(a) Each request received will be acted upon promptly.
(b) Within 10 working days of receipt of a request, the system manager shall acknowledge the request. Whenever practicable, the acknowledgment will indicate whether or not access will be granted and, if so, when and where. When access is to be granted, it shall be provided within 30 working days of first receipt. If the agency is unable to meet this deadline, the records system manager shall so inform the requester stating reasons for the delay and an estimate of when access will be granted.
(c) If a request pursuant to § 16.3 for access to a record is in a system of rec-ords which is exempted, the records system manager will determine whether the information will nonetheless be made available. If the determination is to deny access, the reason for denial and the appeal procedure will be given to the requester.
(d) Any person whose request is initially denied may appeal that denial to the Privacy Act Officer, who shall make an appeal determination within 10 working days.
(e) If the appeal under paragraph (d) of this section is denied, the requester may bring a civil action under 5 U.S.C. 552a(g) to seek review of the denial.