September 29, 2014
Tarah Kesterson
Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME)
P.O. Drawer 900
Big Stone Gap, VA 24219
RE: Request for records under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act
Dear Ms. Kesterson:
My name is Scott Peterson. I am the Executive Director of the Checks and Balances Project, a government and industry watchdog group. In accordance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2 -3700 et seq.), I am requesting copies of any and all records, including meetings, emails, and phone logs, related to a request for proposal, preliminary negotiations, and a contract between the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME) and Professor Michael E. Karmis of Virginia Tech to conduct a cost benefit analysis as required by the legislature for Virginia to comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act. Contracts are open records. If the cost benefit analysis is being done pro bono by Karmis, there is also no reason for that to be kept secret.
I also seek any and all public records, including records of meetings, emails, and phone logs, between DMME Energy Division Director Al Christopher and 1) Office of the Governor Policy Director Anna James, 2) Office of the Governor Deputy Policy Director Jay Swanson, 3) Deputy Secretary of Natural Resources Evan Fienman and 4) Hayes Framme of the Office of the Secretary of Commerce and Trade about or to Dr. Karmis and any representatives of the above parties since January 2, 2014.
If there are any fees for searching or copying these records, please inform me if the cost will exceed $200. The Virginia Freedom of Information Act requires a response to this request be made within five business days. If access to the records I am requesting will take longer than this amount of time, please contact me with information about when I might expect copies or the ability to inspect the requested records. If you deny any or all of this request, please cite each specific exemption you feel justifies the refusal to release the information and notify me of the appeal procedures available to me under the law.
If you have any questions or require additional information in order to process my request, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected]. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter.
Sincerely,
Scott Peterson
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