Phil Bereano, Ph.D. electronic correspondance

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to RCW Ch. 42.56 (Public Records Act), I hereby request the following records:

Emails to and from Dr. Phil Bereano, 2013-2015. All emails to and from Professor Bereano containing any of the following; "GMO", "GM", "genetically", "Monsanto", "Stonyfield", "Bronner", "Bt", "Benbrook", "label", "labeling", "Just Label It", "Ruskin", "Malkin", "transgenic", "biotech", "biotechnology", "gmolist", "gmolist@googlegroups.com", "Roundup", "endocrine", "herbicide", "insecticide", and/or "glyphosate".

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 fees cannot be waived, 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. This effort was inspired by Gary Ruskin of US Right to Know, and by Paul Thacker and Charles Seife based on their entreaty in the Los Angeles Times: http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-0821-seife-thacker-science-transparency-20150821-story.html .

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 fees cannot be waived, 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.

I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 5 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Mary Mangan

This is hard to believe. I've seen Bereano's conversation already in emails with this text. For example, http://screencast.com/t/7zWf31bnAqA

That was in March of 2014. It's clear he was participating in exchanged on this mailing list, which is one of the requested terms. It appears right in the body of the email.

Can you explain how this document was missed? And is it possible others have been missed due to the same issue?

Yes, I am aware of his emeritus status. However, right on the University web pages we see this: http://screencast.com/t/IUPLx05OKAkM

"Emeriti Faculty
Listed below are HCDE's emeriti faculty. Some are still deeply involved in the department and continue to contribute to all that we do. All had incredible dedication to teaching, research, and service at the University of Washington.

Phil Bereano
Technology and public policy; technology assessment; assessments of genetic/computer/information technologies; citizen participation in technology policy decision making; technology and civil liberties."

So he's still "deeply involved" in the work, and he's using a University of Washington signature, mailing address, and email address to influence civic discussions. Further, if he's using a university email address then he's using public resources for mailings in servers and software.

I would like to state that I feel this constitutes public and University-associated work and that the records should be provided.

For the record, here's an example:
>>>>>>>> On 2 Mar 2014, at 18:23, pbereano@u.washington.edu wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> This is almost too dense to use. Can they be grouped by some
>>>>>>>>>sort of topical categories? I don't see how to easily find a
>>>>>>>>>study on an issue you are debating/ testifying about/etc
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I can't find an email address to cc them on this question.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Phil
>>>>>>>>> ***************************
>>>>>>>>> Philip L. Bereano
>>>>>>>>> Professor Emeritus
>>>>>>>>> HCD&E Department
>>>>>>>>> Sieg Hall
>>>>>>>>> University of Washington
>>>>>>>>> Seattle, Wash. 98195
>>>>>>>>> ***************************
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On Sun, 2 Mar 2014, Brian John wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Hope this might be useful, folks. I made a PDF of the big
>>>>>>>>>> list published by GMO Free USA. They appear to be working on
>>>>>>>>>> an updated version -- but most of the key things seem to be
>>>>>>>>>> incorporated already...............
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Not all of the things on the list are peer-reviewed (not that
>>>>>>>>>>peer review means anything these days anyway.....)
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Brian

This email is available from the "Chuck Benbrook emails" request found here https://www.muckrock.com/foi/washington-54/chuck-benbrook-emails-20764/ , the item is "Re: GMO Free USA's list of 1300 studies--5march14".

Thank you for revisiting this matter of public interest. As you see, he's using his University address to discuss testifying and debating this public issue and in policy decision making. I think it's clear this is relating to the conduct of government.

Mary

I don't see where in the statue that is listed. Can you please be more explicit about which clause of that law you think applies?

I'll be filing an appeal with the State Attorney General's office, or whoever is in charge of that in the state.

Sincerely,

Mary Mangan