On 23 November 2001, the following e-mail was sent to Defense Security Service (DSS) Freedom of Information/Privacy Act Specialist Tanya R. Layne <tanya.layne@mail.dss.mil> in response to her letter dated 9 November 2001 denying AntiPolygraph.org's Freedom of Information Act request dated 5 September 2001 for "All Department of Defense Polygraph Institute (DoDPI) materials describing the R/I (Relevant/Irrelevant) Screening Test, whether on paper, videotape, computer media, or in any other format." On 29 November 2001, Ms. Layne of DSS replied. For discussion of this FOIA request, see the message board thread, DSS Withholds R/I Screening Documentation.
Dear Ms. Layne: I received today your letter dated 9 November 2001 withholding all material responsive to my Freedom of Information Act request dated 5 September 2001 for "[a]ll Department of Defense Polygraph Institute (DoDPI) materials describing the R/I (Relevant/Irrelevant) Screening Test, whether on paper, videotape, computer media, or in any other format." In your letter, you characterize your withholding of this material as only a "partial denial," apparently based on your contention that the amount of releasable material is "relatively small" and not "reasonably segregable." In order that I may decide whether to appeal your partial denial, I request that you provide me with a description of the material witheld, in compliance with Section (a)(6)(F) of the Freedom of Information Act, which provides, "In denying a request for records, in whole or in part, an agency shall make a reasonable effort to estimate the volume of any requested matter the provision of which is denied, and shall provide any such estimate to the person making the request, unless providing such estimate would harm an interest protected by the exemption in subsection (b) pursuant to which the denial is made." Merely describing the material withheld will not harm any interest protected by the exemption in subsection (b), and I request that you promptly provide me with an inventory of the materials responsive to my request that you identified and reviewed, with brief descriptions of each item. Sincerely, George W. Maschke AntiPolygraph.org Note: Your letter of 9 November 2001 will be placed on-line at: http://antipolygraph.org/foia/foia-007-1.shtml A copy of this e-mail message will be placed on-line at: http://antipolygraph.org/foia/foia-007-2.shtml