IA-87-446, Responds to Appeal Re Denial of FOIA Request for Documents. Release of Predecisional Documents Would Stifle Honest & Frank Communication within Nrc.Documents Withheld (Ref FOIA Exemption 5)
ML20235X679 | |
Person / Time | |
---|---|
Issue date: | 10/14/1987 |
From: | Chilk S NRC OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY (SECY) |
To: | Bauman L GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT |
References | |
FOIA-87-446, FOIA-87-A-68 NUDOCS 8710200078 | |
Download: ML20235X679 (1) | |
Text
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'g UNITED STATES
,- f n NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[ ,E ' W ASHINGTON, D.C. 20555
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4/ O OFFICE OF THE . October 14, 1987 SECRETARY l
Ms. Linda Bauman F0IA Coordinator, Midwest Office Government Accountability Project 104 E. Wisconsin Avenue IN RESPONSE REFER Appleton, WI 54911 TO 87-A-68(87-446)
Dear Ms. Bauman:
This letter responds to your September 10, 1987 appeal of the denial of one document in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's September 3,1987 response to F01A-87-446.
Pursuant to your appeal the agency again reviewed the document in question. Based on that review, I support the agency's view that this document be withheld.
, The document is a draft inspection report and associated draft transmittal letter and notice of deviation with an 0GC attorney's draft l i I coments thereon. The document was withheld pursuant to the l deliberative process privilege incorporated in Exemption (5) of the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 6 552(b)(5). That privilege pennits the agency to withhold predecisional documents disclosure of which would be likely to " stifle honest and frank communication within the acency." Coastal States Gas Corp. v. Department of Eneroy, 617 F.2d 854, 866 (D.C. Cir. 1980). This document fits squarely within the exemption. Moreover, there are no reasonably segregable factual _
portions of the document because release of any facts would permit an indirect inquiry into the predecisional process of the agency. ~See Mead
_ Data Central v. U.S. Department of Air Force, 566 F.2d 242, 256 TU C.
Ci r. 1977 ) .
This letter represents final agency action on your September 10, 1987 FOIA appeal. Judicial review of the denial.of documents is available in Federal district court in the district in which you reside or have your i j principal place of business, or in the District of Columbia. J incere >
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l amuel J. T Secretar) of the Comm sion 871020007s 871014 PDR FOIA BAUMANB7-A-68 PDR L-_______-_ _ _ _ . _
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C-OYh.c." MENT ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT
'I crr.e cricut Avenue, NW 'ute 2C2 a .- nc en, D.C. 20036 (202)2324550 K!"; WEST OFFICE 10' U. WISCONSIN AVENUE APPLETON, WISCONSIN 54911-4897 July 9, 1987 EREEDOM 0F llIFORMATIOR FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST ACT Director Wto g Office of Administration g '
jr f U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Wa s?.ington , D.C. 20210 TO EHOM IT MAY CONCERN ,
Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA, 5 U.S.C. 552,') the Government Accountability Project (GAP) requests copies of any and all agency records and information, including but not limited to notes, lettsrs, memoranda, draf ts, minutes, diaries, logs, calenders, tapes, transcrip s, summaries, interview reports, procedures, instructions, engineering analyses, drawings, files, graphs, charts, maps, photographs, agrecments, handwritten notes, studies, data sheets, notebooks, books, tele _thone messages, computations, voice recordings, computer runoffs, and any other data compilations, interim and/or final reports, status reports, and any and all other records relevant to and or generated. in connection with tha inspection conducted by Mr. Barnes and other members of the Region IV/
Comanche Peak group during January 1-February 28, 1987 and of the activites cuthorized by NRC construction permits for CPSES Units 1&2 as well as all d:cuments that cover discussions of findings at the conclusion of the inspection >
with the utility.
This request includes all agency records as defined in 10 C.F.R. 9.3a(b) '
cnd the NRC Manual, Appendix 0211, Parts 1. A.2 and A.3 (approved October.
8, 1980) whether they currently exist in the NRC of fical, " working' investigative' or other files, or at any other location, including private
- racidences.
If cny records as defined in 10 C.F.R. 9.3a(b)'and the NRC Manual, supra, I cnd covered by this request have been destroyed and/or removed after this request, please provide all surrounding records, including but not l limited to a list of all records which have been or are de.stroyed and/or remtved, a description of the action (s) taken relevant to, generated in conn-cetion'with and/or issued in order to implement the action (s).
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' A l inquesta that fees be waived,.because "fintling the information c;in
.l e e.:ns.idered as primarily. benefitting the general public, "5 tl.S.C.
%2 la) (4) (a). GAP,is a,non-profit, non-partisan puhlic i nt.r rent j
organization concerned with, honest and open government. . Through pub)ic outreach, the Project prornotes .wl,iistleblowers as. agents of -government accountability. Through.it'. Environmental Whistleblower Clinic, GAP offers assistance tp .19eal, puQic l Interest, and citizens groups and interveners j intheconcernforsafety.,ah.nuclearpowe'rplants Wa are requesting,Ehls,information as part.of an. ongoing monitoring project of the NRC's efforts to prgbect,,,public, health,and, safety,at and near 3 nuclear processing plaribst and radioactive waste f acilities. .
For any documents pr porbions that you deny due to e specific FOIA ,,
exemption,'please provide,an index itemizing and describing the documents I or portions of documents withheld. The index should provide a detailed justification..of your. grounds for claiming each. exemption, explaining why osch exemption is. relevant..to,the document or portion of the document withheld. This index,,1sj required,under Vaughn v. Rosen .(I), 484 F.2d 820 (D.C. Cir. 197 3 ) ; .'cer t J. denied ; 415 U.Si 977 (1974).
t We look forward to your response to this request within ten (10) workin g :
days. 1 Sincerely, ,
d W a6 h ,wan u isinda Bauman FOIA Coordinator
. . ; Midwest of.fice {
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Response to khls.. request.s}iould be. mailed ho .the Midwesb. Office:
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104 E. Wisconsin Appleotri' Wiscon, sinAvenue 54$,il2, -U'I89j ,
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RESPONSE TO FREEDUM OF X l '"* I l'^ " {
INFORMATION ACT (FOIA) REQUEST SEP - 31987 )
(e.e e e DOCK (T NVWelRISI urupssabe9 Ms. Lid L w . G4F PART t.-RfCORDS RitIASED OA NOT LOCATED (See checked 60ses)
No esency recae mesect to tw movest how toen inceisd.
No addeonel spency records meisct to the request how been laceend. l Aeoney records emnet to ew requasi tret n identmed M Appendk as skeney enhede for putiac papecem and ceasius a se NRC Pi&Gc Deaseme Room, 1717 H Soest, ILW., Washhyson, DC .
Assney meerds satisca w the request that are idenamed m Aspenas 6 se being mede avessede ser pimac mapecean ens supease h the NRC Peas asownene Room,1717 M Suest, N.W., WesNngeort DC. In e leider under Weis FQtA nundsor ed requester name.
= no,,,,,,4.m., ,areion o, ro ei i vou w e.co h e .saphor e,n.orendon e.h s ,n. redia, on ,ry e . now .o.g ses.s emiside .er ,i c -
and coytne et se IRC Pubtc Document Room,1717 H Street, N.W., Washeigson. OC. h a toeder under tNs FOIA number and requesse amus.
Enciceed is infunneenn on how you rney obtain eccess to and the charges for cosyne records placed h the NRC Putec Document Room, f7t7 M Street, N.W., Wassegesn, DC.
Agency records eApset to the repest are enM Any applicates charge for cosuse of the records provided and peyment procedures ao amend h to comments sucean.
Records eieiscs to Oto request home been referved to another Federal agen#iesl lor rowtow artJ droct response to you.
In view of NRC's esponse to this request, no further acton b bang tshen on spessf leaer deced PART N.A-INPORRAATION Wme9 ELD PR0ed PUSUC Ot9 CLOSURE ,
l Certain kiformselon h the requesed records is berg udviheid from pubec decicmuro pursuant to the FOIA exemptions desertied in and les see aussons sessed h Port E. sec.
y soro S. C, and D. Any reisesed pardone of the documene for wNch only part of the receed is beme wishheld are behe rnees eveashh for eseec kepeedon md ampyme >
the NRC Puente Document Room,1717 H Street, N.W., Washingeort DC, h a laider under qNe FOIA nurvdier and roguester none.
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FREEDOed O(INFORMATION ACT RESPMtSE F0tA NUMe n sa [d h h ,
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PA2T H.S. APPUCA9LE POtA EX4ssfrT10fe8 are bon !
- Records subpect to the requeet that are desertmed as the enclosed AppendeesEsemptsorte eguissons and for the reseons
- 1. The uneewed informenon a propee does# r fed purmaars to Esecuove Order 1226 (EXEMPTi(>d it
- 2. The useiheed infomwoon reistes solsfy to the seemed personnel ruins and procedures of Netc. @rtMPTION 21 ,
- 3. The wesensid anfomiston is giocefacee r emengInd tsem piesc hne by statute indceed (EX$MPTION 31 Secean 14114 of the Atomic trurgy Act seusfi psefehits WW IAndsouro of Resencted Date w Formerh Rossected Osas BG U.S.C. 2161215).
gasessi 147 of the Aesmle Ens,gy Act usudi resuhms the dedoswo of undessined seingsanas insomumen se u.sg 3 sert.
4.11ts odedused infensusten is e trade secret or conneseef er Anoneisi bdormenon that is basis udedised for the assental edesand: (DEMPfl0N 4) b$ The bdorenselon le conspeared to be confidsreist hiemens (propnsesry) informenon k'
Tito bdormonen is conedured to be propnsesry adormaton pursuant to 10 CFR 2.790tdM11.
Tlte bdennellen uso tiendread and receited b earndonoe her:) e foreign source pureusse en 10 CPR 2.750tdH2i.
S. Tlas uWdeld indymedon consiges of ingsreguier er beangency records Wiet are not sweteht discovery henden. Dhetsouro of predecisionalinformesmo neute eased to bilikit Wie open and trenk enchangs of leses essenelsi to Wie dsReeredte pecess. recore are to gioir siesgy, gie face ere bissertsetr udIh des em segreSelds fecamel peelens becaims sus redeem of Wes fases isould permit en
& The suWuheld lrdortradon is eiernpted frorn pidsc dudseure because its Gecimaare t rouid madt si e deerfy umeenented seveuion of personal pr6vacy, (EXEMPTIO98 8
- 7. The asieduid beormation coross of imestiosary meses conweed for low ordorcement puneens and is bems wreeteld Ier Wie ressords) indicated. (EXEMPilott M ipF Olesensure wedd bisertere suNh en ordorcenene pasmodng because it could reveel the asese, espection, and incus of usessesment eMore. and thus could 5
possesy show them to take ection to srusle posurisui urongdoeng or a violetson of NRC mourunwnts from swashesess. IEXEMPTION MAH ww Dessessure wedd corweiues en unmarronisd beeson of personsi provecy (EXEMPTION MCH The informoden consiso of nema of bdvidasis and siher bdormerJon the decionw of hissi odd revent idenddse of eenRdenomi sources. (EXEMPil0N h0H PAflT H.C-080fv1806 M pwoussa to e Crm ta wester s.1sef We U.S. Nudser Commission regdedons, k has beni emesseied that the bdomudan omhhshi b esempt fran r:r @@emse, er endoewe is e8n**v '* ih* 8 '"t and sw Oseamr. i sies les of and Rosases. Gene of Aenhissedan, Th* ter P8 s'a'y may$sednes be appassedseus' to thesono responende Emmessewe terOpmeense Deresser ter me demol tessi.are those spaces 6 insidnad besom s OSfYII80 vmwiL TMOPMCE MCORDS OM APPEdATE Mis AL W4 _
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~ Pastt n 0- APPEAL susefts De denied try each denying emcialidendRed h Part E.C ntey be appealed to the Appeases Officist idonefied h that section. Any such appeal rrmet be h ei,,ning and must be made mahin a deve of of thh response Appeals must be addseemed as appressiste to the Emecutive Director for Operatione er to sie Secrosary of the Comminulon, U.S. Nudser Commiseson, Weehington, DC 20566, and should caserly esote on the envelope and in the letter viet n is an
- Appeal from as bildal FOLA
- senc comes aos part a U.S. NUCLEAR REQULATORY COMMIS$40N ;
me, FOIA RESPONSE CONTINUATION
1
. Re: F0!A u .446 ,
1 APPENDIX B l l
RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE PDR UNDER THE ABOVE REQUEST NUMBER I NUMBER DATE DESCRIPTION I
- 1 1
- 1. 04/06/87 Routing Slips from L. Spessard to G. Mizuno and C. Transnell (1 page)
- 2. 04/07/87 Routing Slip from L. Spessard to G. Mizuno (1 page)
)
- 3. 03/30/87 Memorandum for Spessard from Johnson subject: Review l of Comanche Peak Response Team Inspection Report 50-445/87-02,50-446/87-02 w/ draft version of Inspection Report (75pages) l l
l l
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- p ;
Re: FOI A-87-446 APPENDIX C RECORDS TOTALLY WITHHELD NUMBER . DATE DESCRIPTION & EXEMPTION ;
- 1. Undated OGC Draft Comments regarding Draft Inspection Report - Ex. S' ;
(72pages)
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