The Ancient Coin Collectors Guild (ACCG), an advocacy group for private collectors and independent scholars, announced the filing of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the U. S. State Department (DOS), according to a story that this week on NumisMaster.com.
According to Wayne G. Sayles, executive director of the guild, this action became unavoidable due to persistent refusal of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) to provide the guild and others with information relating to requests for import restrictions.
The DOS recently imposed unprecedented import restrictions on ancient coins from Cyprus, requiring importers of even a single common coin of Cypriot type to provide what the ACCG believes to be unfair, unworkable and unnecessary documentation.
The ACCG seeks information relating to requests from Cyprus, China and Italy. In each case, apparent irregularities in the way these requests were handled led to significant concerns.
Members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives also requested similar information on behalf of the ACCG and others.
"None of these avenues produced responsive replies," said Peter K. Tompa, ACCG president. "The reason for this lawsuit is that the DOS has refused to provide meaningful information. We seek transparency and fairness of the process by which decisions affecting the American people are made." Click for full story.