The FOIA blog

That Was Fast - Government Releases Asbestos Memo Week After Lawsuit Filed

Earlier this week, I blogged about the lawsuit filed by Public Employees for Environmnental Responsibility for EPA documents on Asbestos.  Yesterday, the EPA released the memo.  This is either a record for release after a lawsuit, or as I believe, a coincidence in that the EPA was weighing release before the lawsuit was actually filed.

Update on Jarvik v. CIA

Last fall, journalist Lawrence Jarvik sued the CIA for a second time (his first suit revolved around a fee waiver).  The CIA has now denied the request in full and Jarvik has sought an in camera review by the court.  His most recent filings can be found here:

Download Jarvik

Download Jarvik2

Update on FOIA Lawsuit Against the State Department

Aside from blogging, I also practice FOIA law.  Here is a link to an update on the case I have brought against the State Department on behalf of three non-profit groups seeking transparency in the cultural property arena.

EPA Sued Over Abestos Cleanup Documents

The EPA has been sued by a group seeking documents on an abestos cleanup in Libby, Montana.  In a related matter, former employes of W.R. Grace have been on trial for knowingly exposing residents to asbestos since February.

Dick Cheney Makes a Request

Former Vice President Dick Cheney has made a request for the National Archives to declassify torture documents he maintained in his office while he was Vice-President.  Greg Sargent of Talkingpointsmemo.com has posted them here.

I find it quite ironic that during his eight years on office, Cheney and the rest of the administration fought government transparency tooth and nail, but when he wants to use government documents (that he apparently compiled) he's the first to request their declassification and release.

ABC News Reports Detainee Abuse Photos To Be Released

ABC News is reporting that the administration will release additonal photos of detainee abuse in a lawsuit brought by the ACLU.  The article is interesting in that a former CIA official (a non-FOIA person) states he believes the administration should have forced the issue all the way to the Supreme Court.

 

FAA Bird-Strike Database

Well their goose is now officially cooked.  The bird strike database can be found here.

FAA Plan to Keep Bird Strike Data Secret Now a Dead Duck

Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has told the Washington Post that the FAA's plan to keep bird strike data secret just won't fly and the data will be posted online today.

FBI Continues to Withhold Data Warehouse Information

Here is the latest in the Electronic Frontier Foundation's lawsuit against the FBI for details on its Data Warehouse:  The FBI has continued to assert that this material is withholdable pursuant to the FOIA.

According to the AP, the government filed its papers last week with a declaration from the FBI's FOIA Chief , not someone who actually works on active investigations, who said that "knowledge of the data sources ... would enable individuals involved in criminal or terrorist activities to adapt their activities and methods to avoid detection."

FOIA Request Leads to Pulitzer Prize

Bettina Boxall and Julie Cart of the Los Angeles Times won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Exploratory Reporting and part of that reporting was from a FOIA request to the U.S. Forest Service.  The reporters obtained and analyzed cartons of material received through the request as part of their four-part series exploring that wildfire seasons last longer and are three times as expensive to fight in the U.S. West than elsewhere.