ATF drone procedures and training documents

Shawn Musgrave filed this request with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives of the United States of America.
Tracking #

2015-0739

Est. Completion None
Status
Fix Required

Communications

From: Shawn Musgrave

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:

-All procedure documents regarding deployment of unmanned aerial systems or unmanned aerial vehicles (commonly known as "drones").
-All training documents developed regarding use of UAS/UAV/drones.

The OIG report published on March 25, 2015 noted: "During our fieldwork, ATF’s Special Operation Division, Technical Operations Branch (TOB) served as ATF’s UAS program office and was therefore responsible for coordinating aviation requests for ATF operations and developing UAS training and operational procedures. [....] In October 2014, the Special Operations Division transferred ATF aviation and UAS program office responsibilities from the TOB to the Enforcement Support Branch."

The OIG report published in September 2013 note: "ATF officials told us that, as of May 2013, the ATF was developing a standard operational checklist to guide how its agents should use UAS. [....] The FBI and ATF have developed or are developing their own standard operating procedures governing UAS. We obtained copies of these procedures and found that they define specific roles and responsibilities for the UAS flight team. In addition, the procedures provide pre- and post-flight instructions that outline what the flight team should do prior to and after flight. Both procedures require that the flight team receive approval from officials responsible for completing COAs and notify the FAA of the flight."

This is a request for all such procedural and training documents provided by the ATF to OIG inspectors in support of the above finding, as well as all training and procedural documents pertaining to UAVs developed since the OIG completed its fieldwork.

Given that this FOIA is submitted in my capacity as a journalist who has covered drones extensively, I request that I be categorized as a media requester for the purpose of fees. Here is a selection of my published articles on drones:

https://www.muckrock.com/news/archives/2015/jan/12/how-843-lbs-seized-pot-lead-customs-and-border-pro/

https://www.muckrock.com/news/archives/2015/mar/03/us-marshals-service-conceal-key-details-millions-s/

https://www.muckrock.com/news/archives/2015/feb/27/while-dodging-direct-question-fbi-commits-obama-st/

https://www.muckrock.com/news/archives/2015/feb/27/while-dodging-direct-question-fbi-commits-obama-st/

https://www.muckrock.com/news/archives/2015/feb/12/fbi-and-justice-department-cant-find-drone-privacy/

https://www.muckrock.com/news/archives/2015/jan/22/air-force-knows-how-many-mq-9-drones-it-wants-cant/

I have also been published in a number of national media outlets on topics including drones and other matters pertaining to national security and technologies:

http://motherboard.vice.com/read/the-us-spent-360-million-on-border-drones-thanks-to-this-flimsy-report

http://motherboard.vice.com/read/the-air-force-says-it-needs-precisely-52-new-reaper-drones-cant-explain-why

http://motherboard.vice.com/read/do-the-fbis-drones-invade-your-privacy-sorry-thats-private

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/04/08/big-brother-better-police-work-new-technology-automatically-runs-license-plates-everyone/1qoAoFfgp31UnXZT2CsFSK/story.html

www.betaboston.com/news/2014/03/05/a-vast-hidden-surveillance-network-runs-across-america-powered-by-the-repo-industry/

https://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/02/05/nypd-social-media-policy-allows-catfishing-with-the-proper-paperwork.html

https://www.themarshallproject.org/2014/12/03/the-pentagon-finally-details-its-weapons-for-cops-giveaway

http://motherboard.vice.com/read/do-the-fbis-drones-invade-your-privacy-sorry-thats-private

https://news.vice.com/article/fbi-agent-who-killed-boston-bombing-suspects-friend-was-twice-accused-of-police-brutality

As the requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com and pertains to a matter of considerable public interest, I further request a full waiver of all fees.

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. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Shawn Musgrave

From: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives — ATF

A letter stating the request for reduced or waived fees has been accepted.

From: MuckRock.com

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on March 30, 2015. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #2015-0739.

Thank you for your help.

From: MuckRock.com

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on March 30, 2015. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #2015-0739.

Thank you for your help.

From: MuckRock.com

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on March 30, 2015. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #2015-0739.

Thank you for your help.

From: MuckRock.com

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on March 30, 2015. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #2015-0739.

Thank you for your help.

From: MuckRock.com

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on March 30, 2015. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #2015-0739.

Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.

From: Muckrock Staff

To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following request, copied below. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.

From: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Dear Mr. Musgrave:

I would like to apologize for the length of time it has taken to process your request. I am new to ATF and one of my tasks is to go back through and look at some of our older requests. Per Kiera Murray's instructions, I'm reaching out in regard to each one of your requests to see if you are still interested in receiving these materials if we locate any responsive records.

Thank you,

Hirsh

Hirsh Kravitz
Attorney, Information and Privacy Governance Division
Office of Public and Governmental Affairs
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

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