Mystery Seeds (Maryland Department of Legislative Services)
| Multi Request | Mystery Seeds |
| Submitted | Aug. 5, 2020 |
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Communications
From: Jason Koebler
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Freedom of Information 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 20 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Jason Koebler
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information 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: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information 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: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information 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: Maryland Department of Legislative Services
Good morning, Mr. Koebler,
My name is Annette Haldeman and I am the Manager of Reference Services in the Maryland Department of Legislative Services Library. Recently, you resubmitted a FOIA request on April 7, 2021, which you had initially submitted to our office in August 2020 regarding mystery seeds sent from China. My apologies, it doesn't seem that the first request reached me, but your follow up request was forwarded to me.
After reviewing your requests for the following, I believe that there may be a more appropriate department in Maryland state government to which this request should be submitted.
[cid:image003.jpg@01D73C18.E5F661D0]
It appears that the Maryland Department of Agriculture was the agency handling this issue when it occurred in 2020, according to various sources:
Department Issues Advisory Regarding Unsolicited Packages of Seeds from China (maryland.gov)<https://news.maryland.gov/mda/press-release/2020/07/28/department-issues-advisory-regarding-unsolicited-packages-of-seeds-from-china/>
Virginia, Maryland, federal officials warn of more mystery seeds in the mail from China | WTOP<https://wtop.com/local/2020/07/virginia-maryland-federal-officials-warn-of-mystery-seeds-in-the-mail-from-china/>
Mysterious seeds from China sent to people across the U.S., including in Maryland (wmar2news.com)<https://www.wmar2news.com/news/state/mysterious-seeds-from-china-sent-to-people-across-the-u-s-including-in-maryland>
Do Not Plant These! Officials Investigate Mystery Seeds Sent By Mail : NPR<https://www.npr.org/local/305/2020/07/29/896715875/do-not-plant-these-officials-investigate-mystery-seeds-sent-by-mail>
A description of the Department of Legislative Services appears here: Executive Director's Message - General Assembly of Maryland Department of Legislative Services<http://dls.maryland.gov/about-us/directors-message/>
The type of information you are seeking does not typically fall under the Department's purview and I do think that the Maryland Department of Agriculture would have the information that you seek on this issue. This is the contact information for their Communications Office:
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE
Jason D. Schellhardt, Director (410) 841-5889
e-mail: jason.schellhardt@maryland.gov<mailto:jason.schellhardt@maryland.gov>
Megan Guilfoyle, Public Information Officer (410) 841-5889; e-mail: megan.guilfoyle@maryland.gov<mailto:megan.guilfoyle@maryland.gov>
Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance or if you have additional questions.
Annette
Annette K. Haldeman
Manager, Reference Services
Library and Information Services
Maryland Department of Legislative Services
Office of Policy Analysis
Annette.haldeman@mlis.state.md.us<mailto:Annette.haldeman@mlis.state.md.us>
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image003
From: Maryland Department of Legislative Services
Mr. Koebler-
Please find a response to your FOIA request, referencing mystery seeds,
attached.
Regards, Kim
*Kimberly Rice*
Program Manager
Plant Protection & Weed Management
Maryland Department of Agriculture
50 Harry S. Truman Parkway
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Office: 410-841-5920
Cell: 240-274-7641
Fax: 410-841-5835
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From: Maryland Department of Legislative Services
Mr. Koebler-
Please be advised that since you did not respond to the Department's 10-day
letter and provide the information that the Department requested, the
Department considers the matter closed and will not take any further action
on your request.
Regards, Kim
*Kimberly Rice*
Program Manager
Plant Protection & Weed Management
Maryland Department of Agriculture
50 Harry S. Truman Parkway
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Office: 410-841-5920
Cell: 240-274-7641
Fax: 410-841-5835
[image: change_md_email_footer.jpg]
--
Visit Our Website at: www.mda.maryland.gov <http://www.mda.maryland.gov/>
<http://facebook.com/MdAgDept> <http://twitter.com/mdagdept>
<http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdagdept>
<https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN3dEV5ddJYbGQu64h79tgg>
<http://www.instagram.com/MdAgDept> <http://www.soundcloud.com/MdAgDept>
Click here to complete a three question customer experience survey.
<http://www.doit.state.md.us/selectsurvey/TakeSurvey.aspx?agencycode=MDA&SurveyID=86M2956#>
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