CRE Blasts BOEMRE for Refusing to Release Public Comments on Rulemakings

WASHINGTON, July 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Center for Regulatory Effectiveness  criticizes a regulatory agency of the Department of  Interior, BOEMRE (Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Regulation and Enforcement),  for refusing to release public comments.

Federal law as well as established tradition  requires agencies to disclose comments it receives on proposed rules. Surprisingly the newly established agency which was charged  to bring sunlight to the regulation of the nation's ocean resources requires all members of the public to file Freedom of Information requests to obtain copies of comments it receives from the public on proposed rules. In addition, when and  if BOEMRE releases the said comments, they redact the names of the person offering the comments.

Is this agency for real? Is it operating in the real world? Is the aforementioned policy indicative of the vision of a newly created agency?

See CRE comments on this matter at http://www.thecre.com/quality/2011/20110713_regweek.html

SOURCE Center for Regulatory Effectiveness