Obama's early actions bode well for the environment

On his first full day in office on Wednesday, Obama signed two executive orders and three presidential memoranda on executive branch ethics. Though none were explicitly environmental, his new policy regarding the Freedom of Information Act will certainly be relevant for activists, reporters, and citizens seeking information about environment-related executive-branch activity. The order signals to government employees that the new administration intends to make information more readily available to the public. "The mere fact that you have the legal power to keep something secret doesn't mean you should always use it," said Obama in a press conference on Wednesday.

From the memo sent to the heads of executive departments and agencies:

The Government should not keep information confidential merely because public officials might be embarrassed by disclosure, because errors and failures might be revealed, or because of speculative or abstract fears. Nondisclosure should never be based on an effort to protect the personal interests of Government officials at the expense of those they are supposed to serve. In responding to requests under the FOIA, executive branch agencies should act promptly and in a spirit of cooperation, recognizing that such agencies are servants of the public.