USGS drone footage of 2018 walrus survey

This message is to confirm your request submission to the FOIAonline application: View Request. Request information is as follows: (https://foiaonline.gov/foiaonline/action/public/submissionDetails?trackingNumber=DOI-USGS-2023-005251&type=Request)

* Tracking Number: DOI-USGS-2023-005251
* Requester Name:
Ben Welsh
* Date Submitted: 06/26/2023
* Request Status: Submitted
* Description:
To Whom It May Concern:

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

I am requesting all video recorded in a series of September 2018 drone flights near Point Lay, Alaska that sought to conduct a walrus survey.

This mission was disclosed in a log of drone missions released via a previous FOIA request. The remote pilot in command is listed as Anthony Fischbach. The RIDs are listed as:

RID-18-4161
RID-18-4160
RID-18-4159
RID-18-4158
RID-18-4157
RID-18-4140
RID-18-4138
RID-18-4135
RID-18-4133
RID-18-4141
RID-18-4137
RID-18-4136
RID-18-4134
RID-18-4139
RID-18-4095
RID-18-4094
RID-18-4090
RID-18-4093
RID-18-4092
RID-18-4091
RID-18-4043
RID-18-4042
RID-18-4031
RID-18-4030
RID-18-4026
RID-18-4025
RID-18-4014
RID-18-3986
RID-18-3985
RID-18-3984
RID-18-3960
RID-18-3959
RID-18-3962
RID-18-3961

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,

Ben Welsh

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Dear Mr. Welsh,

On May 26, 2023, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) office received your FOIA request dated May 26, 2023 and assigned it control number DOI-USGS-2023-005251. Please cite this number in any future communications with our office regarding your request. You request the following information:

All video recorded in a series of September 2018 drone flights near Point Lay, Alaska that sought to conduct a walrus survey. Remote pilot is Anthon Fischbein. The RIDs are listed as:

* RID 18-4161
* RID 18-4160
* RID 18-4159
* RID 18-4158
* RID 18-4157
* RID 18-4140
* RID 18-4138
* RID 18-4135
* RID 18-4133
* RID 18-4141
* RID 18-4137
* RID 18-4136
* RID 18-4134
* RID 18-4139
* RID 18-4095
* RID 18-4094
* RID 18-4090
* RID 18-4093
* RID 18-4092
* RID 18-4091
* RID 18-4043
* RID 18-4042
* RID 18-4031
* RID 18-4030
* RID 18-4026
* RID 18-4025
* RID 18-4014
* RID 18-3986
* RID 18-3985
* RID 18-3984
* RID 18-3960
* RID 18-3959
* RID 18-3962
* RID 18-3961

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Your request falls into the Normal processing track. There are 12 requests pending ahead of yours in our overall processing queue. Presuming that our current FOIA capacity and burden remain constant, we expect that we will dispatch a determination to you by July 25, 2023.

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Office of Government Information Services
National Archives and Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Road - OGIS
College Park, Maryland 20740-6001
Telephone: (202) 741-5770
Fax: (202) 741-5769
Toll-free: 1 (877) 684-6448
Email: ogis@nara.gov<mailto:ogis@nara.gov>
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Contact information for the Department's FOIA Public Liaison, who you may also seek dispute resolution services from, is available at https://www.doi.gov/foia/foiacenters.

If you have any questions about your request, you may contact me by email at foia@usgs.gov<mailto:foia@usgs.gov> or jewilson@usgs.gov<mailto:jewilson@usgs.gov>. Thank you for your interest in the U.S. Geological Survey.

Sincerely,

​Janis Wilson
[she/her]
U.S. Geological Survey
Government Information Specialist
jewilson@usgs.gov<mailto:jewilson@usgs.gov>

Dear Mr. Welsh,

We have completed the processing of your FOIA request, DOI-USGS-2023-005251, per the attached response letter. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

​Janis Wilson
[she/her]
U.S. Geological Survey
Government Information Specialist
jewilson@usgs.gov<mailto:jewilson@usgs.gov>