EPA Executive Order 13777 Memo FOIA
It is a clone of this request.
| Tracking # |
EPA-HQ-2017-007487 |
| Submitted | May 17, 2017 |
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Communications
From: Matt Kasper
To Whom It May Concern:
This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:
All internal and external communications of EPA staffers: Samantha Dravis, Ryan Jackson, Byron Brown, Brittany Bolen. This request is limited to using the following search terms: "reform"; "regulatory"; "regulations"; "Executive Order 13777"; "Clean Air Act"; "Clean Water Act".
The timeframe of this request is between February 1, 2017 and the processing date of this request.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes. It is in the public's interest to know how federal government employees at the EPA are working to enforce Administrator Pruitt's Executive Order 13777: Enforcing the Regulatory Agenda. Significant news has been generated regarding the task force, including Inside EPA (https://insideepa.com/daily-feed/epa-solicits-comments-trumps-regulatory-reform-agenda) and The Hill (http://thehill.com/regulation/energy-environment/328521-epa-seeking-public-input-on-trumps-regulatory-reform-agenda).
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.
However, I would also like to request a waiver of all fees in that the disclosure of the requested information is in the public interest. 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 the public.
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
From: foia_hq@epa.gov
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=090004d28131b1ad)
* Tracking Number: EPA-HQ-2017-007487
* Requester Name: Matt Kasper
* Date Submitted: 05/18/2017
* Request Status: Submitted
* Description: Requesting all internal and external communications of EPA staffers: Samantha Dravis, Ryan Jackson, Byron Brown, Brittany Bolen. This request is limited to using the following search terms: "reform"; "regulatory"; "regulations"; "Executive Order 13777"; "Clean Air Act"; "Clean Water Act".
From: newton.jonathan@epa.gov
06/01/2017 10:30 AM FOIA Request: EPA-HQ-2017-007487
From: newton.jonathan@epa.gov
Your request for Fee Waiver for the FOIA request EPA-HQ-2017-007487 has been determined to be not applicable as the request is not billable. Additional details for this request are as follows:
* Request Created on: 05/18/2017
* Fee Waiver Disposition Reason: N/A
* Request Long Description: Requesting all internal and external communications of EPA staffers: Samantha Dravis, Ryan Jackson, Byron Brown, Brittany Bolen. This request is limited to using the following search terms: "reform"; "regulatory"; "regulations"; "Executive Order 13777"; "Clean Air Act"; "Clean Water Act".
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 May 17, 2017. 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-HQ-2017-007487.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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 May 17, 2017. 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-HQ-2017-007487.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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 May 17, 2017. 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-HQ-2017-007487.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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 May 17, 2017. 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-HQ-2017-007487.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on May 17, 2017. 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-HQ-2017-007487.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on May 17, 2017. 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-HQ-2017-007487.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on May 17, 2017. 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-HQ-2017-007487.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on May 17, 2017. 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-HQ-2017-007487.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on May 17, 2017. 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-HQ-2017-007487.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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 May 17, 2017. 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-HQ-2017-007487.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Matt Kasper
Hello,
Can I have your contact number to discuss this FOIA, EPA-HQ-2017-007487, that I filed on May 17, 2017?
From: Environmental Protection Agency
05/11/2018 12:59 PM
RE: FOIA REQUEST EPA-HQ-2017-007487
Dear Matt Kasper,
Thank you very much for your interest in the Environmental Protection Agency. This correspondence references the above Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, which seeks information about Executive Order 13777, “Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda,” or the “Regulatory Reform Task Force,” or both. Many people and entities have requested information about these records. We appreciate your patience as we process these requests.
I. Interim Response
Today we are releasing 2,427 pages of records to you. The release contains materials responsive to your FOIA request. This release may include additional records that you have not requested; however, the records may be of interest to you. We are releasing these records proactively to you at no cost.
This release includes documents that have been partially withheld. The reasons for the withholdings are printed over the redactions. Should you wish to appeal any withholding determination, you will have the opportunity to do so. We will provide you with appeal rights at the time of the final production.
Records Previously Released to EPA-HQ-2017-006074:
1. HQ-2017-006074 (180215) Final Production Release in Full.pdf (633 pages) 2. HQ-2017-006074 (180215) Final Production Release in Part.pdf (188 pages)
Records Previously Released to EPA-HQ-2017-010756:
1. HQ-2017-010756 SELC v. EPA 3.15.18 Final Production Release in Full.pdf (1,124 pages) 2. HQ-2017-010756 SELC v. EPA 3.15.18 Final Production Release in Part.pdf (61 pages)
3. HQ-2017-010756 SELC v. EPA 4.16.18 Final Production Release in Full.pdf (301 pages)
4. HQ-2017-010756 SELC v. EPA 4.16.18 Final Production Release in Part.pdf (120 pages)
II. Unusual Circumstances and Extension of Time
To complete your request, EPA will need to search for and collect the requested records from multiple EPA offices that are separate from the Office of the Administrator (AO). As a result of these unusual circumstances, an extension of time to respond to your request is necessary under 40 C.F.R. § 2.104(d).
The AO has received an unprecedented amount of FOIA requests during fiscal year 2017. In fiscal year 2016, AO received only 203 FOIA requests, whereas in fiscal year 2017, AO received 1,043 FOIA requests. This is a 413% increase in FOIA requests from fiscal years 2016 to 2017. We are still processing these requests.
For your information, we use multiple tracks to process requests, but within those tracks we work in an agile manner. The time needed to complete our work on your request will necessarily depend on a variety of factors, including the complexity of our records search, the volume and complexity of any material located, and the order of receipt of your request.
In fiscal year 2017, the average processing time for complex FOIA requests processed by AO was 388 working days. Using this number as instructive to estimate the time to process your request, the new estimated completion date for this FOIA is November 13, 2018.
III. Opportunity to Discuss and Modify
EPA’s FOIA regulations state:
Whenever possible, your request should include specific information about each record sought, such as the date, title or name, author, recipient, and subject matter. If known, you should include any file designations or descriptions for the records that you want. The more specific you are about the records or type of records that you want, the more likely EPA will be able to identify and locate records responsive to your request.
40 C.F.R. § 2.102(c).
We would like to provide you the opportunity to discuss the request with us and clarify or narrow the request. As indicated in 40 C.F.R. § 2.102(c), if you would like to speak with us about your request, please include or be prepared to discuss any specific information about the records you seek, including time-period, authors, or a more detailed description of the records’ subject matter. IV. Publicly Available Information and Next Steps
The following are sources of publicly available information that you can access immediately:
• Our website: https://www.epa.gov/home/advanced-search • FOIAonline for records previously released through FOIA requests: https://foiaonline.regulations.gov/foia/action/public/search/
• EPA MyProperty: https://www3.epa.gov/enviro/facts/myproperty/
• Environmental Topics Information repositories: https://www.epa.gov/environmental-topics/z-index
• Technical/scientific/educational publications: https://www.epa.gov/nscep
• Staff Manuals and Guidance: https://www.epa.gov/foia/national-online-foia-library#admin
• Policy Statements: https://www.epa.gov/foia/national-online-foia-library#statement
• Superfund sites and data: https://www.epa.gov/foia/national-online-foia-library#superfund
If it is possible for us to do so, we will provide you with interim releases as they become available.
If you wish to clarify your request further so that EPA can process your request in a shorter amount of time, or if this release satisfies your request and you would like to close your request, the Office of the Administrator is happy to work with you.
Additionally, 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; by email, ogis@nara.gov; by telephone, (202) 741-5770 or (877) 684-6448; or by fax: (202) 741-5769.
If you have any additional questions about your request, please contact Christopher Creech at creech.christopher@epa.gov or (202) 564-4286.
Please direct media related inquiries to press@epa.gov. Thank you,
EPA Office of the Administrator
From: Environmental Protection Agency
05/11/2018 05:23 PM
LINKS INCLUDED: RE: FOIA REQUEST EPA-HQ-2017-007487
Dear Matt Kasper,
Thank you very much for your interest in the Environmental Protection Agency. This correspondence references the above Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, which seeks information about Executive Order 13777, “Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda,” or the “Regulatory Reform Task Force,” or both. Many people and entities have requested information about these records. We appreciate your patience as we process these requests.
I. Interim Response
Today we are releasing 2,427 pages of records to you. The release contains materials responsive to your FOIA request. This release may include additional records that you have not requested; however, the records may be of interest to you. We are releasing these records proactively to you at no cost.
This release includes documents that have been partially withheld. The reasons for the withholdings are printed over the redactions. Should you wish to appeal any withholding determination, you will have the opportunity to do so. We will provide you with appeal rights at the time of the final production.
Records Previously Released to EPA-HQ-2017-006074:
1. HQ-2017-006074 (180215) Final Production Release in Full.pdf (633 pages) 2. HQ-2017-006074 (180215) Final Production Release in Part.pdf (188 pages)
The records are available here: https://foiaonline.regulations.gov/foia/action/public/view/request?objectId=090004d28127c1fe.
Records Previously Released to EPA-HQ-2017-010756:
1. HQ-2017-010756 SELC v. EPA 3.15.18 Final Production Release in Full.pdf (1,124 pages) 2. HQ-2017-010756 SELC v. EPA 3.15.18 Final Production Release in Part.pdf (61 pages)
3. HQ-2017-010756 SELC v. EPA 4.16.18 Final Production Release in Full.pdf (301 pages)
4. HQ-2017-010756 SELC v. EPA 4.16.18 Final Production Release in Part.pdf (120 pages)
The records are available here: https://foiaonline.regulations.gov/foia/action/public/view/request?objectId=090004d281533657.
II. Unusual Circumstances and Extension of Time
To complete your request, EPA will need to search for and collect the requested records from multiple EPA offices that are separate from the Office of the Administrator (AO). As a result of these unusual circumstances, an extension of time to respond to your request is necessary under 40 C.F.R. § 2.104(d).
The AO has received an unprecedented amount of FOIA requests during fiscal year 2017. In fiscal year 2016, AO received only 203 FOIA requests, whereas in fiscal year 2017, AO received 1,043 FOIA requests. This is a 413% increase in FOIA requests from fiscal years 2016 to 2017. We are still processing these requests.
For your information, we use multiple tracks to process requests, but within those tracks we work in an agile manner. The time needed to complete our work on your request will necessarily depend on a variety of factors, including the complexity of our records search, the volume and complexity of any material located, and the order of receipt of your request.
In fiscal year 2017, the average processing time for complex FOIA requests processed by AO was 388 working days. Using this number as instructive to estimate the time to process your request, the new estimated completion date for this FOIA is November 13, 2018.
III. Opportunity to Discuss and Modify
EPA’s FOIA regulations state:
Whenever possible, your request should include specific information about each record sought, such as the date, title or name, author, recipient, and subject matter. If known, you should include any file designations or descriptions for the records that you want. The more specific you are about the records or type of records that you want, the more likely EPA will be able to identify and locate records responsive to your request.
40 C.F.R. § 2.102(c).
We would like to provide you the opportunity to discuss the request with us and clarify or narrow the request. As indicated in 40 C.F.R. § 2.102(c), if you would like to speak with us about your request, please include or be prepared to discuss any specific information about the records you seek, including time-period, authors, or a more detailed description of the records’ subject matter. IV. Publicly Available Information and Next Steps
The following are sources of publicly available information that you can access immediately:
• Our website: https://www.epa.gov/home/advanced-search • FOIAonline for records previously released through FOIA requests: https://foiaonline.regulations.gov/foia/action/public/search/
• EPA MyProperty: https://www3.epa.gov/enviro/facts/myproperty/
• Environmental Topics Information repositories: https://www.epa.gov/environmental-topics/z-index
• Technical/scientific/educational publications: https://www.epa.gov/nscep
• Staff Manuals and Guidance: https://www.epa.gov/foia/national-online-foia-library#admin
• Policy Statements: https://www.epa.gov/foia/national-online-foia-library#statement
• Superfund sites and data: https://www.epa.gov/foia/national-online-foia-library#superfund
If it is possible for us to do so, we will provide you with interim releases as they become available.
If you wish to clarify your request further so that EPA can process your request in a shorter amount of time, or if this release satisfies your request and you would like to close your request, the Office of the Administrator is happy to work with you.
Additionally, 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; by email, ogis@nara.gov; by telephone, (202) 741-5770 or (877) 684-6448; or by fax: (202) 741-5769.
If you have any additional questions about your request, please contact Christopher Creech at creech.christopher@epa.gov or (202) 564-4286.
Please direct media related inquiries to press@epa.gov. Thank you,
EPA Office of the Administrator
From: Environmental Protection Agency
This email is about your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, EPA-HQ-2017-007487; it is assigned to the Office of the Administrator for processing.
The Office of the Administrator has experienced a significant increase in FOIA requests since the start of this administration. As of May 7, 2018, your FOIA request, EPA-HQ-2017-007487, is currently 368 in the queue. We are processing all FOIAs within the scope of our resources, given the sharp increase in requests. If possible, we will provide you with interim releases as they become available.
In fiscal year 2017, the average processing time for complex FOIA requests processed by AO was 388 working days. Using this number as instructive to estimate the time to process your request, the new estimated completion date for this FOIA is November 13, 2018.
The following are some sources of publicly available information that you can access immediately and which may contain information responsive to your request: • Our website: https://www.epa.gov/home/advanced-search
• The EPA newsroom: https://www.epa.gov/newsroom
• FOIAonline for records previously released through FOIA requests: https://foiaonline.regulations.gov/foia/action/public/search/
• Frequently requested records: https://www.epa.gov/foia/national-online-foia-library#request
• MyProperty: https://www3.epa.gov/enviro/facts/myproperty/
• Technical/scientific/educational publications: https://www.epa.gov/nscep
• Superfund sites and data: https://www.epa.gov/foia/national-online-foia-library#superfund
• Historical material reflecting the EPA website as it existed on January 19, 2017 https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/
If you wish to clarify your request, so that once we reach the request in the queue, it might be processed in a shorter amount of time, please contact Breanne Vander Naald, Vandernaald.breanne@epa.gov. If you are no longer interested in the requested records, please let us know so that we can remove your request from the queue. Please be sure to include your tracking number, EPA-HQ-2017-007487, in the email subject to ensure a timely response.
In addition to seeking assistance from the contact above, you may seek assistance from the EPA’s FOIA Public Liaison at hq.foia@epa.gov or (202) 566-1667, or from the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS). OGIS’s services are described on their website, https://www.archives.gov/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.
Thank you,
Breanne Vander Naald
From: Environmental Protection Agency
The FOIA request EPA-HQ-2017-007487 has had its Tracking Number changed to EPA-2017-007487. This is normally due to the request being transferred to another agency (for example, EPA to Dept. of Commerce) or to a sub-agency to process it. Additional details for this request are as follows:
* Old Tracking Number:
EPA-HQ-2017-007487
* New Tracking Number:
EPA-2017-007487
* Requester Name:
Matt Kasper
* Date Submitted:
07/07/2018
* Long Description:
Requesting all internal and external communications of EPA staffers: Samantha Dravis, Ryan Jackson, Byron Brown, Brittany Bolen. This request is limited to using the following search terms: "reform"; "regulatory"; "regulations"; "Executive Order 13777"; "Clean Air Act"; "Clean Water Act".
From: Environmental Protection Agency
EPA-2017-007487 has been processed with the following final disposition: Partial Grant/Partial Denial.
Records were released to the public as a result of this request. You may retrieve these records immediately using the following link: https://www.foiaonline.gov/foiaonline/action/public/submissionDetails?trackingNumber=EPA-2017-007487&type=request
Over the next 2 hours, these records are also being added to FOIAonline's search pages, further enabling you to retrieve these documents associated with your FOIA request at any time.
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