ML19305E857
| ML19305E857 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/29/1980 |
| From: | Ahearne J NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Preyer R HOUSE OF REP., GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19305E858 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8005200532 | |
| Download: ML19305E857 (2) | |
Text
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- 9 April 29,1980 CHAIRMAN The Honorable Richardson Preyer J
Chairman, Government Information and cc Individual Rights Subcommittee co[g.%
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Committee on Government Operations United States House of Representatives Washington, D. C.
20515
Dear Mr. Chairman:
This is in response to your letter of March 26, 1980, concerning " executive sessions" of the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS). As your letter noted, correspondence was exchanged on this subject in April 1979.
It is important to understand clearly the use of the term " executive session" in ACRS meeting notices. The ACRS uses this term to refer to a l
portion of a meeting devoted to a discussion among the members of the Committee, its staff, and consultants, as distinguished from discussions with the NRC staff, vendors, licensees, and others.
These sessions, which frequently air members' preliminary opinions on matters to be considered during the remainder of the meeting, are almost always open to the public.
Executive sessions of ACRS meetings are closed only to prevent disclosure of classified information', trade secrets and privileged or confidential information, information of a personal nature which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, or information the premature disclosure of which would be likely to signifi-cantly frustrate implementation of a proposed agency action.
Protection of this type of information is consistent with Exemptions 1, 4, 6, and 98 of the Government in the Sunshine Act.
ACRS meetings are not closed to protect inter-or intra-agency information under Exemption 5 of the Freedom of Information Act.
Closure of any portions of ACRS meetings is based upon certification by the General Counsel and approval by the agency's Advisory Comittee Management Officer.
During Calendar Year 1979, there were 13 meetings of the full Committee, each having a number of executive sessions, and 88 subcommittee meetings, each usually having one executive session.
For the full Committee, portions of eight executive sessions were closed, representing about two hours meeting time. Total ACRS meeting time in 1979 exceeded 300 hours0.00347 days <br />0.0833 hours <br />4.960317e-4 weeks <br />1.1415e-4 months <br />.
Four subcommittee meetings were completely closed, and of the seven subcommittee meetings which were partially closed, only one involved closed executive sessions.
Based upon a review of its meeting minutes for 1979, the ACRS estimates that less than ten percent of total meeting time, including the full Committee and subcommittees, was spent in closed session.
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The Honorable Richardson Preyer 2
i If further information is required in regard to this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me.
4 i)terely,
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John F. Ahearne 1
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