RAPS MOA (Department of Justice)
| Tracking # |
1331645-000, AP-2015-05604 |
| Submitted | June 15, 2015 |
| Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: Shawn Musgrave
To Whom It May Concern:
This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:
All memoranda of agreement between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, Science & Technology Directorate, pertaining to the Robotic Aircraft for Public Safety (RAPS) program.
Per the November 2012 RAPS test plan (available at https://muckrock.s3.amazonaws.com/foia_files/Final_Response_Musgrave_5.19.15....pdf): " Memoranda of Agreement are in process between DHS S&T and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and S&T and the Department of Justice (DOJ). Officials from these organizations, and from the Department of Defense (DOD), have been directly involved in developing this Test Plan and are stakeholders in our general assessment of SUAS capabilities. "
Given that this FOIA is submitted in my capacity as a journalist who has covered drones extensively, I request that I be categorized as a media requester for the purpose of fees. Here is a selection of my published articles for MuckRock:
I have also been published in a number of other national media outlets on topics including drones and other matters pertaining to national security and technologies:
http://motherboard.vice.com/read/do-the-fbis-drones-invade-your-privacy-sorry-thats-private
http://motherboard.vice.com/read/do-the-fbis-drones-invade-your-privacy-sorry-thats-private
As the requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com and pertains to a matter of considerable public interest, I further request a full waiver of all fees.
In the event that fees cannot be waived, 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,
Shawn Musgrave
From: MRUFOIA Requests
Mr. Musgrave,
Please see the attached response to your FOIA request. Please note, your request has been assigned tracking number EMRUFOIA061515-1.
Thanks
MRU FOIA
From: Shawn Musgrave
Hello -
Per the letter sent yesterday regarding EMRUFOIA061515-1, my FOIA request for the MOA with the Department of Homeland Security's Science & Technology Directorate, this request has been forwarded to the FBI for processing. The materials I have obtained from DHS S&T mention the Justice Department, and not the FBI. Please confirm that sending this request for processing to the FBI is the appropriate step.
Best,
Shawn Musgrave
Reporter, MuckRock
From: Federal Bureau of Investigation
An interim response, stating the request is being processed.
From: Federal Bureau of Investigation
A no responsive documents response.
From: Shawn Musgrave
Hello -
I have received an acknowledgement letter from the FBI, but remain uncertain that transferring this to the FBI was the correct means of processing this FOIA. Again, it is my impression from planning documents for the RAPS program that the Justice Department has an MOU/MOA with the Department of Homeland Security, Science & Technology Directorate.
Please advise.
Thank you,
Shawn Musgrave
MuckRock
From: Shawn Musgrave
Director, Office of Information Policy (OIP)
United States Department of Justice
1425 New York Avenue, N. W., Suite 11050
Washington, DC 20530
To Whom It May Concern:
This is an appeal for FOIA request 1331645-000 / EMRUFOIA061515-1.
On 06/15/2015, I requested the following documents:
All memoranda of agreement between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, Science & Technology Directorate, pertaining to the Robotic Aircraft for Public Safety (RAPS) program.
This request was acknowledged on June 16 by the Justice Management Division, and forwarded to the FBI. The Justice Management Division did not respond to my request for clarification as to why this request was forwarded to the FBI, rather than processed by the Justice Department.
In a response letter dated July 15, the FBI responded that it had no documents responsive to my request.
As I indicated in my original request, federal documents refer to such an MOA as I am requesting herein. Per the November 2012 RAPS test plan (available at https://muckrock.s3.amazonaws.com/foia_files/Final_Response_Musgrave_5.19.15....pdf): " Memoranda of Agreement are in process between DHS S&T and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and S&T and the Department of Justice (DOJ). Officials from these organizations, and from the Department of Defense (DOD), have been directly involved in developing this Test Plan and are stakeholders in our general assessment of SUAS capabilities. "
In light of this, I request that this request be remanded back to the Justice Department for a good faith search and provision of the requested documents.
Respectfully,
Shawn Musgrave
Reporter, MuckRock
From: OIP-NoReply
Please do not reply to this e-mail, as this account is not monitored. To ensure a prompt reply, please direct any inquiries to the contact information listed in the correspondence provided to you. Thank you.
From: OIP-NoReply
Please do not reply to this e-mail, as this account is not monitored. To ensure a prompt reply, please direct any inquiries to the contact information listed in the correspondence provided to you. Thank you.
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