Mystery Seeds (California Department of Food and Agriculture)
| Multi Request | Mystery Seeds |
| Submitted | Aug. 5, 2020 |
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Communications
From: Jason Koebler
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the California Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:
Widespread news reports and agency releases show that there has been the spread and distribution of "mystery seeds" in the last month.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/seeds-from-china-usda-investigation-identified/
Therefore, I request the following information:
- Any lab reports, internal communications, analyses, warnings, or other guidances about the mystery seeds.
- Any case reports about the mystery seeds.
- Any forensic analysis or communication with law enforcement (state, local, or national) about the mystery seeds.
- The number of consumer reports as well as the reports filed about the mystery seeds.
- Any presentations or other documents prepared about the mystery seeds
- Any emails concerning the mystery seeds
- Any photos or video related to the mystery seeds
Please search from July 1, 2020 until the day this request is processed.
This request is being made for use on Motherboard, VICE Media's science and technology website. It is not for commercial purposes.
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 10 calendar days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Jason Koebler
From: California Department of Food and Agriculture
Dear Mr. Koebler:
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (Department) is in receipt of your Public Records Act request received on August 6, 2020, via email. You requested copies of the following:
- Any lab reports, internal communications, analyses, warnings, or other guidance about the mystery seeds.
- Any case reports about the mystery seeds.
- Any forensic analysis or communication with law enforcement (state, local, or national) about the mystery seeds.
- The number of consumer reports as well as the reports filed about the mystery seeds.
- Any presentations or other documents prepared about the mystery seeds.
- Any emails concerning the mystery seeds.
- Any photos or video related to the mystery seeds.
Your request has been forwarded to the Department's Plant Health & Pest Prevention Services Branch for the collection of responsive records. When documents are received, if any, the Legal Office will contact you with an estimated date for release. Additional time may be needed for attorney review and to make any necessary redactions.
The Department does not charge for electronic copies, but it does charge for direct costs of duplication for paper copies and packaging and postage.
Please contact the Legal Office if you have any questions and include PID 11495 on all communications regarding this request.
Sincerely,
California Department of Food & Agriculture
Legal Office - MS
1220 N Street, Suite 315
Sacramento, CA 95814
Tel: (916) 654-1393
Fax: (916) 653-1293
CDFA.LegalOffice@cdfa.ca.gov<mailto:CDFA.LegalOffice@cdfa.ca.gov>
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This communication and its contents may contain confidential and/or legally privileged information. It is solely for the use of the intended recipient(s). Unauthorized interception, review, use, or disclosure is prohibited and may violate applicable laws, including the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender immediately and destroy all copies of this communication and its contents.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following California Public Records Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 5, 2020. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: California Department of Food and Agriculture
Dear Mr. Koebler:
At the moment we are still waiting on Program to gather the information requested. We will provide you with further updates as they become available.
Thank You!
California Department of Food & Agriculture
Legal Office - CC
1220 N Street, Suite 315
Sacramento, CA 95814
Tel: (916) 654-1393
Fax: (916) 653-1293
CDFA.LegalOffice@cdfa.ca.gov<mailto:CDFA.LegalOffice@cdfa.ca.gov>
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following California Public Records Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 5, 2020. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: California Department of Food and Agriculture
Dear Mr. Koebler:
The Legal Office reached out to three Department Programs for responsive records to your Public Records Act request. Two of the Programs have submitted records to the Legal Office. The third Program is still gathering records. Once all records have been received from the Programs, the Legal Office will begin review of the records to ensure they are responsive to your request and make any necessary redactions. We will provide you with further updates as they become available. Thank you for your patience.
Sincerely,
California Department of Food & Agriculture
Legal Office - MS
1220 N Street, Suite 315
Sacramento, CA 95814
Tel: (916) 654-1393
Fax: (916) 653-1293
CDFA.LegalOffice@cdfa.ca.gov<mailto:CDFA.LegalOffice@cdfa.ca.gov>
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This communication and its contents may contain confidential and/or legally privileged information. It is solely for the use of the intended recipient(s). Unauthorized interception, review, use, or disclosure is prohibited and may violate applicable laws, including the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender immediately and destroy all copies of this communication and its contents.
-
image001
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following California Public Records Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 5, 2020. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: California Department of Food and Agriculture
Dear Mr. Koebler:
The Legal Office is now in receipt of responsive records from all three Programs. Legal Office staff will begin review of the records to ensure they are responsive to your request and make any necessary redactions. Additional time may be required if attorney review is necessary.
We will provide you with further updates as they become available. Thank you for your patience.
Sincerely,
California Department of Food & Agriculture
Legal Office - MS
1220 N Street, Suite 315
Sacramento, CA 95814
Tel: (916) 654-1393
Fax: (916) 653-1293
CDFA.LegalOffice@cdfa.ca.gov<mailto:CDFA.LegalOffice@cdfa.ca.gov>
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This communication and its contents may contain confidential and/or legally privileged information. It is solely for the use of the intended recipient(s). Unauthorized interception, review, use, or disclosure is prohibited and may violate applicable laws, including the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender immediately and destroy all copies of this communication and its contents.
-
image001
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following California Public Records Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 5, 2020. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: California Department of Food and Agriculture
The Legal Office recently received approximately 1500 responsive records which are currently under review for necessary redactions and applicable exemptions to release.
California Department of Food and Agriculture
Legal Office
1220 N Street, Suite 315
Sacramento, California 95814
[916] 654.1393
CDFA.LegalOffice@cdfa.ca.gov
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This communication and its contents may contain confidential and/or legally privileged information. It is solely for the use of the intended recipient(s). Unauthorized interception, review, use, or disclosure is prohibited and may violate applicable laws, including the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender immediately and destroy all copies of this communication and its contents.
-
~WRD0002
From: California Department of Food and Agriculture
Dear Mr. Koebler:
Review of your Public Records Act request is complete. Below, you will find a link to the records responsive to items 1, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of your request. With respect to item 1, the Department does not have any lab reports or analyses related to the mystery seeds. The Department also does not have any records responsive to items 2 or 3 of your request.
You can view "PID 11495 Jason Koebler PRA Response_bates 000001 - 000944.pdf" at: https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:e4c2cc55-7b2d-4bf2-8c92-de703a817588.
Pursuant to the Information Practices Act of 1977 (Civ. Code ยง 1798.24), the Legal Office has redacted the personal contact information of private third parties.
With this response, I will close the file. Please contact the Legal Office if you have any questions and include PID 11495 on all communications regarding this request.
Sincerely,
California Department of Food & Agriculture
Legal Office - MS
1220 N Street, Suite 315
Sacramento, CA 95814
Tel: (916) 654-1393
Fax: (916) 653-1293
CDFA.LegalOffice@cdfa.ca.gov<mailto:CDFA.LegalOffice@cdfa.ca.gov>
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This communication and its contents may contain confidential and/or legally privileged information. It is solely for the use of the intended recipient(s). Unauthorized interception, review, use, or disclosure is prohibited and may violate applicable laws, including the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender immediately and destroy all copies of this communication and its contents.
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