NUMEC/Apollo Affair FBI
| Tracking # |
AP-2017-000151, DOJ-AP-2017-003017 |
| Submitted | May 11, 2016 |
| Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: Michael Best
To Whom It May Concern:
This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:
Files relating to or mentioning the the Apollo Affair, a 1965 incident in which a US company, Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corporation (NUMEC), in the Pittsburgh suburbs of Apollo and Parks Township, Pennsylvania was investigated for losing 200–600 pounds (91–272 kg) of highly enriched uranium, with suspicions that it had gone to Israel's nuclear weapons program. In 1965, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the loss of 206 pounds (93 kg) of highly enriched uranium.
I am making this request as a member of the news media and request classification as such. 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 20 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Michael Best
From: Sobonya, David P. (RMD) (FBI)
Dear Mr. Best,
The FBI has received your Freedom of Information Act/Privacy (FOIPA) request and it will be forwarded to Initial Processing for review. Your request will be processed under the provisions of FOIPA and a response will be mailed to you at a later date.
Requests for fee waivers and expedited processing will be addressed once your request has been assigned an FOIPA request number. You will receive written notification of the FBI’s decision.
Information regarding the Freedom of Information Act/Privacy is available at http://www.fbi.gov<http://www.fbi.gov>/, http://www.fbi.gov/foia/ or http://www.justice.gov/oip. If you require additional assistance please contact us at foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov.
Thank you,
David P. Sobonya
Public Information Officer/GIS
Record/Information Dissemination Section (RIDS)
FBI-Records Management Division
170 Marcel Drive, Winchester, VA 22602-4843
Ofc: (540) 868-4593
Direct: (540) 868-4286
Fax: (540) 868-4391/4997
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~WRD080
From: Federal Bureau of Investigation
An acknowledgement letter, stating the request is being processed.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on May 11, 2016. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #1350684-000.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on May 11, 2016. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #1350684-000.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: FOIPAQUESTIONS
Dear Mr. Best,
Please check the status of your FOIPA Request at https://vault.fbi.gov/fdps-1/@@search-fdps, and follow the instructions below.
Check the Status of Your FOIPA Request
If your FOIPA Number is [1195846-0] please enter [1195846-000] into the system. If your FOIPA Number is [1195846-1] please enter [1195846-001] into the system. If you have any questions about the status of your FOIPA request, please e-mail foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov<mailto:foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov>.
FIND STATUS OF FOIPA- LAST UPDATED ON August 3, 2016
Please enter the whole FOIPA number-Example: [1234567-000]
FOIPA:
Results will show the Request Number, Case Type and Process Description shown below:
FOIPA:
1234567-000
Case Type:
FOIPA
Process Description (Will display the current progress of the request)
The FBI’s FOIPA Program is searching the FBI’s indices for potentially responsive documents.
You may be contacted via formal letter for all fees and/or negotiation issues that may apply.
NOTE: Recent requests are entered into the FOIPA database in the order that they are received. Before you can check the status, you must have received correspondence assigning a FOIPA request number and the information transferred to the online database. Status information is updated weekly. If a request has been closed within the last six months the online database will display the following: The FOIPA number entered has been closed, and appropriate correspondence has been sent to the address on file.
Thank you,
Holly Early
Government Information Specialist
Record/Information Dissemination Section (RIDS)
FBI-Records Management Division
170 Marcel Drive, Winchester, VA 22602-4843
PIO: (540) 868-4593
Direct: (540) 868-4854
Fax: (540) 868-4391/4997
E-mail: foiparequest@ic.fbi.gov<mailto:foiparequest@ic.fbi.gov>
Questions E-mail: foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov<mailto:foipaquestions@ic.fbi.gov>
Do you have further questions about the FOI/PA process? Visit us at https://www.fbi.gov/services/records-management/foia.
Please check the status of your request online at https://vault.fbi.gov/fdps-1/@@search-fdps. Status updates are performed on a weekly basis.
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image001
From: Federal Bureau of Investigation
A no responsive documents response.
From: Michael Best
I am appealing the integrity of the search. The Bureau has previously released records on this subject, undermining the claim that no files exist at all. Further, a search for "Apollo Affair" is not sufficient. I provided the name and location of the event, as well as a description of it. I also provided a reference to the Bureau's investigation of the theft.
From: OIP-NoReply@usdoj.gov
10/12/2016 12:07 PM FOIA Request: DOJ-AP-2017-000151
From: OIP-NoReply@usdoj.gov
DOJ-AP-2017-000151 has been processed with the following final disposition: Completely reversed/remanded.
From: Federal Bureau of Investigation
A letter stating that the request appeal has been received and is being processed.
From: Federal Bureau of Investigation
A no responsive documents response.
From: Michael Best
I am appealing the FBI's determination that it is unable to find the records. According to its letters, it has performed only searches of indices (which apparently do not include previously released documents, as the Bureau has several times released information on this topic). However, this search of indices does not meet the standards set out by case law. Agencies are required to pursue all reasonable leads, including but not limited to contacting former employees. "An addition search of the indices to our CRS" still does not satisfy the terms for reasonable searches or for the Bureau to have used all of the leads provided to it.
Again, files have been previously released. At least twice. Until the Bureau at least finds those, it cannot claim to have performed "reasonable" searches.
From: OIP-NoReply@usdoj.gov
03/17/2017 05:19 PM FOIA Request: DOJ-AP-2017-003017
From: OIP-NoReply@usdoj.gov
DOJ-AP-2017-003017 has been processed with the following final disposition: Affirmed on Appeal -- No records.
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