5 oldest FOIA requests (U.S. Africa Command)

Jason Smathers filed this request with the U.S. Africa Command of the United States of America.
Tracking #

2011-11

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: U.S. Africa Command

Dear Mr. Smathers,

The USAFRICOM FOIA Requester Service Center received your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request on 22 December 2010. You requested all records referencing the five oldest FOIA and Privacy Act requests which are still being processed at U.S. Africa Command. Your request is being processed in accordance with Title 5 U.S.C. § 552, the Freedom of Information Act. The actual processing time for the records you requested may depend upon consultation with other DoD components and other agencies.

In your FOIA request, you have requested a fee waiver. We have placed you in the "media" category for fee purposes. This means you will be obligated to pay for duplication costs ($.15 a page) after the first 100 pages. You will be will be contacted prior to duplication expenses incurring.

If you have any questions regarding your inquiry, please contact the USAFRICOM FOIA Requester Service Center and refer to FOIA # 2011-11. Have a Happy New Year!

Sincerely,

Angelica Y. Simmons
Freedom of Information Act &
Privacy Act Officer
U.S. Africa Command
DSN: 314 421 4287
Commercial: +49 0 711 729 4287

From: Jason Smathers

Hello,

The FOIA request below was acknowledged in December 2010, but according to our records never completed. Please advise?

Please note the change in MuckRock's address:

MuckRock News
PO Box 55819
Boston, MA 02205-5819

Thank you.

From: MuckRock.com

Email returned as failed.

From: MuckRock.com

The FOIA request below was acknowledged in December 2010, but according to our records never completed. Please advise?

Please note the change in MuckRock's address:

MuckRock News
PO Box 55819
Boston, MA 02205-5819

Thank you.

From: Requests Muckrock

FOIA request 2011-11 was acknowledged in December 2010, but according to
our records never completed. Please advise?

Please note the change in MuckRock's address:

MuckRock News
PO Box 55819
Boston, MA 02205-5819

Thank you.

From: Angelica Y. Simmons

Hello Mr. Smathers,

Thank you for updating your contact information. I estimate completion of your
request within 30 days.

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Angelica Y. Simmons
Freedom of Information Act &
Privacy Act Officer
U.S. Africa Command

From: MuckRock

Ms. Simmons,

Thank you for responding. Please confirm receipt of this message, as we are suspicious that your office is not receiving messages sent via the MuckRock system.

Thank you.

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 Dec. 21, 2010. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #2011-11.

Thank you for your help.

From: Simmons, Angelica Y CIV (US)

Good afternoon. I apologize for not being able to meet the 30 day deadline due to unexpected office closures and a high volume of Command tasks. There are no issues with your request and I expect it to be completed by the end of this month.

Please contact me if you have questions.

Thank You,

Angelica Y. Simmons
Freedom of Information Act &
Privacy Act Officer
U.S. Africa Command
DSN: 314 421 4287
Commercial: +49 0 711 729 4287

From: Jason Smathers

Thank you for keeping me informed.

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 Dec. 21, 2010. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #2011-11.

Thank you for your help.

From: Simmons, Angelica Y CIV (US)

Hello Mr. Smathers,

Please see the attached letter and records regarding your FOIA request.

Sincerely,

Angelica Y. Simmons
Freedom of Information Act &
Privacy Act Officer
U.S. Africa Command
DSN: 314 421 4287
Commercial: +49 0 711 729 4287

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