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FOIA Annual Report

Millennium Challenge Corporation Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Annual Report, FY 2015

May 13, 2016

Basic Information Regarding Report

  1. Name, title, address, and telephone number of person(s) to be contacted with questions about the report:

    Tamiko N. Walker, Chief FOIA Officer
    Millennium Challenge Corporation
    1099 Fourteenth Street, NW
    8th Floor
    Washington, DC 20005
    Telephone: (202) 521-3730
    E-mail: foia@mcc.gov

  2. Electronic address for the report on the World Wide Web:

    http://www.mcc.gov/foia

  3. How to obtain a copy of the report in paper form:

    Contact Ms. Walker at the address or telephone number listed above.

Making a FOIA Request

  1. Names, addresses and telephone numbers of all individual MCC components and offices that receive FOIA requests:

    Tamiko N. Walker, Chief FOIA Officer
    Millennium Challenge Corporation
    1099 Fourteenth Street, NW
    8th Floor
    Washington, DC 20005
    Telephone: (202) 521-3730
    E-mail: foia@mcc.gov

  2. Brief description of why some requests are not granted:
    • MCC denied nine (9) information requests in FY2015 because there were no records responsive to the requests. 
    • MCC denied two (2) information request in FY2015 because the requests were not reasonably described.
    • MCC denied part of two (2) information requests in FY2015 invoking Exemptions 4.
    • MCC denied part of one (1) information requests in FY2015 invoking Exemption 5.
    • MCC denied part of six (6) information requests in FY2015 invoking Exemption 6.

Acronyms, Definitions, and Exemptions

  1. Agency-specific acronyms or other terms
    MCC
    Millennium Challenge Corporation. The independent executive agency established by Congress in the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003.
  2. Basic terms, expressed in common terminology
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.)

    Full Grant
    an agency decision to disclose all records in full in response to a FOIA request.
    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.
    Median Number
    the middle, not average, number. For example, of 3, 7, and 14, the median number is 7.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    Pending Request or Pending Administrative Appeal
    a request or administrative appeal for which an agency has not taken final action in all respects.
    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.
    Processed Request or Processed Administrative Appeal
    a request or administrative appeal for which an agency has taken final action in all respects.
    Range in Number of Days
    the lowest and highest number of days to process requests or administrative appeals.
    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
    Exemption 1
    classified national defense and foreign relations information
    Exemption 2
    information that is related solely to the internal personnel rules and practices of an agency.
    Exemption 3
    information that is prohibited from disclosure by another federal law
    Exemption 4
    trade secrets and other confidential business information
    Exemption 5
    inter-agency or intra-agency communications that are protected by legal privileges
    Exemption 6
    information involving matters of personal privacy
    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
    Exemption 8
    information relating to the supervision of financial institutions
    Exemption 9
    geological information on wells

 

IV. Exemption 3 Statutes

 
Statute Type of Information Withheld Case Citation Agency / Component Number of Times Relied upon by Agency / Component Total Number of Times Relied upon by Agency Overall
N/A N/A N/A MCC 0 0

 

V. FOIA Requests

 
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A. FOIA Requests - Received, Processed and Pending FOIA Requests
Agency / Component 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
MCC 23 18 41 0
Agency Overall 23 18 41 0

 

B.(1). Disposition of FOIA Requests - All Processed Requests
Agency / Component 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 *Explain in Chart Below
MCC 12 14 2 9 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 41
Agency Overall 12 14 2 9 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 41

 

 
B.(2). Disposition of FOIA Requests - "Other" Reasons for "Full Denials Based on Reasons Other Than Exemptions"
Agency / Component Description of "Other" Reasons for Denials from Chart B(1) Number of Times "Other" Reason Was Relied Upon Total
MCC N/A 0 0
Agency Overall     0

 

 
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B.(3). Disposition of FOIA Requests - Number of Times Exemptions Applied
Agency / Component 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
MCC 0 0 0 2 1 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Agency Overall 0 0 0 2 1 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

 

VI. Administrative Appeals

 
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A. Administrative Appeals of Initial Determinations of FOIA Requests - Received, Processed, and Pending Administrative Appeals
Agency / Component 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
MCC 0 0 0 0
Agency Overall 0 0 0 0

 

 
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B. Disposition of Administrative Appeals - All Processed Appeals
Agency / Component 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
MCC 0 0 0 0 0
Agency Overall 0 0 0 0 0

 

 
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C.(1). Reasons for Denial on Appeal - Number of Times Exemptions Applied
Agency / Component 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
MCC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Agency Overall 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

 

 
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C.(2). Reasons for Denial on Appeal - Reasons Other Than Exemptions
Agency / Component 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
MCC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Agency Overall 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

 

 
C.(3). Reasons for Denial on Appeal - "Other" Reasons
Agency / Component Description of "Other" Reasons for Denial on Appeal from Chart C(2) Number of Times "Other" Reason Was Relied Upon Total
MCC N/A 0 0
Agency Overall     0

 

 
C.(4). Response Time for Administrative Appeals
Agency / Component Median Number of Days Average Number of Days Lowest Number of Days Highest Number of Days
Agency Overall 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

 

C.(5). Ten Oldest Pending Administrative Appeals
Agency / Component   10th Oldest Appeal 9th 8th 7th 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd Oldest Appeal
Agency Overall Date of Appeal N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Number of Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

 

VII. FOIA Requests - Response Time for All Processed and Pending Requests

A. FOIA Requests - Response Time for All Processed Perfected Requests
Agency / Component

Simple

Complex

Expedited Processing
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
Agency Overall 79 84 <1 290 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

 

B. Processed Requests - Response Time for Perfected Requests in Which Information Was Granted
Agency / Component

Simple

Complex

Expedited Processing
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
Agency Overall 92 68 <1 181 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

 

 
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C. Processed Simple Requests - Response Time in Day Increments
Agency / Component <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
MCC 17 2 1 2 3 1 1 0 0 10 2 0 0 39
Agency Overall 17 2 1 2 3 1 1 0 0 10 2 0 0 39

 

 
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C. Processed Complex Requests - Response Time in Day Increments
Agency / Component <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
MCC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Agency Overall 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

 

 
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C. Processed Requests Granted Expedited Processing - Response Time in Day Increments
Agency / Component <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
MCC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Agency Overall 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

 

D. Pending Requests - All Pending Perfected Requests
Agency / Component

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
Agency Overall 0 N/A N/A 0 N/A N/A 0 N/A N/A

 

E. Pending Requests - Ten Oldest Pending Perfected Requests
Agency / Component   10th Oldest Request 9th 8th 7th 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd Oldest Request
Agency Overall Date of Receipt N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Number of Days Pending 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

 

VIII. Requests for Expedited Processing and Request for Fee Waiver

 
A. Requests For Expedited Processing
Agency / Component Number Granted Number Denied Median Number of Days to Adjudicate Average Number of Days to Adjudicate Number Adjudicated Within Ten Calendar Days
Agency Overall 0 0 N/A N/A N/A

 

 
B. Requests For Fee Waiver
Agency / Component Number Granted Number Denied Median Number of Days to Adjudicate Average Number of Days to Adjudicate
Agency Overall 0 0 N/A N/A

 

IX. FOIA Personnel and Costs

Agency / Component

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
MCC 0 2 2 $15,000.00 $0.00 $15,000.00
Agency Overall 0 2 2 $15,000.00 $0.00 $15,000.00

As of FY 2015 and the previous years, MCC did not have a tracking system for which to assess processing costs for FOIA requests. MCC is developing a proper system to track processing costs for FOIA requests. The processing costs reported in this report and in previous reports is an estimated figure.

 

X. Fees Collected For Processing Requests

Agency / Component Total Amount of Fees Collected Percentage of Total Costs
MCC $0.00 0.00%
Agency Overall $0.00 0.00%

 

XII. Backlogs, Consultations and Comparisons

A. Backlogs of FOIA Requests and Administrative Appeals
Agency / Component Number of Backlogged Requests as of End of Fiscal Year Number of Backlogged Appeals as of End of Fiscal Year
MCC 0 0
Agency Overall 0 0

 

 
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B. Consultations on FOIA Requests - Received, Processed, And Pending Consultations
Agency / Component Number of Consultations Received from Other Agencies that were Pending at the Agency 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 Agency During the Fiscal Year Number of Consultations Received from Other Agencies that were Pending at the Agency as of End of the Fiscal Year
MCC 0 0 0 0
Agency Overall 0 0 0 0

 

C. Consultations on FOIA Requests - Ten Oldest Consultations Received From Other Agencies and Pending at the Agency
Agency / Component   10th Oldest Consultation 9th 8th 7th 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd Oldest Consultation
Agency Overall Date N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Number of Days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

 

D.(1). Comparison of Numbers of Requests From Previous and Current Annual Report - Requests Received and Processed
Agency / Component

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
MCC 33 18 14 41
Agency Overall 33 18 14 41

 

D.(2). Comparison of Numbers of Requests From Previous and Current Annual Report - Backlogged Requests
Agency / Component Number of Backlogged Requests as of End of the Fiscal Year from Previous Annual Report Number of Backlogged Requests as of End of the Fiscal Year from Current Annual Report
MCC 23 0
Agency Overall 23 0

 

XII. Comparison of Numbers of Administrative Appeals From Previous And Current Annual

E.(1). Comparison of Numbers of Administrative Appeals From Previous And Current Annual Report - Appeals Received and Processed
Agency / Component

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
MCC 0 0 0 0
Agency Overall 0 0 0 0

 

E.(2). Comparison of Numbers of Administrative Appeals From Previous and Current Annual Report - Backlogged Appeals
Agency / Component Number of Backlogged Appeals as of End of the Fiscal Year from Previous Annual Report Number of Backlogged Appeals as of End of the Fiscal Year from Current Annual Report
MCC 0 0