Federal Bureau of Investigation
FOI/PA Section / FOIA Officer
J. Edgar Hoover Building
935 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20535-0001
10/9/04

SUBJECT: FOIA # 1001965-000, APPEAL, TWA Flight 800, July 17, 1996, -- Request for information related to explosive findings from the crash of TWA Flight 800.

Dear Sir or Madam:

This letter is an appeal to the FBI's denial to provide information related to the July 1996 crash of TWA Flight 800. Specifically, the original July 20, 2004 FOIA letter requested the release of explosive findings and related evidence and documentation from the night of the crash. The original request is attached to this letter.

As stated in the original request, I request a waiver of fees because I am making this request on behalf of non-commercial, public interest organization. We make all information obtained under FOIA laws freely available to the public. See http://flight800.org/about.htm for more information on our public policies.

Thank you,

Thomas F. Stalcup

Federal Bureau of Investigation
FOI/PA Section / FOIA Officer
J. Edgar Hoover Building
935 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20535-0001
7/20/04

SUBJECT: FOIA Request for information and documents relating to TWA Flight 800 Explosive Findings.

Dear Sir or Madam:

This letter is a request for specific reports and documents related to the testing and analysis of explosive traces found within the wreckage of TWA Flight 800, which crashed off the coast of Long Island, NY on July 17, 1996. The airplane in question was a TWA Boeing 747-131, with tail #N93119.

Squad I-46 of the FBI's New York office drafted a report, dated 9/23/1997 and with a synopsis heading "Work performed by Bomb Technicians at Calverton, LI, re explosion of TWA Flight 800." According to this report, "Over three hundred pieces [of wreckage] were placed into [a] Bomb Tech room for further investigation."

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552, I hereby request the following information, related to the FBI investigation into the aviation incident described above:

1) A complete accounting of the 300+ pieces of wreckage placed into the "Bomb Tech room," including but not limited to any and all memos, documents, reports, analyses, or other material that contain any information on the following: the precise recovery location of each item, any identification and/or tracking numbers, complete chain of custody (including present day disposition), forensic or other analyses, conclusions and inspection results. Also a complete listing of each item that, at any time, may have tested positive for explosives.

2) Any and all photographic and video documentation of these 300+ items.

3) All documents, pictures, and/or graphics that describe determinations (presumed or confirmed) from what part of the aircraft any or all of the 300+ items came. Also, complete listings and descriptions of any items left unidentified or identified as foreign to a 747 aircraft.

The following represents evidence that may not have been placed into the "Bomb Tech room."

4) Copies of all notes, analyses, documents, memos, reports or other written material related to findings that may have been considered "positive" for explosive material by any investigator in connection to the TWA Flight 800 disaster. This includes, but is by no means limited to tests conducted on the wreckage or residues from the wreckage:
a) in or near the Calverton Hangar,
b) on any ship used to either transport or salvage wreckage,
c) in any area of New York state,
d) at any FBI or other laboratory,
e) at any other place or area, not listed above.

5) Copies of all graphics, drawings, illustrations and/or written documents that may show, depict, or describe the exact or approximate area on the Boeing 747, where each positive explosive trace (either later confirmed or not) was detected.

6) Copies of all photographic, video, audio taped, and/or any other type of recorded evidence that may show, depict, or describe the exact or approximate area on the Boeing 747, where each positive explosive trace (either later confirmed or not) was detected.

7) Copies of all notes, analyses, documents, memos, reports or other written material related to "nitrate" findings anywhere within the wreckage of TWA Flight 800.

I am requesting these records for non-commercial use and as an active member of an informal public interest group independently researching the cause of the accident. We will make all such material available through our website as a free public service.

I request a waiver of fees because my interest in the records is not primarily commercial and disclosure of the information will contribute significantly to public understanding of the events leading up to present status of the federal investigation into the crash of TWA Flight 800. I am Chairman of a non-profit group investigating the crash, and we make the results of our research freely available to the public. See our website for more information: http://Flight800.org

If documents or media are denied in whole or in part, despite the public interest, please specify which exemption(s) is (are) claimed for each passage, document, or media denied. Give the number of pages in each document and the total number of pages pertaining to this request and the dates of documents withheld. In the case of recorded media, give a complete description of any denied media or media segment. In regard to documents, I request that excised material be "blacked out" rather than "whited out" and that the remaining non-exempt portions of documents be released as provided under the Freedom of Information Act.

Please advise me of any past, present and/or future destruction of records that could be considered related in any way to this request, including the date of and authority for such destruction. As I expect to appeal any denials, please specify the office and address to which an appeal should be directed.

If my request for a waiver of fees is denied, please inform me if the fees will exceed two hundred dollars. This amount is what I am willing and able to pay, although I believe that my waiver request should be granted.

I will expect a response within 10 working days as provided by law. If my request is denied in whole or in part, I expect a detailed justification for withholding the records. I also request that any segregable portions that are not exempt to be disclosed.

If you have any questions about handling this request, you may telephone me at (774) 392-0856.

Thank you,

Thomas Stalcup