(a) A denial of a request for records, in whole or in part, shall be signed by the Assistant Commissioner for Public Affairs (or delegatee).

(b) The name and title or position of each person who participated in the denial of a request for records shall be set forth in the letter denying the request. This requirement may be met by attaching a list of such individuals to the letter.

(c) A letter denying a request for records, in whole or in part, shall state the reasons for the denial and shall state that an appeal may be made to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (Media), Department of Health and Human Services. The agency will also make a reasonable effort to include in the letter an estimate of the volume of the records denied, unless providing such an estimate would harm an interest protected by an exemption under the Freedom of Information Act. This estimate will ordinarily be provided in terms of the approximate number of pages or some other reasonable measure. This estimate will not be provided if the volume of records denied is otherwise indicated through deletions on records disclosed in part.

(d) Minor deletions of nondisclosable data and information from disclosable records shall not be deemed to be a denial of a request for records.

[42 FR 15616, Mar. 22, 1977, as amended at 46 FR 8457, Jan. 27, 1981; 55 FR 1405, Jan. 16, 1990. Redesignated and amended at 68 FR 25286, 25287, May 12, 2003]