Ballard Locks Operating Manuals
| Tracking # |
FA-21-146 |
| Submitted | Sept. 8, 2021 |
MuckRock users can file, duplicate, track, and share public records requests like this one. Learn more.
Communications
From: Nick Mooney
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
The current training materials and operating manuals for the Ballard Locks in Seattle, Washington, specifically the standard operating procedures used by operators of the locks. Current schematics or diagrams of any control panels or other mechanisms used by the operators to control the drains, gates, and walkways of the locks. Additionally, the current emergency procedures documentation regarding failures of Locks operation (such as gates or drain valves stuck open or closed), damage to boats within the Locks or injuries to people on boats within the Locks.
If the training and operating manuals do not include an overview of the full Locks system, I would like a copy of that overview documentation as well.
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,
Nick Mooney
From: US Army Corps of Engineers - Seattle District
Mr. Mooney,
Your request was received and is being reviewed in accordance with Army Regulations and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The records you requested are complex and we will not be able to provide responsive records within twenty business days, nor thirty business days. We will advise shortly of a tracking number assigned to your request.
Sincerely,
Virginia
Virginia Castle
FOIA Officer/Paralegal Specialist
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Seattle District
Office: (206)764-3735
From: US Army Corps of Engineers - Seattle District
Mr. Mooney,
Your request submitted under the Freedom of Information Act 5 USC 552, (FOIA) was received in the Seattle District office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. We have assigned your request FOIA tracking number FA-21-146. Please include this tracking number on all communications with our office regarding this request. You agreed to pay fees, requesting we advise of the fee amount. The FOIA Office is not a repository of records and we will reach out to the differing records custodians who may have responsive records to your request. As soon as we have a fee estimate, we will advise.
You requested, "The current training materials and operating manuals for the Ballard Locks in Seattle, Washington, specifically the standard operating procedures used by operators of the locks. Current schematics or diagrams of any control panels or other mechanisms used by the operators to control the drains, gates, and walkways of the locks. Additionally, the current emergency procedures documentation regarding failures of Locks operation (such as gates or drain valves stuck open or closed), damage to boats within the Locks or injuries to people on boats within the Locks. If the training and operating manuals do not include an overview of the full Locks system, I would like a copy of that overview documentation as well." If clarification is needed, we will advise.
Due to the current number of FOIA requests we are processing, we may not be able to provide responsive records within the 30 business days afforded by the FOIA.
Sincerely,
Virginia
Virginia Castle
FOIA Officer/Paralegal Specialist
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Seattle District
Office: (206)764-3735
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Sept. 8, 2021. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #FA-21-146.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: US Army Corps of Engineers - Seattle District
Mr. Mooney,
Thank you for reaching out to determine the status of your FOIA request. Currently, our records custodians are searching for responsive records to your request. We hope to have records within the next week or two. We also await information on any fees associated with the processing of your request.
Sincerely,
Virginia
Virginia Castle
FOIA Officer/Paralegal Specialist
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Seattle District
Office: (206)764-3735
From: US Army Corps of Engineers - Seattle District
Mr. Moody,
We are sending this email today in response to an estimate our records custodian provided to search for and for the review of records responsive to your request. We estimate a total of 40 hours needed to conduct a search for, the review of and duplication of responsive records. In accordance with Army Regulations and the FOIA, the hourly professional rate is $48 per hour and the fee estimate total is $1920. The FOIA provides that fee estimates above $250 include a 50% advance payment to conduct the search and review of records. Please provide a check for $950 made out to: "FAO, USACE Seattle District" and "FA-21-146 / FP-21-028233 - ADV" in the memo section of the check. Please mail the check to:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
ATTN: CENWS-OC (FOIA)
4735 E. Marginal Way S., Bldg. 1202
Seattle, WA 98124-3755
Please advise by reply e-mail that you agree to pay fees and have sent the check and we will continue processing your request at that point. The remainder of the fees will be included in the final response letter for you to send in at the completion of the FOIA request. If we do not receive a response from you by Monday, October 25, 2021, we will administratively close your request, as withdrawn. Alternatively, you may choose to narrow the scope of your request, in which case we will recalculate the fee estimate.
Sincerely,
Virginia
Virginia Castle
FOIA Officer/Paralegal Specialist
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Seattle District
Office: (206)764-3735
From: US Army Corps of Engineers - Seattle District
Mr. Mooney,
Please refer to the attached closure letter (and notice of fees letter for reference).
Sincerely,
Virginia
Virginia Castle
FOIA Officer/Paralegal Specialist
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Seattle District
Office: (206)764-3735
Files
pages