Hawai`i FOIA Lawsuit Will be Early Test of New Obama "Transparency" Policy

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Friday January 23, 2009 · 2:25 AM PST

2009/01/23 · 02:25

CITIZEN GROUPS SUE HONOLULU-BASED FEDERAL ENTITY

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WESPAC) is one of eight regional councils established under the U.S. Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Management and Recovery Act to manage our nation’s offshore marine resources. WESPAC remains under at least two active federal investigations for the misuse of federal funds for political lobbying and possible conflicts of interest charges. The following article announces the lawsuit filed to gain access to documents requested by three Hawai`i-based conservation organizations (the plaintiffs) in a November 14, 2007, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request submitted to WESPAC seeking basic budget, grant, and contract information. The requests have to date been stonewalled by the federal entity.

fosters005

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Monday January 05, 2009 · 4:28 AM PST

2009/01/05 · 04:28

The Hawai`i-based federal agency, The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (Wespac), continues to make news locally and internationally. Wespac remains under at least two active federal investigations for the misuse of federal funds for political lobbying and possible conflicts of interest charges.

The White House has announced a signing Ceremony for Tuesday January 6th, 2009, where it is expected the President will announce several marine monuments in the Central and Western Pacific including the Mariana Trench Marine Monument.

fosters005

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Saturday June 21, 2008 · 3:10 PM PDT

2008/06/21 · 15:10

WESTERN & CENTRAL PACIFIC NETWORK
Monitoring Transparency and Efficiency In Ocean Resource Management
Honolulu, Hawai`i
wcpnetwork@hawaii.rr.com

MEDIA RELEASE

CONTACT: SCOTT FOSTER
Director of Communications
808-988-1708 ~ wcpnetwork@hawaii.rr.com

fosters005

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Tuesday April 15, 2008 · 12:43 AM PDT

2008/04/15 · 00:43

WESTERN & CENTRAL PACIFIC NETWORK
Honolulu, Hawai`i

MEDIA RELEASE

CONTACT: SCOTT FOSTER
Director of Communications
808-988-1708 ~ wcpnetwork@hawaii.rr.com

GLARING CONFLICTS OF INTEREST BY WESPAC COUNCIL MEMBERS REVEALED DURING REDO OF NULLIFIED GUAM-CNMI MEETING
With Two Confirmed Federal Investigation In The Works, Industry Control of Federal Fishing Regulatory Agency Has Become Obvious To All Concerned

HONOLULU: APRIL 14, 2008 -- Because the dysfunctional Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council's (Wespac) March 17-18, 2008, meeting in Guam, Saipan and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands was not given proper public notice, all business conducted there had to be revisited during a "do-over" meeting which took place on Monday, April 14, at Wespac’s Honolulu office and via teleconference. The nullified meeting was held at an estimated cost of $50-$60,000, not including the unknown cost of the second meeting. Unfortunately, Wespac failed to supply many of the documents being discussed to the teleconferenced voting Council members and to the general public -- and the Council’s notorious dysfunction did not end there.

fosters005

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday April 11, 2008 · 7:37 AM PDT

2008/04/11 · 07:37

WESTERN & CENTRAL PACIFIC NETWORK
Monitoring Transparency and Efficiency In Ocean Resource Management
Honolulu, Hawai`i

MEDIA RELEASE

CONTACT: SCOTT FOSTER
Director of Communications
808-988-1708 ~ wcpnetwork@hawaii.rr.com

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