[Pharmwaste] update on DEA Freedom of Information Request

Catherine Zimmer zenllc at usfamily.net
Tue Oct 1 18:45:01 EDT 2013


Hi Ed,
Thanks for this report and for continuing to pursue info from the DEA.  It is important for them to understand they are not the only ones in the controlled substance management and disposal “game”.  
Although I wasn’t present at any of DEA’s take back events, it would seem because of CS and identification, etc. there would be site data fairly available.  But, as we know, DEA is not in the customer service business.  

Very truly yours,

Catherine Zimmer, MS, BSMT
Principal
Zimmer Environmental Improvement LLC
Ph: 651.645.7509

From: Ed Gottlieb 
Sent: Tuesday, October 01, 2013 3:23 PM
To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us 
Subject: [Pharmwaste] update on DEA Freedom of Information Request

As you may recall, quite some time ago I submitted a FOIR request to the DEA for detailed data from their National Take-Back Initiative.
I am hoping to determine if there is a statistically valid pattern to the weight collected at locations over time.  In other words, in general, does the amount collected at a site increase, level off, or decrease over time?

They denied the initial request, claiming the information didn't exist.  Using information some of you provided, I appealed the denial by establishing that DEA branch offices did, in fact, collect this data.  The appeal was upheld by the Dept. of Justice and the question was remanded back to DEA for a response.  

I finally received the DEA's reply, a table listing national totals for "NTBI" events I-VI for:  "LE Participants", "Collection Sites", & "Pounds Collected"; eighteen numbers total.  I asked them for detailed site data, not national totals.  They left it to me to figure out the abbreviations.  It took awhile for me to get that "LE" stood for "Law Enforcement".      

Today, I submitted another administrative appeal to the DOJ.  My cynical guess is that they will deny the request, claiming it will take an unreasonable amount of time to collect the data (i.e. to ask their branch offices to send them numbers and then forward them to me.)  
   
Ed Gottlieb

Chair, Coalition for Safe Medication Disposal 

Industrial Pretreatment Coordinator 

Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility

525 3rd Street

Ithaca, NY 14850

(607) 273-8381

fax: (607) 273-8433






--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
Note: As a courtesy to other listserv subscribers, please post messages to the listserv in plain text format to avoid the garbling of messages received by digest recipients.
---
TO SUBSCRIBE, go to:   http://lists.dep.state.fl.us/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/pharmwaste 
TO UNSUBSCRIBE, DO NOT REPLY TO THE LISTSERV. Please send an e-mail to pharmwaste-unsubscribe at lists.dep.state.fl.us -- the subject line and body of the e-mail should be blank.
If you believe you may be subscribed with a different email address, please visit the subscriber listing at http://lists.dep.state.fl.us/cgi-bin/mailman/roster/pharmwaste 
FOR PROBLEMS:  Contact List Administrator Laurie.Tenace at dep.state.fl.us 
SEND MAIL to the list server at:  pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.dep.state.fl.us/pipermail/pharmwaste/attachments/20131001/8ad8daf1/attachment.htm


More information about the Pharmwaste mailing list