Comment on FR Doc # 2012-21495

While the goal of the FOIA and Open Government Acts are to ensure transparency, participation and collaboration by the public in the process of government, all too often requests for information are denied through the invocation of exemptions. And, while the proposed regulations are aimed, to some extent, at requiring agencies to provide an identification of deletions at the site as well as recitation of the applicable exemption, if the intended goal is openness, then the proposed revision does little to accomplish that. Instead, further consideration should be given to whether or not the nine exemptions continue to be viable. Additionally, if it is found they are legitimately needed, some sort of educational campaign should be rolled out so that the public has a clear understanding of what is and/or is not appropriate to request under the terms of the FOIA. Moreover, when exemptions are invoked, the appeal process should be more clearly explained so that the public has a thorough understanding of their rights and responsibilities in relation to the FOIA. Finally, if the default position is in support of openness, then federal agencies and executive departments must clearly demonstrate their commitment to that position by honoring both the spirit and the letter of the law.