NOAA Drone Documents
| Submitted | July 20, 2012 |
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Communications
From: Drone Watch
To Whom It May Concern:
This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:
1. any requests for proposals, proposals submitted by vendors, contracts, budgets or cost allocations for the purchase and/or use of aerial drones, UAs, UAVs, and UASs (hereinafter “drones”);
2. any policies, guidelines, manuals and/or instructions on department use of drones, including on the legal process required (such as a warrant or court order), if any, before operating a drone;
3. any departmental records concerning this department’s use of drones now or plans to use drones in the future including:
a. the types of investigations or instances in which this department is using or plans to use drones, or how it plans to support, manage or oversee the usage of drones by another department or office;
b. policies, guidelines, manuals and/or instructions on storage requirements or procedures for video or static images obtained through use of drones, including retention times;
c. the altitude at which drones can or do fly;
d. drones’ ability to carry weapons.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
In the event that fees cannot be waived, 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,
Drone Watch
From: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
From: Wendy Schumacher
For your attention.
From: Rhea Donfor
Hello Drone Watch Representative
We are looking over your FOIA request here in NOAA OAR and would like to
compile an estimate of delivery and costs. I anticipate that we may have
boxes based on the broad scope of your request. Would you like to narrow
your request to a specific time frame, or types of documents (e.g., all/no
internal or external email messages, memos, notes, or particular types of
drones)? We are here to provide you with a reasonable search and look
forward to delivering your request. Here is a link to our NOAA video and
UAS website
http://uas.noaa.gov/ Hopefully this will give you a bit of background
information that you are seeking, and may help with narrowing your request.
Please feel free to email me back or call me to discuss your request on (
301) 734-1142.
From: Shawn Musgrave
Dear Ms. Donfor,
Please limit the request to the past ten years (2002-2012). Please include all documents, including but not limited to: emails (both internal and external), memos, reports, contracts and meeting minutes.
Thank you for your assistance and quick response.
Best regards,
Shawn Musgrave
MuckRock News
From: Rhea Donfor
Hello Mr. Musgrave
I am working with the Lab here in NOAA that will have several responsive
documents. I will need about 30 work days to complete your request. I may
have to send you partial responses as documents arrive. Please let me know
if either or both will be okay.
Thanks
Rhea
From: Drone Watch
Either or both will be ok, and we really appreciate the update!
From: Roxie Allison-Holman
This is my first day back. I have your documents and will review
them as quickly as possible. Thanks!
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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 July 20, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: Roxie Allison-Holman
The program and FOIA offices are responsible for the actual release of the
documents. I am copying the representatives of those offices and hopefully
they can advise you of the release date.
--
Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message is intended only for the named
recipients. It contains information that may be confidential, privileged,
attorney work product, or otherwise exempt from disclosure under applicable
law. If you have received this message in error, are not a named recipient,
or are not the employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to
a named recipient, be advised that any review, disclosure, use,
dissemination, distribution, or reproduction of this message or its
contents is strictly prohibited. Please notify us immediately that you
have received this message in error, and delete the message.
From: Bruce Gibbs
The requested documents have been placed in the mail. You should receive
them before this week is over.
From: NOAA
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