Rusty Patched Bumble Bee Documents
It is a clone of this request.
| Tracking # |
OS-2019-00477 |
| Submitted | Feb. 12, 2019 |
| Est. Completion | None |
MuckRock users can file, duplicate, track, and share public records requests like this one. Learn more.
Communications
From: Alexander Rony
To Whom It May Concern:
I. Description of Records Sought
I hereby request the following records under the Freedom of Information Act:
1. Emails from January 20, 2017 to the date this request is processed between Casey Hammond and Parker Moore (pmoore@bdlaw.com).
2. Emails from January 20, 2017 to the date this request is processed between Casey Hammond and any of the following organizations: American Farm Bureau Federation (@fb.org); American Petroleum Institute (@api.org); Bayer; Beveridge & Diamond PC (@bdlaw.com); CropLife America (@croplifeamerica.org); Independent Petroleum Association of America (@ipaa.org); National Association of Home Builders (@nahb.org); National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (@nasda.org); National Corn Growers Association (@ncga.com); National Cotton Council (@cotton.org); and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (@nreca.coop).
3. Meeting notes, memoranda, and agenda concerning the July 12, 2017 meeting involving Casey Hammond, Greg Sheehan of Fish and Wildlife Service, and Parker Moore of Beveridge & Diamond PC.
Please include any files attached to said emails. I prefer my request be filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
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.
If you determine that portions of the requested records are exempt from disclosure, I request that you segregate the exempt portions and deliver the non-exempt portions of such records. If the Department of Interior denies all or part of this request, please cite the specific exemptions you believe justify your refusal to release the information.
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) and 43 C.F.R. §2.45. 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 meaningfully participate in the debate over how commercial interests in oil, agriculture, and housing development are influencing the government's protection of endangered species.
Currently, these industries appear to be working together to erode appropriate safety measures in the formation of formal protections for the first listed bumble bee in the continental United States, the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee. These conversations have further ramifications for federally-approved projects that require environmental reviews, as those projects must consider impacts on endangered species. It appears from agency documents already released that these industries are colluding to protect private profits over endangered species, to weaken protections for crucial wildlife. Several agency employees have been involved in meetings and email communications with industry groups and their representatives over the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee.
The subject matter of the requested records is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations and activities of the government by revealing conversations between private entities and trade groups with interests in eroding endangered species protections, and government officials charged with ensuring their safety. The public must know whether certain industries are seeking to harm endangered species protections, and whether government officials are helping to reduce wildlife safety on behalf of private corporations.
The Sierra Club and its supporters have demonstrated interest and expertise in the subject area of protecting wildlife and endangered species, as the organization is committed to maintaining the integrity of wildlife habitat and the environment. We have active campaigns on these matters and our supporters have written hundreds of thousands of public comments regarding the protection of pollinators and endangered species, including the endangered Rusty Patched Bumble Bee.
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 preparing summaries for press outreach.
For example, I have previously written about the federal hiring freeze's impact on agencies:
https://sierraclub.org/planet/2017/05/trump-admin-policies-leave-700-cdc-jobs-vacant
https://sierraclub.org/planet/2017/04/hiring-freeze-prevented-epa-filling-hundreds-jobs
This work, supplemented by Freedom of Information Act requests, was covered in major media outlets:
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.cnn.com/2017/04/13/politics/epa-hiring-freeze/index.html
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.
In the event that there are fees, please inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request.
Sincerely,
Alexander Rony
Sierra Club
From: Department of the Interior
Dear Mr. Rony,
Please find attached the FOIA Request - Acknowledgement Letter for
OS-2019-00477.
Thank you,
Michelle
--
Department of the Interior
Office of the Secretary, FOIA Office
1849 C Street, NW, MS-7328
Washington, D.C. 20240
os_foia@ios.doi.gov
(202) 513-0765 - phone
(202) 219-2374 - fax
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 Feb. 12, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2019-00477.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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 Feb. 12, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2019-00477.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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 Feb. 12, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2019-00477.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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 Feb. 12, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2019-00477.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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 Feb. 12, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2019-00477.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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 Feb. 12, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2019-00477.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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 Feb. 12, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2019-00477.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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 Feb. 12, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2019-00477.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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 Feb. 12, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2019-00477.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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 Feb. 12, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2019-00477.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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 Feb. 12, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2019-00477.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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 Feb. 12, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2019-00477.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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 Feb. 12, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2019-00477.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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 Feb. 12, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2019-00477.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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 Feb. 12, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2019-00477.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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 Feb. 12, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2019-00477.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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 Feb. 12, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2019-00477.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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 Feb. 12, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2019-00477.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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 Feb. 12, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2019-00477.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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 Feb. 12, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2019-00477.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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 Feb. 12, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2019-00477.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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 Feb. 12, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2019-00477.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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 Feb. 12, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2019-00477.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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 Feb. 12, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2019-00477.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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 Feb. 12, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2019-00477.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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 Feb. 12, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2019-00477.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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 Feb. 12, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2019-00477.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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 Feb. 12, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2019-00477.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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 Feb. 12, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2019-00477.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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 Feb. 12, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2019-00477.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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 Feb. 12, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2019-00477.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
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 Feb. 12, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2019-00477.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Department of the Interior
Dear Mr. Rony,
We are reaching out to you today to discuss your pre-October 1, 2019 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests with the Department of the Interior's Office of the Secretary's FOIA Unit. Below is a chart listing your requests, including each request's original and current tracking number.
Tracking Number
Legacy Tracking Number
Requester Name
Requester Organization
Submitted Date
Original Description
Did you subsequently narrow the request?
DOI-OS-2017-000114
OS-2017-00524
Alexander Rony
Sierra Club
From: Department of the Interior
Dear Mr. Rony,
We are following up on our email from October 26, 2022, regarding your open FOIA requests. Please see the email below.
Thank you and we look forward to speaking with you.
Sincerely,
Jacob
--
Jacob Booher
FOIA Support Team - Departmental FOIA Office
Office of the Solicitor | U.S. Department of the Interior
From: Department of the Interior
Dear Mr. Rony,
Please find attached a letter concerning your Freedom of Information Act request numbered OS-2019-00477.
Thank you,
Jacob
--
Jacob Booher
FOIA Support Team - Departmental FOIA Office
Office of the Solicitor | U.S. Department of the Interior
-
OS-2019-00477 Letter - Rony
From: Department of the Interior
DOI-OS-2019-000435 has been processed with the following final disposition: Other.
Files
pages