Carcass Obliteration
| Tracking # |
2015-FS-WO-00049-A ; 2014-FS-R1-04587 |
| Submitted | July 11, 2014 |
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Communications
From: Troy Carter
To Whom It May Concern:
This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:
All reports detailing the use high explosives to obliterate animal carcasses by the United States Department of Agriculture's Forest Service.
This request seeks to understand the Forest Service's frequency of using of high explosives to obliterate animal carcasses and the location of said obliterations.
I personally reviewed the aftermath of a horse obliteration in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness in southwest Montana last year.
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,
Troy Carter
Bozeman Daily Chronicle
406-582-2630
From: FS-wo FOIA
Please provide a time limit for the search and what area your want us to search for the requested documents.
Thank you,
Sara Sullivan
On behalf of
WO FOIA Office
-
Sara L Sullivan
From: Troy Carter
Ms. Sullivan,
Please limit your search for documents dated between January 2010 to June 2014.
-Troy Carter
From: FS-wo FOIA
Where, in the Forest Service, do you wish to search for documents? We have 13 Regional Offices.
Thanks,
Sara Sullivan
Forest Service
FOIA Office
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Sara L Sullivan
From: Troy Carter
The Northern Region
From: FS-R1_FOIA
Mr. Carter:
This email acknowledges receipt of your July 11, 2014, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the US Department of Agriculture, Office of the Secretary. Your request was referred to and received by the US Forest Service in Missoula, Montana for response on July 22, 2014. Your request has been assigned case # 2014-FS-R1-04587.
As provided by the FOIA this office has 20 working days, from date of receipt, to respond to your request. We anticipate a response to you by August 20, 2014.
If you have any questions concerning your request, please reply to this email, or call me at 406-329-3256.
``````````````````````````````````````
Angie Monaco
FOIA Specialist
Northern Region – R1
Missoula, MT
406-329-3256 office
406-329-3411 fax
R1_FOIA@fs.fed.us
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From: FS-R1_FOIA
Mr. Carter:
Attached are the Forest Service final response letter and responsive records to your FOIA request.
``````````````````````````````````````
Angie Monaco
FOIA Specialist
Northern Region - R1
Missoula, MT
406-329-3256 office
406-329-3411 fax
R1_FOIA@fs.fed.us<mailto:R1_FOIA@fs.fed.us>
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This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.
From: Troy Carter
Chief, US Forest Service
FOIA Service Center
1143, 1400 Independence Ave. S.W.
Washington, DC 20250-1143
email: wo_foia@fs.fed.us
Re: Freedom of Information Act Appeal
To whom it may concern,
This is an appeal under the Freedom of Information Act.
On July 11,2014, I requested documents regarding the use of high explosives to obliterate animal carcasses by the US Forest Service under the Freedom of Information Act. My request was assigned the following identification number: 6270 2014-FS-R1-04587. On Aug. 21, 2014, I received a response to my request in a letter signed by Faye L. Krueger. I appeal the redactions made to the documents found responsive to my request.
In the response letter, the Forest Service cited FOIA Exemption 7(F) in an argument that the information redacted from public access "could reasonably be expected to endanger the life or physical safety of an individual."
While I agree that the names of Forest Service employees who use, maintain, and secure explosives does carry an unknown potential for the endangerment of their lives and safety, disclosing the types of explosives used, the method of firing, and the amount of explosives used does not cause any endangerment.
Please remove the redactions that do not qualify under Exemption 7(f) and re-release the documents to me at your earliest convenience.
Very respectfully,
Troy Carter, Reporter
Bozeman Daily Chronicle
From: FS-wo FOIA
Dear Mr. Carter;
This email acknowledges receipt of your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) appeal dated September 23, 2014, which was received in the Washington Office (WO) FOIA Service Center on September 30, 2014. You are appealing the final determination for Forest Service, FOIA Request Number: 2014-FS-R1-04587-F.
Please be advised the WO FOIA Service Center has a large backlog of pending FOIA requests and appeals. We are working as quickly as possible to process each request and appeal in the order in which it was received. Your patience is greatly appreciated.
To check on the status of your request, you may contact Sara Sullivan via e-mail to slsullivan@fs.fed.us. Please reference you assigned case number, 2015-FS-WO-00049-A.
Thank you,
GEORGE VARGAS
Freedom of Information/Privacy Act Officer
Sara L Sullivan
Government Information Specialist (FOIA)
Forest Service
Office of Regulatory and Management Services
p: 202-205-1369
slsullivan@fs.fed.us
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20250
www.fs.fed.us
Caring for the land and serving people
This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.
-
Sara L Sullivan
From: Fuller-Bennett, Harald -FS
Dear Mr. Carter:
Please see the attached letter and records, and let me know if you have any questions, or if you would like a hard copy of the attached mailed to you.
Sincerely,
[USFS]
Harald Fuller-Bennett
Freedom of Information Act Team Lead
Forest Service
Office of Regulatory and Management Services
p: 202-205-1317
hfullerbennett@fs.fed.us<mailto:hfullerbennett@fs.fed.us>
1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop 1143
Washington, DC 20250
For FedEx and UPS:
201 14th Street SW
Washington, DC 20024
www.fs.fed.us<http://www.fs.fed.us/>
[http://fsweb.wo.fs.fed.us/esignature/images/usda-logo.png]<http://usda.gov/>[Twitter]<https://twitter.com/forestservice>[Facebook]<http://facebook.com/USDA>
Caring for the land and serving people
This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.
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