CIA ARCINS results for Papua

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:

All records responsive to a keyword search of the records system that contains data formerly in the ARCINS system for "Papua"

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
185 Beacon St. #3
Somerville, MA 02143

Daytime: (857) 488- 3081
E-mail: requests@muckrock.com

A rejection letter stating that the request was too broad.

This request was denied for two reasons according to Susan Viscuso's 12/8/10 letter:
1) "the breadth and lack of specificity of [my] request" and
2) "the way in which [your] record systems are configured"

I appeal.

In regard to the first item, my request was specific and provided enough information to conduct a search. I requested the records responsive to a keyword search in a specific database.

In regard to the second item, the way in which your record systems are configured have no bearing on the applicability of the FOIA to those records. Nothing in the CIA regulations nor the FOIA permit the use of a specific record system configuration to prevent the search for records under the FOIA.