Millimeter wave scanner tests w/ TSA (Chicago Metra)
| Tracking # |
19-FOIA-322 |
| Multi Request | Millimeter wave scanner tests w/ TSA |
| Submitted | Oct. 24, 2019 |
MuckRock users can file, duplicate, track, and share public records requests like this one. Learn more.
Communications
From: Brian Waters
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act., I hereby request information about your agency's use of millimeter wave scanning technology. The technology is manufactured by companies such as ThruVision and QinetiQ, and your agency has tested the technology in cooperation with the Transportation Security Administration. News articles describing the technology and the tests conducted with the TSA are available here:
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-tsa-metra-bomb-scanner-testing-20191015-jb5eb5twtrg33igvt3gvt2jmiy-story.html
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/will-l-a-s-anti-terrorist-subway-scanners-be-adopted-everywhere/
Specifically, I am requesting the following documents:
1) Any documents describing the scope, duration, or location of millimeter wave technology tests with the TSA.
2) Copies of any reports or assessments written describing the results of the tests.
3) Any policies describing how the technology is used, and any legal analyses or studies that may have been carried out which deal with the technology.
4) A copy of all technical documentation regarding the technology. Please search your records for user manuals, maintenance or service manuals, studies or reports, spec sheets or data sheets, or any other such documentation.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter.
I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 5 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Brian Waters
From: Chicago Metra
Dear Mr. Waters:
We have received your request and are processing it in accordance with the requirements of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/1 et seq.
Thank you,
Freedom of Information Officer
[cid:image001.jpg@01D448DB.4101C620]
Metra is one of the largest and most complex commuter rail systems in North America, serving Cook, DuPage, Will, Lake, Kane and McHenry counties in northeastern Illinois. The agency provides service to and from downtown Chicago with 242 stations over 11 routes totaling nearly 500 route miles and approximately 1,200 miles of track. Metra operates nearly 700 weekday trains, providing nearly 290,000 passenger trips each weekday.
Connect with Metra: Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/MetraRail/> | Twitter<http://www.twitter.com/Metra> | YouTube<http://www.youtube.com/metra> | Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/metrarail/?hl=en> | LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/company/metra>
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image001
From: Chicago Metra
Dear Mr. Waters,
Attached is an Extension Notice related to your above-mentioned request for records.
Thank you,
Angela K. Ollie
[cid:image003.jpg@01D45F13.64678430]
Corporate Paralegal
547 W. Jackson Blvd., 15th Fl.
Chicago, IL 60661
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image001
From: Chicago Metra
Dear Mr. Waters:
Below is a link to Metra’s Response to your above-mentioned request for records. Access to your records will expire on the date noted below.
Thank you,
Freedom of Information Officer
Metra is one of the largest and most complex commuter rail systems in North America, serving Cook, DuPage, Will, Lake, Kane and McHenry counties in northeastern Illinois. The agency provides service to and from downtown Chicago with 242 stations over 11 routes totaling nearly 500 route miles and approximately 1,200 miles of track. Metra operates nearly 700 weekday trains, providing nearly 290,000 passenger trips each weekday.
Documents per your FOIA request are now available for download. The link to transfer your file(s) will expire on Thursday, November 14, 2019 12:00 AM
https://foiaftp.metrarr.com/?ShareToken=5E5D098BA5FFF653BD8EF00D394E47E0BCE536EA
Disclaimer
The information contained in this communication from the sender is confidential. It is intended solely for use by the recipient and others authorized to receive it. If you are not the recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking action in relation of the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful.
This email has been scanned for viruses and malware, and may have been automatically archived by Mimecast Ltd, an innovator in Software as a Service (SaaS) for business. Providing a safer and more useful place for your human generated data. Specializing in; Security, archiving and compliance. To find out more visit the Mimecast website.
From: Brian Waters
This is an appeal to a public records request submitted October 24, in which I requested documents relating to Metra's test of millimeter wave scanner equipment.
On November 7, you responded to my request, saying that a diligent search had been conducted, and that no records were found. It is unlikely that your agency would not have any of the records I requested. In particular, I requested technical documentation for the millimeter wave scanner equipment; Metra police officers would have been unable to operate the system if your agency did not have access to these documents.
For reference, I had provided you with a Tribune article describing the test. The article contained numerous details which could have be used to aid in your search for records. In the interest of clarity, I am reproducing some of those details here:
- The test occurred between Tuesday and Thursday, October 15-17, of 2019.
- The Tuesday test occurred at Millenium Station.
- The Wednesday test occurred at the Van Buren Street Metra station.
- The Thursday test occurred at Ogilvie Transportation Center.
- The tests were carried out in cooperation with the TSA.
- Metra police officers operated the equipment during the tests.
- Officers Stuehler and Arreno were among those who operated the equipment, and would be able to aid your search.
- Metra spokesman Michael Gillis has knowledge of the tests, and would be able to aid your search.
- The equipment was manufactured by two companies, called ThruVision and QinetiQ.
I hope these details will enable you to conduct a more thorough search for these records.
Thank you,
Brian Waters
From: Muckrock Staff
Hello,
We were sent a link to documents related to this request on November 7, 2019, but we were not able to download them before the link expired. Would you please be able to provide those materials again?
Thank you so much for your time and help.
From: Chicago Metra
Dear Mr. Waters :
Below is a link to Metra’s Response to your above-mentioned request for records. Access to your records will expire on the date noted below.
Thank you,
Freedom of Information Officer
Metra is one of the largest and most complex commuter rail systems in North America, serving Cook, DuPage, Will, Lake, Kane and McHenry counties in northeastern Illinois. The agency provides service to and from downtown Chicago with 242 stations over 11 routes totaling nearly 500 route miles and approximately 1,200 miles of track. Metra operates nearly 700 weekday trains, providing nearly 290,000 passenger trips each weekday.
Documents per your FOIA request are now available for download. The link to transfer your file(s) will expire on Monday, December 16, 2019 12:00 AM
https://foiaftp.metrarr.com/?ShareToken=8F629BAD03C35E2A208AB20F2F6ECA687E190330
Disclaimer
The information contained in this communication from the sender is confidential. It is intended solely for use by the recipient and others authorized to receive it. If you are not the recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking action in relation of the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful.
This email has been scanned for viruses and malware, and may have been automatically archived by Mimecast Ltd, an innovator in Software as a Service (SaaS) for business. Providing a safer and more useful place for your human generated data. Specializing in; Security, archiving and compliance. To find out more visit the Mimecast website.
From: Chicago Metra
Dear Mr. Waters,
The FOIA Department recently received communication from you dated November 13, 2019. Please be advised, any official appeal to our Response to your above-named Request for records should be filed with the Public Access Counselor directly via the information provided to you in our Response letter. However, we understand your interest in this information. As such, we have reached out to the appropriate parties / departments to, again, inquire about records responsive to your Request. If any records are located, we are prepared to issue a Supplemental Response to you in that regard.
Thank you for your patience as we look into this matter.
Thank you,
Angela K. Ollie
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From: Brian Waters
Thanks very much Angela.
Brian Waters
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Illinois Freedom of Information Act. request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 24, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #19-FOIA-322.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Illinois Freedom of Information Act. request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 24, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #19-FOIA-322.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
This is an appeal to a public records request submitted October 24, in which I requested documents relating to Metra's test of millimeter wave scanner equipment.
On November 7, I received a response to my request, saying that a diligent search had been conducted, and that no records were found. It is unlikely that your agency would not have any of the records I requested. In particular, I requested technical documentation for the millimeter wave scanner equipment; Metra police officers would have been unable to operate the system if your agency did not have access to these documents.
For reference, I had provided a Tribune article describing the test. The article contained numerous details which could have be used to aid in your search for records. In the interest of clarity, I am reproducing some of those details here:
- The test occurred between Tuesday and Thursday, October 15-17, of 2019.
- The Tuesday test occurred at Millenium Station.
- The Wednesday test occurred at the Van Buren Street Metra station.
- The Thursday test occurred at Ogilvie Transportation Center.
- The tests were carried out in cooperation with the TSA.
- Metra police officers operated the equipment during the tests.
- Officers Stuehler and Arreno were among those who operated the equipment, and would be able to aid your search.
- Metra spokesman Michael Gillis has knowledge of the tests, and would be able to aid your search.
- The equipment was manufactured by two companies, called ThruVision and QinetiQ.
I hope these details will enable the agency to conduct a more thorough search for these records.
Thank you,
Brian Waters
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Illinois Freedom of Information Act. request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 24, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #19-FOIA-322.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Chicago Metra
Dear Mr. Waters:
Below is a link to Metra’s Response to your above-mentioned request for records. Access to your records will expire on the date noted below.
Thank you,
Freedom of Information Officer
Metra is one of the largest and most complex commuter rail systems in North America, serving Cook, DuPage, Will, Lake, Kane and McHenry counties in northeastern Illinois. The agency provides service to and from downtown Chicago with 242 stations over 11 routes totaling nearly 500 route miles and approximately 1,200 miles of track. Metra operates nearly 700 weekday trains, providing nearly 290,000 passenger trips each weekday.
Documents per your FOIA request are now available for download. The link to transfer your file(s) will expire on Tuesday, February 18, 2020 12:00 AM
https://foiaftp.metrarr.com/?ShareToken=62A1482D8F6E994831EEA8426214D81B0A421081
Disclaimer
The information contained in this communication from the sender is confidential. It is intended solely for use by the recipient and others authorized to receive it. If you are not the recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking action in relation of the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful.
This email has been scanned for viruses and malware, and may have been automatically archived by Mimecast Ltd, an innovator in Software as a Service (SaaS) for business. Providing a safer and more useful place for your human generated data. Specializing in; Security, archiving and compliance. To find out more visit the Mimecast website.
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SharedFiles2016.zip
From: Chicago Metra
Good Afternoon,
Attached is a letter from Deputy Public Access Counselor Bartelt. If you choose to respond by email, please reply to lbartelt@atg.state.il.us or publicaccess@atg.state.il.us.
Thanks,
Dolores Samuelson
Office Assistant
Public Access Bureau
Illinois Attorney General Office
paccess@atg.state.il.us
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