NOAA Pornography Investigations

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NOAA FOIA Office

NOAA FOIA Office
703-298-8005

This message is to confirm your request submission to the FOIAonline application: View Request. Request information is as follows: (https://foiaonline.regulations.gov:443/foia/action/public/view/request?objectId=090004d2806562b3)
* Tracking Number: DOC-NOAA-2015-000993
* Requester Name: Kaleigh Rogers
* Date Submitted: 03/27/2015
* Request Status: Submitted
* Description:
This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records: Any and all closing reports from the NOAA Inspector General investigations of NOAA employees including the words "pornography," "pornographic," and/or "porn," from the past two years.
It's not unheard of for government employees to be disciplined for viewing pornography while on the job (see:http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jul/31/feds-accept-bordom-lack-of-work-as-excuses-for-sur/?page=all, as a recent example) and these incidents are a matter of public interest. As a reporter at Motherboard, I have often reported on the intersection of online pornography, law, and government policy. If any NOAA employees have been the subject of an investigation as a result of them viewing pornography while at work, it would be of particular interest to our readers as well as in the public interest for us to report on it. Therefore, I request these records for reporting purposes.
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.

April 27, 2015

Dear Mr./Ms. Rogers:

This letter is in reference to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request submitted in FOIA Online on March 27, 2015, with a due date of April 27, 2015.  You requested “any and all closing reports from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Inspector General investigations of NOAA employees including the words “pornography,” “pornographic,” and/or “porn,” from, the past two years.”

An extension of up to ten working days is being invoked in order to ensure the orderly processing of your request. This extension is necessary due to the need for consultation between two or more components of this agency.
We plan to respond to you by May 11, 2015. Sincerely, Jean Carter-Johnson DOC/ NOAA/OCAO (301) 713-4576

06/08/2015 09:30 AM FOIA Request: DOC-NOAA-2015-000993

Ms.  Kaleigh Rogers
MuckRock News
P.O. Box 55819
DEPT MR 16831
Boston, MA  02205-5819 Re:  FOIA Request No. DOC-NOAA-2015-000993 Dear Ms. Rogers:
This letter is in response to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request entered into FOIAonline on March 27, 2015, in which you requested any and all closing reports from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Inspector General investigations of NOAA employees including the words "pornography," "pornographic," and/or "porn," from the past two years.
A review of the responsive records indicates that these documents are exempt from disclosure under FOIA Exemption 7(a); information that could reasonably be expected to interfere with law enforcement proceedings.
You have the right to appeal this denial of the FOIA request.  An appeal must be received within 30 calendar days of the date of this response letter by the Assistant General Counsel for Administration.  Address your appeal to the following office: Assistant General Counsel for Administration Room 5898-C U.S. Department of Commerce 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20230 An appeal may also be sent by e-mail to FOIAAppeals@doc.gov, by facsimile (fax) to 202-482-2552, or by FOIAonline, if you have an account in FOIAonline, at https://foiaonline.regulations.gov/foia/action/public/home# .   The appeal should include a copy of the original request and initial denial, if any.  All appeals should include a statement of the reasons why the records requested should be made available and why the adverse determination was in error.  The appeal letter, the envelope, the e-mail subject line, and the fax cover sheet should be clearly marked "Freedom of Information Act Appeal." The e-mail, fax machine, FOIAonline, and Office are monitored only on working days during normal business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday). FOIA appeals posted to the e-mail box, fax machine, FOIAonline, or Office after normal business hours will be deemed received on the next normal business day. If the 30th calendar day for submitting an appeal falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal public holiday, an appeal received by 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, the next business day will be deemed timely.
If you choose not to appeal, but have any questions about the way we handled your request, or about our FOIA regulations or procedures, please contact Ms. Mary Ann Whitmeyer at (301) 713-4457 or mary.ann.whitmeyer@noaa.gov. Sincerely,


Edward C. Horton

Good afternoon Ms. Rogers,

We sincerely apologize for the delay in processing your FOIA request. We
expect to have a final determination and response to you no later than
Thursday, June 11th.

Thank you very much for your patience.
Regards,

Lola Stith
NOAA FOIA Office

NOAA FOIA Office
703-298-8005

Good morning Ms. Rogers,

I see that the FOIA liaison for the Chief Administration Office at NOAA
sent you a final response letter on 06/08/2015.

I have attached it for convenience.
Regards,

Lola Stith
NOAA FOIA Office

NOAA FOIA Office
703-298-8005