Freedom of Information Act rules changes?

[The Mark]

It appears the Department of Interior is attempting to restrict FOIA requests.

This apparently started with the Department of Interior publishing their proposed rules changes in the Federal Register on 2018.12.28: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2018-12-28/pdf/2018-27561.pdf

This is apparently where you'd go to comment on it: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=DOI_FRDOC_0001-0094

I first encountered the issue via this article, but there are multiple articles out there, including the following:

https://news.bloombergenvironment.c...osed-foia-limits-may-be-illegal-watchdogs-say

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-e...-could-make-it-harder-to-get-public-documents

https://www.denverpost.com/2019/01/03/interior-department-public-information-foia/

https://environmentaljusticetv.word...sts-after-ex-secretary-zinke-ethics-scandals/

https://www.rt.com/usa/447718-burdensome-foia-interior-guidelines-change/

https://www.courthousenews.com/watc...ments-revisions-to-information-request-rules/

 

[Helix]

well, there's a shock.

 

[Rogue Valley]

Short story ..... the Trump administration detests transparency.

 

[DaveFagan]

Gov't secrecy is never a good thing.
/

 

[Captain Adverse]

This appears to be one of the issues they refer to:

‘The subject of the request must concern discrete, identifiable agency activities, operations, or programs with a connection that is direct and clear, not remote or attenuated.’’

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2018-12-28/pdf/2018-27561.pdf

That is a change to Section 2.48(a).

Also to Section 2.5(d):

You must describe the records you seek sufficiently to enable a professional employee familiar with the subject to locate the documents with a reasonable effort. Extremely broad or vague requests or requests requiring research do not satisfy this requirement. The bureau will not honor a request that requires an unreasonably burdensome search or requires the bureau to locate, review, redact, or arrange for inspection of a vast quantity of material.

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2018-12-28/pdf/2018-27561.pdf

Those do seriously impede requests since one does not necessarily know what they might find when making the request, they are seeking information they think might exist if properly researched.

The monthly limit problem is in Section 2.14.:

‘‘The bureau may impose a monthly limit for processing records in response to your request in order to treat FOIA requesters equitably by responding to a greater number of FOIA requests each month.

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2018-12-28/pdf/2018-27561.pdf

As per the article I can understand trying to impose a monthly limit, there are more and more requests and staff is limited per budget constraints.

There may be a problem with the major increase in requests, and the time constraints to respond. What to do about it absent these "changes?"

Should Congress vote to increase the budget for staffing and support?