Information on Waste During Mardi Gras

Dear Aviva Blumenthal,

Thank you for submitting your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.
Your FOIA request was received by EPA's National FOIA Office. Case Number 2024-EPA-00808 has been assigned to the request you submitted.
In all future correspondence regarding this request, please reference your case number.
Regards,
EPA National FOIA Office

Dear Aviva Blumenthal,

A temporary password has been issued and sent to the email address provided. Please check your email for this temporary password and return to https://foiapublicaccessportal.epa.gov to login. If you have any previously submitted requests to EPA National FOIA Office you will be able to view them by logging into your user account

Kindly change the password provided by us.
Regards,
EPA National FOIA Office

Dear Aviva Blumenthal,

Please select or copy and paste the link below into your browser to create your password.
EPA Public Access Link: https://foiapublicaccessportal.epa.gov/App/SetPassword.aspx?aun=+h/ptpXu+qB5nO5n8B51my7dZgCJP2W6uXxjGfW6p+Y=
Username: requests@muckrock.com
Regards,
EPA National FOIA Office

Dear Aviva Blumenthal,

The status of your FOIA request #2024-EPA-00808 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 National FOIA Office

11/29/2023

Aviva Blumenthal
N/A
MuckRock News, DEPT MR155272
263 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02115
EMAILED TO: requests@muckrock.com
RE: Acknowledgment Letter - EPA FOIA Request 2024-EPA-00808
ear Aviva Blumenthal:
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 11/29/2023 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:I am a student at Tulane University conducting research.All reports and related materials regarding plastic waste in New Orleans between February 21, 2023, and March 1, 2023. Please include the following as responsive:Any data or studies conducted by the EPA regarding the amount of plastic waste generated during Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans. This includes data regarding the quantity of plastic waste.Any environmental impact assessments conducted by the EPA or reviewed by the EPA concerning the environmental consequences of Mardi Gras plastic waste. These studies include the impact of waste on the ecosystem, water, and wildlife.Information on the enforcement of environmental regulations during Mardi Gras. This includes actions taken against non-compliant groups and the penalties or fines involved.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 be filed electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in the matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.Sincerely,Aviva BlumenthalThe 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,Aviva BlumenthalUpload 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-EPA-00808.
Region 6 FOIA Program: You may contact Region 6’s Nicole Hill at R6FOIA@epa.gov or (214) 665-8335 .
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

Aviva Blumenthal,
I am writing you with an update on your FOIA request, 2024-EPA-00808. Because our review of the requested document requires us to consult with other federal government offices outside of EPA Region 6, we are currently anticipating a final completion date of January 12, 2024. Consistent with EPA's FOIA regulations at 40 CFR § 2.104(e), this extension of time is necessary because "unusual circumstances" listed in 5 USC 552(a)(6)(B)(iii) apply to this request, namely: (1) the need for consultation with other offices with a substantial interest in the records. We anticipate that our search of potentially responsive records may require us to review a voluminous amount of records; if that is the case we will contact you shortly to discuss timeframes for delivery of the records.
Our office is glad to discuss this timeframe or any other element of your request.
Additionally, you may seek dispute resolution services from EPA's FOIA Public Liaison at hq.foia@epa.gov<mailto: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, Room 2510, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001; email, ogis@nara.gov<mailto:ogis@nara.gov>; telephone, (202) 741-5770 or (877) 684-6448; or fax, (202) 741-5769.
Please let us know if you have any questions or want to discuss your FOIA request.
Thank you,

James Murdock
Office of Regional Counsel
U.S. EPA Region 6 | FOIA & Water Law Branch
1201 Elm Street, Suite 500
Dallas, Texas 75270-2102 (ORC-FW)
(469) 404-9116
murdock.james@epa.gov<mailto:murdock.james@epa.gov>

Dear Aviva Blumenthal,
This email concerns your FOIA request 2024-EPA-00808,received by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  We are providing you with a final responseto your request.  Should you have questionsplease contact the FOIA Officer Nicole Hill at r6foia@epa.gov.
Sincerely,
U.S. EPA Region 6