The 2011 Chief FOIA Officer Report jackie.grossGross, Jackie202012-03-01T18:07:00Z2012-03-01T18:07:00Z7189510803USITC902512673142011-04-11T00:00:00Z2012-01-30T00:00:00ZThe 2011 Chief FOIA Officer Report for theUnited States International Trade CommissionI.Steps Taken to Apply the Presumption of Openness1. Describe the steps your agency has taken to ensure that the presumption of openness is being applied to all decisions involving the FOIA.a. Describe how the President=s FOIA Memorandum and the Attorney General=s FOIA Guidelines have been publicized throughout your agency.The President=s FOIA Memorandum and the Attorney General’s FOIA Guidelines have been added to both our intranet and internet FOIA pages. When we circulate FOIA request forms for processing to other offices we attach a copy of the Attorney General=s FOIA Guidelines.b. What training has been attended and/or conducted on the new FOIA Guidelines?Agency-wide training on information security includes FOIA awareness and responsibilities. Agency staff is reminded of their responsibilities when asked to research a FOIA request. FOIA staff has attended the Department of Justice’s training sessions on the new guidelines.c. How has your agency created or modified your internal guidance to reflect the presumption of openness?Our agency continues to look for materials to post at our FOIA page for public viewing. We are in the process of updating our “Frequently Requested Records” link at our FOIA page with reoccurring documents that are requested. Our processes are in accordance with the Open Government Act of 2007. In FY 2011, the FOIA Office will undertake a review of its procedures and guidelines for processing FOIA requests. This review will include the possibility of discretionary releases of information as a means to enhance the openness of the agency. In addition, the office will review all materials that are posted on the website and seek to expand and update its FOIA information. Finally, the review will encompass all other FOIA procedures to ensure that the agency remains in compliance with FOIA requirements.d. To what extent has your agency made discretionary releases of otherwise exempt information?Most FOIA requests received by this agency are for information submitted in accordance with published rules and protected by statute. Specifically, most of our information is protected by 19 USC Subtitles I - IV. However, we rarely denyrequests outright and supply as much information as possible in response to FOIArequests.e. What exemptions would have covered the information that was released as a matter of discretion?We have not made discretionary releases of information.f.How does your agency review records to determine whether discretionary releases are possible?A review is conducted by the FOIA Office of all information gathered in response to FOIA requests. On the rare occasions when material is exempt, that material is further reviewed by the Office of the General Counsel, to determine whether or not to waive the exemption or to assert it. If the material can be released, it is.g. Describe any other initiatives undertaken by your agency to ensure that the presumption of openness is being applied.Based on our records, only two requests were denied in full due to exemptions in the last five fiscal years. The Commission’s practice was already consistent with the Administration’s openness initiative when it began. The FOIA Office is reviewing the entire process for receiving, processing, searching for records and disclosing information in order to ensure its rigorous compliance with openness guidelines.2. Report the extent to which the numbers of requests where records have been released in full and the numbers of requests where records have been released in part has changed from those numbers as reported in your previous year=s Annual FOIA report.In FY 2010 the USITC number of full and partial grants was approximately the same compared to the previous year. Either a full or partial release was granted in50% (17 full, 6 partial out of 46 total) of all requests received in FY 2010. In FY2009, a full or partial release was granted with respect to 54% of all requests received (18 full, 9 partial out of 50 total). The agency had no responsive documents for the remainder of requests.II. Steps Taken to Ensure that Your Agency has an Effective System in Place for Responding to Requestsa. Do FOIA professionals within your agency have sufficient IT support?Yes. The IT staff is very supportive of FOIA staff. We consistently work together regarding web postings, improvements to the FOIA database, and maintenance of the web interface for electronic filing of requests.b. Describe how your agency=s FOIA professionals interact with your Open GovernmentTeam.Our FOIA professionals are members of the Open Government Team.c. Describe the steps your agency has taken to assess whether adequate staffing is being devoted to responding to FOIA requests.Our response time is analyzed each year to determine that we are meeting the statutory due date. Staff is considered adequate to meet current requirements of FOIA processing. The Commission receives a relatively small number of FOIA requests annually, and the current staff has no difficulty processing requests, coordinating searches with the program offices, and responding within the guidelines that apply.d. Describe any other steps your agency has undertaken to ensure that your FOIA system operates efficiently and effectively.At the end of FY 2010 the FOIA process was audited by the agency’s Office of theInspector General. We are awaiting the report of findings.III.Steps Taken to Increase Proactive Disclosuresa. Has your agency added new material to your agency website since last year?The ITC is continuously updating materials on the website and adding new materials. New materials added include FAQs for individual operational areas, descriptions of complementary information found on external web sites, and links to other government web sites with complementary missions.b. What types of records have been posted?Most postings have been FAQs and plain language procedural guidance and historical data regarding investigations.c. Give examples of the types of records your agency now posts that used to be available only by making FOIA request for them.We currently post Commission reports on miscellaneous tariff bills and summary information regarding individual import injury investigations (antidumping, countervailing duty, five-year (sunset) review, safeguard, and intellectual property).d. What system do you have in place to routinely identify records that are appropriate for posting?Notice of, and in some instances, copies of, all reports issued by this agency flow through the Secretary. Decisions regarding web posting are reviewed at the time of issuance of the report. The FOIA staff is part of the Office of the Secretary.e. How do you utilize social media in disseminating information?This agency does not use social media to disseminate information.e. Describe any other steps taken to increase proactive disclosures at your agency.This agency is active in and fully supports Open Government initiatives.IV.Steps Taken to Greater Utilize Technology1. Electronic receipt of FOIA requests:a. What proportion of the components within your agency which receive FOIA requests have the cap