SF-716 2001-2017 (Department of Health and Human Services)

Emma North-Best filed this request with the Department of Health and Human Services of the United States of America.

It is a clone of this request.

Tracking #

2018-01186-FOIA-OS

Multi Request SF-716 2001-2017
Due July 23, 2018
Est. Completion None
Status
Awaiting Response

Communications

From: Emma North-Best


To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

Copies of all drafted, submitted or received SF-716 forms (https://www.archives.gov/files/isoo/security-forms/sf716.pdf) produced from January 1, 2001 through December 31, 2017. SF-716 forms are filed annually and may also be identified as Agency Security Classification Costs Estimates.

I am a member of the news media and request classification as such. I have previously written about the government and its activities, with some reaching over 100,000 readers. As such, as I have a reasonable expectation of publication and my editorial and writing skills are well established. In addition, I discuss and comment on the files online and make them available through non-profits such as the Internet Archive and MuckRock, disseminating them to a large audience.

Case law states that “proof of the ability to disseminate the released information to a broad cross- section of the public is not required.” Judicial Watch, Inc. v. Dep’t of Justice, 365 F.3d 1108, 1126 (D.C. Cir. 2004); see Carney v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 19 F.3d 807, 814-15 (2d Cir. 1994). Courts have held that "qualified because it also had “firm” plans to “publish a number of . . . ‘document sets’” concerning United States foreign and national security policy." Under this criteria, as well, I qualify as a member of the news media.

Additionally, courts have held that the news media status "focuses on the nature of the requester, not its request. The provision requires that the request be “made by” a representative of the news media. Id. § 552(a)(4)(A)(ii)(II). A newspaper reporter, for example, is a representative of the news media regardless of how much interest there is in the story for which he or she is requesting information." As such, the details of the request are moot for the purposes of determining the fee category.

As my primary purpose is to inform about government activities by reporting on it and making the raw data available, I request that fees be waived.

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,

Emma Best

From:

RE: 2018-01186-FOIA-OS
Dear Ms. Best:
This is in response to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, dated: June 25, 2018. We received your request on June 25, 2018 and have begun processing your request.  Please see attached for additional information.
Sincerely,

Natasha Taylor Government Information Specialist
Main Office Line:  202-690-7453

From:

RE: FOIA Request # 2018-01186-FOIA-OS
October 09, 2018
Dear Ms. Best,
Good morning and thank you for your email.  The HHS FOIA office has not yet received any responsive records pertaining to your FOIA request.  I have reached out to the appropriate program office to ascertain an estimated date of completion for the records search.  I do apologize for the delay and hope to have an update soon.  Thank you and best regards.
Sincerely,
Natasha Taylor
Government Information Specialist

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