DoD UAS report 2014
It is a clone of this request.
Tracking # |
15-F-0630 |
Submitted | Jan. 15, 2015 |
MuckRock users can file, duplicate, track, and share public records requests like this one. Learn more.
Communications
From: Shawn Musgrave
To Whom It May Concern:
This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:
A copy of the annual report prepared by the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics on UAS challenges for FY2014.
It should be the followup to this report: "Department of Defense Report to Congress on Addressing Challenges for
Unmanned Aircraft Systems," Dec 2013. Link: https://muckrock.s3.amazonaws.com/foia_files/14-F-0789_doc_1.pdf
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,
Shawn Musgrave
From: Williams, Reynaldo I CIV (US)
Mr. Shawn Musgrave
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 15648
PO Box 55819
Boston, MA 02205-5819
Sent electronic mail to: requests@muckrock.com
Dear Mr. Musgrave:
This is an interim response to your attached Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request dated January 15, 2015 and received in this office on the same day. Your request has been assigned case number 15-F-0630 and we ask that you use that number when referring to your request.
With regard to your request for a waiver of any applicable fees, a fee waiver is appropriate when disclosure of the requested information is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations and activities of the government and is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester. 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(4)(iii) In making a determination, six factors are considered as to whether your request satisfies this statutory standard: (1) whether the subject of the requested records concerns the operations or activities of the government; (2) whether the disclosure is likely to contribute to an understanding of government operations or activities; (3) whether disclosure of the requested information will contribute to the understanding of the general public; (4) whether the disclosure is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of government operations and activities; (5) whether the requester has a commercial interest that would be furthered by the requested disclosure; and, (6) whether any such commercial interest outweighs the public interest in disclosure.
While the requested information does concern the operations and activities of the government and does not appear to be intended for a commercial interest, it is not clear how the responsive documents - should they exist - would significantly contribute to the public understanding of the operations and activities of the government. After carefully reviewing your request I am denying your fee waiver request because the information stated does not support how the documents will significantly contribute to the publics increased understanding of the operations and activities of government. Please be aware that we reserve the right to grant a fee waiver should a search find documents that meet the criterion of a public interest fee waiver as described in the previous paragraph.
In further reference to fees, I have determined that your request should be placed in the Other fee category. Accordingly, you entitled to the first two hours of search free of charge. Furtherence, you are entitled to the first 100 pages of duplication free of charge. Subsequent processing will be assessed at the established Department of Defense (DoD) fee rates of professional search time at $44 per hour.
We will be unable to respond to your request within the FOIA's 20 day statutory time period as there are unusual circumstances which impact on our ability to quickly process your request. These unusual circumstances are: (a) the need to search for and collect records from a facility geographically separated from this Office; (b) the potential volume of records responsive to your request; and (c) the need for consultation with one or more other agencies or DoD components having a substantial interest in either the determination or the subject matter of the records. For these reasons, your request has been placed in our complex processing queue and will be worked in the order the request was received. Our current administrative workload is 1554 open requests.
You may not be aware that we maintain a website and electronic reading room at: http://www.dod.mil/pubs/foi/.
If you are not satisfied with this action, you may petition the Appellate Authority, the Director of Administration, Office of the Secretary of Defense, by writing directly to the OSD/Joint Staff Freedom of Information, ATTN: Appeals Office, 1155 Defense Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 20301-1155; you may also submit your appeal electronically at the following link: http://pal.whs.mil/palMain.aspx. Your appeal should be postmarked within 60 calendar days of the date of this mail, should cite case number 15-F-0630 and should be clearly marked "Freedom of Information Act Appeal."
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Mr. Reynaldo I.L. Williams
Government Information Specialist
For Suzanne Council on behalf of
M. L. Wahling, Acting Chief, Freedom of Information Act Division
OSD/JS FOIA Office
From: Shawn Musgrave
Hello,
Thank you for acknowledging FOIA 15-F-0630. I am a journalist who has covered unmanned aerial systems (UAS) extensively, and as such request that you update my category for the purpose of fees to be a representative of the news media.
Here is a selection of my publications for your reference:
VICE / Motherboard:
http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/the-department-of-defense-cant-find-any-of-its-drone-crash-data
http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/the-faas-selection-of-six-drone-test-sites-comes-a-year-late
Boston Globe:
Thank you,
Shawn
From: Shawn Musgrave
Hello,
Thank you for acknowledging FOIA 15-F-0630. I am a journalist who has covered unmanned aerial systems (UAS) extensively, and as such request that you update my category for the purpose of fees to be a representative of the news media.
Here is a selection of my publications for your reference:
VICE / Motherboard:
http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/the-department-of-defense-cant-find-any-of-its-drone-crash-data
http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/the-faas-selection-of-six-drone-test-sites-comes-a-year-late
Boston Globe:
Thank you,
Shawn
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Jan. 15, 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 #15-F-0630.
Thank you for your help.
From: Williams, Reynaldo I CIV (US)
Dear Mr. Musgrave:
Please be aware that our office processes all incoming FOIA requests on a first-in, first-out, basis. This means that your request was placed in a queue once it was received in our office. It also means it will be placed in a queue by the office that is tasked to search for responsive records. We already have initiated just such a search for responsive records, but the timing of the results to be provided to our office will depend on the place in the queue that your request was assigned.
If responsive documents are located, it may contain equities of another office(s) or agency(s). These office(s) or agency(s) would also be required to conduct their own review.
It is conceivable that all processing could be completed and the results provided to you at an early date, but it is also possible that more time will be required. In any case, all releasable records, if any, cannot be provided to you until all processing is completed. As soon as that occurs, we will send a formal letter to you.
We appreciate your patience and understanding in this matter.
If you are not satisfied with this action, you may petition the Appellate Authority, the Director of Administration, Office of the Secretary of Defense, by writing directly to the OSD/Joint Staff Freedom of Information, ATTN: Appeals Office, 1155 Defense Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 20301-1155; you may also submit your appeal electronically at the following link: http://pal.whs.mil/palMain.aspx. Your appeal should be postmarked within 60 calendar days of the date of this mail, should cite case number 15-F-0630 and should be clearly marked "Freedom of Information Act Appeal."
Sincerely,
Reynaldo I. L. Williams, Government Information Specialist
For Suzanne Council on behalf of
M.L. Wahling, Acting Chief, Office of Freedom of Information
Office of the Secretary of Defense and Joint Staff FOIA Requester Service Center
1155 Defense Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20301-1155
(571) 372-0439
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Jan. 15, 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 #15-F-0630.
Thank you for your help.
From: Department of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense
A copy of documents responsive to the request.
From: Department of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense
A cover letter granting the request and outlining any exempted materials, if any.
Files
pages