USDA Whistleblower Retaliation Complaints

None

Mr. Anderson,

Your request, number FO-16-0036, currently stands at approximately number 198 out of 210 pending requests. Most of the pending requests, such as yours, are complex and are generally processed in the order they were received. OSC's estimated date of response is June 16, 2017.

Sincerely,

Christopher Kurt
FOIA/Privacy Act Officer
U.S. Office of Special Counsel
Tel: (202) 254-3716
Fax: (202) 254-3711

NOTE: The information contained in this e-mail message, including any attached files, is intended only for the recipient(s) to whom it is addressed. This message contains information that is sensitive, confidential, and/or protected by the attorney work product, law enforcement, deliberative process, or other privilege. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient(s) is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please contact the sender immediately and delete the material from your computer system.

Mr. Anderson,

I am writing to respond to your status inquiry. OSC's estimated date of response is still June 16, 2017. Your request, number FO-16-0036, currently stands at approximately number 185 out of 210 pending requests.
Chris Kurt

Mr. Anderson,

Please see my response dated July 20, 2016. OSC's estimated date of response is still June 16, 2017.

Chris Kurt

U.S. OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL 1730 M Street, N.W., Suite 218 Washington, DC 20036-4505 (202) 804-7000
June 22, 2018 Mr.Evan Anderson MuckRock Dept. MR 25197411A Highland Ave Somerville,MA 02144 ViaEmail:
requests@muckrock.com Re: Freedom of Information Act and/or PrivacyAct Request #FO-16-0036 Dear Mr. Anderson: Please be advised that your Freedom of Information Act(FOIA) and/or Privacy Act request to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC)has been in the request queue pending processing. We acknowledge and apologize for the delay in processing your request due to OSC's FOIA backlog; however, we are committed to communicating with requesters. After an initial review when it wasreceived, your request was placed in our “Complex” track for FOIArequests.  (OSC categorizes its FOIArequests in three tracks, “simple,” “complex,” and “expedited.”  We then generally process the requests in theorder in which they were received within each category). Becauseyour request is Complex and it has been a long time since you made therequest, OSC would like to confirm that you are still seeking the recordsrequested.  If you find that you no longer need the requested records,please advise BY REPLY EMAIL stating that you longer wish to have yourrequest processed. We will administratively close your request at that time. Ifyou remain interested in the records, please advise BY REPLY EMAILstating that you wish to have your request processed.  You may wish toconsider narrowing the scope of your request, which will allow us to provide aresponse more quickly.  Ifyou wish to speak with someone directly, you may contact the FOIA PublicLiaison, at 202-804-7000. Ifwe do not receive a response to this message within 30 working days, we will administratively close your request. Thank you for your attention to this matter.  We look forward to hearingfrom you soon! Thank you, Office of the Clerk
U.S. Office of Special Counsel 1730 M. St, NW Washington, DC 20036 foiarequest@osc.gov Attachment
June 22, 2018 Processing Update Confirmation
***************************** OSC FOIARequest # FO-16-0036

*
I, Evan Anderson would like OSC to continue processing my FOIA request (#FO-16-0036) in its order in the queue. I understand that my request may still take some time to complete.

*
I, Evan Anderson, give my consent to OSC to withdraw my FOIA request (#FO-16-0036). I understand that the requested records will not be processed.

*
I, Evan Anderson would like to narrow the scope of my initial FOIA request (#FO-16-0036) currently pending in OSC's queue. Please consider the narrowed scope as follows: _________________________ _________________________ Signature Date Please mail this signed form to the Office of the Clerk at the address at the top of this letter within 30 days of thedate of this letter. You may also faxthe signed form to (202) 254-5151 or scan and email it to FOIArequest@osc.gov Please keep acopy for your records.

U.S. OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL 1730 M Street, N.W., Suite 218 Washington, DC 20036-4505 (202) 804-7000 December 14, 2018
Mr. Evan Anderson MuckRock Dept. MR 25197 411A Highland Ave Somerville, MA 02144 Via Email: requests@muckrock.com Re: Freedom of Information Act and/or Privacy Act Request (#FO-16-0036) Dear Mr. Anderson: I am writing in response to your request for a status update of your pending request with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC).
Your request is 7 of 119 pending request in our processing queue.  OSC generally processed request on a first come first serve basis. In reviewing your request for processing, I would like to discuss possible narrowing of your request.  As you may or may not know at this point, in narrowing we are able to focus on specific records or areas you may be more specifically interested in; lowering the volume of records processing and review needs. This narrowing method increases the agency’s ability to respond to a request in a timely and useful manner. In most cases, a change in track from Complex to Simple allows FOIA team members to process a request in a shorter amount of time, as there are fewer records for review and processing.
In this request, FO-16-0036, we have conducted a search for records, which if processed in its entirety will be over approx. 11,000 pages of records for review and processing.  I would like to suggest narrowing the scope to the following:
Narrowing of ScopeDescription
• No narrowing of the scope description.
Narrowing of Time
• Instead of "2000 through 2015" - Narrow to "2013 through 2015"
The above is a suggestion, and you retain the right to have your FOIA request processed as it is without narrowing if you so please. You may also REPLY to this email with modification to the above or your own suggested narrowing of the scope. Please keep in mind that we cannot expand the scope of a request, this correspondence is just an attempt to provide you with options during this FOIA request process here at OSC. I hope you find this information well, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
If you have any questions, would otherwise like to discuss your request, or you require dispute resolution services, please feel free to contact Mahala Dar, OSC’s Chief FOIA Officer and acting FOIA Public Liaison, at mdar@osc.gov or at (202) 804-7000.  Please reference the above-noted tracking number if you call or write.  Additionally, you may contact the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) at the National Archives and Records Administration to inquire about the FOIA mediation services they offer. [1] With kind regards, /s/ Tarik Ndongo FOIA Team Office of the Clerk
[1] You can reach OGIS by mail at Office of Government Information Services (OGIS), National Archives and Records Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road, Room 2510, College Park, MD, 20740-6001; by email at ogis@nara.gov ; by fax at 202-741-5769; or by telephone at 202-741-5770 or toll-free at 1-877-684-6448.

[cid:image001.png@01D493A7.08923C90]U.S. OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL

1730 M Street, N.W., Suite 218

Washington, DC 20036-4505

(202) 804-7000

December 14, 2018

Mr. Evan Anderson

MuckRock

Dept. MR 25197 411A Highland Ave

Somerville, MA 02144

Via Email: requests@muckrock.com

Re: Freedom of Information Act and/or Privacy Act Request (#FO-16-0036)

Dear Mr. Anderson:

I am writing in response to your request for a status update of your pending request with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC). Your request is 7 of 119 pending request in our processing queue. OSC generally processed request on a first come first serve basis.

In reviewing your request for processing, I would like to discuss possible narrowing of your request. As you may or may not know at this point, in narrowing we are able to focus on specific records or areas you may be more specifically interested in; lowering the volume of records processing and review needs. This narrowing method increases the agency's ability to respond to a request in a timely and useful manner. In most cases, a change in track from Complex to Simple allows FOIA team members to process a request in a shorter amount of time, as there are fewer records for review and processing.

In this request, FO-16-0036, we have conducted a search for records, which if processed in its entirety will be over approx. 11,000 pages of records for review and processing. I would like to suggest narrowing the scope to the following:

Narrowing of Scope Description
* No narrowing of the scope description.

Narrowing of Time
* Instead of "2000 through 2015" - Narrow to "2013 through 2015"

The above is a suggestion, and you retain the right to have your FOIA request processed as it is without narrowing if you so please. You may also REPLY to this email with modification to the above or your own suggested narrowing of the scope. Please keep in mind that we cannot expand the scope of a request, this correspondence is just an attempt to provide you with options during this FOIA request process here at OSC. I hope you find this information well, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

If you have any questions, would otherwise like to discuss your request, or you require dispute resolution services, please feel free to contact Mahala Dar, OSC's Chief FOIA Officer and acting FOIA Public Liaison, at mdar@osc.gov or at (202) 804-7000. Please reference the above-noted tracking number if you call or write. Additionally, you may contact the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) at the National Archives and Records Administration to inquire about the FOIA mediation services they offer.[1]<https://usosc-my.sharepoint.com/personal/tndongo_osc_gov/Documents/Documents/COSC/FOIA/Templates/Standard%20Language%20for%20FOIA%20Exemptions.docx#_ftn1>

With kind regards,

/s/

Tarik Ndongo

FOIA Team

Office of the Clerk

________________________________

[1]<https://usosc-my.sharepoint.com/personal/tndongo_osc_gov/Documents/Documents/COSC/FOIA/Templates/Standard%20Language%20for%20FOIA%20Exemptions.docx#_ftnref1> You can reach OGIS by mail at Office of Government Information Services (OGIS), National Archives and Records Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road, Room 2510, College Park, MD, 20740-6001; by email at ogis@nara.gov; by fax at 202-741-5769; or by telephone at 202-741-5770 or toll-free at 1-877-684-6448.

Received.

Thanks you,

Tarik D. Ndongo
Program & Mgmt. Specialist
Office of the Clerk
U.S. Office of Special Counsel
(202) 804-7000

U.S. OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL 1730 M Street, N.W., Suite 218 Washington, DC 20036-4505 (202) 804-7000 December 21, 2018
Mr. Evan Anderson MuckRock Dept. MR 25197 411A Highland Ave Somerville, MA 02144 Via Email: requests@muckrock.com Re: Freedom of Information Act and/or Privacy Act Request (#FO-16-0036) Dear Mr. Anderson: I am writing in response to your request for a status update of your pending request with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC).
Your request is 7 of 120 pending request in our processing queue.  OSC generally processed request on a first come first serve basis. Your request is currently in the search for records stage. We will provide you with an update on the progress of your request as it continues through our FOIA processing. If you have any questions, would otherwise like to discuss your request, or you require dispute resolution services, please feel free to contact Mahala Dar, OSC’s Chief FOIA Officer and acting FOIA Public Liaison, at mdar@osc.gov or at (202) 804-7000.  Please reference the above-noted tracking number if you call or write.  Additionally, you may contact the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) at the National Archives and Records Administration to inquire about the FOIA mediation services they offer. [1] With kind regards, /s/ Tarik Ndongo FOIA Team Office of the Clerk
[1] You can reach OGIS by mail at Office of Government Information Services (OGIS), National Archives and Records Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road, Room 2510, College Park, MD, 20740-6001; by email at ogis@nara.gov ; by fax at 202-741-5769; or by telephone at 202-741-5770 or toll-free at 1-877-684-6448.

[cid:image001.png@01D4992A.B8079D90]U.S. OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL

1730 M Street, N.W., Suite 218

Washington, DC 20036-4505

(202) 804-7000

December 21, 2018

Mr. Evan Anderson

MuckRock

Dept. MR 25197 411A Highland Ave

Somerville, MA 02144

Via Email: requests@muckrock.com

Re: Freedom of Information Act and/or Privacy Act Request (#FO-16-0036)

Dear Mr. Anderson:

I am writing in response to your request for a status update of your pending request with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC). Your request is 7 of 120 pending request in our processing queue. OSC generally processed request on a first come first serve basis. Your request is currently in the search for records stage. We will provide you with an update on the progress of your request as it continues through our FOIA processing.

If you have any questions, would otherwise like to discuss your request, or you require dispute resolution services, please feel free to contact Mahala Dar, OSC's Chief FOIA Officer and acting FOIA Public Liaison, at mdar@osc.gov or at (202) 804-7000. Please reference the above-noted tracking number if you call or write. Additionally, you may contact the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) at the National Archives and Records Administration to inquire about the FOIA mediation services they offer.[1]<https://usosc-my.sharepoint.com/personal/tndongo_osc_gov/Documents/Documents/COSC/FOIA/Templates/Standard%20Language%20for%20FOIA%20Exemptions.docx#_ftn1>

With kind regards,

/s/

Tarik Ndongo

FOIA Team

Office of the Clerk

________________________________

[1]<https://usosc-my.sharepoint.com/personal/tndongo_osc_gov/Documents/Documents/COSC/FOIA/Templates/Standard%20Language%20for%20FOIA%20Exemptions.docx#_ftnref1> You can reach OGIS by mail at Office of Government Information Services (OGIS), National Archives and Records Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road, Room 2510, College Park, MD, 20740-6001; by email at ogis@nara.gov; by fax at 202-741-5769; or by telephone at 202-741-5770 or toll-free at 1-877-684-6448.

Dear Mr. Anderson,

Please be advised that this is a status update on your pending FOIA request with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC). Generally, OSC process requests on a first come, first serve basis. Your request is 3 of 106 in our processing queue. We are in the process of searching for records and/or reviewing the records for release determination.

If you have any questions and/or concerns, please feel free to email foiarequest@osc.gov<mailto:foiarequest@osc.gov>.

Respectfully,

Mr. Chauncey Lawson
FOIA Team
U.S. Office of Special Counsel
1730 M Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 804-7070 - Office
(202) 254-3711 - Fax
[Twitter icon]<https://twitter.com/US_OSC>[osc_400x400]<https://osc.gov/>

NOTICE: This e-mail may contain information that is sensitive, confidential, and/or protected by the attorney work product, law enforcement, deliberative process, or other privilege, and may be used only by the person or entity to which it is addressed. If the reader of this e-mail is not the intended recipient or his or her authorized agent, the reader is hereby notified that any review, distribution, dissemination, copying or other use of this e-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender by replying to this email and delete this material from your computer.

Greetings Mr. Anderson,

I would like to first express my humblest apologies for the delay in processing your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. We received your FOIA request back in April 2016; but unfortunately, OSC's FOIA backlog extends to 2014. We process requests in the order that they are received and are committed to process your request as soon as possible.

We contacted you in December 2018 to narrow the scope of the information you are seeking to "All complaints against the USDA alleging discrimination based on marital status or political affiliation, for the years 2013 through 2015, and All complaints against the USDA alleging whistleblower retaliation for the years 2013 through 2015."

We have your confirmation of this narrowed scope. However, after searching our records again, we noticed that these records could produce results that are voluminous, and could be unreasonably burdensome to produce. Therefore, I would like to propose an alternative method to provide you the information you are requesting. I propose that we send you a spreadsheet of the cases involving the USDA alleging discrimination based on marital status or political affiliation and whistleblower retaliation between the years of 2013 and 2015. This spreadsheet will allow you to select the specific cases you are looking for.

If this method works for you, please let me know as soon as possible so that we can generate the spreadsheet and process it for release to you. We would appreciate a response within the next 5 business days but no later than 5/31/19 and please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Respectfully,

Mr. Chauncey Lawson
FOIA Team
U.S. Office of Special Counsel
1730 M Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 804-7070 - Office
(202) 254-3711 - Fax
[Twitter icon]<https://twitter.com/US_OSC>[osc_400x400]<https://osc.gov/>

NOTICE: This e-mail may contain information that is sensitive, confidential, and/or protected by the attorney work product, law enforcement, deliberative process, or other privilege, and may be used only by the person or entity to which it is addressed. If the reader of this e-mail is not the intended recipient or his or her authorized agent, the reader is hereby notified that any review, distribution, dissemination, copying or other use of this e-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender by replying to this email and delete this material from your computer.

Dear Mr. Anderson:

Please be advised that this is a status update on your pending FOIA request with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC). Generally, OSC processes requests on a first come, first serve basis. Your request is 2 of 107 pending request in our processing queue. We are in the process of searching for records and/or reviewing the records for release determination.
​
If you have any questions and/or concerns, please feel free to email foiarequest@osc.gov<mailto:foiarequest@osc.gov>.
​
Thank you,
​
/s/
​
Mike Eby
FOIA Team
Office of the Clerk

Dear Mr. Anderson:

Please see the attached final release letter and records for FOIA Request FO-16-0036.

Feel free to contact me with any questions and/or concerns.

Thank you,
Mahala

-------
Mahala Dar, Esq.
Clerk
Office of the Clerk
U.S. Office of Special Counsel
1730 M Street, N.W., Suite 311
Washington, DC 20036-4505
(202) 804-7000 (telephone)
mdar@osc.gov<mailto:mdar@osc.gov> (email)
[Image result for office of special counsel]

NOTICE: This message and any attachments may contain information that is sensitive, confidential, or legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, please immediately notify the sender and delete this email from your system; you should not copy, use, or disclose its contents. Thank you for your cooperation.