Documentation of organizational structure

Dear Mr. Moss:

This acknowledges your May 20, 2017, Public Access to Records Policy (PARP) request for any existing documents (staffing charts, lists of departments, directories) outlining the organizational structure of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).

Please be advised that while your request references the District of Columbia Freedom of Information Act (D.C. FOIA), WMATA is not a District of Columbia agency, and, as such, is not subject to the D.C. FOIA. However, WMATA is processing your request pursuant to our Public Access to Records Policy (PARP), which is available online at https://www.wmata.com/about/records/public-records.cfm, under the section marked "Legal Affairs."

Although we are not yet able to provide any responsive records, we can impart the following general information regarding your request:

Time Period for Processing Requests

WMATA generally aims to respond to a request for records within 20 business days following receipt of the request. However, additional processing time is required for requests that require coordination with multiple WMATA offices or third parties, review of audio/visual files, or voluminous records, or prove to be otherwise complex.

Exemptions

The PARP provides exemptions for certain types of data, including: (1) information that could compromise WMATA infrastructure or security; (2) information that is solely related to the internal personnel rules and practices; (3) information that is exempt by statute; (4) proprietary commercial or financial information; (5) internal deliberations on policy matters or attorney-client privileged communications; (6) information that, if released, would cause a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy; (7) certain information compiled for law enforcement purposes; and (8) registered SmarTrip(r) information; and (9) customer financial information. Generally, WMATA's response will not include any exempt information.

Processing Fees

The PARP also provides for the assessment of fees associated with a request that requires more than two hours of staff time to process. These fees are calculated at the employees' basic rate of pay, plus an additional 50 percent to cover benefits, for the time spent responding to a request. In general, a request is considered an agreement to pay all applicable fees. Advance payment is required where the fees are likely to exceed $250.

Request for a Public Interest Fee Waiver

You have stated that the records being requested will be made available to the general public and will not be used commercially. However, if you are requesting a public interest fee waiver, you have not provided WMATA with sufficient information to make such a determination. If you would like to be considered for a public interest fee waiver, please submit the following additional information to allow us to evaluate that request.

1) Describe the purpose for your request of these records, and your intended use of them.

2) Describe how you intend to disseminate these records to the public, and how broad an audience you anticipate the disclosure will receive.

3) If your request is on behalf of an organization, describe that organization, including its expertise in matters associated with these records and how your organization is actively involved in disseminating information to the public.

4) Describe any commercial or profit interest that you or your organization has in these records, and how this commercial interest, if any, compares to the public interest described by your previous answers.

If we do not receive this additional information within 10 business days - by June 20, 2017, we will categorize you as a commercial requester for fee categorization purposes.

Future correspondence should reference the request number noted in the subject line of this correspondence. If you have any substantive legal questions, please contact Benjamin Rashbaum at 202-962-1926 or BRashbaum@wmata.com<mailto:BRashbaum@wmata.com>. With respect to any administrative questions, please contact me at 202-962-2569 or RDNoh@wmata.com<mailto:RDNoh@wmata.com>.

Yours very respectfully,

Richard Noh
PARP/Privacy Paralegal
WMATA
600 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
P: 202-962-2569
F: 202-962-2550
E: rdnoh@wmata.com

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Dear Mr. Moss:

This is in response to your May 20, 2017, Public Access to Records Policy (PARP) request for any existing documents (staffing charts, lists of departments, directories) outlining the organizational structure of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).

Your request was processed pursuant to the PARP, which is available online at https://www.wmata.com/about/records/public-records.cfm, under the section marked "Legal Affairs."

Responsive Records

Please find attached the following record (1 page total) responsive to your request:

· WMATA Organizational Chart as of 08-01-17.

Please also review our approved budget for FY2018, which includes a more detailed explanation of the different offices beginning on page 50. It may be found at:

https://www.wmata.com/about/records/public_docs/upload/Approved-Budget-Final_v1.pdf.

Appeal Rights

If you wish to appeal WMATA's decision, in accordance with PARP § 9.1, you may file a written appeal of the action with the Chief of External Relations within 30 business days of the date of this decision letter. Further details about our appeals process can be found on our website.

Future correspondence should reference the PARP request number noted above. If you have any legal questions, please contact me at BRashbaum@wmata.com or 202-962-1926. With respect to any administrative questions, please contact Richard Noh at rdnoh@wmata.com<mailto:rdnoh@wmata.com> or 202-962-2569.

Sincerely,

Benjamin Rashbaum

Attachment

Benjamin Rashbaum
Assistant General Counsel
WMATA
600 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
P: 202-962-1926
F: 202-962-2550
E: BRashbaum@wmata.com<mailto:BRashbaum@wmata.com>

This transmission is intended only for the proper recipient(s). It is confidential and may contain attorney-client privileged information or information prepared in anticipation of litigation. If you are not the proper recipient, please notify the sender immediately and delete this message. Any unauthorized review, copying, or use of this message is prohibited.