Dear Secretary Locke:

This is an interim report of my progress to date in connection with an investigation of NOAA enforcement complaints sent to me by your office for my review as Special Master.

I have completed an examination of OIG, NOAA and complainant documents for all thirty-one (31) cases sent to me for review.

I have completed interviews of all complainants in the original eighteen (18) cases and seven (7) of the complainants in the additional thirteen (13) cases. I expect to complete the remaining six (6) complainant and three or four (3-4) non-party witness interviews by March 11, 2011.

On Monday, February 28, 2011, I will start interviewing NOAA personnel involved in each of the thirty-one (31) case files. These interviews should be brief as, in most cases, I have their prior recorded testimony, or OIG written interviews. I expect that all NOAA interviews should be concluded by March 21, 2011.

My legal assistants and I have completed rough drafts of findings in all but five (5) cases. These initial drafts will need to be updated as a result of further interviews and finalized as to conclusions and recommendations.

It is difficult to predict an exact completion date for the final draft of my report but I am confident that it will be done by April 15, 2011.

Very truly yours,
Charles B. Swartwood, III

Cc: Cameron F. Kerry, General Counsel
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Read the original letter here.