[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 7, Volume 1, Parts 1 to 26]
[Revised as of January 1, 2001]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 7CFR24.7]

[Page 467]
 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
PART 24--BOARD OF CONTRACT APPEALS, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE--Table of Contents
 
                  Subpart A--Organization and Functions
 
Sec. 24.7  Public information.

    (a) The records of the Board are open to the public for inspection 
and copying at the Office of the Board. Decisions and rulings of the 
Board shall be published from time to time and copies made available to 
the public upon request at cost of duplication except that the Board 
shall, in its discretion, have authority to make copies of decisions and 
rulings available at no charge in accordance with Department policy, 
appendix A to 7 CFR part 1, subpart A. Hearings before the Board shall 
be open to the public.
    (b) Information that is to be made available for public inspection 
and copying under provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(2) and 7 CFR 1.5 may be 
obtained at the office of the Board. The address of the Board is set 
forth in Sec. 24.6. Except for such information as is generally 
available to the public, requests should be in writing and submitted in 
accordance with 7 CFR 1.6 and paragraphs (c) and (d) of this Sec. 24.7.
    (c) Facilities for copying are available at the office of the Board.
    (d) Facilities for inspection and copying are available during 
established office hours for the Board, usually 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 
Monday through Friday. The Department of Agriculture has established a 
schedule of fees for copies of information. The Board charges for copies 
of records in accordance with the Department fee schedule, appendix A to 
7 CFR part 1, subpart A.
    (e) The Vice Chair is authorized to receive requests for records 
submitted in accordance with 7 CFR 1.6(a), and to make determinations 
regarding whether to grant or deny requests for records exempt from 
mandatory disclosure under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552(b). This 
official is authorized to
    (1) Extend the ten-day administrative deadline for reply pursuant to 
7 CFR 1.14,
    (2) Make discretionary releases pursuant to 7 CFR 1.17(b) of records 
except from mandatory disclosure, and
    (3) Make determinations regarding the charging of fees.
    (f) Appeals from denials of request submitted under paragraph (e) of 
this section shall be submitted in accordance with 7 CFR 1.6(e) to the 
Chair, Board of Contract Appeals, United States Department of 
Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250-0600. The Chair shall determine 
whether to grant or deny the appeal and shall also make all necessary 
determinations relating to an extension of the twenty-day administrative 
deadline for reply pursuant to 7 CFR 1.14, discretionary release 
pursuant to 7 CFR 1.17(b) of records exempt from mandatory disclosure 
under 5 U.S.C. 552(b), and the charging of appropriate fees.