USDA Equal Employment Opportunity Act Complaints

Thank you for contacting the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). This is an automated response to the EEOC FOIA email box, and is not a determination on your request for records. If it is determined that your request is a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), it will be forwarded to the appropriate FOIA component within 10 working days of its receipt. You will also receive an official acknowledgment that your FOIA request has been received and when you can expect a response.

This office is open from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. Requests submitted after close of business are not deemed received until the next business day. FOIA allows government agencies 20 business days to issue a determination on a FOIA request for records. Additionally, agencies may extend their response time by 10 business days in unusual circumstances, and toll the 20-day response time until a response is received to a reasonable request for clarification or fee information. You will be notified in writing if such an extension or tolling occurs.

While the EEOC will forward electronic responses, including records granted, in accordance with the FOIA, the official determination will be issued in paper format, including an original signature. Therefore, if you did not provide a physical mailing address in your original e-mail, we will be unable to issue a determination on your FOIA request.

You may contact our office at any time between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:30 pm at 202-663-4500 or by fax at 202-653-6034.

Thank-you,
EEOC Office of FOIA Programs

*Please visit our website at www.eeoc.gov to access information concerning FOIA administration at the EEOC, including the following FOIA related documents:

The EEOC FOIA Reference Guide provides basic information, such as where and how to make a FOIA request, the time for EEOC to respond to a request, fees and fee waivers, responses to initial requests, and how and where to file an appeal of a determination made on the initial FOIA request. The Guide can be found at the following link: http://www.eeoc.gov/foia/handbook.html

EEOC Freedom of Information Act Questions and Answers can be found at the following link: http://www.eeoc.gov/foia/qanda_foiarequest.html

EEOC Freedom of Information Act Requests for Charge Files Questions and Answers can be found at the following link: http://www.eeoc.gov/foia/qanda_foiacharge.html

>>> <requests@muckrock.com> 04/13/16 21:42 >>>

April 13, 2016
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Stephanie D. Garner
Assistant Legal Counsel/FOIA
EEOC - OLC/FOIA Programs
131 M Street NE, Suite 5NW02E
Washington, DC 20507

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:

All complaints alleging violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Act by the US Department of Agriculture, for the years 2000 through 2015.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Evan Anderson

------
Filed via MuckRock.com
E-mail (Preferred): requests@muckrock.com

For mailed responses, please address (see note):
MuckRock
DEPT MR 25196
411A Highland Ave
Somerville, MA 02144-2516

PLEASE NOTE: This request is not filed by a MuckRock staff member, but is being sent through MuckRock by the above in order to better track, share, and manage public records requests. Also note that improperly addressed (i.e., with the requester's name rather than "MuckRock News" and the department number) requests might be returned as undeliverable.
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Dear Mr. Anderson,
Attached is our letter acknowledging receipt of your FOIA request.
Thank you
Tracy L. Smalls
FOIA Programs

Good afternoon Mr. Anderson,

We have received your FOIA request. However, we are not clear as to what you are seeking. Your request states you are looking for complaint alleging violation of the EEO Act by the US Department of Agriculture.

Can you please be more specific. Are you searching for complaints that were filed against Department of Agriculture filed through EEOC?

Thank you

Rhonda Durham

Mr. Anderson,

Are you searching for statistics only or are you seeking a copy of all of the decisions from 2000-2015?

Thank you for your clarification.

Rhonda Durham

>>> <requests@muckrock.com> 5/17/2016 5:13 PM >>>

May 17, 2016
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Stephanie D. Garner
Assistant Legal Counsel/FOIA
EEOC - OLC/FOIA Programs
131 M Street NE, Suite 5NW02E
Washington, DC 20507
This is a follow up to a previous request:
Hi Ms. Durham,
Thank you for your response. Yes, I am searching for complaints filed against the Department of Agriculture through EEOC. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
Sincerely,
Evan
---
On May 17, 2016:
Good afternoon Mr. Anderson,

We have received your FOIA request. However, we are not clear as to what you are seeking. Your request states you are looking for complaint alleging violation of the EEO Act by the US Department of Agriculture.

Can you please be more specific. Are you searching for complaints that were filed against Department of Agriculture filed through EEOC?

Thank you

Rhonda Durham
---
On May 16, 2016:
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on April 13, 2016. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
---
On April 14, 2016:
Dear Mr. Anderson,
Attached is our letter acknowledging receipt of your FOIA request.
Thank you
Tracy L. Smalls
FOIA Programs
---
On April 13, 2016:
Thank you for contacting the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). This is an automated response to the EEOC FOIA email box, and is not a determination on your request for records. If it is determined that your request is a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), it will be forwarded to the appropriate FOIA component within 10 working days of its receipt. You will also receive an official acknowledgment that your FOIA request has been received and when you can expect a response.
This office is open from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. Requests submitted after close of business are not deemed received until the next business day. FOIA allows government agencies 20 business days to issue a determination on a FOIA request for records. Additionally, agencies may extend their response time by 10 business days in unusual circumstances, and toll the 20-day response time until a response is received to a reasonable request for clarification or fee information. You will be notified in writing if such an extension or tolling occurs.
While the EEOC will forward electronic responses, including records granted, in accordance with the FOIA, the official determination will be issued in paper format, including an original signature. Therefore, if you did not provide a physical mailing address in your original e-mail, we will be unable to issue a determination on your FOIA request.
You may contact our office at any time between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:30 pm at 202-663-4500 or by fax at 202-653-6034.
Thank-you,
EEOC Office of FOIA Programs
*Please visit our website at www.eeoc.gov to access information concerning FOIA administration at the EEOC, including the following FOIA related documents:
The EEOC FOIA Reference Guide provides basic information, such as where and how to make a FOIA request, the time for EEOC to respond to a request, fees and fee waivers, responses to initial requests, and how and where to file an appeal of a determination made on the initial FOIA request. The Guide can be found at the following link: http://www.eeoc.gov/foia/handbook.html
EEOC Freedom of Information Act Questions and Answers can be found at the following link: http://www.eeoc.gov/foia/qanda_foiarequest.html
EEOC Freedom of Information Act Requests for Charge Files Questions and Answers can be found at the following link: http://www.eeoc.gov/foia/qanda_foiacharge.html
>>> <requests@muckrock.com> 04/13/16 21:42 >>>
April 13, 2016
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Stephanie D. Garner
Assistant Legal Counsel/FOIA
EEOC - OLC/FOIA Programs
131 M Street NE, Suite 5NW02E
Washington, DC 20507
To Whom It May Concern:
This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:
All complaints alleging violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Act by the US Department of Agriculture, for the years 2000 through 2015.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Evan Anderson
------
Filed via MuckRock.com
E-mail (Preferred): requests@muckrock.com
For mailed responses, please address (see note):
MuckRock
DEPT MR 25196
411A Highland Ave
Somerville, MA 02144-2516
PLEASE NOTE: This request is not filed by a MuckRock staff member, but is being sent through MuckRock by the above in order to better track, share, and manage public records requests. Also note that improperly addressed (i.e., with the requester's name rather than "MuckRock News" and the department number) requests might be returned as undeliverable.
------
---
On April 13, 2016:
To Whom It May Concern:
This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:
All complaints alleging violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Act by the US Department of Agriculture, for the years 2000 through 2015.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Evan Anderson
------
Filed via MuckRock.com
E-mail (Preferred): requests@muckrock.com
For mailed responses, please address (see note):
MuckRock
DEPT MR 25196
411A Highland Ave
Somerville, MA 02144-2516
PLEASE NOTE: This request is not filed by a MuckRock staff member, but is being sent through MuckRock by the above in order to better track, share, and manage public records requests. Also note that improperly addressed (i.e., with the requester's name rather than "MuckRock News" and the department number) requests might be returned as undeliverable.
------

Dear Mr. Anderson,
Attached is the Determination on your FOIA request.
Sincerely,
Rhonda Durham
Notice of Confidentiality:  The information contained in this transmission may contain privileged and confidential information, including information protected by federal and state privacy laws. It is intended only for the use of the person(s) named above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, dissemination, distribution, or duplication of this communication is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact us at ecso@eeoc.gov (mailto:ecso@eeoc.gov) and destroy all copies of the original message and attachments.