At least one federal agency’s approach to transparency is now known to be a sham. According to a lengthy senate report, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was responsible for years of intentional cover-ups and misdirection. Rather than properly complying with Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, the report shows an organized attempt to confuse and mis-inform. Is this the transparency in government president Obama was elected to provide?
(pictured: former administrator Lisa Jackson )
From The Washington Examiner:
Environmental Protection Agency officials have from the beginning of President Obama’s tenure in the Oval Office “pursued a path of obfuscation, operating in the shadows, and out of the sunlight,” according to a Senate report.
The report by Republican members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee provides a detailed description of violations of the Freedom of Information Act and other federal laws and regulations meant to encourage transparency and accountability in the government.
“The agency established an alias identity to hide the actions of the former administrator; has purposefully been unresponsive to FOIA request, oftentimes redacting information the public has a right to know; and mismanaged its electronic records system such that federal records have been jeopardized,” the report said.
“Moreover, EPA’s leadership abandoned the historic model of a specialized public servant who seeks to fairly administer the law and has instead embraced a number of controversial tactics to advance a secretive agenda,” the report said.
Do you think the EPA should be held to the same standard as the rest of government when it comes to Freedom of Information Act requests? What does this agency feel the need to conceal?
NO Accountability when requested FOIA that would expose EPA Corruption received a bill for $ 21,081 see request and response below From: “[email protected]”
Request was related to multiple positions in Region 4 Office of Civil Rights – What are they trying to hide? Why does a science agency fund over 5 fulltime FTEs and 6 part-time (positions) at a GS 12 or higher (GS 12 starts at $73,347) two of these positions are GS 13/14 Managers. May ask why 2 managers for 3 people? SEE REQUEST AND RESPONSE BELOW – WHISTLE BLOWER PROTECTED
• Old Tracking Number: EPA-R4-2016-006796
• New Tracking Number: EPA-HQ-2016-006796
• Date Submitted: 05/19/2016
• Long Description: Provide position/job descriptions and any related documents and/or documentation to the determination of the content of the description for all EPA Employees with full time or allocated responsibilities to the Office of Civil Right, between January 2010 and December 2016, include any and all changes that have occurred during this time for each position. Also describe any discrepancies between the position descriptions for all employees with who have the same position description, including but not limited to EEO Specialist, EEO Counselor, EEO Manager, EEO Special Emphasis Program Manager, EEO Manager. Use the definitions of Document(s) and describe as defined below. The term “describe” or “description” shall mean to provide a narrative statement of the matter in question, identify all documents relating or referring thereto, identify all persons having knowledge thereof, state the subject matter of each person’s knowledge and the manner in which his knowledge was obtained, and state what acts were done by each person who in any way participated in the matter in question.
From: “[email protected]”
Date: June 20, 2016 at 2:08:24 PM EDT
Subject: EPA-HQ-2016-006796 – Assurance of Payment
RE: Freedom of Information Act Request No. EPA-HQ-2016-006796
This letter concerns the above-referenced Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, received by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) on May 19, 2016. Please also see the attached letter.
You were placed in the commercial fee category, which means you will be charged for search, review, and duplication costs in accordance with the Agency’s regulations under 40 C.F.R. Part 2, Subpart A.
EPA has estimated that the aggregate cost to process your request as $ 21,081. This total is based on the search for, review, and duplicate responsive records, using the appropriate rates contained in 40 C.F.R. § 2.107(c)(2)(i)(B). Pursuant to 40 C.F.R. § 2.107(e), EPA requires written assurance of payment before processing the FOIA request when the estimated fees exceed $25.00. Once your written assurance of payment is received, we will begin to process your FOIA request.
If the actual costs fall below the provided estimate, you will only be billed the actual cost amount. If we find that the provided estimate will be insufficient to cover actual costs, we will complete work up to the amount in the assurance of payment, provide you with an estimate of fees for the remainder of work, and seek assurance of payment before completing the remainder of work. If you would like to reduce the scope of your request to reduce fees, please contact me.
In estimating costs to process your FOIA requests, the EPA has interpreted your request for [EXPLAIN THE SCOPE OF THE REQUEST IF BROAD/NARROW]. If you wish to clarify your request to cover a [BROADER SCOPE/NARROWER SCOPE], the estimated costs will be [HIGHER/LOWER][.][IF BROADER: “, and EPA would need to receive further assurance of payment and would likely need additional time to process this request.”]
Please respond to this letter with your payment assurance for the full amount, [] within ten calendar days from the date of this letter.
You may email me at [email protected] with your response or contact me at 919-541-5515 if you have any further questions. If we do not receive a response from you within this time period, we will consider your request to be voluntarily withdrawn. If you wish to request information connected to this request in the future, please reference the FOIA request number.
Investigate how the American Government keeps information from American’s by charging LARGE fees that most Americans cannot afford! Start with this!
Received $380,940 BILL from EPA – To stop citizen from recieveing INFORMATION!!! Whistle Blower Protected.
Jul 01, 2016
This letter concerns your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests of April 28, 2016, May-5, 2016, May, 19, 2016, May 22, 2016, May 23, 2016, and June 13, 2016, regarding selected personnel information.
The estimated cost for processing your requests is $380, 940.00. Pursuant to Title 40 CFR, Part 2, Section 2.120 (c) “Prepayment or Assurance of Payment,” it will be necessary for you to prepay the costs associated with your request. Upon receipt of payment, we will complete the processing of your request.
Enclosed is a Bill for Collection requesting prepayment. This represents our best estimate of costs at this time. Please forward your check or money order payable to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to the address listed below: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency FOIA and Miscellaneous Payments Cincinnati Finance Center
P.O. Box 979078
St. Louis, Missouri 63197-9000
RE: EPA- R4-2016-multiple request
To ensure proper credit for your payment, your check or money order should refer to the FOI above and should be accompanied by a copy of the enclosed Bill for Collection. Your prompt remittance of the amount indicated will be appreciated. If we have not heard from you with fifteen (15) working days from the date of this letter, we will assume that you are no longer interested in pursuing this request and your file will be closed.
To assist Regional FOIA Staff in tracking and coordinating the receipt of your prepayment with the EPA Cincinnati Finance Center, we ask that you notify the assigned FOIA Specialist, listed below, by phone once your prepayment has been forwarded. Should you have questions, please contact Karen Cody, Government Information Specialist, via email at [email protected] or by telephone at 404-562-9167. Sincerely Lou Ann Gross, Chlef
FOIA and Records Management Section
Freedom of Information Act Request Nos. EPA-R4-2016-006173, EPA-R4-2016-006174, EPA-R4-2016-006175. EPA-2016-006378, EPA-R4-2016-006379EPA-R4-2016-006794,
EPA-R4-2016-006795, EPA-R4-2016-006796, EPA-R4-2016-006799, EPA-R4-2016-006800, EPA-R4-2016-006876, EPA-R4-2016-006877, EPA-R4-2016-006878, EPA-R4-2016-006910, EPA-R4-2016-006911, EPA-R4-2016-006912, EPA-R4-2016-007497, EPA-R4-2016-007498, EPA-R4-2016-007499, EPA-R4-2016-007500, EPA-R4-2016-007501, EPA-R4-2016-007502, & EPA-R4-2016-007503
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_khks-Iu9s&feature=youtu.be