Operation Tomodachi (Department of Defense, Freedom of Information Policy Office)
| Tracking # |
19-F-0241, 2019-F-043 19-F-0241 |
| Multi Request | Operation Tomodachi |
| Submitted | Oct. 13, 2018 |
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Communications
From: Masato Tainaka
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
I would like to access all the documents related to the Operation Tomodachi or the US disaster relief operation after Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant meltdown in 2011.
I am a Japanese journalist of the Asahi Shimbun newspaper, and I am requesting a fee waiver.
I have written several articles on the issue on Asahi Shimbun.
I also published recently an Amazon-Japan bestselling book titled "Soldiers Left Behind (Hyoryu suru Tomodachi)," which is about the Operation Tomodachi.
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,
Masato Tainaka
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 Oct. 13, 2018. 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: Department of Defense, Freedom of Information Policy Office
A no responsive documents response.
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 Oct. 13, 2018. 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: Masato Tainaka
Dear Sir./Madam,
I am sending an appeal to respond to my request through FOIA.
I here attach DoD final report about the USS Ronald Reagan with regard to the Operation Tomodachi issued in June, 2014.
I request to reveal all the DoD documents and letters and e-mails with regard to the Operation Tomodachi.
Best,
Masato Tainaka
From: Department of Defense, Freedom of Information Policy Office
Mr. Tainaka,
Good Morning. This email concerns your January 8, 2019 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Appeal. You appealed the November 14, 2018 response you received from the Freedom of Information Division (FOID) concerning your October 31, 2018 FOIA request.
I have consulted with FOID and they have agreed to reopen your initial request to conduct a search for responsive records. Since FOID will reopen your request and conduct a search for records responsive to your initial request, your appeal is moot. This action closes your appeal in this office.
Thank you,
Danaeka Wilkes
Senior FOIA Appeals Analyst
DPCLTD
From: Department of Defense, Freedom of Information Policy Office
A no responsive documents response.
From: Department of Defense, Freedom of Information Policy Office
Dear Requester Masato Tainaka,
This is in reference to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request dated October 31, 2018, you submitted to the Department of Defense (ref: 19-F-0241). Your request was referred to our command for processing and direct response to you. We received this referral on February 28, 2019 and assigned it case number 2019-F-043. We ask that you refer to this case number when communicating with our office about your request. In summary, you sought to obtain all documents related to Operation Tomodachi or the U.S. disaster relief operation after Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant meltdown in 2011.
Your request will be processed in the order of receipt. You may expect to receive a substantive response once all processing is complete. We will grant you access to the requested records (if found), providing the records are not exempt from disclosure by law. The actual processing time of your request will depend on its complexity; whether it involves sensitive records, extensive searches, or voluminous records; or the need for consultation with other components/agencies.
Consequently, we are unable to provide an exact date of when you may expect a final response. However, be assured your request is being processed quickly and thoroughly.
Should you have any questions concerning the administrative processing of your request, please contact our office at (808) 477-0995 or pacom.foia.fct@pacom.mil.
Sincerely,
Mr. H. Keli'iwaiwai'ole
USINDOPACOM J06, FOIA Analyst
HQ USINDOPACOM
ATTN J06 FOIA
BOX 64022
CAMP SMITH, HI 96861-4022
Office: 808-477-0995
Fax: 808-477-6685
Email: pacom.foia.fct@pacom.mil
Website: http://www.pacom.mil/Media/Freedom-of-Information-Act/
From: Department of Defense, Freedom of Information Policy Office
Sir/Ma'am,
The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) received your FOIA request from
the DoD Office of Freedom of Information Division on February 7, 2019. You
requested "all" the documents related to the Operation Tomodachi or the US
disaster relief operation after Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant
meltdown in 2011. Your request, as worded, does not adequately describe the
records sought. The records you seek must be described with sufficient
detail to allow an agency employee familiar with the subject area of the
request to locate the records with a reasonable amount of effort.
Additionally, Several court decisions have construed requests for "any" and
"all" as not reasonably described, therefore, we are unable to process it at
this time.
Please contact us so that we can try to assist you in narrowing the request
no later than 23 April 2019 (20 workdays). If we do not receive a written
response clarifying what records you are seeking at that time, we will
presume that you are no longer interested in pursuing your request. Please
refer to FOIA Request 19-034 when referencing this FOIA request.
Very respectfully,
Pamela Andrews
Senior FOIA Policy Analyst and DTRA FOIA Liaison
Office of the General Counsel
Phone: 703-767-1792
From: Department of Defense, Freedom of Information Policy Office
Masato Tainaka,
The final response to DTRA FOIA Request 19-034 is attached. Please let me know if you have any questions.
V/r,
Pamela Andrews
Chief, Privacy Officer, Senior FOIA Policy Analyst, and FOIA Public Liaison
Office of the General Counsel
Phone: 703-767-1792
From: Department of Defense, Freedom of Information Policy Office
Dear Masato Tainaka,
This is in reference to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request dated October 13, 2018. We received your request as a referral on February 28, 2019 and assigned it USINDOPACOM Request ID# 2019-F-043. For tracking purposes, we ask that you refer to this ID number when communicating with our office about your request. In your request, you sought to obtain all documents related to Operation Tomodachi or the U.S. disaster relief operation after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant meltdown in 2011.
A search of our agency records resulted in several documents found which we are releasing to you in their entirety. In addition, I would like you to know that similar information is publically available from the U.S. Department of Defense, Environmental Health Surveillance Registries, Operation Tomodachi Registry website at https://registry.csd.disa.mil/registryWeb/Registry/OperationTomodachi/DisplayAbout?struts.token.name=token&token=3YSR2EJCFG8Z86RWODIYUB5PC1REPGU9.
I trust the information we provided fulfills our obligation to you under the FOIA. With this action, your request with us is administratively closed. Further, we assessed no processing fees or administrative costs. Should you have any questions concerning any aspect of your request, you may contact our office at (808) 477-0995 or pacom.foia.fct@pacom.mil.
For dispute resolution services, you have the right to contact our FOIA Public Liaison, Mr. Darrell Williams at (571) 372-0464 or osd.foialiaison@mail.mil.
For mediation services, you have the right to contact the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) at (202) 741-5770 or ogis@nara.gov. Additionally, OGIS can be reached via toll free at 1-877-684-6448; facsimile at (202) 741-5769; or mail at Office of Government Information Services, National Archives and Records Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road-OGIS, College Park, Maryland 20740-6001.
If you are not fully satisfied with our determination, you have the right to appeal directly to the Appellate Authority, Ms. Joo Chung, Director of Oversight and Compliance, Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), in writing to: Director of Oversight and Compliance, 9010 Defense Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 20301-9010. Additionally, you may submit your appeal to osd.foia-appeal@mail.mil or through the OSD FOIA portal at http://pal.whs.mil/palMain.aspx. Your appeal must be postmarked within 90 calendar days of the date of this response. In your correspondence, ensure you include the words "FOIA Appeal" and reference USINDOPACOM Request ID# 2019-F-043.
Sincerely,
Mr. H. Keli'iwaiwai'ole
USINDOPACOM J06, FOIA Analyst
HQ USINDOPACOM
ATTN J06 FOIA
BOX 64022
CAMP SMITH HI 96861-4022
Office: 808-477-0995
Fax: 808-477-6685
Email: pacom.foia.fct@pacom.mil
Website: http://www.pacom.mil/Media/Freedom-of-Information-Act/
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