5 oldest FOIA requests (National Reconnaissance Office)

Jason Smathers filed this request with the National Reconnaissance Office of the United States of America.
Tracking #

F11-0023

Status
Completed

Communications

From: Jason Smathers

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:

All records referencing the five oldest FOIA and Privacy Act requests which are still being processed that contain remarks, comments, notes, explanations, etc. made by your personnel or contractors about the processing of these requests (and appeals, if appropriate), the invocation of exemptions, or related matters. This is to include any analysts' notes made during the processing of the requests, any standard worksheets completed by the analysts, any justifications for exemption invocations or other supporting documentation provided to the Appeals Authority, and any correspondence referencing the requests, including tasking orders, emails, and coordination documentation. However, any records previously released to the original requesters in unredacted form may be excluded from this request. Additionally, please provide the initial request letters for the 5 oldest open FOIA/PA requests.

When processing this request, please note that the D.C. Circuit has previously held that agencies have a duty to construe the subject material of FOIA requests liberally to ensure responsive records are not overlooked. See Nation Magazine, Washington Bureau v. U.S. Customs Service, 71 F.3d 885, 890 (D.C. Cir. 1995). Accordingly, you are hereby instructed that the term “record” includes, but is not limited to: 1) all email communications to or from any individual within your agency; 2) memoranda; 3) inter-agency communications; 4) sound recordings; 5) tape recordings; 6) video or film recordings; 7) photographs; 8) notes; 9) notebooks; 10) indices; 11) jottings; 12) message slips; 13) letters or correspondence; 14) telexes; 15) telegrams; 16) facsimile transmissions; 17) statements; 18) policies; 19) manuals or binders; 20) books; 21) handbooks; 22) business records; 23) personnel records; 24) ledgers; 25) notices; 26) warnings; 27) affidavits; 28) declarations under penalty of perjury; 29) unsworn statements; 30) reports; 31) diaries; or 32) calendars, regardless of whether they are handwritten, printed, typed, mechanically or electronically recorded or reproduced on any medium capable of conveying an image, such as paper, CDs, DVDs, or diskettes.

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.

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,

Jason Smathers
Filed via MuckRock.com
E-mail (Preferred): requests@muckrock.com
Daytime: (617) 299-1832
For mailed responses, please address:
MuckRock
185 Beacon St. #3
Somerville, MA 02143

From: National Reconnaissance Office

From: National Reconnaissance Office

Mr. Smathers, at this time we have identified close to 2500 pages of documentation responsive to your request for all of the administrative paperwork associated with the five oldest FOIA requests at the National Reconnaissance Office. This volume will take a considerable amount of time to process and will necessitate consultations with other government agencies. We would ask that you consider narrowing your request.

I’m available to discuss this matter with you.

Thank you,

Linda H. Hall
NRO FOIA/PA/Prepub/MDR
703 227-9158
email: FOIA@nro.mil

From: Jason Smathers

Please release all responsive pages.

If you have a suggestion to narrow the request without loosing any pertinent information, I will consider it. Please email the details in what way you would narrow the request.

Thanks,
Jason Smathers

From: National Reconnaissance Office

From: National Reconnaissance Office

From: National Reconnaissance Office

From: National Reconnaissance Office

From: National Reconnaissance Office

From: Linda H. Hall

Mr. Smathers, the NRO has completed F11-0023. A formal letter will be sent via USPS. The responsive documents have been posted on the NRO’s website at http://www.nro.gov/foia/declass/Cases.html.


Linda H. Hall
NRO FOIA/PA/Prepub/MDR
703 227-9158
email: FOIA@nro.mil

From: MuckRock.com

Hi,

The links on the site mentioned do not appear to work.

Thanks.

From: <halllind@nro.mil>

Please try again, Mr. Smathers. They are working for us this morning. Some are quite large and may take time to open. If you continue to have problems, you should contact the webmaster at the site support email address on the NRO home page.

Files

pages

Close