Air Force Academy Drone Documents

Drone Watch filed this request with the United States Air Force Academy of the United States of America.
Est. Completion None
Status
Withdrawn

Communications

From: Drone Watch

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Colorado Open Records Act, I hereby request the following records:

1. any requests for proposals, proposals submitted by vendors, contracts, budgets or cost allocations for the purchase and/or use of aerial drones, UAs, UAVs, and UASs (hereinafter “drones”);

2. any policies, guidelines, manuals and/or instructions on department use of drones, including on the legal process required (such as a warrant or court order), if any, before operating a drone;

3. any departmental records concerning this department’s use of drones now or plans to use drones in the future including:

a. the types of investigations or instances in which this department is using or plans to use drones, or how it plans to support, manage or oversee the usage of drones by another department or office;

b. policies, guidelines, manuals and/or instructions on storage requirements or procedures for video or static images obtained through use of drones, including retention times;

c. the altitude at which drones can or do fly;

d. drones’ ability to carry weapons.

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 3 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Brandon Wieber

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 Sept. 28, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

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 Sept. 28, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

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 Sept. 28, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

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 Sept. 28, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

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 Sept. 28, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

From: USAFA FOIA

Good Afternoon Mr. Wieber

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. I am Charles Springs, the new FOIA Officer for the United States Air Force Academy. My goal as the new FOIA Officer is to provide you with the best service we can offer. During the recent office turnover, all FOIA cases has been under review. I want to assure you as the new FOIA Officer I will work any cases you have submitted and will keep you properly informed of their status. I am more than happy to assist you and can be contacted either by this email account or by phone (719) 333-6231. I apologize for any inconvenience you may have encountered. Again, it is a pleasure to meet 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 Sept. 28, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

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 Sept. 28, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

From: USAFA FOIA

Good Morning,

Thank you for sending your request. During the recent office turnover, all Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cases has been under review. Our records indicate you have one FOIA requests open in this office. In accordance with DoD Regulation 5400.7 Freedom of Information Act Program; we are required to provide an initial response. Your FOIA request dated September 28, 2012 for (1) any requests for proposals, proposals submitted by vendors, contracts, budgets or cost allocations for the purchase and/or use of aerial drones, UAs, UAVs, and UASs (hereinafter “drones”); (2) any policies, guidelines, manuals and/or instructions on department use of drones, including on the legal process required (such as a warrant or court order), if any, before operating a drone; (3). any departmental records concerning this department’s use of drones now or plans to use drones in the future including: (a). the types of investigations or instances in which this department is using or plans to use drones, or how it plans to support, manage or oversee the usage of drones by another department or office; (b). policies, guidelines, manuals and/or instructions on storage requirements or procedures for video or static images obtained through use of drones, including retention times; (c). the altitude at which drones can or do fly; (d). drones’ ability to carry weapons; was received your on October 17, 2012. We require clarification pertaining to your fee category.

In your request you requested appropriate fees be waived as you believe this request is in the public interest and 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.

The FOIA Reform Act of 1986 requires that we review each request to determine a requester’s assessment of fee category and obtain their promise to pay this fee. As a result of reviewing your case we have determined that you should be placed in the “Commercial” category for fee purposes. The "Commercial" fee category affords you standard charges for document search, review and duplication when records are requested. The term "commercial use" refers to a request from, or on behalf of one who seeks information for a use or purpose that furthers the commercial, trade, or profit interest of the requester or the person on whose behalf the request is made. MuckRock acts as a request proxy on behalf of other organizations therefore places you in a position of providing a commercial service. For this reason, your request for a fee waiver is denied.

We are holding your request in abeyance until we receive your willingness to pay letter or certification that validates your organization being a "Representative of the news media/press". Please reference FOIA case 2013-01670-F in all correspondence. If we do not receive a reply within 10 days from the date of this message, we will close this case file and you will need to initiate a new FOIA request for these documents.

You may appeal this decision to the Secretary of the Air Force, Thru: USAFA/A6 FOIA, 5136 Community Center Drive, USAF Academy CO 80840.

Please direct your questions or validation to the undersigned at (719) 333-6231 and reference FOIA case # 2013-01670 or e-mail this office at usafa.foia@us.af.mil .

//SIGNED//
CHARLES M. SPRINGS, GS-11, DAF
FOIA/PA Officer, United States
Air Force Academy

From: Shawn Musgrave

Mr. Springs:

This is in regard to FOIA case # 2013-01670.

Regarding MuckRock's status as a representative of the news media/press: MuckRock has been cited by the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, Gawker, ReadWriteWeb, and hundreds of other news organizations as an influential news site, and our reporting on local, national and international affairs often reaches an audience of hundreds of thousands, including both online and in print publications that report on our news and analysis.

Specifically, our news gathering activities have been cited by the Press Freedom Foundation (https://pressfreedomfoundation.org/organization/muckrock-news) and Columbia Journalism Review (http://www.cjr.org/behind_the_news/qa_michael_morisy_cofounder_of_muckrock.php?page=all).

In addition to posting original documents in full online for the public to see, our reports provide analysis and synthesis, which, in conjunction with our wide audience, is what qualifies MuckRock as a media requester under FOIA.

Please let me know if I can clarify this certification further.

Best,
Shawn Musgrave
MuckRock

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 Sept. 28, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

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 Sept. 28, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

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 Sept. 28, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

From: USAFA FOIA

Good Afternoon,

We apologize for the delay you incurred. In order to properly process a FOIA request, a fee determination have to be made and agreed. In your case, we have just received verification from Headquarters Air Force through the DoD that your organization's fee category is "Representative of the news media". Therefore, I am authorized to continue to process your request. As such, fees shall be limited to only reasonable standard charges for document duplication (excluding charges for the first 100 pages). Mr. Shawn Musgrave will be considered the POC for this request. Please notify our office if you have a different POC via this email address. Thank you for your patients and assistance.

Respectfully,

//SIGNED//

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 Sept. 28, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

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 Sept. 28, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

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 Sept. 28, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

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 Sept. 28, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

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 Sept. 28, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

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 Sept. 28, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

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 Sept. 28, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

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 Sept. 28, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

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 Sept. 28, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

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 Sept. 28, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

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 Sept. 28, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

From: Springs, Charles

Dear Mr. Wieber
This is a final response to your  28 September 2012 Freedom of Information Act Requests for any, proposals submitted by vendors, contracts, budgets or cost allocations for the purchase and/or use of aerial drones, UAs, UAVs, and UASs (hereinafter “drones").  We received your request on 13 December 2012.  Your case has been assigned case number 2013-01670-F.
After careful review, we have determined this is a duplicate request of case number 2012-05385-F.   The unit located at the Air Force Academy belongs to AETC therefore, AETC has already provided you their interim reply that is responsive to your request.  No further action will be taken on this inquiry.
Please contact us at (719) 333- 6231 or email
USAFA.FOIA@us.af.mil if you have questions concerning your request.  Please reference your assigned case number when making inquiries. (mailto:USAFA.FOIA@us.af.mil if)

From: USAFA FOIA

Dear Mr. Wieber

This is a final response to your 28 September 2012 Freedom of Information Act Requests for any, proposals submitted by vendors, contracts, budgets or cost allocations for the purchase and/or use of aerial drones, UAs, UAVs, and UASs (hereinafter “drones"). We received your request on 13 December 2012. Your case has been assigned case number 2013-01670-F.

After careful review, we have determined this is a duplicate request of case number 2012-05385-F. The unit located at the Air Force Academy belongs to AETC therefore, AETC has already provided you their interim reply that is responsive to your request. No further action will be taken on this inquiry.

Please contact us at (719) 333- 6231 or email USAFA.FOIA@us.af.mil if you have questions concerning your request. Please reference your assigned case number when making inquiries.

Sincerely

//SIGNED//
CHARLES M. SPRINGS
Freedom of Information Act Manager
United States Air Force Academy

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