US Forest Service Fire Foam
| Tracking # |
2018-FS-WO-04145-F |
| Submitted | May 18, 2018 |
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Communications
From: Jimmy Tobias
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
Any and all agency reports or memorandum related to the health impacts of the the firefighting foam or other fire retardant chemicals used in the Forest Service's wildfire suppression activities. This document seeks records that originated in the agency's Washington D.C. headquarters and were produced between January 1, 2015 and the date this request is processed.
I am a reporter with Pacific Standard magazine.
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,
Jimmy Tobias
From: U.S. Forest Service
Dear Mr. Tobias This email acknowledges receipt of your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, dated May 18, 2018, which was received in the Washington Office (WO) FOIA Service Center on May 18, 2018. You requested the following records:any and all agency reports or memorandum related to the health impacts of the the firefighting foam or other fire retardant chemicals used in the Forest Service's wildfire suppression activities (records that originated in the agency's Washington D.C. headquarters and were produced between January 1, 2015 and the date this request is processed).(Date Range for Record Search: From 1/1/2015 To 5/21/2018). Please be advisedthat the WO FOIA Service Center has a backlog of pending FOIA requests andappeals. We are diligently working to process each request and appeal inthe order in which it was received. Your patience is greatly appreciated. To check on the status of your request, you may contact Joe Starry at 202-205-1542, or via e-mail to . Please reference your assigned case number, 2018-FS-WO-04145-F. (mailto:josephlstarry@fs.fed.us) josephlstarry@fs.fed.us Thank you,
FOIA Service Center Team
Forest Service
From: U.S. Forest Service
Mr. Tobias,
Thank you for your recent FOIA request. As we were conducting your records request it was found to be too broad to conduct a reasonable record search. Please clarify what type of health impact you are requesting? Also please clarify what is the subject of the “health impacts”, meaning health impacts on firefighters, please be specific?
Please clarify your request so that we can conduct a reasonable search in a timely manner. We have placed you in the Media fee category which entitles you to no charges for search and review but does incur charges for duplication of anything over 100 pages. Because you are requesting this information electronically there will be no duplication fees. Fees incurred for your search and review processing of your records request will be paid by the taxpayer. In turn we ask you to narrow your search down to reduce costs associated with your records request and also to provide you the records you need in a timely manner.
Please provide me the clarification needed to start a reasonable records search. At this time I have placed your case on hold. If I do not receive the needed clarification from you by 19 July 2018 then I will consider this case closed and administratively close this request. If at a later date you would like to request these records again you would have to submit a new FOIA request.
If you have any questions please contact me, I am the technician assigned to your case.
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: Jimmy Tobias
Thank you for the follow up Joe. By health impact, I meant any negative health impacts — disease, illness injuries, breathing troubles, skin irritation, etc. — that may have effected firefighters or other agency personnel as a result of exposure to the the fire fighting foam.
Let me know if you have any more questions, and thank you.
Sincerely,
Jimmy Tobias
248-763-0088
From: U.S. Forest Service
Mr. Tobias,
Attached you will find our final response to your recent FOIA request along with the responsive records. Thank you for your interest in the U.S. Forest Service.
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
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: Jimmy Tobias
Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Jimmy Tobias
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