Secretary Zinke's May 8-10 trip
| Tracking # |
OS-2017-00599 |
| Submitted | May 22, 2017 |
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Communications
From: Alexander Rony
To Whom It May Concern:
This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act for the following records on Secretary Ryan Zinke's May 8-10 trip to Utah:
1. The secretary's itinerary, as was sent to reporters.
2. The secretary's meeting schedules, agendas, and notes. According to the Washington Post, similar records were produced for Politico for March (https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/uploads/17-00427ca.pdf) and April (https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/uploads/17-00535ca.pdf).
3. Requests for meetings with the secretary (including emails, letters, and phone calls) that were directed or redirected to the Office of the Secretary from April 26 through May 10.
4. Requests for meetings to external individuals and organizations (including emails, letters, and phone calls) that were sent from the Office of the Secretary from April 26 through May 10.
5. Records of expenses incurred by the secretary.
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 CFR § 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 be better informed and meaningfully participate in protecting the nation's public lands.
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 secretary received or ignored public input on a fact-finding trip tied to a public comment period. This issue has received attention in the news media (see http://www.sltrib.com/news/5262990-155/zinke-says-monument-designations-have-been and https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/05/19/personal-schedule-shows-industry-ceos-frequent-access-to-interior-secretary/).
The Sierra Club and its supporters have demonstrated interest and expertise in the subject area, specifically the development of policies designed to create national monuments such as Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante. Our supporters have filed hundreds of thousands of public comments to agencies related to these locations.
In addition, 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 with press secretaries. Here are some examples that resulted from my work:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2017/05/19/nearly-700-vacancies-at-cdc-because-of-trump-administration-hiring-freeze/
https://sierraclub.org/planet/2017/04/hiring-freeze-prevented-epa-filling-hundreds-jobs
http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/13/politics/epa-hiring-freeze/index.html
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.
In the event that there are fees, please 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.
I am also requesting expedited processing under 43 CFR § 2.20(a)(2)(iii). I have already indicated that I am primarily engaged in disseminating information for my occupation. This request has particular value that will be lost if not disseminated quickly, namely, that there is a public comment period that expires soon, with a decision expected soon after. As indicated by the Salt Lake Tribune, Secretary Zinke's meetings on this trip are in the public interest. The information contained in this request is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.
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.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request.
Sincerely,
Alexander Rony
From: OS, OS FOIA
Dear Mr. Rony,
Please find attached an acknowledgement letter for FOIA request
OS-2017-00599.
V/r,
Karmen
--
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: Alexander Rony
Thank you for acknowledging my FOIA request (Number OS-2017-00599). Have there been any decisions made regarding my requests for expedited processing and a public interest fee waiver?
Sincerely,
Alexander Rony
Sierra Club
From: OS, OS FOIA
Dear Mr. Rony,
We are granting your request for expedited processing and for a fee
waiver. Hope that you have a wonderful day!
Thanks,
Cindy
--
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.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on May 22, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2017-00599.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: OS, OS FOIA
Dear Mr. Rony,
We are still waiting on records from our program office in response to
your request. Once we receive these records, we can begin processing these
records and provide them to you as quickly as possible. Hope that you have
a great day!
Thanks,
Cindy
--
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: Alexander Rony
Hi Cindy, I wanted to check in on the status of FOIA Request #OS-2017-00599. It received expedited processing, and the deadline for some of these national monument decisions is coming up shortly. If some of the records have been pulled and you are waiting for the remainders, would it be possible to release those on a rolling basis (i.e., issue an interim response with the remaining ones to be delivered in a final response)?
Thank you,
Alexander
From: OS, OS FOIA
Dear Mr. Rony,
We are still coordinating and waiting for records. Please be assured we
are following up regularly and will begin processing as soon as we have all
potentially responsive records.
Thanks,
Cindy
--
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: Alexander Rony
Cindy,
May I get an update on this case (#OS-2017-00599)? Have you received records yet? An announcement related to two Utah national monuments is expected soon.
Thank you,
Alexander
From: Department of Interior, Office of the Secretary
Good afternoon,
We are continuing to conduct a search across multiple offices for material
that is responsive to your search. We continue to work towards a response
as expeditiously as possible.
Thank you for your continued interest in your FOIA request.
Justin
--
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 request, copied below, and originally submitted on May 22, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2017-00599.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Department of Interior, Office of the Secretary
Mr. Rony,
RE: OS-2018-00599
We are currently still waiting to receive a few more records from the
program office and then will begin processing.
I am unable to provide you an estimated date of completion. No further
clarification is needed.
Please know that we are working as diligently as possible to release
records to you.
Thank you
Karmen
--
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 May 22, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2017-00599.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Department of Interior, Office of the Secretary
Dear Mr. Rony,
Thank you for your inquiry. At this time we are still waiting on a program
office to send us any potentially responsive records as we do not retain
records in the OS FOIA office. Once we have those records, we can begin
processing them. While we cannot provide you a timeline at this point,
please be assured we are working to complete your request as promptly as we
can.
V/r,
Leah
--
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 May 22, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2017-00599.
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 May 22, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2017-00599.
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 May 22, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2017-00599.
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 May 22, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2017-00599.
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 May 22, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2017-00599.
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 May 22, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2017-00599.
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 May 22, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2017-00599.
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 May 22, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2017-00599.
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 May 22, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2017-00599.
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 May 22, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2017-00599.
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 May 22, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2017-00599.
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 May 22, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2017-00599.
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 May 22, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2017-00599.
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 May 22, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2017-00599.
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 May 22, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2017-00599.
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 May 22, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2017-00599.
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 May 22, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2017-00599.
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 May 22, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2017-00599.
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 May 22, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2017-00599.
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 May 22, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2017-00599.
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 May 22, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2017-00599.
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 May 22, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #OS-2017-00599.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Department of Interior, Office of the Secretary
Dear Mr. Rony,
I'm writing today to request that you please contact our office at your
earliest convenience to discuss the above request (attached for reference).
V/r,
Leah
--
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: Department of Interior, Office of the Secretary
Dear Mr. Rony,
Please find attached a letter of continued interest regarding FOIA request OS-2017-00599
V/r,
Leah
From: Alexander Rony
Dear Leah Fairman,
I received your letter asking if I was still interested in my FOIA request assigned control number OS-2017-00599. I am still interested! Please continue to process and release documents related to this request. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Alexander Rony
Sierra Club
From:
Dear Mr. Rony,
Please find attached a Final Response letter for FOIA request OS-2017-00599.
Thank you,
Michelle Mcbryde
--
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
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