[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 40, Volume 30]
[Revised as of July 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 40CFR1601.30]

[Page 800]
 
                   TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT
 
       CHAPTER VI--CHEMICAL SAFETY AND HAZARD INVESTIGATION BOARD
 
PART 1601_PROCEDURES FOR DISCLOSURE OF RECORDS UNDER THE FREEDOM OF 
INFORMATION ACT--Table of Contents
 
                             Subpart D_Fees
 
Sec. 1601.30  Fees to be charged--general.


    (a) Policy. Generally, the fees charged for requests for records 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552 shall cover the full allowable direct costs of 
searching for, reproducing, and reviewing records that are responsive to 
a request for information. Fees shall be assessed according to the 
schedule contained in paragraph (b) of this section and the category of 
requesters described in Sec. 1601.31 for services rendered by the CSB 
staff in responding to, and processing requests for, records under this 
part. Fees assessed will be paid by check or money order payable to the 
United States Treasury.
    (b) Types of charges. The types of charges that may be assessed in 
connection with the production of records in response to a FOIA request 
are as follows:
    (1) Searches.
    (i) Manual searches for records. For each quarter hour spent in 
searching for and/or reviewing a requested record, the fees will be: 
$4.00 for clerical personnel; $8.00 for professional personnel; and 
$11.00 for managerial personnel.
    (ii) Computer searches for records. Requesters will be charged at 
the actual direct costs of conducting a search using existing 
programming. These direct costs will include the cost of operating the 
central processing unit for that portion of operating time that is 
directly attributable to searching for records and the operator/
programmer salary, i.e., basic pay plus 16 percent, apportionable to the 
search. A charge shall also be made for any substantial amounts of 
special supplies or materials used to contain, present, or make 
available the output of computers, based upon the prevailing levels of 
costs to the CSB for the type and amount of such supplies or materials 
that are used. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to entitle 
any person or entity, as of right, to any services in connection with 
computerized records, other than services to which such person or entity 
may be entitled under the provisions of this section or Sec. 1601.32. 
The CSB will not alter or develop programming to conduct a search.
    (iii) Unproductive searches. The CSB will charge search fees even if 
no records are found which are responsive to the request or if the 
records found are exempt from disclosure.
    (2) Duplication. Records will be reproduced at a rate of $0.25 per 
page. For copies prepared by computer, such as tapes or printouts, the 
requester shall be charged the actual cost, including operator time, of 
production of the tape or printout. For other methods of reproduction, 
the actual direct costs of reproducing the record(s) shall be charged.
    (3) Review. Only commercial-use requesters may be charged for time 
spent reviewing records to determine whether they are exempt from 
mandatory disclosure. Charges may be assessed only for initial review, 
i.e., the review undertaken the first time the CSB analyzes the 
applicability of a specific exemption to a particular record or portion 
of a record. Records or portions of records withheld in full under an 
exemption that is subsequently determined not to apply may be reviewed 
again to determine the applicability of other exemptions not previously 
considered. The costs for such a subsequent review are properly 
assessable.
    (4) Other services and materials. Where the CSB elects, as a matter 
of administrative discretion, to comply with a request for a special 
service or materials, such as certifying that records are true copies or 
sending records by special methods, the actual direct costs of providing 
the service or materials will be charged.