Forest Service reporting they don't have desired information
Asked by Piper McDaniel on August 3, 2017.
2 answers from Jack R-W and Piper McDaniel.
Hello Muckrock,
I submitted the following request through the U.S. Forest Service FOIA request as directed on April 25 of 2017.
“To Whom It May Concern,
Under the Freedom of Information Act, I am requesting access to the following:
1) Any budgets related to trespass marijuana grow site reclamations, remediations, or clean-ups in Region 5.
2) Copies of contracts for work on trespass marijuana grow site reclamations, remediations, or clean-ups in Region 5.
3) Copies of all bids for work considered by the Forest Service for on trespass marijuana grow site reclamations, remediations, or clean-ups in Region 5.
4) Copies of any IDIQs for work on trespass marijuana grow site reclamations, remediations, or clean-ups in Region 5.
I am looking to have the above budget, staff, and work program information for all trespass marijuana grow site reclamations, remediations, or clean-ups in Region 5 from the years 2014 to 2017, or any contract that is current and extends into the future.
I am a journalist and am hoping to have this information by Wednesday, April 26th.
Please supply the records without informing me of the cost if the fees do not exceed $ 25, which I agree to pay.
If you deny any part of this request, please cite each specific reason that you think justifies your refusal to release the information. Please notify me of appeal procedures available under the law. If you have any questions processing this request, you may contact me at the following telephone number: 510-712-6704. Sincerely,
Piper McDaniel”
Following this initial request I was in contact with LaTanga Rush, who after over a month of phone calls and emails to check in and make sure the request was accurate and understood, reported that the information was unavailable. There is no way this is accurate.
Can you help me figure out if I crafted the response in a way that allows them to withhold this information (they didn’t say it wasn’t crafted correctly, but rather that the information isn’t available), and what steps I can take to follow up and access this information. As a side note, if I resubmit I would like to expand the inquiry to include spending and contracts outside Region 5.
Let me know if you have questions, and I am happy to get any sort of help.
Thanks!
Piper