ATF support for 2024 Netflix documentary "Waco: American Apocalypse"
| Tracking # |
2024-01820 |
| Submitted | Aug. 6, 2024 |
| Due | Sept. 4, 2024 |
| Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: Brett Carollo
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
All documents pertaining to collaboration between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the production of the 2023 Netflix documentary "Waco: American Apocalypse." Such documents may include, but should not be not limited to, script notes; production assistance agreements; and all records of communications between employees of the ATF and members of the cast, crew, and production company of "Waco: American Apocalypse," including memos, notes of meetings and conference calls, emails, and other forms of communication.
I am the Director of Research Operations at a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization called The Decoding Culture Foundation. These documents will be used for public education and research purposes. I therefore request a waiver of all fees that may otherwise apply.
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,
Brett Carollo
From: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
August 16, 2024 REFER TO: 2024-01820
Mr. Brett Carollo
MuckRock News, DEPT MR171143
Boston, Massachusetts 02115
Dear Mr. Carollo:
This is to acknowledge receipt of your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request dated August 6, 2024, and received by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) on the same date, in which you requested records pertaining to the collaboration between ATF and the production of the 2023 Netflix documentary titled "Waco: American Apocalypse.” Your request was assigned ATF tracking number 2024-01820. Please refer to this number in any future communications regarding this request.
The records you seek require a search in at least one other office within ATF. Accordingly, your request presents “unusual circumstances” under the FOIA. See 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(B)(iii)(I). Because of these unusual circumstances, we are extending the time limit to respond to your request by ten additional days, as permitted by the statute. We have not completed a search to determine whether there are records within the scope of your request. The time needed to process your request will depend on the complexity of our records search and on the volume and complexity of any records located.
For your information, this office assigns incoming requests to one of three tracks: simple, complex, or expedited. Each request is then handled on a first-in, first-out basis in relation to other requests in the same track. Simple requests usually receive a response in approximately one month, whereas complex requests necessarily take longer. Your request was assigned to the Complex track. It was placed in chronological order based on the date of receipt and will be handled as quickly as possible when it is assigned for processing.
Because this Office is not assessing any fees in connection with the processing of FOIA requests at this time, there is no need for us to determine whether your request qualifies for a waiver of fees.
If you have any questions regarding the status of your request, you may contact our FOIA Public Liaison at 202-648-7390. Additionally, you may contact the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) at the National Archives and Records Administration to inquire about the FOIA mediation services they offer. The contact information for OGIS is as follows: Office of Government Information Services, National Archives and Records Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road-OGIS, College Park, Maryland 20740-6001; e-mail at ogis@nara.gov; telephone at 202-741-5770; toll free at 1-877-684-6448; or facsimile at 202-741-5769.
Sincerely,
Hirsh D. Kravitz
Acting Chief
Information and Privacy Governance Division
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