Department of Homeland Security Drone Documents

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information 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 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Drone Watch

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on July 20, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on July 20, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on July 20, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on July 20, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on July 20, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on July 20, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on July 20, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on July 20, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

Hello,

This request has never even been acknowledged, despite having been first submitted last July. Please as to the status of this request.

Thank you.

Good Afternoon,

The UAV programs fall under the purview of U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP). If we received this request in this office we would have transferred this request to that office or told you to submit this request to CBP. If you would like us to look up this request please email the requesters name I looked under Musgrove and Muckrock and did not locate this request in our office. Please find the contact information below for CBP.

U. S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP)
FOIA Officer
90 K Street NE, 9th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20229-1181
Acting FOIA Officer/Public Liaison: Jacky Saint Juste
Phone: 202-325-0150
Fax: 202-325-0230

Hello,

I've received your response printed below. Please amend my request to the following:

A listing of all agencies who have applied for grants or other funding for unmanned aerial surveillance (UAV), unmanned aerial systems (UAS), aka "drone" equipment for the past 10 years. Many of these agencies may have applied through the Urban Area Security Initiative.

Thank you.

Hello,

I have not received any acknowledgement of my amended FOIA request. Please advise.

Thank you,
Shawn Musgrave

Good Afternoon,

Have you contacted CBP? I will transfer your request to CBP? Was there something else you would like this office to do?

Hello,

Per my email below I amended my request to the following:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). I hereby request the following:

A listing of all agencies who have applied for grants or other funding for unmanned aerial surveillance (UAV), unmanned aerial systems (UAS), aka "drone" equipment for the past 10 years. Many of these agencies may have applied through the Urban Area Security Initiative.

Urban Area Security Initiative is not a component of CBP -- please advise whether your office is the appropriate contact for this amended request.

Best,
Shawn Musgrave

Good Afternoon,

The Urban Area Security Initiative falls under the purview of FEMA. Please find their contact information below:

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

FOIA Officer
500 C Street, S.W., Room 840
Washington, D.C. 20472
FOIA Officer/Public Liaison: Terry Cochran
Phone: 202-646-3323
Fax: 202-646-3347
E-mail: fema-foia@dhs.gov

Regards,

DHS FOIA

Privacy Office