(3) If the decision denying a request for access involves Department employee records which fall under the jurisdiction of the Office of Personnel Management, the individual shall be informed in a written response which shall:

(i) State the reasons for the denial.

(ii) Include the name, position title, and address of the official responsible for the denial.

(iii) Advise the individual that an appeal of the denial may be made only to the Assistant Director for Workforce Information, Personnel Systems and Oversight Group, Office of Personnel Management, 1900 E Street NW., Washington, DC 20415.

(4) Copies of decisions denying requests for access made pursuant to paragraphs (c)(2) and (c)(3) of this section will be provided to the Departmental and Bureau Privacy Act Offi

cers.

(d) Fees. (1) No fees may be charged for the cost of searching for or reviewing a record in response to a request made under § 2.63.

(2) Fees for copying a record in response to a request made under §2.63 shall be charged in accordance with the schedule of charges contained in Appendix A to this part, unless the official responsible for processing the request determines that reduction or waiver of fees is appropriate.

(3) Where it is anticipated that fees chargeable in connection with a request will exceed the amount the person submitting the request has indicated a willingness to pay, the official processing the request shall notify the requester and shall not complete processing of the request until the requester has agreed, in writing, to pay fees as high as are anticipated.

[40 FR 44505, Sept. 26, 1975, as amended at 48 FR 56585, Dec. 22, 1983; 53 FR 3749, Feb. 9, 1988]

$2.65 Requests for notification of existence of records and for access to records: Appeals.

(a) Right of appeal. Except for appeals pertaining to Office of Personnel Management records, individuals who have been notified that they are not entitled to notification of whether a system of records contains records pertaining to

them or have been denied access, in whole or part, to a requested record may appeal to the Assistant Secretary-Policy, Budget and Administration.

(b) Time for appeal. (1) An appeal must be received by the Privacy Act Officer no later than twenty (20) working days after the date of the initial decision on a request.

(2) The Assistant Secretary-Policy, Budget and Administration may, for good cause shown, extend the time for submission of an appeal if a written request for additional time is received within twenty (20) working days of the date of the initial decision on the request.

(c) Form of appeal. (1) An appeal shall be in writing and shall attach copies of the initial request and the decision on the request.

(2) The appeal shall contain a brief statement of the reasons why the appellant believes the decision on the initial request to have been in error.

(3) The appeal shall be addressed to Privacy Act Officer, Office of the Assistant Secretary-Policy, Budget and Administration, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, DC 20240.

(d) Action on appeals. (1) Appeals from decisions on initial requests made pursuant to §§2.61 and 2.63 shall be decided for the Department by the Assistant Secretary-Policy, Budget and Administration or an official designated by the Assistant Secretary after consultation with the Solicitor.

(2) The decision on an appeal shall be in writing and shall state the basis for the decision.

[40 FR 44505, Sept. 26, 1975, as amended at 48 FR 56585, Dec. 22, 1983; 53 FR 3749, Feb. 9, 1988]

$2.66 Requests for access to records: Special situations.

(a) Medical records. (1) Medical records shall be disclosed to the individual to whom they pertain unless it is determined, in consultation with a medical doctor, that disclosure should be made to a medical doctor of the individual's choosing.

(2) If it is determined that disclosure of medical records directly to the individual to whom they pertain could

have an adverse effect on that individual, the individual may designate a medical doctor to receive the records and the records will be disclosed to that doctor.

(b) Inspection in presence of third party. (1) Individuals wishing to inspect records pertaining to them which have been opened for their inspection may, during the inspection, be accompanied by a person of their own choosing.

(2) When such a procedure is deemed appropriate, individuals to whom the records pertain may be required to furnish a written statement authorizing discussion of their records in the accompanying person's presence.

[40 FR 44505, Sept. 26, 1975, as amended at 48 FR 56585, Dec. 22, 1983]

§§ 2.67-2.69 [Reserved]

§2.70 Amendment of records.

The Privacy Act permits individuals to request amendment of records pertaining to them if they believe the records are not accurate, relevant, timely or complete. 5 U.S.C. 552a(d)(2). A request for amendment of a record shall be submitted in accordance with the procedures in this subpart.

[48 FR 56585, Dec. 22, 1983]

§2.71 Petitions for amendment: Submission and form.

(a) Submission of petitions for amendment. (1) A request for amendment of a record shall be submitted to the system manager for the system of records containing the record unless the system notice describing the system prescribes or permits submission to a different official or officials. If an individual wishes to request amendment of records located in more than one system, a separate petition must be submitted to each system manager.

(2) A petition for amendment of a record may be submitted only if the individual submitting the petition has previously requested and been granted access to the record and has inspected or been given a copy of the record.

(b) Form of petition. (1) A petition for amendment shall be in writing and shall specifically identify the record for which amendment is sought.

(2) The petition shall state, in detail, the reasons why the petitioner believes

the record, or the objectionable portion thereof, is not accurate, relevant, timely or complete. Copies of documents or evidence relied upon in support of these reasons shall be submitted with the petition.

(3) The petition shall state, specifically and in detail, the changes sought in the record. If the changes involve rewriting the record or portions thereof or involve adding new language to the record, the petition shall propose specific language to implement the changes.

[48 FR 56585, Dec. 22, 1983]

§2.72 Petitions for amendment: Processing and initial decision.

(a) Decisions on petitions. In reviewing a record in response to a petition for amendment, the accuracy, relevance, timeliness and completeness of the record shall be assessed against the criteria set out in §2.48. In addition, personnel records shall be assessed against the criteria for determining record quality published in the Federal Personnel Manual and the Departmental Manual addition thereto.

(b) Authority to decide. An initial decision on a petition for amendment may be made only by the system manager responsible for the system of records containing the challenged record. If the system manager declines to amend the record as requested, the bureau Privacy Act officer for the bureau which maintains the system must concur in the decision, provided, however, that the head of a bureau may, in writing, require (1) that the decision be made by the bureau Privacy Act officer and/or (2) that the bureau head's own concurrence in the decision be obtained.

(c) Acknowledgement of receipt. Unless processing of a petition is completed within ten (10) working days, the receipt of the petition for amendment shall be acknowledged in writing by the system manager to whom it is directed.

(d) Inadequate petitions. (1) If a petition does not meet the requirements of §2.71, the petitioner shall be so advised and shall be told what additional information must be submitted to meet the requirements of §2.71.

(2) If the petitioner fails to submit the additional information within a

reasonable time, the petition may be rejected. The rejection shall be in writing and shall meet the requirements of paragraph (e) of this section.

(e) Form of decision. (1) A decision on a petition for amendment shall be in writing and shall state concisely the basis for the decision.

(2) If the petition for amendment is rejected, in whole or part, the petitioner shall be informed in a written response which shall:

(i) State concisely the basis for the decision.

(ii) Advise the petitioner that the rejection may be appealed to the Assistant Secretary-Policy, Budget and Administration by writing to the Privacy Act Officer, Office of the Assistant Secretary-Policy, Budget and Administration, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, DC 20240.

(iii) State that the appeal must be received by the foregoing official within twenty (20) working days of the decision.

(3) If the petition for amendment involves Department employee records which fall under the jurisdiction of the Office of Personnel Management and is rejected, in whole or part, the petitioner shall be informed in a written response which shall:

(i) State concisely the basis for the decision.

(ii) Advise the petitioner that an appeal of the rejection may be made pursuant to 5 CFR 297.306 only to the Assistant Director for Workforce Information, Personnel Systems and Oversight Group, Office of Personnel Management, 1900 E Street NW., Washington, DC 20415.

(4) Copies of rejections of petitions for amendment made pursuant to paragraphs (e)(2) and (e)(3) of this section will be provided to the Departmental and Bureau Privacy Act Officers.

(f) Implementation of initial decision. If a petition for amendment is accepted, in whole or part, the bureau maintaining the record shall:

(1) Correct the record accordingly and,

(2) Where an accounting of disclosures has been made pursuant to §2.57, advise all previous recipients of the

record that the correction was made and the substance of the correction.

[40 FR 44505, Sept. 26, 1975, as amended at 48 FR 56585, Dec. 22, 1983, 53 FR 3750, Feb. 9, 1988]]

§2.73 Petitions for amendments: Time limits for processing.

(a) Acknowledgement of receipt. The acknowledgement of receipt of a petition required by §2.72(c) shall be dispatched not later than ten (10) working days after receipt of the petition by the system manager responsible for the system containing the challenged record, unless a decision on the petition has been previously dispatched.

(b) Decision on petition. A petition for amendment shall be processed promptly. A determination whether to accept or reject the petition for amendment shall be made within thirty (30) working days after receipt of the petition by the system manager responsible for the system containing the challenged record.

(c) Suspension of time limit. The thirty (30) day time limit for a decision on a petition shall be suspended if it is necessary to notify the petitioner, pursuant to §2.72(d), that additional information in support of the petition is required. Running of the thirty (30) day time limit shall resume on receipt of the additional information by the system manager responsible for the system containing the challenged record.

(d) Extensions of time. (1) The thirty (30) day time limit for a decision on a petition may be extended if the official responsible for making a decision on the petition determines that an extension is necessary for one of the following reasons:

(i) A decision on the petition requires analysis of voluminous record or records;

(ii) Some or all of the challenged records must be collected from facilities other than the facility at which the official responsible for making the decision is located.

(iii) Some or all of the challenged records are of concern to another bureau of the Department or another agency of the Federal Government whose assistance and views are being sought in processing the request.

(2) If the official responsible for making a decision on the petition determines that an extension is necessary, the official shall promptly inform the petitioner of the extension and the date on which a decision is expected to be dispatched.

[40 FR 44505, Sept. 26, 1975, as amended at 48 FR 56586, Dec. 22, 1983; 53 FR 3750, Feb. 9, 1988]

§2.74 Petitions for amendment: Appeals.

(a) Right of appeal. Except for appeals pertaining to Office of Personnel Management records, where a petition for amendment has been rejected in whole or in part, the individual submitting the petition may appeal the denial to the Assistant Secretary-Policy, Budget and Administration.

(b) Time for appeal. (1) An appeal must be received no later than twenty (20) working days after the date of the decision on a petition.

(2) The Assistant Secretary-Policy, Budget and Administration may, for good cause shown, extend the time for submission of an appeal if a written request for additional time is received within twenty (20) working days of the date of the decision on a petition.

(c) Form of appeal. (1) An appeal shall be in writing and shall attach copies of the initial petition and the decision on that petition.

(2) The appeal shall contain a brief statement of the reasons why the appellant believes the decision on the petition to have been in error.

(3) The appeal shall be addressed to Privacy Act Officer, Office of the Assistant Secretary-Policy, Budget and Administration, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, DC 20240.

[40 FR 44505, Sept. 26, 1975, as amended at 47 FR 38328, Aug. 31, 1982; 53 FR 3750, Feb. 9, 1988]

$2.75 Petitions for amendment: Action on appeals.

(a) Authority. Appeals from decisions on initial petitions for amendment shall be decided for the Department by the Assistant Secretary-Policy, Budget and Administration or an official

designated by the Assistant Secretary, after consultation with the Solicitor.

(b) Time limit. (1) A final determination on any appeal shall be made within thirty (30) working days after receipt of the appeal.

(2) The thirty (30) day period for decision on an appeal may be extended, for good cause shown, by the Secretary of the Interior. If the thirty (30) day period is extended, the individual submitting the appeal shall be notified of the extension and of the date on which a determination on the appeal is expected to be dispatched.

(c) Form of decision. (1) The final determination on an appeal shall be in writing and shall state the basis for the determination.

(2) If the determination upholds, in whole or part, the initial decision rejecting the petition for amendment, the determination shall also advise the individual submitting the appeal:

(i) of his or her right to file a concise statement of the reasons for disagreeing with the decision of the agenсу;

(ii) of the procedure established by §2.77 for the filing of the statement of disagreement;

(iii) That the statement which is filed will be made available to anyone to whom the record is subsequently disclosed together with, at the discretion of the Department, a brief statement by the Department summarizing its reasons for refusing to amend the record;

(iv) That prior recipients of the challenged record will be provided a copy of any statement of dispute to the extent that an accounting of disclosure was maintained; and

(v) of his or her right to seek judicial review of the Department's refusal to amend the record.

(3) If the determination reverses, in whole or in part, the initial decision rejecting the petition for amendment, the system manager responsible for the system containing the challenged record shall be directed to:

(i) Amend the challenged record accordingly; and

(ii) If an accounting of disclosures has been made, advise all previous recipients of the record of the amendment and its substance.

[40 FR 44505, Sept. 26, 1975, as amended at 48 FR 56586, Dec. 22, 1983; 53 FR 3750, Feb. 9, 1988]

§2.76 [Reserved]

§2.77 Statements of disagreement.

(a) Filing of statement. If the determination of the Assistant Secretary— Policy, Budget and Administration under §2.75 rejects in whole or part, a petition for amendment, the individual submitting the petition may file with the system manager for the system containing the challenged record a concise written statement setting forth the reasons for disagreement with the determination of the Department.

(b) Disclosure of statements. In any disclosure of a record containing information about which an individual has filed a statement of disagreement under this section which occurs after the filing of the statement, the disputed portion of the record will be clearly noted and the recipient shall be provided copies of the statement of disagreement. If appropriate, a concise statement of the reasons of the Department for not making the requested amendments may also be provided to the recipient.

(c) Maintenance of statements. System managers shall develop procedures to assure that statements of disagreement filed with them shall be maintained in such a way as to assure dissemination of the statements to recipients of the records to which the statements pertain.

[48 FR 56586, Dec. 22, 1983]

(a) Criminal law enforcement records exempt under 5 U.S.C. 552a(j)(2). Pursuant to 5 U.S.C_552a(j)(2) the following systems of records have been exempted from all of the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552a and the regulations in the subpart except paragraphs (b), (c) (1) and (2), (e)(4) (A) through (F), (e) (6), (7), (9), (10), and (11), and (i) of 5 U.S.C. 552a and the portions of the regulations in

this subpart implementing these paragraphs:

(1) Investigative Case File System, Interior/FWS-20.

(2) Law Enforcement Services System, Interior/BIA-18.

(3) Law Enforcement Statistical Reporting System, Interior/NPS-19.

(4) Investigative Records, Interior/Office of Inspector General-2.

(b) Law enforcement records exempt under 5 U.S.C. 552a(k)(2). Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(k)(2), the following systems of records have been exempted from paragraphs (c)(3), (d), (e)(1), (e)(4) (G), (H), and (I), and (f) of 5 U.S.C. 552a and the provisions of the regulations in this subpart implementing these paragraphs:

(1) Investigative Records, Interior/Office of Inspector General-2.

(2) Permits System, Interior/FWS-21. (3) Criminal Case Investigation System, Interior/BLM-18.

(4) Civil Trespass Case Investigations, Interior/BLM-19.

(5) Employee Conduct Investigations, Interior/BLM-20.

(6)–(7) [Reserved]

(8) Employee Financial Irregularities, Interior/NPS-17.

(9) Trespass Cases, Interior/Reclamation-37.

(10) Litigation, Appeal and Case Files System, Interior/Office of the Solicitor-1 to the extent that it consists of investigatory material compiled for law enforcement purposes.

(11) Endangered Species Licenses System, Interior/FWS-19.

(12) Investigative Case File, Interior/ FWS-20.

(13) Timber Cutting and Trespass Claims Files, Interior/BIA-24.

(c) Investigatory records exempt under 5 U.S.C. 552a(k)(5), the following systems of records have been exempted from subsections (c)(3), (d), (e)(1), (e)(4) (G), (H), and (I) and (f) of 5 U.S.C. 552a and the provisions of the regulations in this subpart implementing these subsections:

(1) [Reserved]

(2) National Research Council Grants Program, Interior/GS-9