Border Trade Alliance

CBP Creates Electronic Reading Room to Increase Public Access to Documents

(Friday, October 23, 2009)
contacts for this news release <http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/10232009_2.xml#contacts#contacts>

Washington - U.S. Customs and Border Protection today launched improvements in Web-based technology designed to increase public access to agency records and documents.

The upgraded CBP Freedom of Information Act Electronic Reading Room will feature records and documents formerly only available through FOIA request. Documents and records responding to certain FOIA requests are now available at foia.cbp.gov. ( FOIA Reading Room <http://foia.cbp.gov/> )

“CBP is striving to boost agency transparency and accountability, while promoting efficiency and effectiveness through the use of technology,” said Acting Commissioner Jayson P. Ahern. “We hope the public will visit the Freedom of Information Act Electronic Reading Room for the most direct access to information and to avoid the need to go through the FOIA request process.”

The border security agency follows FOIA requirements and makes four distinct categories of records available for public inspection and copying. Consequently, documents featured in the FOIA Electronic Reading Room will consist of final opinions and orders rendered in the adjudication of administrative cases; specific agency policy statements; certain administrative staff manuals; and various records disclosed in response to a FOIA request.

The CBP FOIA Division launched the upgraded Reading Room to proactively share information that includes policies and procedures, awarded contracts and grants, manuals and instructions, final opinions, common FOIA requests, and logs of FOIA requests received by the agency.

For more information on CBP and the FOIA Electronic Reading Room, visit the CBP Web site.

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