FOIA outliers: queues, high volume procedures, FIFO exceptions + unusual circumstances (Environmental Protection Agency)

This message is to confirm your request submission to the FOIAonline application: View Request. Request information is as follows: (https://www.foiaonline.gov/foiaonline/action/public/submissionDetails?trackingNumber=EPA-HQ-2019-006284&type=request)
* Tracking Number: EPA-HQ-2019-006284
* Requester Name: Emma Best
* Date Submitted: 06/06/2019
* Request Status: Submitted
* Description: To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

* Documents describing or generated as part of the establishment of any different processing queues for FOIA requests

* Documents describing the rules and procedures governing any different processing FOIA queues

* Documents, produced in the previous 15 years, containing reports or statistics describing the FOIA processing queues

* Documents describing procedures for the handling or coordination of requests from high volume FOIA requesters

* Documents describing procedures, rules and prerequisites for any exceptions to processing requests in a "first in, first out" process

* Documents describing procedures and rules for the processing of especially complex or delicate FOIA requests

* Documents describing procedures and rules for the processing of 'high visibility' FOIA requests, such as those which are likely to elicit reactions from the media or the public

* Documents describing procedures and rules for the processing of FOIA requests from members of Congress and federal government agencies

* Documents describing procedures and rules for the processing of FOIA requests from non-federal law enforcement agencies

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,

Emma Best

Attachments:

https://cdn.muckrock.com/outbound_composer_attachments/TheEmmaBest/71110/Fee20category20and20search20parameters_q49nDE6.pdf

Hello,
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National FOIA Office (NFO) has reviewed the above-mentioned FOIA submission. Your FOIA submission does not reasonably describe the records you are seeking in a way that will permit EPA employees to identify and locate them.
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, the requester should include any file designations or descriptions for the records that the requester wants. The more specific the requester is about the records or type of records that the requester wants, the more likely EPA will be able to identify and locate records responsive to the request.” 40 C.F.R 2.102 (c)
EPA would like to give you the opportunity to discuss and modify your request so that we can process it. Our team is available to contact you during the dates and times specified below. Please respond to this email indicating your preference for a phone call and by providing a phone number to reach you.
Monday 6/17 1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. EST
Monday 6/17 2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. EST
Tuesday 6/18 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. EST
Please reply with your availability and phone number within 20 calendar days from the date of this email.  If we do not hear back from you, EPA may issue a final determination to close out your request.  Please note that you are not prohibited from submitting additional Freedom of Information Act requests in the future. For more information, please visit our website at: https://www.epa.gov/foia. Please reply to Kevin W. Hill at (https://www.epa.gov/foia) hill.kevinw@epa.gov or 202-564-1654. (mailto:hill.kevinw@epa.gov)
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, 8610 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001; email: ogis@nara.gov; telephone: (202) 741-5770 or (877) 684-6448; or fax: (202) 741-5769.  We look forward to your prompt reply.
Sincerely,
Kevin W. Hill
National FOIA Office
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

See attached letter

Hello,
Please see the attached letter.
Sincerely,
EPA National FOIA Office

Your request for Fee Waiver for the FOIA request EPA-HQ-2019-006284 has been
denied.
Additional details for this request are as follows:

* Request Created on:
06/06/2019
* Request Description:
To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

* Documents describing or generated as part of the establishment of any different processing queues for FOIA requests

* Documents describing the rules and procedures governing any different processing FOIA queues

* Documents, produced in the previous 15 years, containing reports or statistics describing the FOIA processing queues

* Documents describing procedures for the handling or coordination of requests from high volume FOIA requesters

* Documents describing procedures, rules and prerequisites for any exceptions to processing requests in a "first in, first out" process

* Documents describing procedures and rules for the processing of especially complex or delicate FOIA requests

* Documents describing procedures and rules for the processing of 'high visibility' FOIA requests, such as those which are likely to elicit reactions from the media or the public

* Documents describing procedures and rules for the processing of FOIA requests from members of Congress and federal government agencies

* Documents describing procedures and rules for the processing of FOIA requests from non-federal law enforcement agencies

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,

Emma Best

Attachments:

https://cdn.muckrock.com/outbound_composer_attachments/TheEmmaBest/71110/Fee20category20and20search20parameters_q49nDE6.pdf

* Fee Waiver Original Justification:
As my primary purpose is to inform about government activities by
reporting on it and making the raw data available, I request that fees
be waived.
* Fee Waiver Disposition Reason:
See letter sent on 05/28/2020

Please see the attached letter.

Please see attached letter.