October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2009

I. Basic Information Regarding Report


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


Joseph A. Sorbera, FOIA Public Liaison  
Export-Import Bank of the United States  
811 Vermont Avenue, NW 
Washington, DC 20571 
(202) 565-3241

Dawn R. Kral, FOIA Specialist 
Export-Import Bank of the United States 
811 Vermont Avenue, NW 
Washington, DC 20571 
(202) 565-3248

2.Electronic link for access to the report on Ex-Im Bank’s Web site.  
 

3.To receive a hard copy of this report, mail a request to either of the contacts shown above.

II.MAKING A FOIA REQUEST

1. All FOIA requests are received and processed at the following address:

Export-Import Bank of the United States  
Freedom of Information Act Office 
811 Vermont Avenue, NW 
Washington, DC 20571 
(202) 565-3248

Guidance on how to make a FOIA request can be found here.

2. Brief description of why some requests are not granted.

Ex-Im Bank most commonly withholds information pursuant to FOIA Exemptions (b)(4) and (b)(5). The (b)(4) exemption is mostly applied to information received as part of Ex-Im Bank’s review of credit applications. The information is received from foreign buyers of U.S. exports, commercial financial institutions, product suppliers, and other private sector entities and is sensitive and confidential in nature. The (b)(5) exemption is applied most frequently to staff communication generated during the credit review process and to pre-decisional memoranda prepared for the Bank’s Board of Directors and Credit Committee containing staff analysis and recommendations.

III. Acronyms, Definitions, AND EXEMPTIONS

1. Agency-specific acronyms or terms used in this report.  
None 
2. Definitions 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 it. That agency, in turn, will then respond to the FOIA requester.  
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. Descriptions of the 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

NOTE: All FOIA requests are received and processed at Ex-Im Bank’s headquarters at the address shown in II. 1. above. The following tables reflect that there are no other individual reporting components within Ex-Im Bank other than the agency in total. 

IV. Exemption 3 Statutes

A.Exemption 3 Statutes Relied upon to Withhold Information

StatuteType ofInformation WithheldCase CitationNumber of TimesRelied upon per ComponentTotal Number ofTimes Relied upon by Agency
N/AN/AN/A00

 

 

V.FOIA Requests

A.Received, Processed, and Pending FOIA Requests

Number ofRequests Pending as of Start of Fiscal YearNumber ofRequests Received in Fiscal YearNumber ofRequests Processed in Fiscal YearNumber ofRequests Pending as of End of Fiscal Year
AGENCY91088829

 

 


 

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

Number ofFull GrantsNumberof Partial Grants/ Partial DenialsNumberof Full Denials Based on ExemptionsNumberof Full Denials Based on Reasons Other than Exemptions
NoRecordsAllRecords Referred to Another Component or AgencyRequestWithdrawnFee-Related ReasonRecords not Reasonably DescribedImproperFOIA Request for Other ReasonNot Agency RecordDuplicateRequest
Other 
*Explainin chart below
TOTAL
AGENCY35380110400000088

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

ComponentDescription of “Other”Reasons for Denials from Chart B (1)& Number of Times Those Reasons Were RelieduponTOTAL
AGENCYN/A

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

Ex.1Ex.2Ex.3Ex.4Ex. 5Ex. 6Ex.7(A)Ex.7(B)Ex.7(C)Ex.7(D)Ex.7(E)Ex.7(F)Ex.8Ex.9
AGENCY030336600000000

 

 

 

 
 
 

VI.ADMINISTRATIVE Appeals of Initial DETERMINATIONS of FOIA Requests

A.Received, Processed, and Pending Administrative Appeals

Number ofAppeals Pending as of Start of Fiscal YearNumber ofAppeals Received in Fiscal YearNumber ofAppeals Processed in Fiscal YearNumber ofAppeals Pending as of End of Fiscal Year
0220

 

 

B.Disposition of Administrative Appeals – All Processed Appeals

Number Affirmedon AppealNumberPartially Affirmed & Partially Reversed/Remanded on AppealNumberCompletely Reversed/Remanded on AppealNumber ofAppeals Closed for Other ReasonsTOTAL
20002

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

Ex. 1Ex.2Ex. 3Ex. 4Ex. 5Ex. 6Ex. 7(A)Ex. 7(B)Ex. 7(C)Ex. 7(D)Ex. 7(E)Ex. 7(F)Ex.8Ex.9
00020000000000

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

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

No RecordsRecordsReferred at Initial Request LevelRequestWithdrawnFee-RelatedReasonRecords not Reasonably DescribedImproperRequest for Other ReasonsNot AgencyRecordDuplicateRequest or AppealRequest in LitigationAppeal Based Solely on Denial ofRequest for Expedited ProcessingOther 
*Explainin chart below
00000000000

C. (3) Reasons for Denial on Appeal – “Other” Reasons from Section VI, C (2) Chart

Description of“Other” Reasons for Denial on Appeal from Chart C (2) & Number of TimesThose Reasons Were Relied uponTOTAL
0

C. (4) Response Time for Administrative Appeals

MedianNumber of DaysAverage Number of DaysLowestNumberof DaysHighestNumber of Days
1212421

C. (5) Ten Oldest Pending Administrative Appeals

10th Oldest 
Appeal
9th8th7th6th5th4th3rd2ndOldest  
Appeal
Dateof Receipt of Ten Oldest AppealsDate 
N/A
N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
Numberof Days Pending

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

VII. FOIA REQUESTS: RESPONSE TIME FOR PROCESSED and Pending Requests

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

SimpleComplexExpedited processing
Median Number of DaysAverage Number of DaysLowest Number of DaysHighest Number of DaysMedian Number of DaysAverage Number of DaysLowest Number of DaysHighest Number of DaysMedian Number of DaysAverage Number of DaysLowest Number of DaysHighest Number of Days
AGENCY38451203157250458290000

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

SimpleComplexExpedited PROCESSING
Median Number of DaysAverage Number of DaysLowest Number of DaysHighest Number of DaysMedian Number of DaysAverage Number of DaysLowest Number of DaysHighest Number of DaysMedian Number of DaysAverage Number of DaysLowest Number of DaysHighest Number of Days
AGENCY41471203229278458290000

C.Processed Requests – Response Time in Day Increments


Simple Requests

1-20 Days21-40 Days41-60 Days61-80 Days81-100 Days101-120 Days121-140 Days141-160 Days161-180 Days181-200 Days201-300 Days301-400 Days401+ DaysTOTAL
AGENCY152420922000110074

Complex Requests

1-20 Days21-40 Days41-60 Days61-80 Days81-100 Days101-120 Days121-140 Days141-160 Days161-180 Days181-200 Days201-300 Days301-400 Days401+ DaysTOTAL
AGENCY001001240030314

Requests Granted Expedited Processing

1-20Days21-40 Days41-60Days61-80Days81-100Days101-120Days121-140Days141-160Days161-180Days181-200Days201-300Days301-400Days401+DaysTOTAL
AGENCY00000000000000

D.Pending Requests – All Pending Perfected Requests

SimpleComplexExpeditedPROCESSING
Number PendingMedian Number of DaysAverage Number of DaysNumber PendingMedian Number of DaysAverage Number of DaysNumber PendingMedian Number of DaysAverage Number of Days
AGENCY101823191001280N/AN/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

E. Pending Requests – Ten Oldest Pending Perfected Requests

Agency10thOldest Request and Number of Days Pending9th8th7th6th5th4th3rd2ndOldestRequest and Number of Days Pending
06/22/09 
100
06/22/09 
100
05/28/09 
125
04/20/09 
163
03/26/09 
188
02/24/09 
218
12/11/08 
293
12/09/08 
295
10/13/08 
321
07/25/08 
432

 

 

VIII.REQUESTS FOR EXPEDITED PROCESSING AND REQUESTS FOR FEE WAIVER

A.Requests for Expedited Processing

Number 
Granted 
Number 
Denied 
Median Number of Days to AdjudicateAverage Number of Days to AdjudicateNumber Adjudicated Within Ten Calendar Days
AGENCY00N/AN/AN/A


B. Requests for Fee Waiver

Number GrantedNumber DeniedMedian Numberof Days to AdjudicateAverage Numberof Days to Adjudicate
AGENCY00N/AN/A

 

 

 
 

IX.FOIA PERSONNEL AND COSTS

PERSONNELCosts
Number of“Full-Time FOIA Employees”Number of“Equivalent Full-Time FOIA Employees”Total Number of“Full-Time FOIA Staff” 
(The sum of Columns 1 & 2)
ProcessingCosts 
(At initial request and appeal levels)
Litigation-RelatedCostsTotal Costs
AGENCY1.251.25$206,000$0$206,000

 

 

X.FEES COLLECTED FOR PROCESSING REQUESTS

Total Amount of Fees CollectedPercentage of Total Costs
AGENCY$1,760.00.9%

XI. FOIA REGULATIONS

FOIA regulations, including fee schedule: 
These can be found at:  http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=ada39b1b53af6f927701d536f82c8d5b&rgn=div5&view=text&node=12%3A4.0.2.3.3&idno=12#12%3A4.0.2.3.3.1.4.1 

XII. BACKLOGS, CONSULTATIONS, AND COMPARISONS

A.Backlogs of FOIA Requests and Administrative Appeals

Number ofBacklogged Requests as of End of Fiscal YearNumber ofBacklogged Appeals as of End of Fiscal Year
AGENCY290

 

 

 

 

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

Numberof Consultations Received from Other Agencies that WerePending atYour Agency as of Start of the FiscalYearNumber ofConsultationsReceived from Other Agencies During the Fiscal YearNumber ofConsultations Received from Other Agencies that WereProcessed by YourAgency During the Fiscal YearNumber ofConsultations Received from Other Agencies that WerePending at YourAgency as ofEndof theFiscal Year
AGENCY0220

 

 

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

Agency10thOldest Consultation and Number of Days Pending9th8th7th6th5th4th3rd2ndOldestConsultation and Number of Days Pending
Date 
Number of Days
N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A

 

 

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

NUMBEROF REQUESTS RECEIVEDNUMBEROF REQUESTS PROCESSED
NumberReceived During Fiscal Year from Last Year’s Annual ReportNumberReceived During Fiscal Year from Current Annual ReportNumberProcessed During Fiscal Year from Last Year’s Annual ReportNumberProcessedDuring Fiscal Year from Current Annual Report
AGENCY931089788
Number of Backlogged Requests as of End of the Fiscal Year fromPrevious Annual ReportNumber of Backlogged Requests as of End of the Fiscal Year from Current Annual Report
AGENCY929

 

 

 
 

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

NUMBER OF APPEALS RECEIVEDNUMBER OF APPEALS PROCESSED 
Number Received During Fiscal Year from Last Year’s Annual ReportNumber Received During Fiscal Year from Current Annual ReportNumber Processed During Fiscal Year from Last Year’s Annual ReportNumber ProcessedDuring Fiscal Year from Current Annual Report 
AGENCY0212
Number of Backlogged Appeals as of End of the Fiscal Year fromPrevious Annual ReportNumber of Backlogged Appeals as of End of the Fiscal Year from Current Annual Report 
AGENCY00