IPA mobility program agreements

This message is to confirm your request submission to the FOIAonline application: View Request. Request information is as follows: (https://foiaonline.gov/foiaonline/action/public/submissionDetails?trackingNumber=EPA-2022-005854&type=Request)

* Tracking Number: EPA-2022-005854
* Requester Name:
Todd Feathers
* Date Submitted: 08/03/2022
* Request Status: Submitted
* Description:
To Whom It May Concern:

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

1) All requests for certification as an eligible organization under the Intergovernmental Personnel Act mobility program submitted to your agency since Jan. 1, 2017. Organizations wishing to participate in the mobility program must first submit request for certification packets to the agency with which they seek to partner. Detailed descriptions of the IPA Mobility Program, its rules and regulations, and the documentation participating agencies must maintain can be found here: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/intergovernment-personnel-act/#url=Provisions.

2) A list, roster, database, or comparable record documenting all of the organizations currently approved by your agency to participate in the IPA mobility program. If a list, roster, database, or similar record containing responsive information is not available, I ask that you provide your agency's approval letter for each organization.

3) A list, roster, database, or comparable record documenting all of the IPA mobility program assignments approved by your agency since Jan. 1, 2020. If a list, roster, database, or similar record containing responsive information is not available, I ask that you provide assignment agreement documents for each assignment. Please note: I understand and accept that some information—namely, SSN, address, DOB—would have to be redacted from the assignment agreements. It is for this reason that I've requested the records in formats that are easy to filter or redact.

I request expedited processing of this request under 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(E)(v)(II). I am a working journalist and I intend to use the requested records to "[engage] in disseminating information ... to inform the public concerning actual or alleged Federal Government activity."

I also ask that all fees be waived as I intend to use the requested records to publish articles in the public interest and not for any commercial purpose. In the event you choose to impose fees, I request a detailed breakdown of the fees, including the hourly wage of each employee involved and an explanation justifying the employee hours required to fulfill the request.

Should you choose to reject this request or redact portions of it, I ask that you provide a detailed explanation and citations to the statutory exemptions and associated case law underlying your decision to withhold each/any portions from public review.

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,

Todd Feathers

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/

08/03/2022
Todd Feathers
MuckRock News, DEPT MR132313
263 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA, 02115

requests@muckrock.com
RE: Freedom of Information Act Request - EPA-2022-005854
Hello:
Please see attached.
Sincerely,

National FOIA Office
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Dear Todd Feathers:
Please see attached.
Sincerely,
National FOIA Office

Your request for Expedited Processing for the FOIA request EPA-2022-005854 has been
denied.
Additional details for this request are as follows:

* Request Created on:
08/03/2022
* Request Description:
To Whom It May Concern:

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

1) All requests for certification as an eligible organization under the Intergovernmental Personnel Act mobility program submitted to your agency since Jan. 1, 2017. Organizations wishing to participate in the mobility program must first submit request for certification packets to the agency with which they seek to partner. Detailed descriptions of the IPA Mobility Program, its rules and regulations, and the documentation participating agencies must maintain can be found here: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/intergovernment-personnel-act/#url=Provisions.

2) A list, roster, database, or comparable record documenting all of the organizations currently approved by your agency to participate in the IPA mobility program. If a list, roster, database, or similar record containing responsive information is not available, I ask that you provide your agency's approval letter for each organization.

3) A list, roster, database, or comparable record documenting all of the IPA mobility program assignments approved by your agency since Jan. 1, 2020. If a list, roster, database, or similar record containing responsive information is not available, I ask that you provide assignment agreement documents for each assignment. Please note: I understand and accept that some information—namely, SSN, address, DOB—would have to be redacted from the assignment agreements. It is for this reason that I've requested the records in formats that are easy to filter or redact.

I request expedited processing of this request under 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(E)(v)(II). I am a working journalist and I intend to use the requested records to "[engage] in disseminating information ... to inform the public concerning actual or alleged Federal Government activity."

I also ask that all fees be waived as I intend to use the requested records to publish articles in the public interest and not for any commercial purpose. In the event you choose to impose fees, I request a detailed breakdown of the fees, including the hourly wage of each employee involved and an explanation justifying the employee hours required to fulfill the request.

Should you choose to reject this request or redact portions of it, I ask that you provide a detailed explanation and citations to the statutory exemptions and associated case law underlying your decision to withhold each/any portions from public review.

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,

Todd Feathers

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
* Expedited Processing Original Justification:
I request expedited processing of this request under 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(E)(v)(II). I am a working journalist and I intend to use the requested records to "[engage] in disseminating information ... to inform the public concerning actual or alleged Federal Government activity."
* Expedited Processing Disposition Reason:
Expedited processing determination was sent to requester 8/3/2022

Hi:
Please see attached.
Sincerely,
EPA National FOIA Office

Your request for Fee Waiver for the FOIA request EPA-2022-005854 has been
denied.

* Fee Waiver Original Justification:
I also ask that all fees be waived as I intend to use the requested records to publish articles in the public interest and not for any commercial purpose. In the event you choose to impose fees, I request a detailed breakdown of the fees, including the hourly wage of each employee involved and an explanation justifying the employee hours required to fulfill the request.
* Fee Waiver Disposition Reason:
Sent fee waiver determination letter to requester 8/9/2022

EPA-2022-005854 has been processed with the following final disposition: Full Grant.
Records were released to the public as a result of this request. You may retrieve these records immediately using the following link: 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. View Records (https://foiaonline.gov/foiaonline/action/public/submissionDetails?trackingNumber=EPA-2022-005854&type=Request)