Greg Sheehan, Director
| Tracking # |
FWS-2020-00025 |
| Submitted | Aug. 21, 2019 |
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Communications
From: Taylor Amarel Scott
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
I would like to obtain all emails sent to, from, or copied to Greg Sheehan, Director from June 1, 2019 to Present Day containing any of the following non-case-sensitive key-strings: "Ross", "Endangered", "Species Act", "POTUS", "Miller", or "Mulvaney".
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,
Taylor Amarel Scott
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 21, 2019. 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: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Taylor,
We have no record of ever receiving the request you mention in your status
inquiry. We can not find your original email in this inbox or in our
tracking system. We are not sure why and apologize for any inconvenience.
However, you are asking for records of Greg Sheehan's from June of 2019 to
present day. Greg left the FWS in August of 2018. So, we will have no
records. Was that how you intended to write your request? Would you like
to withdraw your request or resubmit with a new scope? Please let us know
how to proceed.
Thanks,
Connie Rose
--
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Headquarters Freedom of Information Act Office
MS: IRTM
5275 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22041
From: Taylor Amarel Scott
Hello, you can see the history of the request here: https://www.muckrock.com/foi/united-states-of-america-10/greg-sheehan-director-79136/
From: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Taylor,
Yes, I see the history of the request. Unfortunately, we still have no
record of receiving it. If you would like to discuss that further you may
contact our FOIA Public Liaison, Cathy Willis at 720-425-5173. I would
like to address your request now that I know it was sent. As I mentioned
in my previous email, your request seeks records of Greg Sheehan's from
June of 2019 to present day. Greg left the FWS in August of 2018. I can
either issue you a no records response, you could withdraw your request, or
you could modify the scope. Please let us know how to proceed.
Regards,
Connie Rose
--
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Headquarters Freedom of Information Act Office
MS: IRTM
5275 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22041
From: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Taylor,
I didn't see a response from you on this. Could you please let me know how
to proceed with your request? Your request seeks records of Greg Sheehan's
from June of 2019 to present. Greg left the FWS in August of 2018. I can
either issue you a no records response, you could withdraw your request, or
you could modify the scope.
Thanks,
Connie Rose
--
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Headquarters Freedom of Information Act Office
MS: IRTM
5275 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22041
From: Taylor Amarel Scott
Thank you, sorry for the delay.
Could you modify the scope of the request for the 6 months preceding Greg Sheehan's departure? Assuming the departure was in August of 2018, please search from February 2018 to August 2018.
Thank you.
From: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Taylor,
Thanks for your reply. Yes, I will search for the last 6 months of Greg's
tenure with FWS. I will start working on this shortly.
Connie Rose
--
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Headquarters Freedom of Information Act Office
MS: IRTM
5275 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22041
From: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Taylor,
Your tracking number for this request is FWS-2020-00025.
Regards,
Connie Rose
--
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Headquarters Freedom of Information Act Office
MS: IRTM
5275 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22041
From: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Taylor,
I completed the search for Greg's emails from Feb. - Aug 2018 with the
keywords you provided. There are 3,130 emails. In an effort to get you a
more efficient response, would you be willing to clarify or narrow the
scope of your request?
In particular, the keywords "endangered" and "species act" are very broad
and show up in many contexts. Is there some aspect of those keywords or
species that you are most interested in? When I run the same search
without those words there are 713 emails.
Do your keywords "Ross" "Miller" and "Mulvaney" refer to someone or
something in particular? That is showing up in many contexts as well (many
different FWS and partner employees with those names, etc). If those are
all referring to people, perhaps we could include full names in quotes or
search for emails to/from Greg and those people?
Finally, POTUS may pull in news articles/media emails that are likely
available online elsewhere - Are you interested in those?
Feel free to call me if its easier to discuss over the phone.
Thanks,
Connie Rose
--
Connie Rose
FOIA Coordinator
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters
703-358-2470
--
Connie Rose
FOIA Coordinator
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters
703-358-2470
From: Taylor Amarel Scott
Thank you for the email.
"In particular, the keywords "endangered" and "species act" are very broad
and show up in many contexts. Is there some aspect of those keywords or
species that you are most interested in? When I run the same search
without those words there are 713 emails."
-Would it be possible to combine "endangered" and "species act" and only search for "endangered species act".
"Do your keywords "Ross" "Miller" and "Mulvaney" refer to someone or
something in particular? That is showing up in many contexts as well (many
different FWS and partner employees with those names, etc). If those are
all referring to people, perhaps we could include full names in quotes or
search for emails to/from Greg and those people?"
-Would it be possible to limit to "Stephen Miller", "Mick Mulvaney", "Ross Flagen" and "Wilbur Ross".
"Finally, POTUS may pull in news articles/media emails that are likely
available online elsewhere - Are you interested in those?"
-I'm not interested in publicly available news articles, media emails, newsletters, spam, or junk mail.
Let me know if that helps.
From: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Thanks for your reply Taylor.
I reran the search with your new suggested search terms. That resulted in
2,039 emails.
Of those, approx. 1200 emails are form letters from members of the public
urging then FWS Director Sheehan to "reinstate immediately the Decision
issued in July 17, 2014 that regulated the "Use of Agricultural Practices
in Wildlife Management in the National Wildlife Refuge System". Those are
responsive to other FOIA requests we have received and are available here:
https://www.fws.gov/irm/bpim/docs/nwrs_ag_practices/Ag_Practices_Memo_Combined_Records_1st_release_Redacted.pdf.
I will eliminate these from the response to your request.
There are likely a few other emails that I can eliminate as news
articles, newsletters, duplicates, etc. That brings the total down to
approximately 800 emails.
The only other larger groupings of emails that I see are calendar/mtg/conf.
call invites, congressional affairs updates, and DOI cabinet reports. The
Congressional Affairs updates are mostly the scheduled events with Congress
and proposed bills that pertain to the FWS - largely public information.
The DOI cabinet reports are paragraphs of the latest happenings/upcoming
events of important topics that the various bureaus report up to the
Department. They cover a large variety of topics, many of which may be of
no interest to you. There are also a handful of "notices of intent to sue"
regarding the ESA - mostly from Center for Biological Diversity which are
usually available on their website. Please let me know if I can eliminate
any of these from the search as well.
I will start processing these emails, but please let me know if you wish to
narrow the search in any other way.
Thanks,
Connie Rose
--
Connie Rose
FOIA Coordinator
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters
703-358-2470
From: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Taylor,
I wanted to let you know that I have started processing the records
responsive to your request. There are over 13,000 pages. The review of
this large of volume will take some time. It appears there are some
outside Departments/Agencies involved so that will require consultation
with those entities which will add more time as well. If you are
interested in refining or narrowing the scope of your request any further,
please give me a call at 703-358-2470.
Thanks,
Connie
--
Connie Rose
FOIA Coordinator
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters
703-358-2470
From: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Taylor,
Attached is a formal acknowledgement and fee letter regarding your Freedom
of Information Act (FOIA) request dated August 21, 2019 and received by the
Headquarters FOIA Office on September 19, 2019.
Your request has been assigned tracking number FWS-2020-00025. Please cite
this number in any future communications with our office regarding your
request.
If you have any questions, you may contact me by phone at 703-358-2470 or
by email at connie_rose@fws.gov.
Regards,
Connie Rose
--
Connie Rose
FOIA Coordinator
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters
703-358-2470
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 21, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #FWS-2020-00025.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Taylor,
The first interim release of approx. 3,000 pgs is routing through the final
step of final review. I hope to make that release within the next couple
weeks. I also have a second interim release of approx. 3,000 pgs that is
just starting through the first step of final review. There are approx.
6,500 more pages that I need to review and route.
Connie Rose
--
Connie Rose
FOIA Coordinator
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters
703-358-2470
From: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Connie Rose has shared files with you
via DatAnywhere
These are the responsive records to your FOIA (FWS-2020-00025) 1st interim release.
Each time you click on the link, a PIN code for accessing the files will be sent to your email address.
To help you match which PIN code is valid for each link you receive, the same message ID is included in all PIN code emails that refer to this link.
Message ID: yQ6Q
(https://fileshare.fws.gov/?linkid=YZi4zr6VWWUroc3RapL2koz3m5L3Hfyd8YDODS6ncAG/VD1ei1ciGVOipbN/OxHCUyxLopG96UmadCJJ+9SBcTdljjZ0U3v0nJbgLdleJhvJAHSsbJxFCtaM2MwpyvIAOc4B+BnSjPyVqUwhx61CnQ) Open the Shared Link
From: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Taylor,
Attached is a 1st interim response letter regarding your Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) request dated August 21, 2019. The responsive
records will be shared with you via a separate email. Please let me know
if you have any issues accessing the records.
Your request was assigned tracking number FWS-2020-00025. Please cite this
number in any future communications with our office regarding your request.
This email completes our response to your request. If you have any
questions, you may contact me by phone at 703-358-2470 or by email at
connie_rose@fws.gov.
Regards,
Connie Rose
--
Connie Rose
FOIA Coordinator
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters
703-358-2470
From: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
DatAnywhere link activation
PIN code is: yam1qj
Use this PIN code to access the link you received by email with the following message ID:yQ6Q
From: Taylor Amarel Scott
Hi,
Thanks so much for your help with this request! I really appreciate it.
Sincerely,
Taylor Amarel Scott
From: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Connie Rose has shared files with you
via DatAnywhere
These are the 2nd interim release records regarding your FOIA Request FWS-2020-00025.
Each time you click on the link, a PIN code for accessing the files will be sent to your email address.
To help you match which PIN code is valid for each link you receive, the same message ID is included in all PIN code emails that refer to this link.
Message ID: dGEQ
(https://fileshare.fws.gov/?linkid=YZi4zr6VWWVqSeiSD8MOm5eXKJyAd7+M8YDODS6ncAG/VD1ei1ciGVOipbN/OxHCUyxLopG96UmadCJJ+9SBcTdljjZ0U3v0nJbgLdleJhvJAHSsbJxFCtaM2MwpyvIAOc4B+BnSjPyVqUwhc6x6RA) Open the Shared Link
From: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Taylor,
Attached is a 2nd interim response letter regarding your Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) request dated August 21, 2019. The responsive
records will be shared with you via a separate email. Please let me know
if you have any issues accessing the records.
Your request was assigned tracking number FWS-2020-00025. Please cite this
number in any future communications with our office regarding your request.
If you have any questions, you may contact me by phone at 703-358-2470 or
by email at connie_rose@fws.gov.
Regards,
Connie Rose
--
Connie Rose
FOIA Coordinator
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters
703-358-2470
From: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
DatAnywhere link activation
PIN code is: cnp3vc
Use this PIN code to access the link you received by email with the following message ID:dGEQ
From: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
DatAnywhere link activation
PIN code is: c6ybcc
Use this PIN code to access the link you received by email with the following message ID:yQ6Q
From: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
DatAnywhere link activation
PIN code is: phx1s9
Use this PIN code to access the link you received by email with the following message ID:dGEQ
From: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
DatAnywhere link activation
PIN code is: i2iz2p
Use this PIN code to access the link you received by email with the following message ID:yQ6Q
From: Taylor Amarel Scott
Thank you for the assistance with this request - highly appreciated.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 21, 2019. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #FWS-2020-00025.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Hello, Taylor-
Connie Rose is currently on detail with the OS FOIA Office so forwarded your email to me as I am working her case files. It looks like interim responses were sent December 27, 2019 and January 10, 2020. There are four requests I am working that were received prior to your request (received in 2018 and 2019) and we work FOIA requests on a first in, first out basis. I therefore expect that I can send a response by March 6, 2020.
Thank you,
Stacey Cummins
FOIA Coordinator
Branch of FOIA, Records, Privacy
US Fish and Wildlife Service
303-236-4473
Pronouns: she, her, hers
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm following up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 21, 2019. You had previously indicated that it would be completed on March 6, 2020. I wanted to check on the status of my request, and to see if there was a new estimated completion date. You had assigned it reference number #FWS-2020-00025.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Hello-
There are still 6517 pages to be reviewed for your request.
In looking at correspondence Ms. Rose had with you, can you please clarify one last item in the attached email? Can you please let me know if you require the following information:
"The only other larger groupings of emails that I see are calendar/mtg/conf. call invites, congressional affairs updates, and DOI cabinet repots. The Congressional Affairs updates are mostly the scheduled events with Congress and proposed bills that pertain to the FWS - largely public information. The DOI cabinet reports are paragraphs of the latest happening/upcoming events of important topics that the various bureaus report up to the Department. They cover a large variety of topics, many of which may be of no interest to you. There are also a handful of "notices of intent to sue" regarding the ESA - mostly from the Center for Biological Diversity which are usually available on their website."
Thank you,
Stacey Cummins
FOIA Coordinator
Branch of FOIA, Records, Privacy
US Fish and Wildlife Service
303-236-4473
Pronouns: she, her, hers
From: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Hello, Taylor-
I am following up on the email below, but also wanted to ask if you require emails where "Endangered Species Act" is in the signature block, but not the content of the email. For example, an employee's title is "Endangered Species Act Litigation Specialist".
Please let me know if you require this information.
Thank you,
Stacey Cummins
FOIA Coordinator
Branch of FOIA, Records, Privacy
US Fish and Wildlife Service
303-236-4473
Pronouns: she, her, hers
From: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Please see attached.
If you have any questions, you may contact me by email at stacey_cummins@fws.gov or by phone at 303-236-4473.
Thank you,
Stacey Cummins
FOIA Coordinator
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Headquarters Freedom of Information Act Office
MS: IRTM
5275 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22041
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