DoD IG : Cargo Securing and Handling at Military Ocean Terminal Concord

To Whom It May Concern:

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

A copy of report DODIG-2015-130, "Controls Over Cargo Securing and Handling at Military Ocean Terminal Concord Need Improvement (Project No. D2014-D000RA-0182.000)."

Given that this FOIA is submitted in my capacity as a journalist, I request that I be categorized as a media requester for the purpose of fees. Here is a selection of my published articles on MuckRock:

https://www.muckrock.com/news/archives/2015/jan/12/how-843-lbs-seized-pot-lead-customs-and-border-pro/

https://www.muckrock.com/news/archives/2015/mar/03/us-marshals-service-conceal-key-details-millions-s/

https://www.muckrock.com/news/archives/2015/feb/27/while-dodging-direct-question-fbi-commits-obama-st/

https://www.muckrock.com/news/archives/2015/feb/27/while-dodging-direct-question-fbi-commits-obama-st/

https://www.muckrock.com/news/archives/2015/feb/12/fbi-and-justice-department-cant-find-drone-privacy/

https://www.muckrock.com/news/archives/2015/jan/22/air-force-knows-how-many-mq-9-drones-it-wants-cant/

I have also been published in a number of other national media outlets:

http://motherboard.vice.com/read/the-us-spent-360-million-on-border-drones-thanks-to-this-flimsy-report

http://motherboard.vice.com/read/the-air-force-says-it-needs-precisely-52-new-reaper-drones-cant-explain-why

http://motherboard.vice.com/read/do-the-fbis-drones-invade-your-privacy-sorry-thats-private

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/04/08/big-brother-better-police-work-new-technology-automatically-runs-license-plates-everyone/1qoAoFfgp31UnXZT2CsFSK/story.html

www.betaboston.com/news/2014/03/05/a-vast-hidden-surveillance-network-runs-across-america-powered-by-the-repo-industry/

https://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/02/05/nypd-social-media-policy-allows-catfishing-with-the-proper-paperwork.html

https://www.themarshallproject.org/2014/12/03/the-pentagon-finally-details-its-weapons-for-cops-giveaway

http://motherboard.vice.com/read/do-the-fbis-drones-invade-your-privacy-sorry-thats-private

https://news.vice.com/article/fbi-agent-who-killed-boston-bombing-suspects-friend-was-twice-accused-of-police-brutality

As the requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com and pertains to a matter of considerable public interest, I further request a full waiver of all fees.

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,

Shawn Musgrave

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on May 28, 2015. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #FOIA-2015-00659.

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 May 28, 2015. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #FOIA-2015-00659.

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 May 28, 2015. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #FOIA-2015-00659.

Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.

To Whom It May Concern:

I hereby appeal the withholding in its entirety of documents responsive to my FOIA request to the Department of Defense Inspector General, which the DODIG assigned tracking number FOIA-2015-00659.

On May 28, 2015, I requested a copy of report DODIG-2015-130, "Controls Over Cargo Securing and Handling at Military Ocean Terminal Concord Need Improvement (Project No. D2014-D000RA-0182.000)."

In the attached response dated July 7, 2016, the DODIG denied my request in its entirety. As the response fails to articulate with specificity the justification for invoking exemptions for any information contained in the requested report, I appeal the overall adequacy of response.

Furthermore, I appeal on grounds that — even if certain information within the report must be withheld under the cited exemptions — the requested report can likely be released with redactions, rather than withheld in its entirety. This argument is bolstered by the fact that the report's name has been made public rather than denoted as "Classified Report" by the DODIG, which is the DODIG's longstanding means of identifying the existence of a report without providing any indication as to its subject matter or findings.

In light of the above as well as any other justifications which the appeal authority deems to require disclosure of the requested report in its entirety or in part, I appeal and request that this FOIA be remanded to the DODIG for a good faith search and provision of responsive documents.

Respectfully,
Shawn Musgrave