Fun with FOIA

In advance of this week's release of the Corps' internal investigation into the problems with the floodgate pumps, I thought it would be helpful for the public to have as much information as possible.

Therefore, below you will find every shop inspection record I have received through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. The shop inspection records were created by members of the Corps' Jacksonville District during their Quality Assurance (QA) efforts at MWI's facilities in Deerfield Beach, FL and Vero Beach, FL between March and May of 2006. They are the most comprehensive record we have of what happened as the pumps and drive units were assembled and tested in MWI's facility.

Some of these records were appended by Maria Garzino to her May 4, 2006 memo. However, the rest of them have not been publicly released before now. I obtained them through a FOIA request of every Shop Inspection made by Jacksonville personnel during their time at MWI's facilities.

They are a treasure trove of information, especially the pictures, none of which have been seen publicly before now. For anyone who wishes to understand the pumps, these records are required reading.

My personal favorite page comes from the April 25, 2006 report:

The top picture shows the testing warehouse in Deerfield Beach, about a month after the fire. As you can see, there was hardly any building left (no roof!). MWI attached the bridge crane to the fire-damaged steel of the building.

The bottom picture shows what is supposed to be clear water. Its actually the oatmeal-like goop that resulted from the numerous hydraulic fluid leaks during testing that are documented in the reports. The fluid and the water emulsified into something that just looks gross, never mind that it makes one wonder about how effective it was to test the pumps putting that stuff through them.

By the way, the Corps "released" the April 25th report previously in draft form. It was attached to Ms. Garzino's memo. Here's how the picture of the oatmeal looked in that release:

This is why it's important to get everything possible, and to keep asking for it. Otherwise, the Corps New Orleans District just releases the bare minimum, and hopes people are satisfied. It's always a game with these folks.

The reports are below.

(New) March 8, 2006
(New) March 17, 2006
(New) March 21, 2006
(New) April 3, 2006
(New) April 8, 2006
(Previously released as draft, final version withheld by Corps) April 10, 2006
(Previously released as draft, final version withheld by Corps) April 11, 2006
(Previously released as draft, final version withheld by Corps) April 12, 2006
(Previously released as draft, final version withheld by Corps) April 13, 2006
(Previously released as draft, final version withheld by Corps) April 14, 2006
(Previously released as draft, final version withheld by Corps) April 15 & 17, 2006
(Previously released as draft, final version withheld by Corps) April 18, 2006
(Previously released as draft, final version withheld by Corps) April 19 & 20, 2006
(Previously released as draft, final version withheld by Corps) April 21, 2006
(Previously released as draft, final version withheld by Corps) April 22, 2006
(New) April 23, 2006
(New) April 24, 2006
(New, because it is the final version, with color pictures) April 25, 2006
(New, because it is the final version, with color pictures) April 26, 2006
(New, because it is the final version) April 27, 2006
(New) April 28, 2006
(New) April 29, 2006
(New) April 30, 2006
(New) May 1, 2006
(New) May 2, 2006
(New) May 3, 2006
(New) May 4, 2006
(New) May 5, 2006
(New) May 6, 2006
(New) May 8, 2006
(New) May 10, 2006
(New) May 11, 2006
(New) May 12, 2006
(New) May 13 through 17, 2006