Regulatory Reform attachments

To Whom It May Concern:

I. Description of Records Sought

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act for documents that were attached to EPA staff emails in this already-released document: https://cdn.muckrock.com/foia_files/2018/05/26/2017-OSEC-04749-F_Resp_Corresp_5.25.18_Redacted.pdf

1. The "Regulatory Rollback" Power Point file on page 6 that was sent by Andrew Perry on March 8, 2017.
2. The "Enforcing the Reg Reform Agenda for Undersec Meeting may 15 17" Word document on page 25 that was sent by Rebeckah Adcock on May 15, 2017.
3. The "List of Executive Orders" Excel file on page 125 that was sent by Andrew Perry on May 23, 2017.
4. The "Regulatory Task Force Nominations" Excel file on page 125 that was sent by Andrew Perry on May 23, 2017.
5. The "Enforcing the Reg Reform Agenda for RRTF 05 31 17" Word document on page 246 that was sent by Rebeckah Adcock on May 30, 2017. In addition, that email states that a "RRTF Issue Paper" and "Template for OSEC papers" are attached to the document; if these are not contained within the attached Word document, then I would like those documents too.
6. The "formtaskforce" Word document on page 255 that was sent by Don Bice on June 1, 2017.

II. Request for a Fee Waiver

I respectfully request that you waive all fees in connection with this request as provided by 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(4)(A)(iii). The Sierra Club is a national environmental nonprofit with no commercial interest in obtaining the requested information. Instead, our organization intends to analyze and disseminate the requested information free of charge so that the public can be better informed and meaningfully participate in protecting the nation's natural resources and public health.

The subject matter of the requested records is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations and activities of the government by disclosing how the Department of Agriculture is following instructions to reduce regulations. Due to the broad scope of Executive Order 13777, these regulations can apply to virtually every issue that the government works on, impacting people's lives in a variety of ways.

The Sierra Club and its supporters have demonstrated interest and expertise in the subject area, specifically the development of standards designed to limit pollution, safeguard public health, improve the economy, and conserve natural resources. In addition to our staff's formal recommendations, our supporters have filed millions of public comments to agencies related to regulations that are likely to be affected by this order.

III. Media Requester Status

In addition to the public interest fee waiver, I ask to be properly categorized as a representative of the news media. The bulk of my professional duties at the Sierra Club entails planning and writing content about public policy, including composing mass communications to our followers, analyzing FOIA responses, and coordinating press outreach. Here are some examples that resulted from my work:

https://sierraclub.org/planet/2017/04/hiring-freeze-prevented-epa-filling-hundreds-jobs
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2017/05/19/nearly-700-vacancies-at-cdc-because-of-trump-administration-hiring-freeze/
http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/press-releases/4480/over-700000-people-tell-government-to-block-seed-mergers

The Sierra Club has the ability and intention to disseminate the information it receives through this request. The information may be shared through emails to an audience reaching into the millions, Facebook and Twitter posts reaching tens of thousands of followers, articles on our often-visited website, and analysis provided to the media.

IV. Exempt Records

Should you decide to invoke a FOIA exemption with regard to any of the requested records, please include in your response letter sufficient information for an appeal, including:

1. Basic factual material about each withheld item, including the originator, date, length, general subject matter, and location of each item.
2. Explanations and justifications for denial, including the identification of the category within the governing statutory provision under which the document (or portion thereof) was withheld and a full explanation of how each exemption fits the withheld material.

If you determine that portions of a requested record are exempt from disclosure, please redact the exempt portions and provide the remainder of the record.

V. Record Delivery

I would prefer the request be filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not. In the event that there are fees, please inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request.

Please produce the records on a rolling basis; at no point should the search for – or deliberation concerning – certain records delay the production of others that the agency has already retrieved and elected to produce.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your timely response.

Sincerely,
Alexander Rony
Sierra Club