Processing Notes for DOI FOIA Request

To Whom It May Concern:

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

All records relating to the processing of FOIA request OS-2011-00069.

Request for a public-interest fee waiver

I request a waiver of any and all applicable fees pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(4)(A)(iii). This provision provides that requested records shall be furnished without or at reduced charge if "disclosure of the information is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations or activities of the government and is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester." The requested documents will be processed by a representative of the news media/press for a story for the news site The Muckraker Project (http://www.muckrakerproject.com/), made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage. Further, the requested records would unquestionably shed light on the "operations or activities of the government," namely how the Department of the Interior Office of the Secretary is processing its oldest FOIA request.

Request for news media status

For fee purposes, The Muckraker Project also qualifies as a "representative of the news media" under 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(4)(A)(ii)(II). The Muckraker Project is organized and operated, among other things, to publish and broadcast news. i.e., information that is about current events or that would be of current interest to the public. The Muckraker Project gleans the information that it regularly publishes from a wide variety of sources and methods, including government agencies, universities, scholarly works, and FOIA requests. The Muckraker Project also disseminates news to the public via Facebook, Twitter, and subscribers on our email list.

Our most recent news stories based off of public records can be found here:
http://www.muckrakerproject.com/2014/06/16/cobb-leaders-home-depot/
http://www.muckrakerproject.com/2014/06/10/mdj-connections-cobb/

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,

Kevin Schmidt
http://www.muckrakerproject.com/

Hi Ryan,

I have not seen the documents you sent to Mr. Smathers. For the purposes of the request I would like:

1. A copy of the materials sent to Mr. Smathers.
2. Any processing notes since those documents were produced in response to Mr. Smathers' request.
3. Any communications with the Office of White House Counsel or any other White House Office regarding FOIA request OS-2011-00069.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

Hi Ryan,

Thanks for the quick turnaround. Page 302 of the produced documents mentions an attachment for "11-00179 WH Equity Memo.docx." Can I get a copy of that?