Findings from the reports of particular concern and any specific references to chimpanzees are highlighted below.
Project R&R requested animal welfare inspection reports for the prior three years on June 21, 2004. We received records on August 4, 2005, consisting of a one-page report which indicated that the inspector found no non-compliant items during that visit (dated July 16, 2003).
Subsequently, Project R&R submitted a FOIA request to the USDA on January 2, 2007 for all 2005 – 2006 inspection reports. We received a response on January 26, 2007 that included two reports dated October 31, 2005 and June 15, 2006, which reported that the inspector did not identify any non-compliant items.
On May 28, 2008, Project R&R sent a FOIA request for all 2007 inspection reports. We received one report on June 26, 2008. The report was dated February 26, 2007 and stated that the inspector did not identify any non-compliant items.
All reports were accompanied by a letter stating:
…Information has been withheld under FOIA Exemption 4, 5 U.S.C. sec 552(b)(4). Exemption 4 protects confidential business information from disclosure when its release would cause substantial harm to the competitive position of an individual, a partnership or corporation from whom the information was obtained.
Information has also been withheld pursuant to FOIA Exemption 6, 5 U.S.C. sec 552(b)(6). This exemption protects information from disclosure when its release would cause a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.
This same information has been withheld under FOIA Exemption 7(C), 5 U.S.C. sec 552 (b)(7)(C). This exemption protects from disclosure records or information compiled for law enforcement purposes when its release could reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.
This response is an example of how facilities give only bare minimum information and use all exemptions to avoid providing anything further.
