Global Infrasound Acoustic Monitoring Network, records of Aerial, Atmospheric and Airborne Anomalies (Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration)

To Whom It May Concern:

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

Copies of all releasable data, validating documents, communications (e.g. emails and written letters), reports and memoranda regarding unidentified aerial, atmospheric and/or airborne anomalies recorded by the Global Infrasound Acoustic Monitoring Network — as discussed internally by the federal agency or department receiving this request. This is the request to three federal groups known to participate in support of the the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization: the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration; the Department of Defense’s Defense Threat Reduction Agency; and the Department of State’s Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance. See press release here: https://www.energy.gov/nnsa/articles/sandias-support-international-nuclear-explosion-monitoring-and-treaty-verification

This request also includes all relevant sent information and analysis as sent to your agency, department, administration or bureau from the International Data Centre (IDC) in Vienna, Austria or the 300+ monitoring stations and laboratories of the International Monitoring System (IMS) regarding unidentified aerial, atmospheric and/or airborne anomalies.

The documents will be used in the course of reporting for a documentary podcasting project for iHeart Radio. As this is a journalism project, I am asking that all fees be waived. I would also ask for a staggered release schedule if certain material will take significantly longer to collect and release than the rest of the requested records.

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,

Matthew Phelan

Hello. This is a scoping update regarding my FOIA request, FOIA 22-00095-NC.

Below, pursuant to conversations with Project Manager/FOIA Consultant Angelia Bowman and FOIA/PA Administrative Processor/Specialist Logan Rhoten, I am including a set of time frames, coordinates, and other details that will hopefully assist in limiting the size of my current request. The request asked for "Copies of all releasable data, validating documents, communications (e.g. emails and written letters), reports and memoranda regarding unidentified aerial, atmospheric and/or airborne anomalies recorded by the Global Infrasound Acoustic Monitoring Network — as discussed internally by the federal agency or department receiving this request [...]" See original request for further details.

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I am hoping to cover these date ranges all at the same bounded geographic region off the coast of San Diego:

Date Ranges: November 10-16, 2004; July, 2019 (full month); and July 13-17th, 2021.
Longitude and Latitude "Bounding Box": 32 N, 28 N and 115 W, 119 W.

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I am also hoping to cover these date ranges below, all at the same bounded geographic region off the southern Atlantic coastline:

Date Ranges: 2013-2016; September 5-7, 2021; October 18–26, 2021; and November 2021 (full month)
Longitude and Latitude "Bounding Box":
40°23'11.8"N 73°52'17.8"W
39°41'53.7"N 65°46'05.9"W
26°09'45.0"N 82°35'46.9"W
24°42'52.5"N 70°13'43.9"W

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As this is a journalism project, I am asking that all fees be waived. I would also ask for a staggered release schedule if certain material will take significantly longer to collect and release than the rest of the requested records. If at all possible, it would be helpful to have "expedited processing." So, I am requesting expedited processing.

Thank you for your time, patience and diligence with respect to this request. I means a lot.

Sincerely,
Matthew Phelan