SavingSeaFood - Environmental group sues NOAA over records charges

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Environmental group sues NOAA over records charges

Oceana, a 10-year-old public charity that advocates and lobbies on environmental issues and also creates and publishes intellectual property, is claiming it's entitled to the same exemption from U.S. Freedom of Information Act charges that is granted by statute to the news media.

The refusal of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to grant Oceana the media exemption from research, screening and reproduction charges amounting to more than $16,000 brought the issue into U.S. District Court after Oceana filed a complaint on Dec. 23.

Oceana made a FOIA request of NOAA in March for a variety of internal documents in various forms that the organization identified as valuable to its continuing campaign of public information and policy advocacy for sea turtles.

According to the suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., Oceana was interested in records regarding the impact that trawl gear has had on turtles, bycatch and internal discussion of policies aimed at eliminating the waste. Many turtle species are endangered or threatened.

NOAA agreed to provide the documents, but refused to grant a waiver of costs to Oceana — a $20 million organization that is based in Washington and boasts of up to 500,000 "members and supporters."

Read the complete story from The Gloucester Times.

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