EPA Engagement UN Global Plastics Treaty Negotiations

Dear Aryn Baker,

Case Number 2024-NFO-00094 has been assigned to the request you submitted. In all future correspondence regarding this request please reference case number 2024-NFO-00094.
Regards,
EPA

Dear Aryn Baker,

The status of your FOIA request #2024-NFO-00094 has been updated to the following status 'Received'. To log into the PAL Application click on the Application URL below.

https://foiapublicaccessportal.epa.gov/

Sincerely,
EPA

Dear Aryn Baker,
Your case Number was changed from 2024-NFO-00094 to 2024-OITA-02218, by the agency. Please note the new case number to quote in your future correspondence about the request.
Regards,
EPA

10/18/2023

Aryn Baker
N/A
MuckRock News, DEPT MR152915
263 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02115
EMAILED TO: requests@muckrock.com
RE: Acknowledgment Letter - EPA FOIA Request Number 2024-OITA-02218
ear Aryn Baker:
This letter concerns the above-referenced Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, received by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National FOIA Office (NFO) on 10/10/2023 in which you are seekin g the following: " To Whom It May Concern:Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:TIME Magazine is looking for e-mails, memos, meeting notes, briefing agendas and other documents related to the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution (INC 1-5), United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA5) and international plastic production treaties from Jan. 20, 2022 to the present.TIME seeks correspondence between EPA officials (Stephanie Adrian, Karissa Kovner, Laura Nazef, Elizabeth Shaw et. al) and representatives of:- American Chemistry Council and/or Ed Brzytwa, Josh Baca- The World Plastics Council- The Plastics Industry Association- American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers- Alliance to End Plastic Waste and/ or Jacob Duer- Dow Chemical-Garcia Government Affairs- Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries- SABIC- BASF- DuPont Chemical- ExxonMobileAs global negotiations continue for a United Nations plastics treaty, the role of the Environmental Protection Agency, and in any potential lobbying interests on behalf of industry in informing US policy over a globally recognized pollutant is of great of public interest. For this reason, and the fact that I am working for a national news outlet (TIME Magazine), I would like to request a fee waiver. If any of the above requested information is refused, please do provide an explanation of what cannot be shared, and why.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. 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,Aryn Baker, Senior Correspondent TIME MagazineUpload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
Your FOIA request was assigned for processing. If you have any questions about your request, please contact the office mentioned below and reference your EPA FOIA request number 2024-OITA-02218.
Office of International and Tribal Affairs FOIA Program: You may contact OITA’s Inga Barnett-Owens at barnett-owens.inga@epa.gov or (202) 564-6439 . You may also contact Lakita Stewart at stewart.lakita@epa.gov or (202) 564-6458
If you need any further assistance or would like to discuss any aspect of your request, you may seek assistance from EPA’s FOIA Public Liaison at hq.foia@epa.gov or call (202) 566-1667. You may also seek assistance from the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS). You may contact OGIS in any of the following ways: by mail, Office of Government Information Services, National Archives and Records Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001; email: ogis@nara.gov; telephone: (202) 741-5770 or (877) 684-6448; or fax: (202) 741-5769.
Sincerely,
National FOIA Office
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Dear Aryn:

Re: Freedom of Information Act Request EPA FOIA # 2024-NFO-00094

My office has received your FOIA request. I will contact you again after we have had the opportunity to fully review your request. I will be your point of contact. Please feel free to contact me directly with questions or concerns.

Additionally, at any time, you may seek assistance from EPA's FOIA Public Liaison at hq.foia@epa.gov or (202) 566-1667, or from the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS).

You may contact OGIS in any of the following ways: by mail, Office of Government Information Services, National Archives and Records Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road-OGIS, College Park, MD 20740-6001; email: ogis@nara.gov; telephone: (202) 741-5770 or (877) 684-6448; or fax: (202) 741-5769.

Sincerely,

Inga Owens
Office of International & Tribal Affairs
Office of Management & International Services
Email: barnett-owens.inga@epa.gov
Phone: 202-564-6439
Fax: 202-565-2427

Good morning Aryn,

I hope this message finds you well. My supervisor and I would like to schedule a telephone call with you to discuss the timeline of your request. We believe a conversation will help us provide you with the best possible assistance.

Are you available for a call next week? We have the following time slots open on our end.

Monday between 9am-10am, 11:00am-12:00pm, and 1:00pm - 4:00pm.
Tuesday from 11:00am-12:00pm
Thursday, 2nd, between 10:00am-11:00am, 1:00pm-2:00pm and 3:00pm-4:00pm.

Please let me know which of these options work best for you, or if you have any other preferences. We're flexible and eager to accommodate your schedule.

Thank you, and we look forward to speaking with you.

Inga

Inga Owens
Office of International & Tribal Affairs
Office of Management & International Services
Email: barnett-owens.inga@epa.gov
Phone: 202-564-6439
Fax: 202-565-2427

Question for you so 9:00am EST time would be what time on your end for you?

Inga Owens
Office of International & Tribal Affairs
Office of Management & International Services
Email: barnett-owens.inga@epa.gov
Phone: 202-564-6439
Fax: 202-565-2427

Aryn Baker
N/A
MuckRock News, DEPT MR152915
263 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02115
SENT TO EMAIL ADDRESS: requests@muckrock.com
RE: Fee Waiver Determination Letter - EPA FOIA Request 2024-OITA-02218 Hello
Aryn Baker,

Please see the enclosed letter for your EPA FOIA request number 2024-OITA-02218 request for a fee waiver.

Sincerely,
National FOIA Office
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Dear Aryn Baker,
Documents requested by you were delivered by PAL. Please access https://foiapublicaccessportal.epa.gov to download the documents.
Note: In order to access the https://foiapublicaccessportal.epa.gov, use your login that have been made activated by the agency, and the password which was sent in confidence to your email ID when registering with the Public Access Service of the agency.
Regards,
EPA National FOIA Office