Subject: Freedom of Information Act Request: Woodstock -File Number: 100-HQ-455011
| Tracking # |
RD 67359 100-HQ-455011 |
| Submitted | April 15, 2022 |
| Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: Robert Skvarla, Jr.
To Whom It May Concern:
You are receiving this correspondence as a request under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. subsection 552. I am requesting the following:
All bureau files, field office memoranda, and other associated documents on the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, its organizer Woodstock Ventures, Inc. (aka Woodstock Ventores, Inc. and Woodstock Ventores, Incorporated), and Aquarian Exposition. The Woodstock Music and Art Fair occurred between August 15, 1969, and August 18, 1969, in Bethel, New York. Please include these dates in your search and extend the scope of this request to run from January 1, 1969, to December 31, 1971.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has produced documents about Woodstock in their files on other parties of interest. As an example, I have attached memoranda dated September 5, 1969, taken from an FBI file on rock group The Grateful Dead. The memoranda identify that an individual connected to Woodstock or who had attended Woodstock voluntarily furnished the FBI with information in the form of a report on the festival and Woodstock Ventures, Inc. The first attached page also identifies that the report was forwarded along with an attached letterhead memorandum (listed in the document as "LHM"). Per the documents, this information was unclassified effective October 7, 1982; therefore, there should be no risk of embarrassment to the FBI or the informant, nor should there exist any any potential security risks in releasing it. As such, I am requesting a copy of this report, the letterhead memorandum, and any other information the FBI may have on Woodstock and associated business entities.
I am asking you to waive any fees associated with this request. There is an immense public interest in learning more about Woodstock as it was an important moment in the cultural history of the United States, solidifying the 1960s counterculture as an ascendant political and cultural force. If the FBI has information on Woodstock, it should be made public. This request is not being made for commercial purposes. All documents will be provided to the general public without charge.
Additionally, I am a member of the news media, with bylines including CovertAction Magazine, Philly Voice, and Atlas Obscura. Please take note of the Office of Management and Budget guidelines published March 27, 1987 (52 FR 10012) that include electronic publications and other nontraditional publishers as representatives of the news media.
In the event that there are fees, I am willing to pay up to $100. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Please conduct a search of the Central Records System, including but not limited to the Electronic Surveillance (ELSUR) Indices, the Microphone Surveillance (MISUR) Indices, the Physical Surveillance (FISUR) Indices, and the Technical Surveillance (TESUR) Indices, for both main-file records and cross-reference records.
I look forward to your response within 20 working days, as the statute requires. If access to the records I am requesting will take longer, please contact me with information about when I might expect copies or the ability to inspect the requested records.
If you deny any or all of this request, please cite each specific exemption you feel justifies the refusal to release the information and notify me of the appeal procedures available to me under the law.
Sincerely,
Robert Skvarla, Jr.
From:
This is an automated reply to inform you that the National Archives and Records Administration received your email.
We have received your request and will respond within 20 working days. Please note that submitting duplicate requests will increase wait times.
If you have any questions, you can call our office at 301-837-3190. You can also visit our web page at www.archives.gov/research/foia.
Notice to NARA Researchers and FOIA Requesters
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pursuant to guidance received from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), NARA has adjusted its normal operations to balance the need of completing its mission-critical work while also adhering to the recommended social distancing for the safety of our staff. As a result of this re-prioritization of activities, you may experience a delay in receiving an initial acknowledgment as well as a substantive response to your reference or FOIA request or appeal. We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and patience.
Thank you.
From: National Archives And Records Administration – Archival Or Special Access
Dear Robert Skvarla, Jr.:
I am writing in response to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request
received by this office on April 15, 2022 for records in the custody of the
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). This email is to
confirm that we have received your request. At this time, we are not able
to provide you with a FOIA tracking number, but we will send a follow-up
email in the near future with your FOIA tracking number once your case has
been logged into our system.
Please note, we are continuing to work on logging in FOIA requests in the
order they are received. Once your request reaches the front of the initial
response queue, a staff member will search for the record(s) and provide
you with a more substantive response detailing the results of the search
and an estimated completion date. Our small staff will continue to work
diligently to process each request as quickly as possible, but please be
aware that we are operating at significantly reduced staffing levels
onsite, and it is taking longer than usual. We apologize for this
inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and patience.
If you have any questions concerning this action or to notify this office
of a change in your contact information, please email
specialaccess_foia@nara.gov or call 301-837-3190.
Sincerely,
Brigitte Flynn
Archives Specialist
Special Access & FOIA Program
From: National Archives And Records Administration – Archival Or Special Access
Dear Robert Skvarla, Jr.:
This email is a follow-up to our previous correspondence with you on April
15, 2022 concerning your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests
received by this office on April 15, 2022 for records in the custody of the
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Your request has been
assigned the FOIA Tracking Number *RD 67359*.
Please note, we are continuing to work on logging in FOIA requests in the
order they are received. Once your request reaches the front of the initial
response queue, a staff member will search for the record(s) and provide
you with a more substantive response detailing the results of the search
and an estimated completion date.
Our small staff will continue to work diligently to process each request as
quickly as possible, but please be aware that we are operating at
significantly reduced staffing levels onsite, and it is taking longer than
usual.
We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and
patience.
If you have any questions concerning this action, or to notify this office
of a change in your contact information, please email
specialaccess_foia@nara.gov or call 301-837-3190. All communications
concerning this request should reference your FOIA Tracking Number *RD
67359*.
Sincerely,
Ashney Randle
Government Information Specialist
Special Access & FOIA Program (RF)
National Archives at College Park
From: National Archives And Records Administration – Archival Or Special Access
Dear Robert Skvarla, Jr.:
I am writing in response to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request
of April 15, 2022, for records in the custody of the National Archives and
Records Administration. Your request was received in this office on April
15, 2022, and assigned FOIA tracking number 67359.
You requested access to FBI file number 100-HQ-455011 on Woodstock. You
also requested a search for additional files Woodstock Music & Art Fair;
Woodstock Ventures, Inc, and Woodstock Ventores, Inc. We located two
additional FBI files 100-NK-51124 and 100-BS-39976.
1.
FBI case file 100-HQ-455011 with a subject of Woodstock Ventures, Inc.
was compiled as part of a Domestic Security investigation, created between
August 1969 and April 1970, and consists of an estimated 100 pages.
1.
FBI case file 100-NK-51124 with a subject of Woodstock Ventores, Inc,
was compiled as part of a Domestic Security Investigation, created in
August 1969 and consisting of 2 pages.
1.
FBI case file 100-BS-39976 with a subject of Woodstock Ventores, Inc.,
was compiled as part of a Domestic Security investigation, created in
August 1969 and consisting of 2 pages.
These records require review for information protected from release under
the FOIA: https://www.archives.gov/foia/foia-guide#determine.
Your request does not exceed 700 pages, so it is assigned to our first-tier
processing queue. Taking into consideration our existing backlog, we
estimate it will take 39 months to complete processing.
Once we notify you that processing is complete, you may either visit our
College Park, MD facility to view the file at no cost, or order a
reproduction. Our current fee for reproductions is 80 cents per page, so we
estimate the total cost will be $83.20.
You must notify this office of changes to your contact information. If
communication is returned as undeliverable and no return address is
provided, your case will be administratively closed. To change your contact
information or to track the status of your request, please email
specialaccess_foia@nara.gov or call 301-837-3190. Please include your FOIA
tracking number in all communications concerning this request.
If you are not satisfied with our action on this request and would like the
opportunity to discuss our response, you may contact our FOIA Public
Liaison for assistance:
Accessioned Executive Branch Records – Washington, DC Area
FOIA Requester Service Center: 301-837-3190
FOIA Public Liaison: Rebecca Calcagno
8601 Adelphi Road, Room 5500
College Park, MD 20740-6001
301-837-3190
If you have other questions regarding your request, please contact me
directly.
Sincerely,
Stephanie Coon
Archivist
Special Access and FOIA Program (RF)
National Archives and Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Road, Room 5500
College Park, MD 20740-6001
301-837-1604
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