ISOO's most recently published annual report, which surveyed the first full year of E.O. 12356's operation, received a commendatory letter from President Reagan. ISOO will be issuing another report in the early spring. In addition to monitoring and participating in the programs of other agencies, almost every year ISOO sponsors its own symposium. Approximately 750 persons from government, industry, the media, and special interest groups attended. The CIA must still apply E.O. 12356 and other appropriate exemptions to records not covered by this blanket protection.
Many requests entail searches of the most voluminous and diverse types of operational records.
Right now, we are completing the process of designating 'operational' files. A great deal of time was spent futilely retrieving and reviewing documents with full recognition that most, if not all, of the information in them would be exempt from disclosure. We are now largely relieved of that requirement. However, reevaluation does not necessarily result in disclosure to a FOIA requester, because of the possible application of other FOIA exemptions, or because the records may still be classified. There can be many different grounds for continued classification of requested records, according to Peterson.