DC Water Critical Infrastructure FOI Clarification Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2024
This bill will specifically amend Section 204(a)(15) of the Freedom of Information Act of 1976 to include DC Water under the exemption for critical infrastructure information. As it stands, DC Water is not currently regulated by the Public Service Commission, which means it lacks the protective measures afforded to those entities. By establishing this exemption, the bill seeks to prevent public disclosure of information that could be harmful, fundamentally altering the transparency landscape concerning public utilities and their operational security. If enacted, this bill is likely to influence how public utility information is managed and shared.
PR25-0853, known as the DC Water Critical Infrastructure FOI Clarification Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2024, proposes an urgent amendment to the existing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) concerning critical infrastructure information related to the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water). The resolution directly addresses the need to protect sensitive information that, if disclosed, could jeopardize the security of the District’s water and sewer systems. This amendment is intended to ensure that DC Water is treated similarly to other utilities regulated by the Public Service Commission, allowing it to maintain confidentiality over its critical infrastructure data.
The discussion surrounding this legislation may involve contention regarding the balance between public transparency and necessary privacy. Supporters of the bill argue that the safety and security of the District's essential infrastructure must take precedence in consideration of public records access. Critics, however, could raise concerns that such exemptions could lead to a lack of accountability and diminish public oversight of utility operations, questioning whether this bill might create an environment of secrecy that could hinder civic engagement and informed public discourse.