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The FOI Advocate is a compendium of ideas, edited story excerpts and other materials from a variety of Web sites, as well as original concepts and analysis. When the information comes directly from another source, it will be attributed and a link will be provided whenever possible. The blog relies on the accuracy and integrity of the original sources cited. We will correct errors and inaccuracies when we become aware of them.

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Withholding lists of watermelon growers?

Jennifer LaFleur of the Dallas Morning News explores how some federal agencies use special provisions to get around the Freedom of Information Act:
The Watermelon Research and Promotion Act. The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. The National Historic Preservation Act and The Civil Rights Act.

These are all laws under which federal agencies withhold information from records requestors.

They do so using a special provision of the Freedom of Information Act that allows federal agencies to withhold information prohibited from disclosure by another federal statute.

Under the Watermelon Research and Promotion Act, for example, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has withheld lists of watermelon growers.
More here.
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