Aerial photographs of Mauna Loa after eruption

This message is to confirm your request submission to the FOIAonline application: View Request. Request information is as follows: (https://foiaonline.gov/foiaonline/action/public/submissionDetails?trackingNumber=DOI-USGS-2023-001105&type=Request)

* Tracking Number: DOI-USGS-2023-001105
* Requester Name:
Ben Welsh
* Date Submitted: 11/29/2022
* Request Status: Submitted
* Description:
To Whom It May Concern:

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

All aerial photographs taken during flights to monitor the November 2022 Mauna Loa eruption.

The agency posted this Tweet showing it had conducted such flights
https://twitter.com/USGSVolcanoes/status/1597469642880172032?t=CfeLArczyIaPuZT46x-j4A&s=19

I am requesting all photos from all flights to Mauna Loa since the first mission to monitor the eruption.

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,

Ben Welsh

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/

Dear Mr. Welsh:
On November 29, 2022 , the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) office received your FOIA request dated November 29, 2022, and assigned it control number DOI-USGS-2023-001105 .  Please cite this number in any future communications with our office regarding your request.  You request the following information:
All aerial photographs taken during flights to monitor the November 2022 Mauna Loa eruption.  All photos from all flights to Mauna Loa since the first mission to monitor the eruption.
The agency posted this Tweet showing it had conducted such flights: https://twitter.com/USGSVolcanoes/status/1597469642880172032?t=CfeLArczyIaPuZT46x-j4A&s=19 (https://twitter.com/USGSVolcanoes/status/1597469642880172032?t=CfeLArczyIaPuZT46x-j4A&s=19)
We have classified you as a representative of the “news media” requester.  As such, we may charge you for some of our duplication costs, but we will not charge you for our search or review costs; you also are entitled to up to 100 pages of photocopies (or an equivalent volume) for free. See .  If, after taking into consideration your fee category entitlements, our processing costs are less than $50.00, we will not bill you because the cost of collection would be greater than the fee collected. (http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=0fc3ab3499768eebc2e3691c8cf88dec&rgn=div5&view=text&node=43:1.1.1.1.2&idno=43#43:1.1.1.1.2.7.5.3) 43 C.F.R. § 2.39 See 43 C.F.R. § 2.49(a)(1) .  You can expect to hear from us promptly regarding the outcome of this search.
You have agreed to pay up to $200.00 for the processing of your request.  If we find that this will not cover the cost of processing your request, we will stop processing your request at the point this amount has been reached and will let you know before we incur additional charges.  You can then either agree to pay the additional amount needed or narrow the scope of your request.
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Your request falls into the Normal processing track.  There are 9 requests pending ahead of yours in our overall processing queue.  Presuming that our current FOIA capacity and burden remain constant, we expect that we will dispatch a determination to you by December 30, 2022.
You may narrow the scope of your request to obtain quicker processing in your currently-assigned track or move the request into a different track, which may enable us to process it more quickly by communicating with us at foia@usgs.gov .
The 2007 FOIA amendments created the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) to offer mediation services to resolve disputes between FOIA requesters and Federal agencies as a non-exclusive alternative to litigation.  Using OGIS services does not affect your right to pursue litigation.  You may contact OGIS in any of the following ways:
Office of Government Information Services
National Archives and Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Road - OGIS
College Park, MD  20740-6001
Telephone:  (202) 741-5770
Fax:  (202) 741-5769
Toll-free:  1 (877) 684-6448
E-mail:  ogis@nara.gov
Web: https://www.archives.gov/ogis (https://www.archives.gov/ogis)
Please note that using OGIS services does not affect the timing of an appeal with the Department’s FOIA & Privacy Act Appeals Officer. Contact information for the Department’s FOIA Public Liaison, who you may also seek dispute resolution services from, is available at https://www.doi.gov/foia/foiacenters.
If you have any questions about your request, you may contact me by email at foia@usgs.gov.
Sincerely,
Eric J. Darby
Government FOIA Analyst
U.S. Geological Survey

A copy of documents responsive to the request.

A copy of documents responsive to the request.

A copy of documents responsive to the request.

A copy of documents responsive to the request.

A copy of documents responsive to the request.

A copy of documents responsive to the request.

A copy of documents responsive to the request.

A first set of responsive documents from the agency, with more to be sent at a specified date.

A copy of documents responsive to the request.

A copy of documents responsive to the request.

A copy of documents responsive to the request.

A copy of documents responsive to the request.

A copy of documents responsive to the request.

A copy of documents responsive to the request.

A copy of documents responsive to the request.

A copy of documents responsive to the request.

A copy of documents responsive to the request.

A copy of documents responsive to the request.

A copy of documents responsive to the request.

A first set of responsive documents from the agency, with more to be sent at a specified date.

A copy of documents responsive to the request.

A first set of responsive documents from the agency, with more to be sent at a specified date.

A copy of documents responsive to the request.

A copy of documents responsive to the request.

A copy of documents responsive to the request.

A copy of documents responsive to the request.

A copy of documents responsive to the request.

A first set of responsive documents from the agency, with more to be sent at a specified date.

A copy of documents responsive to the request.

Dear Mr. Welsh,
As of yet, we have been unable to make a determination on your request, DOI-USGS-2023-001105.  Our subject matter expert has identified over 100 GB of photos/videos in response to your FOIA request.  Due to the need to examine a voluminous number of records, we are taking a 10-workday extension under .  There are (http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=0fc3ab3499768eebc2e3691c8cf88dec&rgn=div5&view=text&node=43:1.1.1.1.2&idno=43#43:1.1.1.1.2.4.5.6) 43 C.F.R. § 2.19 2 requests pending ahead of yours in this processing track.  With the extension we hope to complete our response to you by January 24, 2023.
We apologize for this delay.  As we have discussed, you may narrow the scope of your request to obtain quicker processing in your currently assigned track or move the request into a different track (which may have the effect of reducing the cost of processing your request and having it processed more quickly).  You also may agree to an alternative time period for processing by communicating with us, our FOIA Requester Center, or the FOIA Public Liaison.  Contact information for the Department’s FOIA Requester Centers and FOIA Public Liaison is available at https://www.doi.gov/foia/foiacenters . You may also seek dispute resolution services from the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS).  If you choose to contact OGIS, you may do so in any of the following ways.
If you choose to contact OGIS, you may do so in any of the following ways:
Office of Government Information Services
National Archives and Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Road – OGIS
College Park, Maryland  20740-6001
Telephone:      (202) 741-5770
Fax:                 (202) 741-5769
Toll-free:         1-877-684-6448
E-mail: ogis@nara.gov (mailto:ogis@nara.gov)
Web: https://ogis.archives.gov (https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fogis.archives.gov%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cmruiz%40usgs.gov%7C25416f727ad2427ffec608dac689d1dd%7C0693b5ba4b184d7b9341f32f400a5494%7C0%7C0%7C638040592469937233%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=l7owVncCepLIAZ59Y7z1%2BVSVOPglmQI4wNgMwn2eQF0%3D&reserved=0)
Although we hope you will wait so we can complete our records review process, you may file an appeal with the Department’s FOIA/Privacy Act Appeals Officer regarding this delay.  If you choose to appeal this delay, you may do so anytime between now and the date we make our determination on the FOIA request.  Appeals arriving or delivered after 5 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, will be deemed received on the next workday. Your appeal must be made in writing.  You may submit your appeal and accompanying materials to the FOIA/Privacy Act Appeals Officer by mail, courier service, fax, or email.  All communications concerning your appeal should be clearly marked with the words: "FREEDOM OF INFORMATION APPEAL."  You must also include with your appeal copies of all correspondence between you and USGS concerning your FOIA request, including your original FOIA request and USGS's response.  Failure to include with your appeal all correspondence between you and USGS will result in the Department's rejection of your appeal, unless the FOIA/Privacy Act Appeals Officer determines (in the FOIA/Privacy Act Appeals Officer’s sole discretion) that good cause exists to accept the defective appeal.
Please include your name and daytime telephone number (or the name and telephone number of an appropriate contact), email address and fax number (if available) in case the FOIA/Privacy Act Appeals Officer needs additional information or clarification of your appeal. DOI FOIA/Privacy Act Appeals Office Contact Information
Department of the Interior
Office of the Solicitor
Attn: FOIA/Privacy Act Appeals Office
1849 C Street, N.W.
MS-6556 MIB
Washington, D.C.  20240
Telephone:       (202) 208-5339
Fax:                 (202) 208-6677
Email: FOIA.Appeals@sol.doi.gov (https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmail.google.com%2Fmail%2F%3Fview%3Dcm%26fs%3D1%26tf%3D1%26to%3DFOIA.Appeals%40sol.doi.gov&data=05%7C01%7Cmruiz%40usgs.gov%7C25416f727ad2427ffec608dac689d1dd%7C0693b5ba4b184d7b9341f32f400a5494%7C0%7C0%7C638040592469937233%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=LrbaRT6hTxBwvF7RBFY9Eia3Pk42DgvnG9bPuns%2F8Uc%3D&reserved=0)
We regret the delay and appreciate your consideration in this matter.  For more information on FOIA Administrative Appeals, you may review the Department’s FOIA regulations at 43 C.F.R. Part 2, Subpart H.
We appreciate your patience and the good, open communication with you regarding this request.  Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at foia@usgs.gov.  I will keep you updated you on the progress of the request. (https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmail.google.com%2Fmail%2F%3Fview%3Dcm%26fs%3D1%26tf%3D1%26to%3Dfoia%40usgs.gov&data=05%7C01%7Cmruiz%40usgs.gov%7C25416f727ad2427ffec608dac689d1dd%7C0693b5ba4b184d7b9341f32f400a5494%7C0%7C0%7C638040592469937233%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=pKoyTDhRkSWcrFu5VNtCQXPMRdw4NFuRWEyQTGo0bn0%3D&reserved=0)
Sincerely,
Eric J. Darby
Government Information Specialist

Good afternoon Mr. Welsh,

The subject matter experts in Hawaii will be sending you an external hard dive with the records you requested. I wanted to confirm the below address is good to send the hard drive.

MuckRock News, DEPT MR137420
263 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA, 02115

v/r

Eric J. Darby
Government Information Specialist
U.S. Geological Survey
Email: edarby@usgs.gov<mailto:edarby@usgs.gov>

Good morning Mr. Welsh,

Please see the attachment for our final response to your FOIA request. You should have received the hard drive (via FedEx) from Hawaii containing the requested records. We also included a self-addressed prepaid envelope for you to return the hard drive once you have downloaded the responsive material. Please return the hard drive to us by February 10, 2023. If you have any issues or questions, please contact me at foia@usgs.gov.

v/r

Eric J. Darby

Government Information Specialist

Good afternoon Mr. Welsh,

I wanted to check-in on the downloading of the volcano records. Will you be able to return the hard drive to us by the 10th?

v/r

Eric J. Darby
Government Information Specialist
U.S. Geological Survey
Email: edarby@usgs.gov<mailto:edarby@usgs.gov>

Thank you for the update.

v/r

Eric J. Darby
Government Information Specialist
U.S. Geological Survey
Email: edarby@usgs.gov<mailto:edarby@usgs.gov>

Good morning Mr. Welsh,

I wanted to check-in to see if you were able to download records from the hard drive. If yes, has your office mailed the hard drive back to us?

U.S. Geological Survey
P.O. Box 66783
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87193

v/r

Eric J. Darby
Government Information Specialist
U.S. Geological Survey
Email: edarby@usgs.gov<mailto:edarby@usgs.gov>

Thank you for the update. Please let your mailing staff know we included a self-address envelope with the fed-ex label to mail back the hard drive to us.

v/r

Eric J. Darby
Government Information Specialist
U.S. Geological Survey
Email: edarby@usgs.gov<mailto:edarby@usgs.gov>