Recoilless rifle avalanche control logs

JPat Brown filed this request with the U.S. Forest Service of the United States of America.
Tracking #

18-0025

Status
Completed

Communications

From: JPat Brown

To Whom It May Concern:

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

- Any manuals, guidelines, or policies regarding USFS use of recoilessless rifles for avalanche control
- A log of recoilessless rifle use for this purpose, 2007-present

Visual evidence of USFS use can be seen here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recoilless_rifle#/media/File:106mm_Recoilless_Rifle.jpg

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,

JPat Brown

From: Johns, Letitia - FS

Dear Mr. Brown:

This email acknowledges the receipt of your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) dated July 20, 2017, and it was received in the Washington Office (WO) FOIA Service Center on the same date. You requested the following records:

- Any manuals, guidelines, or policies regarding USFS use of recoilessless rifles for avalanche control
- A log of recoilessless rifle use for this purpose, 2007-present

To assist the FOIA analyst with receiving the proper records for your request, please provide Mr. Valencia's whole name (first and last name), please also provide us with a non-FS email address for either yourself or Mr. Valencia so that we treat this as a FOIA request originating outside the agency.

Please be advised that the WO FOIA Service Center has a backlog of pending FOIA requests and appeals. We are diligently working to process each request and appeal in the order in which it was received. Your patience is greatly appreciated.

To check on the status of your request, you may contact Joseph Starry via e-mail to josephlstarry@fs.fed.us<mailto:josephlstarry@fs.fed.us>. Please reference your assigned case number, 2017-FS-WO-05709-F.

Thank you,

LINDA LASKO
FOIA/PA Officer

This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.

From: Starry, Joseph L -FS

Sir,

Please provide me with your contact information so that I may create your request. This would include your full name, mailing address, phone number, and a good email address.

Also please identify up to what amount you are will to be responsible for in fee's.

At this time I have placed your case on hold until I receive this information.

v/r

Joe Starry

[USFS]

Joe Starry
Government Information Specialist

Forest Service
Office of Regulatory and Management Services

josephlstarry@fs.fed.us<mailto:josephlstarry@fs.fed.us>

1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop 1143
Washington, DC 20250

For FedEx and UPS:
201 14th Street SW
Washington, DC 20024

www.fs.fed.us<http://www.fs.fed.us/>
[http://fsweb.wo.fs.fed.us/esignature/images/usda-logo.png]<http://usda.gov/>[Twitter]<https://twitter.com/forestservice>[Facebook]<http://facebook.com/USDA>

Caring for the land and serving people

From: JPat Brown

Mr. Starry, hello-
Apologies if this information was not included in my initial request.

JPat Brown

Address:
MuckRock
Dept MR40340
411A Highland Ave
02144

Phone:
617-307-6359

Email:
requests@muckrock.com

I am willing to pay fees of up to $25 for this request. Thank you.
JPat

From: Starry, Joseph L -FS

Hello Mr Brown,

There are several cases ahead of yours that I am processing. Some cases are larger than others and take more time for review. I might be able to get something out soon but no later than 26 September 2017. If you have not received a response from me by that date please contact me.

v/r

Joe

[USFS]

Joe Starry
Government Information Specialist

Forest Service
Office of Regulatory and Management Services

josephlstarry@fs.fed.us<mailto:josephlstarry@fs.fed.us>

1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop 1143
Washington, DC 20250

For FedEx and UPS:
201 14th Street SW
Washington, DC 20024

www.fs.fed.us<http://www.fs.fed.us/>
[http://fsweb.wo.fs.fed.us/esignature/images/usda-logo.png]<http://usda.gov/>[Twitter]<https://twitter.com/forestservice>[Facebook]<http://facebook.com/USDA>

Caring for the land and serving people

From: Starry, Joseph L -FS

Mr Brown,

Thank you for checking in - the FOIA provides that when an agency receives a FOIA request, it must determine within 20 working days whether to comply with the request; however producing the documents often takes additional time, especially with a significant backlog. Currently there are several cases ahead of yours in my queue, although I work on multiple requests simultaneously in order to keep things moving.

In your case, a records search has been conducted; I still need to review the results of the search, apply any redactions as appropriate, draft a final response letter, and route the letter for signature. Once those steps are complete, I will email the final package to you.

I'm the analyst assigned to process your case, so please feel free to check back with me directly to receive status updates.

Hope that helps!
Best regards,

Joe

[USFS]

Joe Starry
Government Information Specialist

Forest Service
Office of Regulatory and Management Services

josephlstarry@fs.fed.us<mailto:josephlstarry@fs.fed.us>

1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop 1143
Washington, DC 20250

For FedEx and UPS:
201 14th Street SW
Washington, DC 20024

www.fs.fed.us<http://www.fs.fed.us/>
[http://fsweb.wo.fs.fed.us/esignature/images/usda-logo.png]<http://usda.gov/>[Twitter]<https://twitter.com/forestservice>[Facebook]<http://facebook.com/USDA>

Caring for the land and serving people

From: U.S. Forest Service

Hi Mr. Brown,

Thank you for checking in. There is no further clarification needed at this time. We have several cases ahead of yours that we are working on as quickly as possible. If you haven't received a final response by 15 December 2017, please feel free to check in on a status update.

v/r
Joe

[USFS]

Joe Starry
Government Information Specialist

Forest Service
Office of Regulatory and Management Services

josephlstarry@fs.fed.us<mailto:josephlstarry@fs.fed.us>

1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop 1143
Washington, DC 20250

For FedEx and UPS:
201 14th Street SW
Washington, DC 20024

www.fs.fed.us<http://www.fs.fed.us/>
[http://fsweb.wo.fs.fed.us/esignature/images/usda-logo.png]<http://usda.gov/>[Twitter]<https://twitter.com/forestservice>[Facebook]<http://facebook.com/USDA>

Caring for the land and serving people

From: U.S. Forest Service

Mr. Brown,

Attached you will find our final response letter to your recent FOIA request along with responsive records.

v/r

Joe Starry

[USFS]

Joe Starry
Government Information Specialist

Forest Service
Office of Regulatory and Management Services

josephlstarry@fs.fed.us<mailto:josephlstarry@fs.fed.us>

1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop 1143
Washington, DC 20250

For FedEx and UPS:
201 14th Street SW
Washington, DC 20024

www.fs.fed.us<http://www.fs.fed.us/>
[http://fsweb.wo.fs.fed.us/esignature/images/usda-logo.png]<http://usda.gov/>[Twitter]<https://twitter.com/forestservice>[Facebook]<http://facebook.com/USDA>

Caring for the land and serving people

This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.

From: JPat Brown

Hi,

Thanks so much for your help with this request! I really appreciate it.

Sincerely,
JPat Brown

From: U.S. Forest Service

An interim response, stating the request is being processed.

From: U.S. Forest Service

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED

Dear Mr. Brown

This email is in response to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request dated July 20, 2017, TACOM FOIA Case Number 18-0025, wherein you requested

1. any manuals, guidelines, or policies regarding USFS use of recoiless rifles for avalanche control
2. a log of recoiless rifle use for this purpose, 2007 - present

A portion of your request, originally sent to the US forest Service, was sent to this office for review and direct response to you.

Attached please find the Master Interagency Agreement for the Avalanche Control Program Between Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology) (ASA(ALT) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service (18 pages)

Under the provisions of DOD Regulation, 5400.7-R, as amended, there were no assessable fees associated with this request.

Shelley Hassett
FOIA Officer
6501 E. Eleven Mile Road
Attn: AMSTA-L/ms 357
Warren, MI 48397-5000
Comm: (586)282-8099
DSN: 786-8099

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED

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