Lobbying Activity Communications between National Association of Home Builders and HUD.

Good Morning Mr. Sewell,
Attached is your acknowledgement letter.

Hello,

Your request is still being searched via HUD's electronic database.

A response will be sent to you once search and review is completed.

Hello,

Your request is still being searched via HUD's electronic database.

A response will be sent to you once search and review is completed.

Your request is still being searched via HUD's electronic database.

A response will be sent to you once search and review is completed.

Your request is still being searched via HUD's electronic database.

A response will be sent to you once search and review is completed.

Your request is still being searched via HUD's electronic database.

A response will be sent to you once search and review is completed.

Your request is still being searched via HUD's electronic database.

A response will be sent to you once search and review is completed.

Hello,

Your request asks for communications of several HUD employees. It requires utilization of the Department's eDiscovery tool for a search for responsive records. The Department's eDiscovery tool is contracted with a third-party. The system utilized by this contractor auto-assigns a collection date on a first-in-first-out basis, and is capable of collecting records for a set number of custodians per day. As a result, the Department does not maintain direct control over the collection process and cannot alter the scheduled collection date for a particular request.

Given the high volume of requests for eDiscovery searches, the third-party system is operating at capacity with a significant backlog. Once the record collection has been completed, responsive records will be delivered to the FOIA Branch for review. At that time, we will work diligently to finalize your request as quickly as possible.

Hello,

Your request asks for communications of several HUD employees. It requires utilization of the Department's eDiscovery tool for a search for responsive records. The Department's eDiscovery tool is contracted with a third-party. The system utilized by this contractor auto-assigns a collection date on a first-in-first-out basis, and is capable of collecting records for a set number of custodians per day. As a result, the Department does not maintain direct control over the collection process and cannot alter the scheduled collection date for a particular request.

Given the high volume of requests for eDiscovery searches, the third-party system is operating at capacity with a significant backlog. Once the record collection has been completed, responsive records will be delivered to the FOIA Branch for review. At that time, we will work diligently to finalize your request as quickly as possible.

Hello,

Your request asks for communications of a HUD employee. It requires utilization of the Department's eDiscovery tool for a search for responsive records. The Department's eDiscovery tool is contracted with a third-party. The system utilized by this contractor auto-assigns a collection date on a first-in-first-out basis, and is capable of collecting records for a set number of custodians per day. As a result, the Department does not maintain direct control over the collection process and cannot alter the scheduled collection date for a particular request.

Given the high volume of requests for eDiscovery searches, the third-party system is operating at capacity with a significant backlog. Once the record collection has been completed, responsive records will be delivered to the FOIA Branch for review. At that time, we will work diligently to finalize your request as quickly as possible.

Hello,

You should receive a response by February 22.

Hello,

I will inquire with the eDiscovery team.

All muckrock requests are waiting in the queue to reach the front of the line for the contractor to apply the submitted keywords.

I will receive a notification when the contractor starts working on the keyword request and then a final notification when the data is ready.

When they have reached that point I will send you notification with an estimated date when the data will be ready for me to review.

Your request is waiting in the queue to reach the front of the line for the contractor to apply the submitted keywords.

I will receive a notification when the contractor starts working on the keyword request and then a final notification when the data is ready.

When they have reached that point I will send you notification with an estimated date when the data will be ready for me to review.

Hello, Thisemail provides the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s status ofyour Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. Pursuantto the FOIA, 5 USC 552(a)(6)(A)(i), once HUD properly receives a FOIA request,the Department has 20 working days within which to make a determination on therequest unless unusual circumstances exist. Under unusual circumstances, suchas an agency’s backlog, or the need to examine a voluminous amount of recordsrequired by the request, HUD can extend the 20-day time limit for processing arequest.  Presently, unusual andexceptional circumstances exist. Inaddition, HUD has experienced FOIA staff changes that have contributed to atremendous backlog and extensive delays in the ability to process incomingrequests in a timely, and other changes as well asfield policy changes that have contributed to a tremendous backlog andextensive delays in the ability to process incoming requests in a timelymanner. The Department apologizes for any delay occurrences whileprocessing your FOIA request. Asit is, I've been recently assigned to continue with processing this FOIArequest and wonder whether or not you are still interested in receiving aresponse to your request as it was initially submitted or modified to betteraccommodate your current need. Pleaseconfirm that you want to (1) show interest to continuewith your request as it was initially submitted; (2) modify your request to prioritizeand segment it to receive various parts at interims; (3) reduce the size andscope of the request to receive a timely response to better accommodate yourcurrent need; or (4) withdraw your request to resubmit it later at a moreopportune time within 10 business days from the date of this letter via email to me atwilliam.d.smith@hud.gov. If we don’thear from you within that time, the Department will conclude that you are no longer interested in pursuing your request and it willbe administratively withdrawn for you. eare asking that you please keep in mind the following: 1. Presently unusual and exceptional circumstances exists within theDepartment’s FOIA processing program; 2. Although the FOIA provides aright of access to federal agency records that exist and can be located in federal agency files, the FOIA does notrequire agencies to conduct research for requesters, to analyze data, to answer questions, to create new records(such as lists or statistics) in response to a FOIA request or provide regular updates; and 3. You have an optionto reschedule your FOIA request by amending your request to reduce its volumeor withdraw yourrequest for a later date more suitable. Also, you may contact the Office ofGovernment Information Services (OGIS) at the National Archives and RecordsAdministration to inquire about the FOIA mediation services they offer. The contact information for OGIS is as follows: Office ofGovernment Information Services National Archives and Records Administration 8601 Adelphi Road-OGIS College Park, Maryland 20740-6001 Telephone: 202-741-5770, toll free at 1-877- 684-6448 FAX: 202- 741-5769 Email: at ogis@nara.gov If you decide to appeal, your appealshould include copies of your original request and this response, as well as adiscussion of the reasons supporting the appeal. The envelope should be plainly marked to indicate that itcontains a FOIA appeal and be addressed to: U.S. Department of Housingand Urban Development Attention: FOIA Appeals Office of General Counsel Office of Ethics and Appeals Law Division 451 Seventh Street, SW, Suite 2130 Washington, DC 20410 Telephone: (202) 708-3815 You may also submit your appeal on line at: https://www.hud.gov/program_ offices/administration/foia/ foiaappeals or email at HUDFOIAappeasls@hud.gov. Thankyou for your interest in the Department’s programs and policies.