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LCD-78-120 1 (1978-07-25)

handle is hein.gao/gaobaaxph0001 and id is 1 raw text is: DCCUNfENT BESUNE /§J9 (C-1C Da k, 06524 - fB2087101 1 (Restricted) Y- 7- ?8 Government Field Offices Should Better Implement the Freedom of Infcrmation Act. LCD-78-120; B-173761. July 25, 1978. 47 pp. Report to Rep. Richardson Preyer, Chairman, Hcuse Ccmuittee on Government Operations: Government Infoation and Individual Riqhts Subcommittee; by Elmer B. Staats, Ccmptxcller General. Issue Area: Federal Information: l;lementing the 'rivacl Act of 11974 (1401). Contact: Logistics and CommunicaticnE £iv. Budget Function: General Government: General Exoperty and Records Manaqement (804). Organizatica Concerned: Department of Agriculture; Eepartmeit uf Defense: Department of Energy; Department of Health, Education, and Welfare; Department of L:%using and Uricn Development; Department of Justice; De;artment of Transportation: Department of StatE; Securities and Excha--ge Commission; Federal Trade Commissice. Conqressional Relevance; House Committee cn Government Operations: Government Informaticn and Individual Rights Sutcormittee.-Rep. Richardson Pre er. Authority: Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552). Privacy Act of 1974. 31 U.S.C. 484. H. HBet. 8S-1497. E. Rept. 89-813. The Freedom cf Information Act provides the basic iuthoriry and procedure for the public to ottain documents and records from the Federal Goverrnent. Findirgs/Conclusions: The act has given citizens access to records not previously available. Although it is being used mostly by tusinesses aLbd law firms for purposes not ccntem;lated by the Congress, ay attempt to requlate such use could also restrict use by the public. Most agencies are making a reasonatle effort tc meet the act's time requirements for responding to requests, but a few aqencizs have not responded within the 10-day time limit. Agencies should evaluate each step of thE process ard ccrsider estahlishinq time limits for each ste;. Agencies are not abusing fae provisions of the act. Cn the contrary, there is a reluctance to assess fees, and clarificaticr is needed in this area. One proDlem area is in applying oxenticns frc disclosure Iistec in the act. Agencies differed ii denials of requests and ,n determinniq what constituted a denial. Additional training on :ne act is needed in scme agency field cffices with variations amonq agencies i. amount and type cf trainirg needed. improvement i3 also needed in support ky acency sacageaert of Proqrams for providing purlic access t¢ Gcvernment records and :n tn qua--ty or agency reports on implementation cf the act. Recommendatiuns: The Attorney General shculd have the heads of Federal d-v-nrlmerts and agencies: review regulations pertaining to the dc- to make sure that they are clear, ccnfors tc the 6pirit af the act, and dc not contair unwarranted restrictive

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