Notice2022-17040
CPSC Roundtable on the Freedom of Information Act
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
August 9, 2022
Issuing agencies
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Abstract
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (Commission or CPSC) will hold a roundtable discussion for CPSC requesters and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Office staff to discuss issues related to requests for CPSC FOIA records. CPSC staff invites interested parties to attend and participate in this forum in person or via webinar.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 152 (Tuesday, August 9, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 152 (Tuesday, August 9, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48471-48472]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-17040]
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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
CPSC Roundtable on the Freedom of Information Act
AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.
ACTION: Notice of forum.
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SUMMARY: The Consumer Product Safety Commission (Commission or CPSC)
will hold a roundtable discussion for CPSC requesters and Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) Office staff to discuss issues related to
requests for CPSC FOIA
[[Page 48472]]
records. CPSC staff invites interested parties to attend and
participate in this forum in person or via webinar.
DATES: The forum will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., Eastern
Time (ET) on Tuesday, September 20, 2022. Individuals interested in
serving as discussants in person or via webinar should contact Bob
Dalton at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3d4f595c514952537d5e4d4e5e135a524b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4f3d2b2e233b20210f2c3f3c2c61282039">[email protected]</span></a> by September 12, 2022. All other individuals
who wish to attend the discussion as online observers should register
by September 19, 2022. In-person observers do not require registration.
ADDRESSES: The forum will be held in person and via webinar in the
Commission's main Hearing Room located on the fourth floor of Bethesda
Towers, 4330 East-West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814. Attendance is free
of charge. There are three categories of attendance: discussant (i.e.,
active participants in the discussion), either online or in person;
online observer only; and in-person observer only. Persons interested
in being discussants, whether online or in person, should contact Bob
Dalton, Senior Attorney Advisor, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4c3e282d203823220c2f3c3f2f622b233a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bfcddbded3cbd0d1ffdccfccdc91d8d0c9">[email protected]</span></a>.
All persons interested in attending the roundtable online, whether
as a discussant or observer only, should register online at: <a href="https://cpsc.webex.com/cpsc/onstage/g.php?MTID=ea9ba73e30109ef918dcd5dc66a5c594d">https://cpsc.webex.com/cpsc/onstage/g.php?MTID=ea9ba73e30109ef918dcd5dc66a5c594d</a>. After registering, you
will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining
the webinar. In-person observer-only attendance does not require
registration.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chief FOIA Officer Abioye Mosheim,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d3b2bebca0bbb6babe93b0a3a0b0fdb4bca5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5d3c30322e353834301d3e2d2e3e733a322b">[email protected]</span></a>, or Senior Attorney Advisor Bob Dalton,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3e4c5a5f524a51507e5d4e4d5d10595148"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2b594f4a475f44456b485b5848054c445d">[email protected]</span></a>, 4330 East-West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814; telephone
301-785-6340.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: CPSC FOIA Office (Office) staff is hosting a
roundtable discussion on common issues requesters and FOIA Office staff
face with FOIA requests. The information collected from the forum will
assist staff in making recommendations for improving CPSC's FOIA
processes.
I. Background
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland issued new FOIA Guidelines on
March 15, 2022.\1\ Among other points, the FOIA Guidelines stress that
agencies should continue to work with requesters in a ``spirit of
cooperation'' and help requesters understand the FOIA process and the
nature and scope of the records the agency maintains. CPSC agrees that
it is important for agencies to establish good communication and a
cooperative working relationship with FOIA requesters to ensure that
the FOIA process is meeting the needs of both requesters and the
agency, consistent with law.
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\1\ <a href="https://www.justice.gov/ag/page/file/1483516/download">https://www.justice.gov/ag/page/file/1483516/download</a>.
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Improving communication and working cooperatively with FOIA
requesters is an essential part of implementing an efficient and
effective FOIA system at CPSC. Good communication with requesters is
necessary where the Commission is uncertain about the scope of what is
being requested and allows both parties to ensure they have a common
understanding of what records are being sought. Many times, FOIA
requesters do not know how agency records are organized or what might
be involved in searching for the records they seek. Being able to talk
through the request and reach an understanding can be very helpful to
both the requester and the agency. By improving communication with the
requester community, CPSC hopes to strengthen relationships that will
allow us to increase our efficiency in processing FOIA requests and to
anticipate and address issues that might cause delays.
II. Topics
This FOIA Roundtable will focus on common issues with requesting
and processing CPSC FOIA requests, including the scope of FOIA requests
and agency jurisdiction, fee categories, requests for expedited
processing, essential elements of a perfected FOIA request,
clarification process, timing, and how the Office searches for
responsive records and what bearing that may have on request
formulation. Attendees are invited to suggest additional FOIA-related
topics in advance of the roundtable, for inclusion in the discussion.
III. Roundtable Details
A. Time and Place
CPSC staff will hold the forum in person and via webinar from 10:30
a.m.-12 p.m., Eastern Time (ET), on Tuesday, September 20, 2022.
B. Registration
Registration is required to participate as a discussant and to
attend via webinar. Registration is not required for in-person
observers. If you would like to attend the roundtable discussion as an
online observer, but you do not wish to participate as a discussant,
please register online by September 19, 2022. (See the ADDRESSES
portion of this document for the website link and instructions to
register.)
If you would like to participate in the roundtable in person or as
online discussant, contact Bob Dalton, Senior Attorney Advisor, at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#82f0e6e3eef6edecc2e1f2f1e1ace5edf4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3446505558405b5a74574447571a535b42">[email protected]</span></a> by September 12, 2022, and register by September 12,
2022. (See the ADDRESSES portion of this document for the website
link.) Although staff will try to accommodate all persons who wish to
participate, the final discussant group will depend on the number of
persons who wish to contribute. If necessary for management of the
session, CPSC staff may select participants based on considerations
such as the total number of volunteers, time constraints, and
representation from a wide variety of stakeholder groups and interests.
If you have questions regarding participating in the roundtable, please
contact Bob Dalton at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#95e7f1f4f9e1fafbd5f6e5e6f6bbf2fae3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f78593969b839899b794878494d9909881">[email protected]</span></a>, or 301-785-6340. Detailed
instructions for the webinar participants and other interested parties
will be made available on the CPSC's Public Calendar: <a href="https://cpsc.gov/newsroom/public-calendar">https://cpsc.gov/newsroom/public-calendar</a>.
Alberta E. Mills,
Secretary, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 2022-17040 Filed 8-8-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P
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