43 CFR 2.19 : Public Lands: Interior (§ 1.1 To Parts 10011-10099) — (§ 1.1 To Parts 432-999) — Office Of The Secretary Of The Interior (§ 1.1 To Parts 49-199) — Freedom Of Information Act; Records And Testimony (§ 2.1 To Appendix B To Part 2) — Timing Of Responses To Requests (§ 2.14 To § 2.20) — When may the bureau extend the basic time limit?

(a) The bureau may extend the basic time limit, if unusual circumstances exist, by notifying you in writing of:

(1) The unusual circumstances involved; and

(2) The date by which it expects to complete processing the request.

(b) If the processing time will extend beyond a total of 30 workdays, the bureau will:

(1) Give you an opportunity to limit the scope of the request or agree to an alternative time period for processing; and

(2) Make available its FOIA Public Liaison (see § 2.66 of this part) to assist in resolving any disputes between you and the bureau.

(c) If the bureau extends the time limit under this section and you do not receive a response in accordance with § 2.16(a) in that time period, you may consider the request denied and file an appeal in accordance with the procedures in § 2.59.

(d) Your refusal to reasonably modify the scope of a request or arrange an alternative time frame for processing a request after being given the opportunity to do so may be considered for litigation purposes as a factor when determining whether exceptional circumstances exist.