Fiona makes a Freedom of Information Act request for records kept by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Why does she have to request these records?
Fiona has to make a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for the records kept by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) because these records may not be readily available to the public.
The FOIA is a federal law that grants individuals the right to request access to records held by federal agencies, including the EPA. The purpose of the FOIA is to ensure transparency and accountability in the government by allowing citizens to obtain information about its activities.
While some information may be publicly accessible, such as certain reports or publications, there are often records that are not readily available due to various reasons. These reasons may include sensitive or classified information, ongoing investigations, personal privacy concerns, trade secrets, proprietary information, or other exceptions outlined in the FOIA.
Therefore, Fiona has to make a formal FOIA request in order to obtain the specific records she is interested in, and the EPA will review her request to determine whether the requested records can be released or whether any exemptions apply.