEC), (202) 693-7277.
2.    Office of the Solicitor (SOL), (202) 693-5391.
3.    Office of Administrative Law Judges (ALJ), 800 K Street, N.W., Suite N-400, Washington, D.C. 20001-8002, (202) 693-7440.
4.    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management (OASAM), (202) 693-7277.
5.    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy (OASP), (202) 693-5925.
6.    Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO), (202) 693-6806.
7.    Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs (OCIA), (202) 693-4630.
8.    Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), (202) 693-4930.
9.    Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), (202) 693-1145.
10.    Office of Inspector General (OIG), (202) 693-5113.
11.    Office of Labor Management Standards (OLMS), (202) 693-0123.
12.    Office of Public Affairs (OPA), (202) 693-4654.
13.    Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP), (202) 693-0934.
14.    Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), (202) 693-4770.
15.    Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Postal Square Building, Room 4040, 2 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20212-0001, (202) 691-7628.
16.    Employment and Training Administration (ETA), (202) 693-3140.
         Job Corps (part of ETA), 1-800-733-JOBS.
17.    Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), 1100 Wilson Boulevard, 21st Floor, Arlington, Virginia 22209, (202) 693-9424.
18.    Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), (202) 693-1897.
19.    Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), (202) 693-8655.
20.    Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS), (202) 693-4745.
21.    Employees' Compensation Appeals Board (ECAB), (202) 693-5028.
22.    Administrative Review Board (ARB), (202) 693-5028.
23.    Benefits Review Board (BRB), (202) 693-5028.
24.    Wage and Hour Division (WHD), (202) 693-0388.
25.    Women's Bureau (WB), (202) 693-6735.

The addresses and telephone numbers for the various regional offices for the Department's Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management (OASAM) are listed below.

Region I:

U.S. Department of Labor
John F. Kennedy Federal Building
One Congress Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02203
(617) 565-1991
(For Wage and Hour Division only: Contact Region III)

Region II:

U.S. Department of Labor
201 Varick Street
New York, New York 10014
(212) 337-2215
(For Wage and Hour Division only: Contact Region III)

Region III:

U.S. Department of Labor
The Curtis Center, Suite 600 East
170 S. Independence Mall West
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106-3305
(215) 861-5030

Region IV:

U.S. Department of Labor
Atlanta Federal Center
61 Forsyth Street, S.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
(404) 562-2018

For Office of Workers' Compensation (OWCP) in Region IV only:
U.S. Department of Labor
214 N. Hogan Street, Suite 1006
Jacksonville, Florida 32202
(904) 357-4725

Region V:

U.S. Department of Labor
Kluczynski Federal Building
230 South Dearborn Street
Chicago, Illinois 60604
(312) 353-8373

For OWCP, Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) in Region V only:
U.S. Department of Labor
1240 East Ninth Street, Room 851
Cleveland, Ohio 44199
(216) 357-5372

Region VI:

U.S. Department of Labor
525 Griffin Square Building
Griffin & Young Streets
Dallas, Texas 75202
(214) 767-6800

Region VII:

U.S. Department of Labor
City Center Square Building
1100 Main Street
Kansas City, Missouri 64105-2112
(816) 426-3891
(For Wage and Hour Division only: Contact Region V)

For Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) in Region VII only:
U.S. Department of Labor
1100 Main Street, Suite 860
Kansas City, Missouri 64105
(816) 502-0370

Region VIII:

U.S. Department of Labor
1999 Broadway
Denver, Colorado 80202
(303) 844-1700
(For Wage and Hour Division and OFCCP: Contact Region VI)

For OWCP in Region VII only:
U.S. Department of Labor
1999 Broadway, Suite 600
Denver, Colorado 80201
(720) 264-3038

The mailing address for the Employment and Training Administration (ETA), Director of the Regional Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training in Region VIII is:

Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training
U.S. Custom House
721 ‑ 19th Street, Room 465
Denver, Colorado 80202
(303) 844-4791

Region IX:

U.S. Department of Labor
90 7th Street, Suite 18-300
San Francisco, California 94105
(415) 625-7804
(415) 625-7799 (fax)

U.S. Department of Labor
1111 Third Avenue
Seattle, Washington 98101-3212
(415) 975-4057
(For Wage and Hour Division: Contact San Francisco)

    B.    Agency response time.

    The agency's response time generally ranges from one to forty-eight days. Complex requests usually take more time.

    C.    Why some requests are not granted.

    A FOIA request can be made for any agency record. This does not mean, however, that the Labor Department will disclose every record sought. There are statutory exemptions that authorize the withholding of certain information. In addition, the agency cannot comply with a FOIA request if there are no responsive records. Further, FOIA does not require agencies to do research for the requester, to analyze data, to answer questions, or to create records in order to respond to a FOIA request.

III.    Definitions of Terms and Acronyms Used in the Report

1.    Agency-specific acronyms or other terms.

1.

ADJ BDS

Adjudicatory Boards includes the Administrative Review Board (ARB), Benefits Review Board (BRB), and Employees' Compensation Appeal Board (ECAB)

2.

ALJ

Office of Administrative Law Judges

3.

ASP

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy

4.

BLS

Bureau of Labor Statistics

5.

CFO

Office of the Chief Financial Officer

6.

EBSA

Employee Benefits Security Administration

7.

ETA

Employment and Training Administration

8.

Exec Sec

Executive Secretariat

9.

ILAB

Bureau of International Labor Affairs

10.

MSHA

Mine Safety and Health Administration

11.

OASAM

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management

12.

OCIA

Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs

13.

ODEP

Office of Disability Employment Policy

14.

OFCCP

Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs

15.

OIG

Office of Inspector General

16.

OLMS

Office of Labor Management Standards

17.

OPA

Office of Public Affairs

18.

OSEC

Office of the Secretary

19.

OSHA

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

20.

OWCP

Office of Workers' Compensation Programs

21.

SOL

Office of the Solicitor

22.

VETS

Veterans' Employment and Training Service

23.

WB

Women's Bureau

24.

WHD

Wage and Hour Division

2.    Definition of Terms Used in This Report.

a.    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.

b.    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.

c.    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.

d.    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.

e.    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.

f.    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.

g.    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.)

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 because of a 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 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.

m.    Pending Request or Pending Administrative Appeal – a request or administrative appeal for which an agency has not taken final action in all respects.

n.    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.

o.    Processed Request or Processed Administrative Appeal – a request or administrative appeal for which an agency has taken final action in all respects.

p.    Range in Number of Days – the lowest and highest number of days to process requests or administrative appeals.

q.    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.    Nine FOIA Exemptions.

a.    Exemption 1: classified national defense and foreign relations information

b.    Exemption 2: internal agency rules and practices

c.    Exemption 3: information that is prohibited from disclosure by another federal law

d.    Exemption 4: trade secrets and other confidential business information

e.    Exemption 5: inter-agency or intra-agency communications that are protected by legal privileges

f.    Exemption 6: information involving matters of personal privacy

g.    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 unwarranted 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

h.    Exemption 8: information relating to the supervision of financial institutions

i.    Exemption 9: geological information on wells

IV.    EXEMPTION 3 STATUTES

Statute

Type of Information Withheld

Case Citation

# of Times Relied
Upon Per Component

Total # of Times
Relied Upon By Agency

Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1997, Section 103(g)(1), 30 USC 813(g)

Complaint Information
& Interviews of Miners

None

MSHA

3

Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002, Title V of Public Law 107-347

Confidential Respondent Data to BLS Survey

None

BLS

2

Fed. R. Crim. P. 6(e), enacted by Act of July 30, 1997, Pub. L. No. 98-78, 91 Stat. 319

Grand Jury Proceedings

Sussman v. USMC, 494 F. 3d 1106, 1113 (D.C. Cir. 2007); Fund for Constitutional Gov't v. NARS, 656 F.2d 856, 867-68 (D.C. Cir. 1981)

OIG

5

Fed. R. Crim. P. 6(e), enacted by Act of July 30, 1997, Pub. L. No. 98-78, 91 Stat. 319

Grand Jury Proceedings

Sussman v. USMC, 494 F. 3d 1106, 1113 (D.C. Cir. 2007); Fund for Constitutional Gov't v. NARS, 656 F.2d 856, 867-68 (D.C. Cir. 1981)

EBSA

1

DOL Overall

11

V.    A.    FOIA REQUESTS

Agency

# of Requests Pending
as of Start of Fiscal Year
[1]

# of Requests Received
in Fiscal Year

# of Requests Processed
in Fiscal Year

# of Requests Pending
as of End of Fiscal Year

OSHA

550

8,628

8,816

362

OFCCP

37

265

275

27

OLMS

7

70

73

4

OWCP

49

1,022

1,011

60

WHD

449

2,737

2,780

406

MSHA

131

1,773

1,816

88

EBSA

28

537

487

78

ETA

159

2,694

2,760

93

OASAM

35

267

265

37

ALJ

3

149

149

3

VETS

138

234

356

16

OIG

11

75

68

18

BLS

6

42

48

0

Adj Bds

3

31

34

0

WB

3

12

15

0

ODEP

0

0

0

0

ASP

5

5

10

0

OCIA

7

44

43

8

ILAB

2

18

18

2

CFO

1

5

5

1

OPA

14

13

10

17

SOL

24

112

114

22

OSEC

1

20

17

4

EXEC SEC

3

2

5

0

DOL Overall

1,666

18,755

19,175

1,246

B.    (1)    Disposition of FOIA Requests – All Processed Requests

Agency

# of
Full Grants

# of
Partial
Grants/
Partial
Denials

# of
Full
Denials
Based
on
Exemptions

# 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
*Explain
in chart
below

OSHA

733

3,887

1206

1,775

281

150

28

39

55

86

283

293

8,816

OFCCP

28

75

25

68

39

7

14

1

4

9

5

0

275

OLMS

7

22

10

19

0

1

0

0

12

0

0

2

73

OWCP

429

28

32

78

7

5

384

1

9

7

23

8

1011

WHD

102

1,340

172

731

7

144

0

11

20

3

194

56

2,780

MSHA

547

959

88

96

3

43

31

6

4

3

36

0

1816

EBSA

156

86

25

78

91

17

19

0

2

3

9

1

487

ETA

452

715

18

566

639

23

59

13

121

37

116

1

2760

OASAM

83

47

10

54

3

7

9

3

1

38

3

7

265

ALJ

111

10

0

21

2

2

0

0

1

1

1

0

149

VETS

186

89

8

60

3

2

0

0

0

0

0

8

356

OIG

12

25

6

20

2

0

1

1

0

0

1

0

68

BLS

19

7

2

16

0

0

1

1

0

2

0

0

48

Adj Bds

12

0

0

12

1

4

1

0

0

1

2

1

34

WB

1

0

0

14

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

15

ODEP

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

ASP

0

2

0

6

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

1

10

OCIA

13

7

6

15

0

0

0

0

1

1

0

0

43

ILAB

6

1

0

11

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

18

CFO

1

0

0

4

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

5

OPA

0

0

8

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

10

SOL

25

28

6

33

1

7

0

1

0

10

0

3

114

OSEC

2

6

0

8

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

17

EXEC SEC

1

2

0

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

5

DOL Overall

2,926

7,336

1,622

3,689

1079

412

547

78

230

201

673

382

19,175

B.    (2)    Disposition of FOIA Requests – "Other" Reasons for "Full Denials Based on Reasons Other than Exemptions" from Section V, B (1) Chart

Component

Description of "Other" Reasons for Denials from Chart B (1) & # of Times Those Reasons Were Relied Upon

TOTAL

OSHA

(133) Requester was asked to narrow search with no response
(62) Requests transferred
(84) Misrouted requests
(14) Privacy Act

293

OFCCP

N/A

0

OLMS

(2) Requester was asked to narrow search with no response

2

OWCP

(2) Handled as general correspondence
(5) Requester was asked to narrow search with no response
(1) Request transferred

8

WHD

(56) Misrouted requests

56

MSHA

N/A

0

EBSA

(1) Privacy Act

1

ETA

(1) Request transferred

1

OASAM

(7) Requests transferred

7

ALJ

N/A

0

VETS

(1) Requester is a Federal agency
(7) Request transferred

8

OIG

N/A

0

BLS

N/A

0

Adj Bds

(1) Requester was asked to narrow search with no response

1

WB

N/A

0

ODEP

N/A

0

ASP

(1) Handled as general correspondence

1

OCIA

N/A

0

ILAB

N/A

0

CFO

N/A

0

OPA

N/A

0

SOL

(2) Requester was asked to narrow search with no response
(1) Request transferred

3

OSEC

(1) Misdirected requests

1

EXEC SEC

N/A

0

DOL Overall

382

B.    (3)    Disposition of FOIA Requests – Number of Times Exemptions Applied

Agency

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

OSHA

0

148

0

2,542

2,293

944

1,387

65

3,522

1,488

155

0

0

0

OFCCP

0

3

0

20

28

11

10

1

73

1

48

0

0

0

OLMS

0

0

0

4

8

16

3

0

22

3

16

0

0

0

OWCP

0

1

0

4

5

50

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

WHD

0

1

0

909

463

56

206

6

1,244

490

1,049

1

0

0

MSHA

0

1

3

19

172

171

146

0

774

100

1

0

0

0

EBSA

0

1

1

16

14

69

22

1

37

0

27

0

0

0

ETA

0

2

0

109

303

686

0

0

0

0

162

0

0

0

OASAM

0

2

0

31

1

15

3

0

3

0

0

0

0

0

ALJ

0

0

0

0

1

9

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

VETS

0

1

0

5

47

31

17

4

48

27

15

0

0

0

OIG

0

0

5

2

6

13

3

0

22

0

5

0

0

0

BLS

0

0

2

6

1

1

0

0

0

0

2

0

0

0

Adj Bds

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

WB

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

ODEP

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

ASP

0

0

0

0

0

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

OCIA

0

0

0

0

0

13

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

ILAB

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

CFO

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

OPA

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

SOL

0

2

0

6

10

17

5

2

5

1

1

0

0

0

OSEC

0

0

0

1

2

6

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

EXEC SEC

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

DOL Overall

0

162

11

3,674

3,354

2,111

1,802

79

5,751

2,110

1,481

1

0

0

VI.    A.    ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS OF INITIAL DETERMINATIONS OF FOIA REQUESTS

Agency

# of Appeals Pending as of Start of Fiscal Year

# of Appeals Received in Fiscal Year

# of Appeals Processed in Fiscal Year

# of Appeals Pending as of End of Fiscal Year

OSHA

39

118

103

54

OFCCP

3

10

6

7

OLMS

7

6

9

4

OWCP

36

210

179

67

WHD

13

24

22

15

MSHA

13

9

8

14

EBSA

4

11

4

11

ETA

14

44

40

18

OASAM

9

11

7

13

ALJ

0

1

1

0

VETS

3

12

9

6

OIG

2

2

2

2

BLS

1

2

2

1

Adj Bds

0

1

1

0

WB

0

0

0

0

ODEP

0

0

0

0

ASP

0

0

0

0

OCIA

0

0

0

0

ILAB

0

0

0

0

CFO

0

0

0

0

OPA

0

0

0

0

SOL

1

3

0

4

OSEC

0

0

0

0

EXEC SEC

0

0

0

0

DOL Overall

145

464

393

216

B.    Disposition of Administrative Appeals – All Processed Appeals

Agency

# Affirmed on Appeal

# Partially Affirmed & Partially Reversed/Remanded on Appeal

# Completely Reversed/Remanded on Appeal

# of Appeals Closed for Other Reasons

TOTAL

OSHA

8

42

20

33

103

OFCCP

0

2

3

1

6

OLMS

0

6

1

2

9

OWCP

1

0

19

159

179

WHD

1

3

10

8

22

MSHA

0

0

4

4

8

EBSA

0

0

1

3

4

ETA

0

0

19

21

40

OASAM

0

1

4

2

7

ALJ

0

0

0

1

1

VETS

1

1

1

6

9

OIG

0

0

1

1

2

BLS

0

0

1

1

2

Adj Bds

0

0

1

0

1

WB

0

0

0

0

0

ODEP

0

0

0

0

0

ASP

0

0

0

0

0

OCIA

0

0

0

0

0

ILAB

0

0

0

0

0

CFO

0

0

0

0

0

OPA

0

0

0

0

0

SOL

0

0

0

0

0

OSEC

0

0

0

0

0

EXEC SEC

0

0

0

0

0

DOL Overall

11

55

85

242

393

C.    (1)    Reasons for Denial on Appeal – Number of Times Exemptions Applied

Agency

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

OSHA

0

0

0

6

3

0

5

0

30

12

0

0

0

0

OFCCP

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

0

0

0

0

0

OLMS

0

0

0

1

1

2

0

0

2

0

2

0

0

0

OWCP

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

WHD

0

0

0

1

0

0

1

0

2

1

0

0

0

0

MSHA

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

EBSA

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

ETA

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

OASAM

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

ALJ

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

VETS

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

OIG

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

BLS

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Adj Bds

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

WB

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

ODEP

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

ASP

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

OCIA

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

ILAB

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

CFO

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

OPA

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

SOL

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

OSEC

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

EXEC SEC

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

DOL Overall

0

0

0

8

4

3

6

0

37

13

2

0

0

0

C.    (2)    Reasons for Denial on Appeal – Reasons Other Than Exemptions

Agency

No. of 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

OSHA

1

0

9

2

0

4

0

4

0

0

13

OFCCP

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

OLMS

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

OWCP

2

0

2

1

0

55

0

6

0

0

93

WHD

1

0

3

0

0

3

0

0

0

0

1

MSHA

0

0

1

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

2

EBSA

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

2

ETA

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

11

OASAM

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

ALJ

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

VETS

2

0

0

0

0

2

0

0

0

0

2

OIG

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

BLS

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

Adj Bds

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

WB

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

ODEP

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

ASP

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

OCIA

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

ILAB

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

CFO

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

OPA

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

SOL

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

OSEC

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

EXEC SEC

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

DOL Overall

6

0

17

4

0

67

0

11

0

0

127

C.    (3)    Reasons for Denial On Appeal – "Other" Reasons from Section VI, C (2) Chart

Component

Description of "Other" Reasons for Denial on Appeal from Chart C (2) & # of Times Those Reasons Were Relied Upon

TOTAL

OSHA

(6) Abandoned
(1) Constructive denial now moot
(4) Untimely
(1) Initial request
(1) Request to create records

13

OFCCP

N/A

0

OLMS

N/A

0

OWCP

(85) Constructive denial now moot
(3) Initial request
(5) Agency provided a supplemental response

93

WHD

(1) Agency provided a supplemental response

1

MSHA

(1) Untimely appeal
(1) Abandoned

2

EBSA

(1) Constructive denial now moot
(1) Abandoned

2

ETA

(2) Initial request
(5) Agency provided a supplemental response
(1) No appeal letter provided
(2) Constructive denial now moot
(1) Request for expedition now moot

11

OASAM

(1) Agency provided a supplemental response
(1) Litigated and dismissed

2

ALJ

N/A

0

VETS

(1) abandoned
(1) Untimely

2

OIG

N/A

0

BLS

(1) Abandoned

1

Adj Bds

N/A

0

WB

N/A

0

ODEP

N/A

0

ASP

N/A

0

OCIA

N/A

0

ILAB

N/A

0

CFO

N/A

0

OPA

N/A

0

SOL

N/A

0

OSEC

N/A

0

EXEC SEC

N/A

0

DOL Overall

127

C.    (4)    Response Time for Administrative Appeals

Agency

Median # of Days

Average # of Days

Lowest # of Days

Highest # of Days

OSHA

83.00

145.88

1

1,105

OFCCP

99.50

113.50

9

246

OLMS

232.00

298.88

11

928

OWCP

19.00

45.50

1

452

WHD

86.50

104.40

1

317

MSHA

71.50

144.37

1

505

EBSA

42.00

84.75

10

245

ETA

35.50

95.27

1

701

OASAM

204.00

237.00

10

611

ALJ

102.00

102.00

102

102

VETS

9.00

216.77

1

765

OIG

158.00

158.00

3

313

BLS

125.00

125.00

20

230

Adj Bds

124.00

124.00

124

124

WB

0.00

0.00

0

0

ODEP

0.00

0.00

0

0

ASP

0.00

0.00

0

0

OCIA

0.00

0.00

0

0

ILAB

0.00

0.00

0

0

CFO

0.00

0.00

0

0

OPA

0.00

0.00

0

0

SOL

0.00

0.00

0

0

OSEC

0.00

0.00

0

0

EXEC SEC

0.00

0.00

0

0

DOL Overall

34.00

86.75

1

1,105

C.    (5)    Ten Oldest Pending Administrative Appeals

Agency

10th
Oldest
Pending
Appeal

9th

8th

7th

6th

5th

4th

3rd

2nd

Oldest
Pending
Appeal
and
Number
of Days
Pending

OSHA

10/19/2012
237

9/27/2012
252

9/11/2012
264

9/4/2012
269

8/9/2012
287

7/18/2012
303

7/10/2012
309

5/23/2012
341

7/6/2011
562

6/10/2011
579

OFCCP

0

0

0

9/18/2013
8

8/19/2013
29

7/3/2013
62

7/3/2013
62

11/6/2012
225

7/18/2012
302

2/27/2012
402

OLMS

0

0

0

0

0

0

9/9/2013
16

2/22/2013
153

1/7/2013
185

7/22/2011
550

OWCP

0

1/25/2012
425

12/6/2011
458

12/6/2011
458

12/6/2011
458

12/6/2011
458

12/6/2011
458

12/6/2011
458

11/21/1011
468

4/11/2011
622

WHD

5/1/2013
106

5/1/2013
106

4/17/2013
116

2/7/2013
164

12/18/2012
198

9/4/2012
270

5/30/2012
337

5/23/2012
341

4/3/2012
377

4/3/2012
377

MSHA

1/17/2013
178

12/11/2012
203

9/28/2012
252

6/19/2012
315

1/25/2012
425

1/25/2012
425

1/25/2012
425

12/6/2011
458

11/15/2011
471

10/27/2011
484

EBSA

9/27/2013
2

9/26/2013
3

9/9/2013
22

8/19/2013
30

3/14/2013
140

3/4/2013
148

12/18/2012
198

12/11/2012
203

9/27/2012
253

12/28/2011
443

ETA

2/7/2013
164

1/4/2013
187

1/4/2013
187

1/4/2013
187

12/18/2012
198

12/18/2012
198

9/27/2012
253

8/9/2012
287

4/3/2012
377

3/5/2012
398

OASAM

8/5/2013
40

7/15/2013
55

7/3/2013
62

5/1/2013
106

2/25/2013
153

9/26/2012
254

7/10/2012
309

8/16/2011
533

5/23/2011
592

1/4/2011
690

ALJ

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

VETS

0

0

0

0

3/4/2013
148

3/4/2013
148

2/7/2013
164

12/18/2012
198

12/11/2012
203

1/10/2011
685

OIG

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

11/20/2012
217

12/6/2011
458

BLS

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

9/26/2013
3

Adj Bds

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

WB

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

ODEP

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

ASP

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

OCIA

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

ILAB

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

CFO

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

OPA

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

SOL

0

0

0

0

0

0

9/26/2013
3

9/9/2013
16

11/6/2012
226

10/27/2011
484

OSEC

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

EXEC SEC

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

DOL Overall

10/27/2011
484
MSHA

10/27/2011
484
SOL

8/16/2011
533
OASAM

7/22/2011
550
OLMS

7/6/2011
562
OSHA

6/10/2011
579
OSHA

5/23/2011
592
OASAM

4/11/11
622
OWCP

1/10/2011
685
VETS

1/4/2011
690
OASAM

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

A.    Processed Requests – Response Time for All Processed Perfected Requests

Agency

SIMPLE

COMPLEX

EXPEDITED PROCESSING

Median # Of Days

Average # Of Days

Lowest #Of Days

Highest # Of Days

Median # Of Days

Average # Of Days

Lowest # Of Days

Highest # Of Days

Median # Of Days

Average # Of Days

Lowest # Of Days

Highest # Of Days

OSHA

4

15.3

1

1,211

9

27.4

0

1,735

6

20.8

1

149

OFCCP

5

9.8

1

301

24

40.9

0

947

2

2

2

2

OLMS

12

12

7

17

14

20.6

0

391

0

0

0

0

OWCP

12

104

2

820

12

27

0

1,704

0

0

0

0

WHD

11

31.8

1

468

26

57.3

0

772

8

17.1

1

196

MSHA

0

0

0

0

9

16.2

0

1,285

124

188.6

40

519

EBSA

16

16.1

1

60

10

30.9

0

582

0

0

0

0

ETA

9

12.6

1

272

10

14.7

0

335

213

213

211

215

OASAM

7.5

18.8

1

93

29

51.8

1

925

0

0

0

0

ALJ

4

4

4

4

2

10.3

1

408

1.5

1.8

1

3

VETS

48

65.2

1

276

28

62.1

1

359

5

59.3

1

226

OIG

5

10

1

91

255

278

12

715

3

4

3

5

BLS

16

18.3

2

45

21

38.8

7

301

0

0

0

0

Adj Bds

10

18.6

3

267

0

0

0

0

17

17

17

17

WB

41

92.6

41

160

101

101

33

169

0

0

0

0

ODEP

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

ASP

35

28.7

16

35

91

136.3

24

486

0

0

0

0

OCIA

7.5

30.4

3

209

81

83.2

5

204

0

0

0

0

ILAB

0

0

0

0

11

34.9

4

436

0

0

0

0

CFO

0

0

0

0

4

73.6

3

354

0

0

0

0

OPA

0

0

0

0

13

15.1

7

28

0

0

0

0

SOL

13

35.6

1

157

31

76.8

0

714

188

188

188

188

OSEC

0

0

0

0

25.5

64.9

4

462

7

7

7

7

EXEC SEC

95

95.5

16

176

158

158

158

158

0

0

0

0

DOL Overall

8

20.4

0

1,211

11

28.5

0

1,735

7

39.5

1

519

B.    Processed Requests – Response Time for Perfected Requests in Which Information Was Granted

Agency

SIMPLE

COMPLEX

EXPEDITED PROCESSING

Median # Of Days

Average # Of Days

Lowest #Of Days

Highest # Of Days

Median # Of Days

Average # Of Days

Lowest # Of Days

Highest # Of Days

Median # Of Days

Average # Of Days

Lowest # Of Days

Highest # Of Days

OSHA

8

15.9

1

1,211

12

20

1

754

7

22.4

1

149

OFCCP

8

9.4

1

33

41

60.4

0

497

2

2

2

2

OLMS

7

7

7

7

15

28.6

0

391

0

0

0

0

OWCP

8.5

64.9

2

798

17

24.3

1

834

0

0

0

0

WHD

15

31.2

1

354

33

62.9

0

508

10

24.7

1

196

MSHA

0

0

0

0

10

16.9

0

1,285

124

188.6

40

519

EBSA

20.2

1

60

159

22.4

1

0

335

0

0

0

0

ETA

12

14.4

0

157

10

14.7

0

237

0

0

0

0

OASAM

7

19.2

1

93

30.5

56.4

2

523

0

0

0

0

ALJ

4

4

4

4

3

10.5

1

408

1.5

1.8

1

3

VETS

46

60.9

0

276

27

47.5

2

359

3

3.7

1

7

OIG

16

16

0

91

15

290

12

715

5

5

3

5

BLS

17

19.7

5

45

24

45.8

7

301

0

0

0

0

Adj Bds

9

12.6

4

29

0

0

0

0

17

17

17

17

WB

0

0

0

0

0

33

33

33

0

0

0

0

ODEP

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

ASP

0

0

0

0

67

276.5

67

486

0

0

0

0

OCIA

52.5

52.5

37

68

77.5

81

34

131

0

0

0

0

ILAB

0

0

0

0

14

73.1

4

436

0

0

0

0

CFO

0

0

0

0

354

354

354

354

0

0

0

0

OPA

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

SOL

12

8.8

1

16

41

105.5

0

714

188

188

188

188

OSEC

0

0

0

0

37.5

107.9

5

462

0

0

0

0

EXEC SEC

25.5

25.5

16

35

158

158

158

158

0

0

0

0

DOL Overall

12

22

0

1,211

13

25.1

0

1,285

7.5

37.7

1

519

C.    Processed Requests – Response Time in Day Increments

SIMPLE REQUESTS

Agency

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

OSHA

3,428

484

91

36

16

14

12

10

7

1

16

7

14

4,136

OFCCP

95

4

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

100

OLMS

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

OWCP

32

4

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

2

4

44

WHD

1,212

310

97

74

37

41

26

12

12

8

35

22

1

1,887

MSHA

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

EBSA

85

50

3

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

138

ETA

1,394

161

20

10

2

1

0

4

0

0

6

0

0

1,598

OASAM

15

2

1

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

20

ALJ

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

VETS

31

37

54

29

1

0

0

5

10

3

11

0

0

181

OIG

44

4

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

49

BLS

24

5

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

31

Adj Bds

30

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

33

WB

0

0

5

1

2

1

0

4

0

0

0

0

0

13

ODEP

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

ASP

1

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

3

OCIA

10

2

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

14

ILAB

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

CFO

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

OPA

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

SOL

7

0

0

0

1

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

9

OSEC

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

EXEC SEC

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

0

0

0

0

4

DOL Overall

6,413

1068

274

152

61

57

38

37

31

12

70

32

19

8,264

COMPLEX REQUESTS

Agency

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

OSHA

3,466

647

160

91

59

36

16

12

4

4

36

14

70

4,615

OFCCP

81

32

25

18

6

3

0

2

1

0

4

1

1

174

OLMS

53

14

3

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

71

OWCP

809

116

15

5

1

2

2

1

0

1

0

2

13

967

WHD

347

204

68

55

39

34

19

15

7

7

42

14

5

856

MSHA

1,548

151

41

25

21

9

1

1

0

1

5

1

4

1,808

EBSA

249

50

21

12

3

1

0

3

0

0

2

1

7

349

ETA

934

153

47

14

3

2

0

0

0

0

3

1

0

1,157

OASAM

84

70

38

15

15

1

5

1

4

1

8

1

2

245

ALJ

133

5

1

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

1

143

VETS

66

46

13

5

3

0

1

5

11

8

12

1

0

171

OIG

2

1

0

0

2

0

0

1

1

1

2

2

5

17

BLS

8

7

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

17

Adj Bds

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

WB

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

2

ODEP

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

ASP

0

2

0

1

0

3

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

7

OCIA

4

1

5

4

4

5

3

1

1

0

1

0

0

29

ILAB

17

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

18

CFO

4

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

5

OPA

7

3

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

10

SOL

39

29

9

5

6

0

3

0

2

0

6

1

4

104

OSEC

7

5

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

1

16

EXEC SEC

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

DOL Overall

7,858

1,537

448

253

162

96

50

43

32

23

123

42

115

10,782

REQUESTS GRANTED EXPEDITED PROCESSING

Agency

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

OSHA

50

6

3

1

1

1

1

2

0

0

0

0

0

65

OFCCP

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

OLMS

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

OWCP

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

WHD

31

3

0

1

1

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

37

MSHA

0

1

1

0

0

1

1

0

1

1

1

0

1

8

EBSA

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

ETA

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

5

0

0

5

OASAM

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

ALJ

4

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

4

VETS

3

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

4

OIG

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

BLS

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Adj Bds

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

WB

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

ODEP

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

ASP

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

OCIA

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

ILAB

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

CFO

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

OPA

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

SOL

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

1

OSEC

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

EXEC SEC

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

DOL Overall

93

10

4

2

2

2

2

2

1

3

7

0

1

129

D.    Pending Requests – All Pending Perfected Requests

Agency

SIMPLE

COMPLEX

EXPEDITED PROCESSING

# Pending

Median # Of Days

Average # Of Days

# Pending

Median # Of Days

Average # Of Days

# Pending

Median # Of Days

Average # Of Days

OSHA

21

17

23.6

339

16

33.4

2

68

64

OFCCP

1

15

15

26

51.5

63

0

0

0

OLMS

0

0

0

4

12

11

0

0

0

OWCP

0

0

0

4

12

11

0

0

0

WHD

80

25

27

321

58

78.1

5

3

8

MSHA

0

0

0

87

13

54.9

1

103

103

EBSA

2

947

947

76

15

31.5

0

0

0

ETA

1

22

15

92

14

9.7

0

0

0

OASAM

0

0

0

37

44

50.9

0

0

0

ALJ

0

0

0

3

5

10

0

0

0

VETS

0

0

0

16

21.5

26.5

0

0

0

OIG

3

78

59

15

101

127

0

0

0

BLS

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Adj Bds

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

WB

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

ODEP

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

ASP

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

OCIA

0

0

0

8

126

123.6

0

0

0

ILAB

0

0

0

2

214

30

0

0

0

CFO

0

0

0

1

160

160

0

0

0

OPA

0

0

0

17

331

287.4

0

0

0

SOL

0

0

0

22

92.5

189.9

0

0

0

OSEC

0

0

0

4

43

39.8

0

0

0

EXEC SEC

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

DOL Overall

108

24

46.9

1,130

22

53.7

8

15.5

33.9

E.    Pending Requests – Ten Oldest Pending Perfected Requests [2]

Agency

10th Oldest Request
and # of Days Pending

9th

8th

7th

6th

5th

4th

3rd

2nd

Oldest Request
and # of Days Pending

OSHA

2/4/2013
158

2/4/2013
166

1/24/2013
174

12/4/2012
197

11/2/2012
220

11/1/2012
220

11/1/2012
220

7/3/2012
306

7/3/2012
306

9/17/2010
762

OFCCP

6/25/2013
66

6/25/2013
66

5/14/2013
96

5/9/2013
98

5/7/2013
100

5/6/2013
101

5/1/2013
105

2/14/2013
159

12/5/2012
205

11/29/2012
211

OLMS

0

0

0

0

0

0

9/24/2013
5

9/23/2013
6

8/30/2013
18

2/19/2013
18

OWCP

5/7/2013
10

3/13/2013
16

1/22/2013
17

1/15/2013
19

11/20/12
150

11/6/2012
165

11/2/2012
199

10/26/2012
224

4/16/2012
359

4/9/2012
364

WHD

2/17/2012
408

2/14/2012
411

1/11/2012
432

10/28/2011
474

10/24/2011
487

10/19/2011
488

9/20/2011
512

7/1/2011
565

10/7/2010
748

8/19/2010
782

MSHA

3/28/2013
127

3/26/2013
129

2/5/2013
166

7/16/2012
303

5/2/2012
356

4/27/2012
359

4/24/2012
362

4/20/2012
364

3/20/2012
387

12/20/2011
401

EBSA

8/1/2013
25

7/30/2013
35

7/24/2013
44

7/21/2013
45

7/10/2013
56

5/28/2013
87

3/22/2013
125

11/1/2012
229

11/1/2012
229

4/13/2011
620

ETA

8/26/2013
25

8/26/2013
25

8/21/2013
30

8/21/2013
30

8/19/2013
32

8/17/2013
34

8/15/2013
35

8/8/2013
40

7/29/2013
50

7/26/2013
53

OASAM

7/10/2013
58

7/9/2013
59

6/12/2013
75

6/6/2013
80

5/20/2013
92

5/7/2013
100

3/18/2013
136

3/12/2013
136

12/12/2012
199

11/29/2012
201

ALJ

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

9/26/2013
2

9/24/2013
5

8/21/2013
23

VETS

9/5/2013
16

9/3/2013
17

8/16/2013
27

8/1/2013
33

7/23/2013
43

7/17/2013
49

7/12/2013
56

4/17/2013
116

3/20/2013
138

5/9/2012
344

OIG

5/7/2013
101

4/1/2013
127

3/27/2013
130

3/11/2013
142

3/8/2013
143

3/4/2013
147

2/4/2013
166

2/4/2013
166

10/2/2012
249

9/12/2012
263

BLS

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Adj Bds

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

WB

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

ODEP

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

ASP

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

OCIA

0

0

8/5/2013
31

8/1/2013
33

7/5/2013
56

4/20/2013
112

3/1/2013
140

2/27/2013
149

12/27/2012
183

8/6/2012
285

ILAB

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

7/10/2013
53

4/4/2012
374

CFO

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2/11/2013
160

OPA

6/15/2012
325

6/7/2012
331

5/18/2012
342

5/10/2012
349

5/7/2012
350

5/3/2012
351

4/27/2012
354

4/27/2012
354

4/19/2012
364

2/17/2012
406

SOL

4/30/2013
106

1/9/2013
183

1/9/2013
183

6/27/2012
308

12/6/2011
457

11/4/2011
465

10/4/2011
495

10/4/2011
495

8/16/2010
783

8/3/2010
785

OSEC

0

0

0

0

0

0

9/3/2013
20

8/14/2013
33

7/17/2013
53

7/17/2013
53

EXEC SEC

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

DOL Overall

10/4/2011
495
SOL

10/4/2011
495
SOL

9/20/2011
512
WHD

7/1/2011
565
WHD

4/13/2011
620
EBSA

10/7/2010
748
WHD

9/17/2010
762
OSHA

8/19/2010
782
WHD

8/16/2010
783
SOL

8/3/2010
785
SOL

VIII.    REQUESTS FOR EXPEDITED PROCESSING AND REQUESTS FOR FEE WAIVER

A.    Requests for Expedited Processing

Agency

# Granted

# Denied

Median # of Days to Adjudicate

Average # of Days to Adjudicate

# Adjudicated Within Ten Days

OSHA

41

119

8

43.2

89

OFCCP

1

14

14

27

6

OLMS

0

1

10

10

1

OWCP

0

26

19.5

19.9

10

WHD

21

93

11

37.3

57

MSHA

8

11

15

53.7

4

EBSA

0

16

6.5

16.3

10

ETA

0

52

3

8.8

37

OASAM

0

13

85

160

1

ALJ

3

1

2.5

2.5

4

VETS

3

8

8

74.7

6

OIG

2

2

2

2

1

BLS

0

4

19.5

21

0

Adj Bds

1

0

3

3

1

WB

0

0

0

0

0

ODEP

0

0

0

0

0

ASP

0

1

35

35

0

OCIA

0

1

228

228

0

ILAB

0

0

0

0

0

CFO

0

0

0

0

0

OPA

0

3

24

24.7

0

SOL

1

4

61

269.2

0

OSEC

1

1

27.5

27.5

0

EXEC SEC

0

0

0

0

0

DOL Overall

82

370

10

41.4

227

B.    Requests for Fee Waiver

Agency

# Granted

# Denied

Median # of Days to Adjudicate

Average # of Days to Adjudicate

OSHA

131

96

10

35.9

OFCCP

4

14

13.5

42.4

OLMS

1

1

201.5

201.5

OWCP

2

39

22

91.6

WHD

87

410

9

24.9

MSHA

26

12

12

36.2

EBSA

10

16

4

23.6

ETA

3

121

7

20.1

OASAM

12

22

58

112.8

ALJ

4

1

3

89.4

VETS

1

6

46

123.1

OIG

2

1

2

2

BLS

1

8

17

164

Adj Bds

0

1

1

1

WB

0

0

0

0

ODEP

0

0

0

0

ASP

1

1

273

273

OCIA

6

0

144.5

136.5

ILAB

1

2

14

154

CFO

0

1

354

354

OPA

3

1

18

17.5

SOL

3

10

34

94

OSEC

2

0

251

251

EXEC SEC

0

1

158

158

DOL Overall

300

764

11

37.1

IX.    FOIA PERSONNEL AND COSTS

Agency

PERSONNEL

COSTS

# of "Full-Time FOIA Employees"

# of "Equivalent Full-Time FOIA Employees"

Total # of "Full-Time FOIA Staff"
(The sum of Columns 1 & 2)

Processing Costs
(At "Initial Request" and "Appeal" levels)
Examples of Costs
* Pro-rated Salaries
* IT Related Services
* Supplies, etc.

Litigation-Related Costs

Total Costs

OSHA

3

57.78

60.78

$3,774,281.72

0

$3,774,281.72

OFCCP

0

5.8

5.8

$513,218.00

0

$513,218.00

OLMS

0

1

1

$115,742.00

0

$115,742.00

OWCP

2

2.75

4.75

$469,445.20

0

$469,445.20

WHD

9

3

12

$742,000.00

0

$742,000.00

MSHA

6

17

23

$2,465,784.00

0

$2,465,784.00

EBSA

0

3.45

3.45

$483,311.00

0

$483,311.00

ETA

4

9.83

13.83

$1,105,750.00

0

$1,105,750.00

OASAM

0

5.83

5.83

$753,930.00

0

$753,930.00

ALJ

0

.81

.81

$94,448.44

0

$94,448.44

VETS

1

1.33

2.33

$208,065.38

0

$208,065.38

OIG

1

0

1

$127,900.00

0

$127,900.00

BLS

0

.45

.45

$37,736.00

0

$37,736.00

Adj Bds

0

.40

.40

$17,500.00

0

$17,500.00

WB

0

.25

.25

$26,500.00

0

$26,500.00

ODEP

0

.05

.05

$5,786.55

0

$5,786.55

ASP

0

.70

.70

$65,000.00

0

$65,000.00

OCIA

0

.40

.40

$35,100.00

0

$35,100.00

ILAB

0

.10

.10

$10,326.00

0

$10,326.00

CFO

0

.30

.30

$40,000.00

0

$40,000.00

OPA

0

.50

.50

$48,000.00

0

$48,000.00

SOL

13

2.61

15.61

$1,267,026.58

$497,973.00

$1,764,999.58

OSEC

0

.10

.10

$15,054.00

0

$15,054.00

EXEC SEC

0

.15

0.15

$15,000.00

0

$15,000.00

DOL Overall

39

115.04

154.04

$12,436,904.87

$497,973.00

$12,934,877.72

X.    FEES COLLECTED FOR PROCESSING REQUESTS

Agency

Total Amount of Fees Collected

Percentage of Total Costs

OSHA

$136,623.34

3.62

OFCCP

$11,219.33

2.19

OLMS

$3,050.00

2.64

OWCP

$4,278.50

0.91

WHD

$11,581.32

1.56

MSHA

$49,669.85

2.01

EBSA

$4,364.45

0.90

ETA

$19,224.31

1.74

OASAM

0

0

ALJ

$667.78

0.71

VETS

$2,682.62

1.29

OIG

0

0

BLS

0

0

Adj Bds

$190.05

1.09

WB

0

0

ODEP

0

0

ASP

0

0

OCIA

0

0

ILAB

0

0

CFO

0

0

OPA

0

0

SOL

0

0

OSEC

0

0

EXEC SEC

0

0

DOL Overall

$ 243,551.55

1.96

XI.    FOIA REGULATIONS

    U.S. Department of Labor FOIA regulations and fee schedule can be accessed via the DOL public FOIA website at the following link: https://federalregister.dol.gov

XII.    BACKLOGS, CONSULTATIONS AND COMPARISONS

A.    Backlogs of FOIA Requests and Administrative Appeals

Agency

# of Backlogged Requests at DOL as of End of Fiscal Year

# of Backlogged Appeals at DOL as of End of Fiscal Year

OSHA

158

48

OFCCP

23

6

OLMS

1

4

OWCP

19

57

WHD

251

12

MSHA

38

14

EBSA

24

8

ETA

11

14

OASAM

25

10

ALJ

1

0

VETS

7

6

OIG

17

4

BLS

0

0

Adj Bds

0

0

WB

0

0

ODEP

0

0

ASP

0

0

OCIA

8

0

ILAB

1

0

CFO

1

0

OPA

16

0

SOL

15

0

OSEC

4

0

EXEC SEC

0

0

DOL Overall

620

183

DOL was able to achieve a substantial drop in backlogged initial requests, despite having added to the data 191 pending requests that had not, but should have, been included in the FY2012 Annual FOIA report as discussed in the Executive Summary. Whereas all of DOL had 740 backlogged requests at the end of FY2012 (as indicated by the updated data), by the end of FY2013, we were still able to achieve an overall reduction of 19% in the agency’s backlog. This is attributed to the continuing oversight of the departmental management of the FOIA program, the hard work of DOL’s FOIA staff, consistent monitoring of FOIA related performance measures, and sustained effort toward backlog reduction throughout the Department’s 23 FOIA components.

DOL experienced an increase from 139 backlogged administrative appeals pending at the end of FY2012, up to 183 backlogged pending as of the end of FY2013. This is attributed to a substantial increase among the number of incoming FOIA appeals received, and a decrease in the number of staff available to address FOIA appeals.

B.    Consultations on FOIA Requests – Received, Processed, and Pending Consultations

Agency

# of Consultations Received From Other Agencies That Were Pending at DOL as of Start of the Fiscal Year

# of Consultations Received from Other Agencies During the Fiscal Year

# of Consultations Received from Other Agencies that Were Processed by DOL During the Fiscal Year

# of Consultations Received from Other Agencies that Were Pending at DOL as of End of the Fiscal Year

OSHA

4

64

67

1

OFCCP

0

1

1

0

OLMS

0

0

0

0

OWCP

0

1

1

0

WHD

0

10

9

1

MSHA

0

0

0

0

EBSA

0

2

2

0

ETA

0

0

0

0

OASAM

0

1

1

0

ALJ

0

0

0

0

VETS

0

4

2

2

OIG

0

0

0

0

BLS

0

2

2

0

Adj Bds

0

2

2

0

WB

0

0

0

0

ODEP

0

0

0

0

ASP

0

0

0

0

OCIA

0

0

0

0

ILAB

0

0

0

0

CFO

0

0

0

0

OPA

0

0

0

0

SOL

1

2

3

0

OSEC

0

1

1

0

EXEC SEC

0

0

0

0

DOL Overall

5

90

91

4

C.    Consultations on FOIA Requests – Ten Oldest Consultations Received from Other Agencies and Pending at Your Agency.

Agency

10th Oldest Consultation and # of Days Pending

9th

8th

7th

6th

5th

4th

3rd

2nd

Oldest Consultation and # of Days Pending

OSHA

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

9/13/2013
12

OFCCP

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

OLMS

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

OWCP

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

WHD

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

4/25/2013
110

MSHA

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

EBSA

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

ETA

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

OASAM

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

ALJ

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

VETS

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

9/8/2013
17

7/12/2013
56

OIG

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

BLS

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Adj Bds

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

WB

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

ODEP

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

ASP

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

OCIA

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

ILAB

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

CFO

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

OPA

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

SOL

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

OSEC

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

EXEC SEC

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

DOL Overall

0

0

0

0

0

0

9/13/2013
12

9/8/2013
17

7/12/2013
56

4/25/2013
110

D.    Comparison of #s of Requests from Previous and Current Annual Report – Requests Received, Processed, and Backlogged

Agency

NUMBER OF REQUESTS RECEIVED

NUMBER OF REQUESTS PROCESSED

# Received During Fiscal Year From Last Year's Annual Report

# Received During Fiscal Year From Current Annual Report

# Processed During Fiscal Year from Last Year's Annual Report

# Processed During Fiscal Year From Current Annual Report

OSHA

8,684

8,628

8,952

8,816

OFCCP

349

265

361

275

OLMS

81

70

79

73

OWCP

371

1,022

410

1,011

WHD

2,749

2,737

2,701

2,780

MSHA

2,010

1,773

2,109

1,816

EBSA

476

537

550

487

ETA

2,497

2,694

2,530

2,760

OASAM

237

267

238

265

ALJ

183

149

188

149

VETS

512

234

479

356

OIG

66

75

69

68

BLS

43

42

44

48

Adj Bds

18

31

17

34

WB

12

12

8

15

ODEP

13

0

71

0

ASP

17

5

53

10

OCIA

29

44

39

43

ILAB

23

18

24

18

CFO

19

5

49

5

OPA

32

13

28

10

SOL

102

112

125

114

OSEC

15

20

19

17

EXEC SEC

22

2

81

5

DOL Overall

18,560

18,755

19,224

19,175

BACKLOG REQUEST COMPARISONS

Agency

# of Backlogged Requests as of End of the Fiscal Year from Previous Annual Report

# of Backlogged Requests as of End of the Fiscal Year from Current Annual Report

OSHA

174

158

OFCCP

18

23

OLMS

0

1

OWCP

7

19

WHD

319

251

MSHA

42

38

EBSA

17

24

ETA

16

11

OASAM

24

25

ALJ

0

1

VETS

54

7

OIG

8

17

BLS

3

0

Adj Bds

0

0

WB

2

0

ODEP

1

0

ASP

1

0

OCIA

5

8

ILAB

0

1

CFO

1

1

OPA

22

16

SOL

21

15

OSEC

0

4

EXEC SEC

5

0

DOL Overall

740 [3]

620

E.    Comparison of Numbers of Administrative Appeals from Previous and Current Annual Report – Appeals Received, Processed, and Backlogged.

Agency

NUMBER OF APPEALS RECEIVED

NUMBER OF APPEALS PROCESSED

# Received During Fiscal Year From Last Year's Annual Report

# Received During Fiscal Year From Current Annual Report

# Processed During Fiscal Year from Last Year's Annual Report

# Processed During Fiscal Year From Current Annual Report

OSHA

129

118

109

103

OFCCP

12

10

10

6

OLMS

8

6

4

9

OWCP

115

210

98

179

WHD

42

24

37

22

MSHA

26

9

25

8

EBSA

7

11

6

4

ETA

55

44

49

40

OASAM

12

11

10

7

ALJ

1

1

2

1

VETS

1

12

1

9

OIG

2

2

1

2

BLS

1

2

0

2

Adj Bds

0

1

0

1

WB

0

0

0

0

ODEP

0

0

0

0

ASP

0

0

0

0

OCIA

0

0

0

0

ILAB

0

0

0

0

CFO

0

0

0

0

OPA

0

0

0

0

SOL

3

3

2

0

OSEC

0

0

0

0

EXEC SEC

0

0

0

0

DOL Overall

414

464

354

393

BACKLOG APPEALS COMPARISONS

Agency

# of Backlogged Appeals as of End of the Fiscal Year from Previous Annual Report

# of Backlogged Appeals as of End of the Fiscal Year from Current Annual Report

OSHA

45

48

OFCCP

4

6

OLMS

6

4

OWCP

27

57

WHD

14

12

MSHA

11

14

EBSA

2

8

ETA

13

14

OASAM

8

10

ALJ

1

0

VETS

4

6

OIG

2

4

BLS

1

0

Adj Bds

0

0

WB

0

0

ODEP

0

0

ASP

0

0

OCIA

0

0

ILAB

0

0

CFO

0

0

OPA

0

0

SOL

1

3

OSEC

0

0

EXEC SEC

0

0

DOL Overall

139

183

F. Discussion of Other FOIA Activities

As a part of the overall improvement of DOL’s decentralized FOIA program, under direction of the Chief FOIA Officer, OIS continues to promote initiatives that are aimed at improving the FOIA administrative processes across DOL. The Department continues to work towards: improved customer service to our internal and external customers by providing clear and consistent FOIA responses; increased transparency by continuing to make discretionary disclosures of information where there is no foreseeable harm; and expanding DOL affirmative disclosures through the agency website and other mechanisms. DOL has also established robust process measures to closely monitor the timeliness of FOIA processing and backlog reduction.

As discussed in the Executive Summary, during FY2013, we continued to analyze and review the data that resulted from our audit of the Department’s FOIA data and located an additional number of FOIA requests that had not been properly logged into the FOIA tracking system. While this ongoing oversight did change the number of pending FOIA requests reported at the end of FY2012, we believe that this review reaffirms our commitment to providing and publishing the most accurate data for the purposes of FOIA reporting, ensured that all FOIA requests received by the Department are answered as accurately and completely as possible and gave an opportunity for OIS to continue addressing data reconciliation issues and make it a part of our regularly scheduled program reviews. In light of all this, the Department still managed to process more requests than it received, close all of the 10 oldest FOIA requests reported in the FY2012 report and exceed the required goals for backlog reduction.

Signed at Washington, D.C. this 31st day of January 2014.

___signed_______
M. Patricia Smith
Chief FOIA Officer


Footnotes

[1]    As noted above in the Executive Summary, during this fiscal year DOL, in its continuing oversight of the data audit initiated in FY2012, located 191 FOIA requests that were received during the fiscal year but were not converted for processing and tracking purposes until after the close of the fiscal year. Specifically, in FY2012 DOL reported 1,475 FOIA requests pending at the end of the fiscal year. This year, DOL is reporting 1,666 requests pending at the start of FY2013. The difference between these numbers represents the 191 requests discovered as a part of our continuing oversight of the data audit we began in FY2012.

[2]    Some work day ranges reported appear to be out of sequence based on the date of the receipt of the request. However, this is attributed to requests that have been "tolled" for clarification or to resolve fee matters consistent with the provisions of the statute.

[3]    In the FY2012 Annual FOIA Report, DOL reported this number as 735 backlogged requests. That number was tabulated incorrectly in the human readable format of the report published to our webpage. We are correcting that number here to report 740 requests.