Description of document: List of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General (OIG) investigations closed during CY 2014
Requested date: 16-January-2015
Released date: 29-November-2016
Posted date: 09-January-2017
Source of document: FOIA Request Chief FOIA Officer The Privacy Office U.S. Department of Homeland Security 245 Murray Lane SW STOP-0655 Washington, D.C. 20528-0655
The governmentattic.org web site (“the site”) is noncommercial and free to the public. The site and materials made available on the site, such as this file, are for reference only. The governmentattic.org web site and its principals have made every effort to make this information as complete and as accurate as possible, however, there may be mistakes and omissions, both typographical and in content. The governmentattic.org web site and its principals shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused, or alleged to have been caused, directly or indirectly, by the information provided on the governmentattic.org web site or in this file. The public records published on the site were obtained from government agencies using proper legal channels. Each document is identified as to the source. Any concerns about the contents of the site should be directed to the agency originating the document in question. GovernmentAttic.org is not responsible for the contents of documents published on the website. OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL Department of Homeland Security
Washington, DC 20528 / www.oig.dhs.gov
November 29, 2016
Subject: OIG Freedom of Information Act Request No. 2015-076 Final Response
This responds to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG), dated December 30, 2014, seeking a copy of the printout or database listings of DHS OIG investigations closed during calendar year 2014. Your request was received in this office on January 16, 2015.
In response to your request, a search of the DHS-OIG Office of Investigations was conducted. That search resulted in the enclosed records responsive to your request. We reviewed the responsive records under the FOIA to determine whether they may be disclosed to you. Based on that review, this office is providing the following:
1 page( s) are released in full (RIF); 419 page( s) are released in part (RIP);
The exemptions cited for withholding records or portions of records are marked below.
Freedom of Information Act, 5 U .S.C. § 552 Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552a D 552 b [gl 552 b
D 552(b)(4l D 552(b)(7)(B) 0552 (b )(7)(F) D Other: OIG redacted from the enclosed documents, the names and identifying information of complainants, witnesses, law enforcement officers, and third parties to protect the identities of these individuals. Absent a Privacy Act waiver, the release of such information concerning the third parties named in these records would result in an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy in violation of the Privacy Act. Information is also protected from disclosure pursuant to Exemptions (b)(6), (b)(7)(C), and (b)(7)(D) of the FOIA as further discussed below.
Exemption 6, 5 U .S.C. § 552(b)(6)
Exemption 6 allows withholding of "personnel and medical files and similar files the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy." 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(6)(emphasis added). DHS-OIG is invoking Exemption 6 to protect the names of third parties and government employees and any information that could reasonably be expected to identify such individuals.
Exemption 7(C), 5 U .S.C. § 552(b)(7)(C)
Exemption 7(C) protects from public disclosure "records or information compiled for law enforcement purposes ... if disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy." 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(7)(C). DHS-OIG is invoking Exemption 7(C) to protect the identities of complainants, witnesses, law enforcement officers, and third parties, and any information contained in these investigative records that could reasonably be expected to identify those individuals.
Exemption 7(D), 5 U .S.C. § 552(b)(7)(D)
Exemption 7(D) protects "records or information compiled for law enforcement purposes, but only to the extent that the production of such law enforcement records or information could reasonably be expected to disclose the identity of a confidential source." 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(7)(D). DHS-OIG is invoking Exemption 7(D) to protect the identities and information provided by confidential informants that, if released, could reasonably be expected to disclose the identity of a confidential source.
Appeal
You have the right to appeal this response. Your appeal must be in writing and received within 60 days of the date of this response. Please address any appeal to:
2 FOIA/PA Appeals Unit DHS-OIG Office of Counsel Stop 0305 245 Murray Lane, SW Washington, DC 20528-0305
Both the envelope and letter of appeal must be clearly marked, "Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act Appeal." Your appeal letter must also clearly identify the DHS-OIG's response. Additional information on submitting an appeal is set forth in the DHS regulations at 6 C.F.R. § 5.9 If you have any questions about this response, please contact Steven Phelps, FOIA/PA Disclosure Specialist, at [email protected].
Sincerely, Ste ve11 G. ?hetps
Steven G. Phelps FOIA/PA Disclosure Specialist Enclosure( s)
3 Cafe q Received Date Date Opened Date Allegation All