§ 71.3 Responses by components to requests for access to records.

(a) In general. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the component that:

(1) First receives a request for access to a record, and

(2) Has possession of the requested record is the component ordinarily responsible for responding to the request.

(b) Authority to grant or deny requests. The head of a component, or his designee (i.e. disclosure officer), is authorized to make an initial grant or denial of any request for access to a record in the possession of that component.