[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 7, Volume 6]
[Revised as of January 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 7CFR510.4]

[Page 334-335]
 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
   CHAPTER V--AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 
PART 510--PUBLIC INFORMATION--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 510.4  Multitrack processing.

    (a) When ARS has a significant number of requests, the nature of 
which precludes a determination within 20 working days, the requests may 
be processed in a multitrack processing system, based on the date of 
receipt, the amount of work and time involved in processing the request, 
and whether the request qualifies for expedited processing.
    (b) ARS may establish as many processing tracks as appropriate; 
processing within each track shall be based

[[Page 335]]

on a first-in, first-out concept, and rank-ordered by the date of 
receipt of the request.
    (c) A requester whose request does not qualify for the fastest track 
may be given an opportunity to limit the scope of the request in order 
to qualify for the fastest track. This multitrack processing system does 
not lessen agency responsibility to exercise due diligence in processing 
requests in the most expeditious manner possible.
    (d) ARS shall process requests in each track on a ``first-in, first-
out'' basis, unless there are unusual circumstances as set forth in 
Sec. 1.16 of this title, or the requester is entitled to expedited 
processing as set forth in Sec. 1.9 of this title.