Rachel Carson (Department of Agriculture)

Hello Ms. Farkus,

Your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was routed to the Research, Education, and Economics (REE) FOIA office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on February 19, 2018.
Your request states that you are seeking:

"All files on or related to Rachel Carson, the famous scientist and author of Silent Spring. Proof of death is not required, since Carson was born over 100 years ago in 1907.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes."

Your request was assigned tracking number 2019-REE-02342-F.

The FOIA, 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(A)(i), requires USDA to make a determination in response to a FOIA request within 20 business days from its date of receipt. In unusual circumstances, the Federal agency time limit may be extended by 10 business days as stated in 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(B). If your request seeks numerous documents that will necessitate a wide-ranging search, including searches with components and possible consultations with components that have a substantial interest in the determination of this request, USDA will invoke a 10 business day extension for determination of your request.

For purposes of fee assessment, you have been categorized as a "news media" requester pursuant to 7 CFR Part 1, Appendix A, Section (5)(c). No charge shall be made for providing search or review services.

Please be assured that a FOIA Analyst in this office will respond to your request as expeditiously as possible. REE appreciates your patience as it proceeds with your request.

Please refer to the case number in any future correspondence. If you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact me at 202-205-9784 or electronically at this address or REEfoia@ars.usda.gov<mailto:REEfoia@ars.usda.gov>.

For additional information regarding USDA FOIA regulations and process, please refer to the information available on-line at www.dm.usda.gov/foia<http://www.dm.usda.gov/foia>.

Sincerely,

I. Cristina Abello, Esq.
Senior FOIA Analyst
USDA/ARS Contractor
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington DC 20250

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Hello Ms. Farkus,

Do you have time for a quick phone call tomorrow? I have some questions regarding your request.
Best,

I. Cristina Abello, Esq.
Senior FOIA Analyst
USDA/ARS Contractor
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington DC 20250
202-205-9784

Good afternoon,

I believe Agricultural Research Service (ARS) National Agricultural Library (NAL) is most likely to have records involving Rachel Carson, but I was wondering if you could specify what types of records and what time period should be searched.

For example, NAL could search its USDA History Collection, but further specificity would help inform the search.

Furthermore, it is possible that certain records involving Rachel Carson may have been scheduled as permanent records (archived), and maintained by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For your knowledge, the USDA archivist at NARA is Joseph Schwarz, and can be reached at joseph.schwarz@nara.gov or 301-837-2961.

Please let me know your thoughts when you have a chance.
Best,

I. Cristina Abello, Esq.
Senior FOIA Analyst
USDA/ARS Contractor
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington DC 20250
202-205-9784

Good afternoon,

I am following up on the below inquiry.

Thank you,

I. Cristina Abello, Esq.
Senior FOIA Analyst
USDA/ARS Contractor
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington DC 20250

Good afternoon,

I am following up on the below inquiry. Since there was no response, REE will assume you are no longer interested/do not require a formal response, and will administratively close your request at the end of five business days from today.

Thank you,

I. Cristina Abello, Esq.
Senior FOIA Analyst
USDA/ARS Contractor
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington DC 20250