Processing Notes for Control Number 2016-009 (FOIA)

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:

All processing notes (including email correspondence between staff at DHA and AFHSC/AFHSB) related to DHA's processing of a FOIA request sent to DHA dated August 25, 2015 for “All documents produced from September 2013 to July 2014 by the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center related to the health effects of mefloquine use within DoD, to include the report referenced in multiple news reports (e.g. Caution-bigstory.ap.org/article/elite-army- units-stop-taking-anti-malarial-drug) as being in preparation as of September 2013, and expected to be completed by January 2014”, and which was formally assigned Control Number 2016-009 (FOIA) by DHA in a letter by Ms. Nadine Brown dated October 8, 2015, and closed by DHA without return of any responsive documents in a letter by Ms. Nadine Brown dated February 10, 2016 which claimed that "[u]nder Exemption (b)(5): the responsive documents are exempt from disclosure pursuant to FOIA exemption (b)(5) due to being internal records that are deliberative in nature and part of the decision-making process, containing opinions and recommendations".

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,

Dr. Remington Nevin

Dear DHA FOIA Staff,

Please acknowledge receipt of my request for all processing notes for DHA FOIA Control Number 2016-009. This request was sent to your office in an email dated February 12, 2016, and has yet to be formally acknowledged or assigned a DHA control number.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Dr. Remington Nevin

Dear DHA FOIA Staff,

Please acknowledge receipt of my request for all processing notes for DHA FOIA Control Number 2016-009. This request was sent to your office in an email dated February 12, 2016, and has yet to be formally acknowledged or assigned a DHA control number.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Dr. Remington Nevin

Dear DHA FOIA Staff,

I have recently received documents claimed by DHA to be responsive to my request for processing notes related to FOIA 2016-009. Although these documents are not fully responsive to this request, I will consider my request for processing notes for FOIA 2016-009 closed.

My original request, FOIA 2016-009, remains outstanding pending appeal of DHA's denial of responsive records. I will expect records responsive to this original request as soon as possible. As a reminder, FOIA 2016-009 was requesting analyses produced by AFHSC (now AFHSB) related to the health effects of mefloquine.

Sincerely,

Dr. Remington Nevin