U.S. Department of Labor Offers Suggestions and Seeks
Ways to Improve Freedom of Information Act Administration

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor will hold a public forum on Dec. 18, 2006, from 10 a.m. to noon to discuss and seek public input on its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) processes. The meeting will be in the department's auditorium at 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C.

The forum is an important part of the department's FOIA Improvement Plan, which was issued earlier this year. The department will solicit input from the public on a range of issues involving the administration of the FOIA program. Specifically, attendees are encouraged to provide suggestions on how the www.dol.gov Web site can be modified to assist those who make FOIA requests.

The department also seeks input on the best way to provide requesters with information on the status of their FOIA requests. Ideas about the contents of FOIA acknowledgment letters and the best way to communicate about the Labor Department's FOIA process are also solicited. FOIA staff will also discuss useful suggestions to help individual requesters with FOIA submissions.

At the meeting, attendees may offer suggestions or ask questions of the department's chief FOIA officer and the FOIA public liaison, who will moderate the open-microphone session. Individuals also may submit written comments to Brad Mantel, Office of Legal Counsel, Office of the Solicitor, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Room N-2700, Washington, D.C. 20210. Comments of 10 or fewer pages, may be faxed to Mantel at 202-693-5774 or e-mailed to mantel.brad@dol.gov.

Those wishing to speak at the public forum may contact Mantel by mail, fax or e-mail by Dec. 14, 2006. Include an e-mail address or fax number with the correspondence, so you may be contacted about speaker scheduling. Presentations should not exceed 10 minutes.

To access more information on the Department of Labor's FOIA Improvement Plan, click on the "Agency Plan and Report" link, which appears on the Internet at www.dol.gov/dol/foia/.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.