Communication, documents
| Tracking # |
EPA-R5-2018-006434 |
| Submitted | April 10, 2018 |
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Communications
From: Matt Kasper
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
Any and all electronic communication, including carbon copies, and attachments in the electronic communication between Cathy Stepp and representative of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. This request specifically pertains to the six meetings/calls Cathy Stepp, EPA Administrator for Region 5, has had with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality according to her publicly available calendar.
For your search, custodians are limited to: Cathy Stepp, EPA Administrator for Region 5.
I suggest using the following domain for your search: @michigan.gov.
The timeframe of the request is limited to January 4, 2018 and processing date of the request.
I would also like to request any briefing books prepared for Cathy Stepp in advance of the meetings/calls. The meetings/calls took place on January 9, 2018; February 7, 2018; March 2, 2018; March 8, 2018; March 16, 2018 (two took place this day).
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. However, I am requesting a fee waiver. The organization I work for, the Energy and Policy Institute, is a clearinghouse of information and can qualify as a representative of the news media. There are several examples of public record requests that have been provided to my organization and that were then published on our website to inform journalists publishing articles. Additionally, previously FOIAs from the Energy and Policy Institute to federal government agencies have been categorized under Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 1004.9(b)(3) as a "news media" requester.
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,
Matt Kasper
Energy and Policy Institute
630-908-9615
PO Box 577764, Chicago, IL. 60657
From: Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5
This message is to confirm your request submission to the FOIAonline application: View Request. Request information is as follows: (https://foiaonline.regulations.gov:443/foia/action/public/view/request?objectId=090004d2818b1974)
* Tracking Number: EPA-R5-2018-006434
* Requester Name: Matt Kasper
* Date Submitted: 04/10/2018
* Request Status: Submitted
* Description: Any and all electronic communication, including carbon copies, and attachments in the electronic communication between Cathy Stepp and representative of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
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 April 10, 2018. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #EPA-R5-2018-006434.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5
Good Morning,
Your request was assigned to the Office of the Regional Administrator.
I've cc'd the FOIA coordinators for that division so they may provide
you with an update on your request. Thank you.
-
graycol
From: Matt Kasper
Great, thank you.
-Matt
From: Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5
05/18/2018 09:57 PM FOIA Request: EPA-R5-2018-006434
From: Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5
Your request for Fee Waiver for the FOIA request EPA-R5-2018-006434 has been denied. Additional details for this request are as follows:
* Request Created on: 04/10/2018
* Fee Waiver Disposition Reason: Criteria not met.
* Request Long Description: Any and all electronic communication, including carbon copies, and attachments in the electronic communication between Cathy Stepp and representative of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
From: Matt Kasper
Hello,
Is there an update regarding this request?
Thank you,
Matt
From: Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5
Good afternoon,
I have cc'd the contact in the program where your request is being processed so they may provide you with a status update. Thank you.
From: Matt Kasper
Hello - I'm following up on my EPA requests. Can you provide a status update with this request?
Thanks,
Matt
From: Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5
The FOIA
request
- EPA-R5-2018-006434 description has been modified. Additional details for this item are as follows:
* Tracking Number: EPA-R5-2018-006434
* Requester: Mr. Matt Kasper
* Submitted Date: 07/05/2018
* Description:
Any and all electronic communication, including carbon copies, and attachments in the electronic communication between Cathy Stepp and representative of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.For your search, custodians are limited to: Cathy Stepp, EPA Administrator for Region 5. I suggest using the following domain for your search: @michigan.gov.
The timeframe of the request is limited to January 4, 2018 and processing date of the request.
I would also like to request any briefing books prepared for Cathy Stepp in advance of the meetings/calls. The meetings/calls took place on January 9, 2018; February 7, 2018; March 2, 2018; March 8, 2018; March 16, 2018 (two took place this day).
From: Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5
Dear Mr. Kaspar,
Per my voicemail, I am asking for clarification regarding your FOIA request for records of communication between former EPA Region 5 Administrator Cathy Stepp and representatives of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, as well as briefing books prepared for Cathy Stepp for in advance of the meetings/calls taking place on January 9, 2018; February 7, 2018; March 2, 2018; March 8, 2018; March 16, 2018 (two took place this day).
We cannot currently determine whether certain records are responsive to your request without knowing the subject matter of those meetings. We no longer have access to Cathy Stepp's calendar that may have provided the subject matter. If you know the subject matter of the meetings, please reply.
Please reply within 20 calendar days. If we do not hear from you, we will provide you just the records that we know are responsive to your request and will assume you are not interested in the indeterminate records.
Sincerely,
Kaushal Gupta
U.S. EPA Region 5 FOIA Officer
Office of Regional Counsel, Branch 1, Section 4
77 W. Jackson Blvd (MI-10J) | Chicago, IL 60604
gupta.kaushal@epa.gov<mailto:gupta.kaushal@epa.gov> | Phone (312) 886-6803 | Fax (312) 697-2009 | FOIA Website<http://www.epa.gov/foia/foia-library-information-specific-epa-region-5>
From: Matt Kasper
Hi Kaushal,
I'm requesting the briefing books for those specific days as there were meetings with representatives of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
I'm also requesting communication with representatives of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (domain for your search: @michigan.gov.) between January 4, 2018 and the processing date of the request.
From: Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5
Hello,
Thanks for your reply. Do you happen to know what the subject matter of the meetings were (e.g., PFAS, Flint water quality) ? That would help us complete our review of the records.
Kaushal
--------------------------------------
Kaushal Gupta
U.S. EPA Region 5 FOIA Officer
Office of Regional Counsel, Branch 1, Section 4
77 W. Jackson Blvd (MI-10J) | Chicago, IL 60604
gupta.kaushal@epa.gov<mailto:gupta.kaushal@epa.gov> | Phone (312) 886-6803 | Fax (312) 697-2009 | FOIA Website<http://www.epa.gov/foia/foia-library-information-specific-epa-region-5>
--------------------------------------
From: Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5
The FOIA
request
- EPA-R5-2018-006434 has been supplemented with additional supporting files. Additional details for this item are as follows:
* Tracking Number: EPA-R5-2018-006434
* Requester: Mr. Matt Kasper
* Submitted Date: 07/05/2018
* Description:
Any and all electronic communication, including carbon copies, and attachments in the electronic communication between Cathy Stepp and representative of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.For your search, custodians are limited to: Cathy Stepp, EPA Administrator for Region 5. I suggest using the following domain for your search: @michigan.gov.
The timeframe of the request is limited to January 4, 2018 and processing date of the request.
I would also like to request any briefing books prepared for Cathy Stepp in advance of the meetings/calls. The meetings/calls took place on January 9, 2018; February 7, 2018; March 2, 2018; March 8, 2018; March 16, 2018 (two took place this day).
From: Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5
Please see attached.
From: Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5
EPA-R5-2018-006434 has been processed with the following final disposition: Partial Grant/Partial Denial.
Files
pages