FOIA outliers: queues, high volume procedures, FIFO exceptions + unusual circumstances (Department of Homeland Security)

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

* Documents describing or generated as part of the establishment of any different processing queues for FOIA requests

* Documents describing the rules and procedures governing any different processing FOIA queues

* Documents, produced in the previous 15 years, containing reports or statistics describing the FOIA processing queues

* Documents describing procedures for the handling or coordination of requests from high volume FOIA requesters

* Documents describing procedures, rules and prerequisites for any exceptions to processing requests in a "first in, first out" process

* Documents describing procedures and rules for the processing of especially complex or delicate FOIA requests

* Documents describing procedures and rules for the processing of 'high visibility' FOIA requests, such as those which are likely to elicit reactions from the media or the public

* Documents describing procedures and rules for the processing of FOIA requests from members of Congress and federal government agencies

* Documents describing procedures and rules for the processing of FOIA requests from non-federal law enforcement agencies

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,

Emma Best

I am appealing the response in its entirety, as the links do not address the actual request.

1. The follow materials were requested, but not included in any of the documents I was sent a link to (and was already aware were released, hence why I didn't request them): Documents describing or generated as part of the establishment of any different processing queues for FOIA requests

2. The follow materials were requested, but not included in any of the documents I was sent a link to (and was already aware were released, hence why I didn't request them): Documents describing the rules and procedures governing any different processing FOIA queues

3. The follow materials were requested, but not included in any of the documents I was sent a link to (and was already aware were released, hence why I didn't request them): Documents, produced in the previous 15 years, containing reports or statistics describing the FOIA processing queues

4. The follow materials were requested, but not included in any of the documents I was sent a link to (and was already aware were released, hence why I didn't request them): Documents describing procedures for the handling or coordination of requests from high volume FOIA requesters

5. The follow materials were requested, but not included in any of the documents I was sent a link to (and was already aware were released, hence why I didn't request them): Documents describing procedures, rules and prerequisites for any exceptions to processing requests in a "first in, first out" process

6. The follow materials were requested, but not included in any of the documents I was sent a link to (and was already aware were released, hence why I didn't request them): Documents describing procedures and rules for the processing of especially complex or delicate FOIA requests

7. The follow materials were requested, but not included in any of the documents I was sent a link to (and was already aware were released, hence why I didn't request them): Documents describing procedures and rules for the processing of 'high visibility' FOIA requests, such as those which are likely to elicit reactions from the media or the public

8. The follow materials were requested, but not included in any of the documents I was sent a link to (and was already aware were released, hence why I didn't request them): Documents describing procedures and rules for the processing of FOIA requests from members of Congress and federal government agencies

9. The follow materials were requested, but not included in any of the documents I was sent a link to (and was already aware were released, hence why I didn't request them): Documents describing procedures and rules for the processing of FOIA requests from non-federal law enforcement agencies

In fact, a review of the request and the links I was sent shows that virtually NONE of what was requested was actually provided. On this basis, I appeal the agency's response in its entirety and it's refusal to actually search for records containing the actual information requested, as opposed to links to documents containing information that was not what was requested.