UAP Records - Dec. 1, 2017-Jan. 2, 2022

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

Any and all records pertaining to Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon (UAP), also known as Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO). This request seeks all responsive records, including but not limited to, emails, photographs, slide presentations, digital images, and any and all other responsive documents. The time frame for this request should include all responsive records dated from December 1, 2017 up to and including January 2, 2022.

Please include all processing notes attached to my request.

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,

Dustin Slaughter

To Whom It May Concern:

Please consider this a formal appeal pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act regarding FOIA-00065-2022, that seeks in part:

Any and all records pertaining to Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon (UAP), also known as Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO). This request seeks all responsive records, including but not limited to, emails, photographs, slide presentations, digital images, and any and all other responsive documents. The time frame for this request should include all responsive records dated from December 1, 2017, up to and including January 2, 2022.

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The DIA performed an inadequate search for responsive records, as it did not demonstrate ". . . a good faith effort to conduct a search . . . using methods which can be reasonably expected to produce the information requested.” (Oglesby v. U.S. Dep’t. of Army, 920 F.2d 57, 68, D.C. Cir. 1990)

Based on the DIA's final response, the agency seemingly did not perform searches in all locations or offices that may contain responsive records; if an agency does not search locations that may hold responsive records, the thoroughness of a records search can be called into question. (Defenders of Wildlife v. U.S. Dep’t of Interior, 314 F.Supp.2d 1, 13-14, D.D.C. 2004; Nat’l Res. Def. Council v. U.S. Dep’t of Def., 388 F. Supp. 2d. 1086, 1100-1101, C.D. Cal. 2005)

Crucially, the DIA made no mention in its response of locations where searches were performed for potentially responsive records, be it DIA Headquarters, attache offices, or U.S. combatant commands. I respectfully ask that the DIA conduct a new, complete, and thorough search for records related to this request in all locations where responsive records might be found. In addition to the above-mentioned locations, please conduct searches of all electronic and paper/manual indices, filing systems, main file records, cross-reference records, and all other relevant locations for any and all records relating or referring to the subject of my request.

Per the original request, please also include with DIA's final response any and all processing notes associated with this request; if processing notes are not included in DIA's subsequent response to this appeal, this requester will either appeal or file an additional FOIA seeking them.

Finally, federal agencies have "a duty to construe a FOIA request liberally." (Nation Magazine v. U.S. Customs Serv., 71 F.3d 885, 890, D.C. Cir. 1995) As such, this requester respectfully asks that DIA interpret this request and appeal as broadly as possible.

Before litigating this matter, I am open to mediation through the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS), if necessary.

I greatly appreciate a response to this administrative appeal within 20 business days, as required by the statute. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions concerning this appeal. I greatly appreciate your time and attention in this matter.

Sincerely,
Dustin Slaughter

To Whom It May Concern:

I am requesting an update regarding APP-00032-2022. As the statutory deadline for the DIA's final determination of my appeal was on or around April 25, 2022, I would greatly appreciate an estimated date of completion for this request. Please don't hesitate to let me know should you have any questions regarding this matter. Thanks very much for your time and attention.

Sincerely,
Dustin M. Slaughter

Thank you.

To Whom It May Concern:

Good morning. I'm reaching out to determine an estimated date of completion for APP-00032-2022, as the statutory deadline for the DIA's final determination of my appeal was on or around April 25, 2022. As you know, the FOIA gives requesters the right to request an estimated date on which an agency expects to respond to a request, 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(7)(B).

Please do not hesitate to let me know if you have any questions regarding this case. Thanks very much for your time and attention in this matter.

Sincerely,
Dustin M. Slaughter

To Whom It May Concern:

Good morning. I'm reaching out to determine an estimated date of completion for APP-00032-2022, as the statutory deadline for the DIA's final determination of my appeal was on or around April 25, 2022. As you know, the FOIA gives requesters the right to request an estimated date on which an agency expects to respond to a request, 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(7)(B). When I contacted the DIA in early August, no estimated completion date was provided.

Please do not hesitate to let me know if you have any questions regarding this case. Thanks very much for your time and attention in this matter.

Sincerely,
Dustin M. Slaughter

To Whom It May Concern:

I'm reaching out to determine an estimated date of completion for APP-00032-2022, as the statutory deadline for the DIA's final determination of my appeal was on or around April 25, 2022. As you know, the FOIA gives requesters the right to request an estimated date on which an agency expects to respond to a request, 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(7)(B). If you are unable to provide an EDC, a status update and a notification of where my appeal is in the queue would be fine. When I contacted the DIA last month, I was encouraged to contact the agency again in 30 days for a possible update.

Please do not hesitate to let me know if you have any questions regarding this case. Thanks very much for your time and attention in this matter.

Sincerely,
Dustin M. Slaughter