Contamination on MCAS Futenma, Okinawa

To Whom It May Concern:

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

All files, records, reports, memos, talking papers, "game plans" and summary papers regarding chemical, biological and radiological contamination on MCAS Futenma, Okinawa.

I am making this request as a representative of the media. I have written extensively about the US military presence on Okinawa - these articles have been published by The Japan Times and Asia-Pacific Journal. In addition, this research has been published in Asahi Shimbun, Ryukyu Shimpo and Okinawa Times. These articles have been the focus of intense public debate.

I refer to the above articles in support that my request receive expedited processing. There is “urgency to inform the public concerning actual or alleged Federal Government activity.” 5 U.S.C. § 552. I believe there is widespread and exceptional media interest in which there exist possible questions about the government’s integrity affecting public confidence.

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,

Jon Mitchell

Dear CDR Don Nordstrom,

Many thanks for your quick response on this important issue.

As you state in your reply, "this request is in the area of responsibility under U.S. Pacific Command", therefore I am asking that your office continue to process my request,

I look forward to hearing from you soon,

Mitchell

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on July 15, 2015. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

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

Dear Sean W. Haynes,

Many thanks for your response.

I have received neither any emails nor posted responses related to this request.

Would you be able to advise?

Mitchell

To Whom It May Concern:

An appeal has been sent to the following address:

Judge Advocate General
ATTN: FOIA Appeal
1322 Patterson Avenue SE, Suite 3000
Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374-5066

If appeals should be sent to another address, provision of appeal directions would be greatly appreciated. It will be assumed that the letter sent today will satisfy the necessary response within the requested timeframe.

Thank you.

Judge Advocate General
ATTN: FOIA Appeal
1322 Patterson Avenue SE, Suite 3000
Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374-5066

Dear Administrator,

This is an appeal under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552.

On July 15 2015, I made a FOIA request to your agency for:

All files, records, reports, memos, talking papers, "game plans" and summary papers regarding chemical, biological and radiological contamination at MCAS Futenma, Okinawa.

On October 25 2015, your agency provided me with a single document titled “Radioactive Materials Identification and Immediate Response” (June 11 2012).

Here it is clear that your agency has failed to fulfill its obligation in searching diligently for all the documents requested. There have been a number of well-publicised environmental incidents at MCAS Futenma - including fuel spills and the unearthing of chemical waste.

For example, in the summer of 1981, the installation’s head of maintenance uncovered approximately 100 chemical barrels - and the Board of Veterans’ Appeals acknowledged his exposure to “hazardous chemicals” in August 2015. (see: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2015/08/17/issues/u-s-marine-wins-compensation-okinawa-toxin-exposure-calls-tests-residents-near-futenma/#.VlBO_YRLddm)

Please note that my initial request asked for all records related to “chemical, biological and radiological contamination” at MCAS Futenma - which includes environmental surveys conducted within the installation. If your office has no such records then this suggests that no surveys have ever been conducted at the Air Station.

If materials responsive to my request exist as a subset of a larger dataset, provision of that information would be appreciated. Given the U.S. military’s thorough cataloging of such incidents, it is improbable that no records containing information related to contamination exist.

I trust that upon re-consideration, you will re-investigate my request. However, if you deny this appeal, I intend to initiate a lawsuit to compel disclosure.

As I have made this request in the capacity of a journalist and this information is of timely value, I would appreciate your expediting the consideration of my appeal in every way possible. In any case, I will expect to receive your decision within 20 business days, as required by the statute.

Thank you for your assistance,

Jon Mitchell

Dear Sir/Madam,

Would you be able to send me an update with the estimated completion date for this appeal?

Many thanks,

Mitchell

To Whom It May Concern:

No materials regarding this request have yet been received. Please confirm the address to which they were sent. For this particular request, the appropriate address would be

MuckRock News
DEPT MR 19730
P.O. Box 55819
Boston, MA 02205

If confusion remains, renewed provision of the materials, including the associated cover letter, would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you very much for your help.