Mission of the Office of Science and Technology
Policy
- The Office of Science and Technology Policy's mission
is set out in the National Science and Technology Policy, Organization, and
Priorities Act of 1976 (Public Law 94-282). It calls for OSTP to:
- Serve as a source of scientific and technological
analysis and judgment for the President with respect to major policies, plans,
and programs of the Federal Government.
The Act authorizes OSTP to:
- Advise the President and others within the Executive Office
of the President on the impacts of science and technology on domestic and
international affairs;
- Lead an interagency effort to develop and implement sound
science and technology policies and budgets;
- Work with the private sector to ensure Federal investments
in science and technology contribute to economic prosperity, environmental
quality, and national security;
- Build strong partnerships among Federal, State, and local
governments, other countries, and the scientific community;
- Evaluate the scale, quality, and effectiveness of the Federal
effort in science and technology.
OSTP's Senate-confirmed Director also serves as Assistant
to the President for Science and Technology. In this role, he co-chairs
the President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST)
and supports the President's National Science and Technology Council (NSTC).
A Senate-confirmed Associate Director leads each of OSTP's
four divisions covering the areas of Environment, National Security and International
Affairs, Science, and Technology.
The Executive Office of the President (EOP)
entities subject to the FOIA are:
- Council on Environmental Quality
Office of Administration
Office of Management and
Budget
Office of National Drug Control
Policy
Office of Science and Technology
Policy
United States Trade Representative
The EOP entities exempt from the provisions
of the FOIA are:
- White House Office
Office of the Vice President
Council of Economic Advisers
National Security Council
Office of Policy Development
President's Foreign Intelligence
Advisory Board
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Requests:
- To make a FOIA Request, please send your request to Ms.
Ferguson using the address below.
Old Executive Office Building
Attn: FOIA Officer (Barbara Ann Ferguson)
Old Executive Office Building, Room 431
Washington, DC 20502
Phone: (202) 456-6001
Fax: (202) 456-6022
or
email you request to ostpfoia@ostp.eop.gov
The words FOIA REQUEST should be clearly marked
on both the letter and the envelope or email subject line. Because
of security measures at the Old and New Executive Office Buildings, requests
made in person should be delivered to Room G-1, at the above address.
Upon receipt of initial FOIA request, OSTP has 20 working
days to respond. Describe the specific records requested in enough
detail so that they can be located with a reasonable amount of effort.
Requests for answers posed as questions are not covered under the FOIA.
The request must be for records. Records must exist at the time the
request is submitted. If the request requires an extension, OSTP will provide
written notice explaining the reason for the delay and when a determination
will be made. All proper FOIA requests will be responded to.
If OSTP does not have records pertaining to the request, a non-responsive
letter will be mailed within twenty (20) working days.
Please state your willingness and ability to pay applicable
fees or provide a justification to support a fee waiver.
Definitions of FOIA/PA Request: Freedom
of Information Act/Privacy Act request. A FOIA request is generally a request
for access to records concerning a third party, an organization, or a particular
topic of interest. A Privacy Act request is a request for records concerning
oneself; such requests are also treated as FOIA requests. (All requests
for access to records, regardless of which law is cited by the requester, are
included in this report.)
- 1. Initial Request. A request to a Federal
agency for access to records under the Freedom of Information Act.
2. Appeal. A request to a Federal agency
asking that it review at a higher administrative level a full denial or
partial denial of access to records under the Freedom of Information Act,
or any other FOIA determination such as a matter pertaining to fees.
3. Processed Request or Appeal. Request
or appeal for which an agency has taken a final action on the request or
the appeal in all respects.
4. Expedited Processing. An agency will
process a FOIA request on an expedited basis when a request has shown an
exceptional need or urgency for the records which warrants prioritization
of his or her request over other requests that were made earlier.
5. Simple Request. A FOIA request that
an agency, using multi-track processing, places in its fastest (non-expedited)
track based on the volume and/or simplicity of records requested.
6. Complex Request. A FOIA request that
an agency, using multi-track processing, places in a slower track based
on the volume and/or complexity of records requested.
7. Grant. An agency decision to disclose
all records in full in response to a FOIA request.
8. Partial Grant. An agency decision
to disclose a record in part in response to a FOIA request, deleting information
determined to be exempt under one or more of the FOIA's exemptions; or a
decision to disclose some records in their entireties, but to withhold others
in whole or in part.
9. Denial. An agency decision not to
release any part of a record or records in response to a FOIA request because
all the information in the requested records is determined by the agency
to be exempt under one or more of the FOIA's exemptions, or for some procedural
reason (such as because no record is located in response to a FOIA request).
10. Time Limits. The time period in the Freedom
of Information Act for an agency to respond to a FOIA request (ordinarily
20 working days from proper receipt of a "perfected" FOIA request).
11. "Perfected" Request. A FOIA request for
records which adequately describes the records sought, which has been received
the FOIA office of the agency or agency component in possession of the records,
and for which there is no remaining question about the payment of applicable
fees.
12. Exemption 3 Statute. A separate Federal
statute prohibiting the disclosure of a certain type of information and
authorizing its withholding under FOIA subsection (b)(3).
13. Median Number. The middle, not average,
number. For example, of 3, 7, and 14, the median number is 7.
14. 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.
Exemption 3 Statutes
- The Office of Science and Technology Policy did not rely
on Exemption 3 statutes during fiscal year 1998.
Commonly Requested FOIA records such as:
The IMPAC Credit Card Holders Listing:
- 1998 OSTP FOIA Report
I. Initial FOIA/PA Access Requests
A. Number of initial requests
1.
Number of requests pending as of end of preceding fiscal year: 0
2. Number of requests received during current fiscal year:
25
3. Number of requests processed during current fiscal
year: 25
4. Number of requests pending as of end of current fiscal
year: 0
B. Disposition of initial requests
a.
Number of total grants: 13
b. Number of partial grants: 4
c. Number of denials: 8
C. Number of times each FOIA
exemption was used (counting each exemption once per request)
(1) Exemption 1: 1
(2) Exemption 2: 0
(3) Exemption 3: 0
(4) Exemption 4: 3
(5) Exemption 5: 3
(6) Exemption 6: 0
(7) Exemption 7(A): 0
(8) Exemption 7(B): 0
(9) Exemption 7(C): 0
(10) Exemption 7(D): 0
(11) Exemption 7(E): 0
(12) Exemption 7(F): 0
(13) Exemption 8: 0
(14) Exemption 9: 0
D. Other reasons for nondisclosure
(total)
1. no records: 8
2. referrals: 4
3. request withdrawn: 0
4. fee-related reason: 0
5. records not reasonably described: 0
6. not a proper FOIA request for some other reason:
0
7. not an agency record: 0
8. duplicate request: 0
9. other (specify): 0
II. Appeals of Initial Denials of FOIA/PA Requests
A. Number of Appeals
1. Number of appeals received during fiscal year:
1
2. Number of appeals processed during fiscal year:
1
B. Disposition of Appeals
1.
Number completely upheld: 0
2. Number partially reversed: 1
3. Number completely reversed: 0
C. Number of times each FOIA
exemption used (counting each exemption once per appeal)
-
(1) Exemption 1: 1
(2) Exemption 2: 0
(3) Exemption 3: 0
(4) Exemption 4: 1
(5) Exemption 5: 0
(6) Exemption 6: 0
(7) Exemption 7(A): 0
(8) Exemption 7(B): 0
(9) Exemption 7(C): 0
(10) Exemption 7(D): 0
(11) Exemption 7(E): 0
(12) Exemption 7(F): 0
(13) Exemption 8: 0
(14) Exemption 9: 0
D. Other reasons for nondisclosure
(total):
1. no records: 0
2. referrals: 0
3. request withdrawn: 0
4. fee-related reason: 0
5. records not reasonably described: 0
6. not a proper FOIA request for some other reason:
0
7. not an agency record: 0
8. duplicate request: 0
9. other (specify): None.
III. Compliance With Time Limits/Status of Pending Requests
A. Median processing
time for requests processed during the year
- 1.
Simple requests
a. Number of requests processed: 16
b. Median number of days to process: 2
2. Complex requests
a. Number of requests processed: 10
b. Median number of days to process: 14
3. Requests accorded expedited processing
a. Number of requests processed: 0
b. Median number of days to process: NA
B. Status of Pending Requests
1. Number of requests pending as of end of current fiscal
year: 0
2. Median number of days that such requests were pending
as of that date: NA
IV. Comparisons With Previous Year
A. Average requests received
for fiscal year 1997 and 1998: 30
B. There were no requests
pending as of FY97.
V. Costs/FOIA Staffing
A.. Staffing Levels
1. Number of full-time FOIA personnel: 0
2. Number of personnel with part-time or occasional FOIA
duties (in total work-years): <1
3. Total number of personnel (in work-years): <1
B. Total costs (including staff
and all resources)
1. FOIA processing (including appeals): $9,680
2. Litigation-related activities estimated: 0
3. Total costs: $9,680
VI. Fees
No fees were collected by the Office
of Science and Technology Policy for processing requests.
OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
POLICY
FISCAL YEAR 1999
ANNUAL FOIA REPORT
FOIA OFFICER:
The FOIA Officer for the Office of Science
and Technology Policy is Ms. Barbara Ann Ferguson. To obtain a copy of
the report in paper form please send your request in writing or by telephone
using the information below:
Barbara Ann Ferguson
Assistant Director for Budget and
Administration
Office of Science and Technology
Policy
Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive
Office Building, Room 431
Washington, DC 20502
(202) 395-7347
(202) 456-6022 (Fax)
The FY1999 OSTP Annual FOIA report can
be electronically viewed on our website www.whitehouse.gov/OSTP
MAKING A FOIA REQUEST:
To make a FOIA Request, please send your
request to Ms. Ferguson using the address above. Upon receipt of initial
FOIA request, OSTP has 20 working days to respond. If the request requires
an extension, OSTP will provide written notice explaining the reason for the
delay and when a determination will be made. All proper FOIA requests
will be responded to.
DEFINITIONS: Definitions of Terms and Acronyms
Used in the Report
FOIA/PA Request. Freedom of Information
Act/Privacy Act request. A FOIA request is generally a request for access to
records concerning a third party, an organization, or a particular topic of
interest. A Privacy Act request is a request for records concerning oneself;
such requests are also treated as FOIA requests. (All requests for access
to records, regardless of which law is cited by the requester, are included
in this report.)
1. Initial Request. A request to
a Federal agency for access to records under the Freedom of Information Act.
2. Appeal. A request to a Federal
agency asking that it review at a higher administrative level a full denial
or partial denial of access to records under the Freedom of Information Act,
or any other FOIA determination such as a matter pertaining to fees.
3. Processed Request or Appeal.
Request or appeal for which an agency has taken a final action on the request
or the appeal in all respects.
4. Expedited Processing. An agency
will process a FOIA request on an expedited basis when a request has shown an
exceptional need or urgency for the records which warrants prioritization of
his or her request over other requests that were made earlier.
5. Simple Request. A FOIA request
that an agency, using multi-track processing, places in its fastest (non-expedited)
track based on the volume and/or simplicity of records requested.
6. Complex Request. A FOIA request
that an agency, using multi-track processing, places in a slower track based
on the volume and/or complexity of records requested.
7. Grant. An agency decision to
disclose all records in full in response to a FOIA request.
8. Partial Grant. An agency decision
to disclose a record in part in response to a FOIA request, deleting information
determined to be exempt under one or more of the FOIA's exemptions; or a decision
to disclose some records in their entireties, but to withhold others in whole
or in part.
9. Denial. An agency decision not
to release any part of a record or records in response to a FOIA request because
all the information in the requested records is determined by the agency to
be exempt under one or more of the FOIA's exemptions, or for some procedural
reason (such as because no record is located in response to a FOIA request).
10. Time Limits. The time period
in the Freedom of Information Act for an agency to respond to a FOIA request
(ordinarily 20 working days from proper receipt of a "perfected" FOIA request).
11. "Perfected" Request. A FOIA
request for records which adequately describes the records sought, which has
been received the FOIA office of the agency or agency component in possession
of the records, and for which there is no remaining question about the payment
of applicable fees.
12. Exemption 3 Statute. A separate
Federal statute prohibiting the disclosure of a certain type of information
and authorizing its withholding under FOIA subsection (b)(3).
13. Median Number. The middle,
not average, number. For example, of 3, 7, and 14, the median number is
7.
14. 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.
EXEMPTION 3 STATUTES
The Office of Science and Technology
Policy did not rely on Exemption 3 statutes during fiscal year 1999.
INITIAL FOIA/PA ACCESS REQUESTS
Number of initial requests
1. Number of requests pending as of end of preceding
fiscal year: 0
2. Number of requests received during
current fiscal year: 37
3. Number of requests processed
during current fiscal year: 37
4. Number of requests pending
as of end of current fiscal year: 0
Disposition of initial requests
1. Number of total grants: 17
2. Number of partial grants:
2
3. Number of denials: 18
Number of times each FOIA exemption was used (counting
each exemption once per request)
(1) Exemption 1: 0
(2) Exemption 2: 0
(3) Exemption 3: 0
(4) Exemption 4: 0
(5) Exemption 5: 0
(6) Exemption 6: 0
(7) Exemption 7(A): 0
(8) Exemption 7(B): 0
(9) Exemption 7(C): 0
(10) Exemption 7(D): 0
(11) Exemption 7(E): 0
(12) Exemption 7(F): 0
(13) Exemption 8: 0
(14) Exemption 9: 0
Other reasons for nondisclosure (total)
a. no records: 17
b. referrals: 1
c. request withdrawn: 0
d. fee-related reason: 0
e. records not reasonably described:
0
f. not a proper FOIA request for
some other reason: 0
g. not an agency record:
0
h. duplicate request: 0
i. other (specify): 0
APPEALS OF INITIAL DENIALS OF FOIA/PA REQUESTS
Number of Appeals
1. Number of appeals received during fiscal year:
1
2. Number of appeals processed
during fiscal year: 1
Disposition of Appeals
1. Number completely upheld: 1
2. Number partially reversed: 0
3. Number completely reversed:
0
Number of times each FOIA exemption used (counting each
exemption once per appeal)
(1) Exemption 1: 0
(2) Exemption 2: 0
(3) Exemption 3: 0
(4) Exemption 4: 0
(5) Exemption 5: 0
(6) Exemption 6: 0
(7) Exemption 7(A): 0
(8) Exemption 7(B): 0
(9) Exemption 7(C): 0
(10) Exemption 7(D): 0
(11) Exemption 7(E): 0
(12) Exemption 7(F): 0
(13) Exemption 8: 0
(14) Exemption 9: 0
Other reasons for nondisclosure (total):
1
a. no records: 1
b. referrals: 0
c. request withdrawn: 0
d. fee-related reason: 0
e. records not reasonably described:
0
f. not a proper FOIA request for
some other reason: 0
g. not an agency record:
0
h. duplicate request: 0
i. other (specify): None.
COMPLIANCE WITH TIME LIMITS/STATUS OF PENDING REQUESTS
Median processing time for requests processed during
the year
1. Simple requests
a. Number of requests processed:
12
b. Median number
of days to process: 2
2. Complex requests
a. Number of requests processed: 27
b. Median number of days to process:
14
3. Requests accorded expedited processing
a. Number of requests processed:
0
b. Median number
of days to process: NA
Status of Pending Requests
1. Number of requests pending as of end
of current fiscal year: 0
2. Median number of days that
such requests were pending as of that date: NA
COMPARISONS WITH PREVIOUS YEAR
Average requests received for fiscal year 1998
and 1999: 31
There were no requests pending
as of FY98.
COSTS/FOIA STAFFING
Staffing Levels
1. Number of full-time FOIA personnel:
0
2. Number of personnel with part-time
or occasional FOIA duties (in total work-years): <1
3. Total number of personnel (in work-years):
<1
Total costs (including staff and all
resources)
1. FOIA processing (including appeals):
$17,240
2. Litigation-related activities estimated:
0
3. Total costs: $17,240
FEES
No fees were collected by agency for processing
requests.
Office of Science and Technology Policy
1600 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W.
Washington, DC 20502
202.395.7347
mailto:ostpinfo@ostp.eop.gov
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