FOIA request - unclear housing titles and FEMA communication
| Submitted | March 31, 2020 |
MuckRock users can file, duplicate, track, and share public records requests like this one. Learn more.
Communications
From: Sarah Sax
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
Requesting all e-mail/fax/written communication containing the words "heirs property" and/or "heir property" and/or "heirship property" from Associate Chief Counsel Mary Martinet between June 2016 and February 2020.
Requesting all e-mail/fax/written communication containing the words "heirs property" and/or "heir property" and/or "heirship property" fromformer FEMA directors Joe Allbaugh, James Lee Witt, and Michael Brown between 1993 and 2005.
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,
Sarah Sax
From: Federal Emergency Management Agency
Submitted on Wednesday, April 1, 2020 - 00:04
Submitted by user: Anonymous
Submitted values are:
Select the DHS component you wish to submit your request to: : Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Title:
First Name: Keegan
Middle Initial:
Last Name: Keegan
Suffix:
Email Address: requests@muckrock.com
Country: United States
Address 1: MuckRock News DEPT MR 91197
Address 2: 411A Highland Ave
City: Somerville
State: Massachusetts
Zip Code: 02144
Telephone Number: 617-299-1832
Fax Number:
Are you requesting records on yourself? No
If yes, you must check the perjury statement:
By initialing here you are providing your electronic signature.:
Please describe the records you are seeking as clearly and precisely as
possible:
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following
records:
Requesting all e-mail/fax/written communication containing the words "heirs
property" and/or "heir property" and/or "heirship property" from Associate
Chief Counsel Mary Martinet between June 2016 and February 2020.
Requesting all e-mail/fax/written communication containing the words "heirs
property" and/or "heir property" and/or "heirship property" fromformer FEMA
directors Joe Allbaugh, James Lee Witt, and Michael Brown between 1993 and
2005.
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,
Sarah Sax
Upload documents directly:
https://https://www.muckrock.comhttps://accounts.muckrock.com/accounts/login/?url_auth_token=AAAVSwR3ueCs1Gr22re80ENKxKU%3A1jJUEp%3Adq06WDt1oKlQl75SyZqX8KgvTKA&next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.muckrock.com%2Faccounts%2Flogin%2F%3Fnext%3D%252Faccounts%252Fagency_login%252Ffederal-emergency-management-agency-284%252Ffoia-request-unclear-housing-titles-and-fema-communication-91197%252F%253Femail%253DFEMA-FOIA%252540fema.dhs.gov
I am willing to pay fees for this request up to the amount of: $: 25
Select from the list below: An individual seeking information for personal
use and not for commercial use.
I request a waiver of all fees for this request.:
Please provide an explanation for your request for a fee waiver:
Please select and describe in detail if you believe your request warrants
expeditious handling:
Please provide information to support your selection:
From: Sarah Sax
Fix request: Please see below.
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
Requesting all e-mail/fax/written communication containing the words "heirs property" and/or "heir property" and/or "heirship property" from Associate Chief Counsel Mary Martinet between June 2016 and February 2020.
Requesting all e-mail/fax/written communication containing the words "heirs property" and/or "heir property" and/or "heirship property" fromformer FEMA directors Joe Allbaugh, James Lee Witt, and Michael Brown between 1993 and 2005.
As a full-time journalist who writes consistently for national media outlets such as HuffPost, WIRED, VICE, UNDARK, and Mongabay I am requesting this information in that editorial capacity. I request that I be properly classified as a news media requester. My reporting will be available to a wide audience and is supported editorially by the Economic Hardship Reporting project (http://economichardship.org/). For my part, I will derive only journalistic benefit from the requested documents.
I request a waiver of all fees for this request. Disclosure of the requested information to me is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations or activities of the government and is not primarily in my commercial interest. Heirs property negatively impacts the lives and property of some of America's most vulnerable citizens. Information about governmental approaches to dealing with heirs property is vital to understanding how this issue can be addressed in the future.
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 am willing to pay up to $25 for processing of materials. 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,
Sarah Sax
From: Federal Emergency Management Agency
April 06, 2020 SENT VIA E-MAIL TO: requests@muckrock.com Re: FOIARequest Number 2020-FEFO-00551 Acknowledgment Dear Keegan Keegan: This letter acknowledges receipt of your Freedom ofInformation Act (FOIA) request to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS),Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), dated April 01, 2020 and receivedin this office on April 01, 2020. Youare seeking the following:-all e-mail/fax/written communication containing the words "heirs property" and/or "heir property" and/or "heirship property" from Associate Chief Counsel Mary Martinet between June 2016 and February 2020.-all e-mail/fax/written communication containing the words "heirs property" and/or "heir property" and/or "heirship property" from former FEMA directors Joe Allbaugh, James Lee Witt, and Michael Brown between 1993 and 2005. Yourrequest has been assigned the following tracking number 2020-FEFO-00551. Due to current working conditions in response to theCOVID-19 outbreak, please expect a delay in our response. Please be assured that we continue ourcommitment to provide timely FOIA responses and are processing your FOIArequest as soon as possible. Due to the increasing number ofFOIA requests received by this office, we may encounter some delay inprocessing your request. Consistent withthe DHS FOIA Regulations 6 C.F.R. § 5.5(a), FEMA processes FOIA requestsaccording to their order of receipt. Although FEMA’s goal is to respond within 20 business days of receipt ofyour request, FOIA does permit a 10-day extension of this time period incertain circumstances. As your requestseeks documents that will require a thorough and wide-ranging search, FEMA willinvoke a 10-day extension for your request pursuant to 5 U.S.C. §552(a)(6)(B). If you would like tonarrow the scope of your request, please contact our office. We will make every effort to comply with yourrequest in a timely manner. We have queried the appropriateoffices within FEMA for responsive records. If any responsive records are located, they will be reviewed fordetermination of releasability. We will contact you again once our review iscompleted and/or the search is completed. Interim responses will be provided as appropriate. We appreciate your patience as we proceedwith your request If you have any questions or would like to discuss this matter, youmay contact FEMA’s FOIA Office at (202) 646-3323, or you may contact FEMA’sPublic Liaison in the same manner.2020-FEFO-00551. Pleasereference FOIA request number Thank you for your interest in FEMA. Sincerely, Disclosure Branch Information Management Division Office of the Chief Administrative Officer Federal Emergency Management Agency U.S. Department of HomelandSecurity
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 March 31, 2020. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Federal Emergency Management Agency
Good afternoon,
We are still in the process of obtaining all records that are responsive to your request. Once we receive the estimated date for records we will make sure to let you know as soon as possible.
Thank you,
Juan Vega
Government Information Specialist | Information Management Division | Office of the Chief Administrative Officer
Office: (202) 212-2252 |
juan.vegasandoval@fema.dhs.gov<mailto:juan.vegasandoval@fema.dhs.gov>
Federal Emergency Management Agency
fema.gov<http://www.fema.gov/>
-
~WRD000
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 March 31, 2020. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Federal Emergency Management Agency
Good morning,
2020-FEFO-00551
The purpose of this email will be to provide a status update on the above referenced request. We are still in the process of reviewing all records that are potentially responsive to your request. As a result, we will need additional time to process this request. To give you a better estimated date, please check back with us on or near July 31, 2020. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience with us. Thank you for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
Juan Vega
Government Information Specialist | Information Management Division | Office of the Chief Administrative Officer
Office: (202) 212-2252 | Work Mobile: (202) 674-2989
juan.vegasandoval@fema.dhs.gov<mailto:juan.vegasandoval@fema.dhs.gov>
Federal Emergency Management Agency
fema.gov<http://www.fema.gov/>
-
~WRD000
From: Federal Emergency Management Agency
Good afternoon,
We received your mail in request (attached). Can you please confirm that the attached request is duplicate to this request 2020-FEFO-00551?
Thank you
Juan Vega
Government Information Specialist | Information Management Division | Office of the Chief Administrative Officer
Office: (202) 212-2252 | Work Mobile: (202) 674-2989
juan.vegasandoval@fema.dhs.gov<mailto:juan.vegasandoval@fema.dhs.gov>
Federal Emergency Management Agency
fema.gov<http://www.fema.gov/>
From: Sarah Sax
Hello,
yes this is a duplicate.
Thanks,
Sarah Sax
From: Federal Emergency Management Agency
Good afternoon,
2020-FEFO-00551
The purpose of this email will be to provide a status update on the above referenced request. We are currently processing records that are potentially responsive to your request. As a result, we will need additional time to process this request. We estimate that you will receive a response to this request on or near August 31, 2020. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience with us. We will notify you if this date should change. Thank you for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
Juan Vega
Government Information Specialist | Information Management Division | Office of the Chief Administrative Officer
Office: (202) 212-2252 | Work Mobile: (202) 674-2989
juan.vegasandoval@fema.dhs.gov<mailto:juan.vegasandoval@fema.dhs.gov>
Federal Emergency Management Agency
fema.gov<http://www.fema.gov/>
-
~WRD000
From: Federal Emergency Management Agency
Dear Ms. Sarah Sax:
Attached is the final response to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request. If you need to contact our office concerning this request, please call (202) 212-3323 or email and reference your FOIA tracking number (mailto:FEMA-FOIA@fema.dhs.gov) FEMA-FOIA@fema.dhs.gov 2020-FEFO-00551.
Regards,
Disclosure Branch
Information Management Division
Office of the Chief Administrative Officer
Federal Emergency Management Agency
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Telephone: (202) 646-3323
FEMA-FOIA@fema.dhs.gov
Files
pages