Talkleft describes some key passages
in the PATRIOT II: Revenge of the Patriot act:
Some of the key provision of the Domestic Security Enhancement Act of
2003 include:Section 201, “Prohibition of Disclosure of Terrorism Investigation Detainee Information”:
Safeguarding the dissemination of information related to national security has been a hallmark
of Ashcroft’s first two years in office, and the Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003
follows in the footsteps of his October 2001 directive to carefully consider such interest when
granting Freedom of Information Act requests. While the October memo simply encouraged FOIA
officers to take national security, “protecting sensitive business information and, not least,
preserving personal privacy” into account while deciding on requests, the proposed legislation
would enhance the department’s ability to deny releasing material on suspected terrorists in
government custody through FOIA.Section 202, “Distribution of ‘Worst Case Scenario’ Information”: This would introduce
new FOIA restrictions with regard to the Environmental Protection Agency. As provided for in the
Clean Air Act, the EPA requires private companies that use potentially dangerous chemicals must
produce a ?worst case scenario? report detailing the effect that the release of these
controlled substances would have on the surrounding community. Section 202 of this Act would,
however, restrict FOIA requests to these reports, which the bill’s drafters refer to as “a
roadmap for terrorists.” By reducing public access to “read-only” methods for only those
persons “who live and work in the geographical area likely to be affected by a worst-case scenario,”
this subtitle would obfuscate an established level of transparency between private industry and
the public.