NOAA’s initial response indicated that no records were found directly responsive to the FOIA request. Despite this, NOAA took an unusual step by providing previously released correspondence involving AARO and the UAPTF, demonstrating a rare level of agency cooperation with FOIA requesters. In their response letter, NOAA stated, “After searching our files, we were unable to locate records that are responsive to your request. However, we do have previously released records containing correspondence associated with AARO and/or Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF). You can have access to them, and they are attached for convenience.”
It is unclear who the past FOIA requester was that received these, or if the records have ever been published before.
The attached records offer a window into NOAA’s interactions with military and intelligence agencies on matters related to UAP. One of the documents includes an invitation for AARO personnel to visit NOAA’s Sterling Field Support Center. This visit was part of broader interagency efforts to coordinate on the complexities of UAP sightings.
Other correspondence revealed NOAA’s meetings with Navy officials during the days of the UAP Task Force, highlighting the agency’s long-standing role in supporting UAP investigations.
One of the more revealing elements of the release was NOAA’s internal concern over the impact of amateur balloon launches on UAP data. An email from January 24, 2022, addressed the issue of “sky trash,” a term used by NOAA officials to describe the increasing clutter in the sky caused by various amateur balloon activities. “Although STEM is a very valuable initiative, this effort is probably causing some air clutter. Sky trash is becoming a problem and probably needs to be monitored somehow,” one email stated. This correspondence highlights how balloon launches, often intended for educational or amateur purposes, can complicate efforts to identify and study unexplained aerial phenomena.
The documents also detailed the challenges NOAA faced in verifying balloon data in relation to UAP events. In a series of emails, NOAA personnel discussed the difficulties of confirming whether NOAA weather balloons were present in areas reported to have UAP sightings. One email noted, “We have an upcoming meeting (May 3rd) with the Navy regarding the Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon Task Force where the Navy will likely ask us to help check 200 lat/lon points to verify that an NWS weather balloon was or was not in the area.”
Throughout the correspondence, NOAA’s emphasis on interagency collaboration was clear. The agency’s willingness to host meetings, share data, and engage with military and intelligence personnel shows NOAA’s proactive role in the broader effort to understand UAP.
The release of these documents, although not directly responsive to the initial FOIA request, provides a detailed glimpse into NOAA’s involvement with UAP investigations.
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This post was published on September 26, 2024 4:15 pm
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