ML20149D779

Responds to 871117 Appeal Re Denial of Three Documents in 871109 Response to FOIA Request.Agency View That Documents Should Be Withheld Supported.Documents Withheld (Ref FOIA Exemption 5)

ML20149D779
Person / Time
Issue date:	01/06/1988
From:	Chilk S NRC OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY (SECY)
To:	Bauman L GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT
References
FOIA-87-655, FOIA-87-A-103 NUDOCS 8801130120
Download: ML20149D779 (1)

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!' .n NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSI N l (. WASHINGTON, D.C 20555 l

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OFFICE OF THE January 6, 1988 SECRETARY Ms. Linda Bauman FOIA Coordinator, Midwest Office Government Accountability Pro W t 104 E. Wisconsin Avenue IN RESPONSE REFER Appleton, WI 54911 TO 87-A-103(87-655)

Dear Ms. Bauman:

This let.ar responds to your November 17, 1987 appeal of the denial of three documents in the Nuclear Regulatory Comission's November 9,1987 response to F01A-87-655.

Pursuant to your appeal the agency again reviewed the documents in question. Based on that review, I support the agency's view that these documents be withheld.

Document D/3 is a one-pace draf t letter from Lando Zech to Senator D' Amato attached to one-page of undated handwritten notes. Document D/4 is ore-page of handwritten notes entitled "Some Points Covered By VS .

With The Media." Document D/5 is one-paae of handwritten notes entitled l "Isstes" written by S. Newbury and dated September 29. Each of these documents was withheld pursuant to the deliberative process privilege incorporated in Exemption (5) of the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. $ 552(b)(5). That privilege pennits the agency to withhold predecisional documents disclosure of which would be likely to "stifle honest and frank comunication within the agency." Coastal States Gas Corp. v. Department of Energy, 617 F.2d 854, 866 (D.C. Cir. 1980).

These documents fit squarely within the exemption. Moreover, there are no reasonably segregable factual portions of the documents because I release of any facts would pennit 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, 2T6~(0.C. Cir.1977).

This letter represents final agency action on your November 17, 1987 F0IA appeal. Judicial review of the denial of documents is available in Federal district court in the district in which you reside or have your principal place of business, or in the District of Columbia.

- Si cerely ,

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8801130120 080106 mdef J. Th g y g g 103 Secretarykof the Comis ion PDR

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GdVERNMEN T ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT MIDWEST OFFICE 104 East Wisconsin Avenue Appleton, Wis:onsin 54911 (414) 730-8533 November 17, 1987 Victor Stello AT' PEAL OF IN1WA. f0M 0i,CIWON Executive Director for Operations U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission -A -108 t.E. 0 7 -45'SJ Washington, D.C. 20555 1 d ll.y .)

Re: Appeal of FOIA 87-655

Dear Mr. Stello,

This is an appeal pursuant to subsection a(6) of the Freedom l of Information Act as amended (5,U.S.C. 552), of the actual denial of the Commission to release documents requested on September 23, 1987 by the Government Accountability Project.

By letter dated November 9, 1987, Donnie H. Grimsley, Director of the Division of Rules and Records, informed us that Appendix D/1, D/2, D/6 - D/17 are being withheld from disclosure in their entirety or in part, pursuant to FOIA Exemption 5 because the withheld information consists of interagency or intraagency records that are available through discovery during i litigation. Disclosure of predecisional information would tend to inhibit the open and frank exchange of ideas essential to the l deliberative process. l l

We believe we are entitled to the release of the documents )

being withheld, i We expect your response to this appeal within 20 working I days of your receipt so that we can determine whether to pursue j this matter further in the courts.

Thank you for your consideration of this appeal.

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\ Sincerely, i Linda Bauman l

'. FOIA Coordinator

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FnEEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT GESPONSE FotA NUM8(h$1 FoI4 -F 7-4si o rt M8 27 PAAT (1 S. APNCASLE folA EXEMPT 10ais Eecorde subrect to the request thai are descobed ri the enc $oted Apperdcas are bang meetisk$ b ther entarery or in part under FotA E.merrot cne end for the reasons set forth be6cne pursuant to 5 U.S C. 562(bl end 10 CF R 9 Edel of NRC Regulocorw.

1. N mathheid adormation e propero essesmedr pwouere io Emaci.e , Order 12366 IE7EMPT:CN 11

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6. TTv werMd rdorme6cn conessa or ritaregency or biraegesey records shot are not ave 4.etas discovery angemei. rm=o of pr=tseamanal Werwetion wuMd tend to rtest te ccen are frardt endiergs ci steen emmentai to tte deExrethe process. records se he Our mesty, tus tect are bestricetier Hwtwared weth to edermanon. he amo no no esgrepetde *ctuad portsare h r== to re'une et se tocan utMs perma en herecs amoury mio m process of the agricy. ExEM S. The udshbeid otorwwoon b useipted f om pade endomre tocaves as encicoure would resurt in e cieer+y wwerramed besion af parecral pre ocy. (EXEMPTION 9

7. TTe wetMd rdormenon conmets of rweetigetcry raccrth cos'ip6sd for lea ardorcament purposes and is nebe indefend tar sie summordel euscased. (EXEMPTION 71 E rwn mound reer*ere w*th an enacecemre procestAns because e coJd revent the scope, dreceen, erus locam of antescar me sAeru. and tse could

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KM The bfor retion ccresse of nerans of bd.4Ases trus over Wor renon two <8ar4ran on mencfs woJd event issereens of enrh sources. (EXEMPTION MDil

. l PART ti.C-DEffYlf00 Od'PtCIALS l Purmare to to CFR S 9 and/or 9.16 of to V S. Nuctuar Regadetary Care emon mouissorw. It es been oneerwered tot to Womuson useMs is esevet kom producean or h o. 1 ares that les cr esm+=no is comrery to tse 06dec corest N persons comporates for the darust are shoes oftsamh heuriend hammer es denytn$ omcises and to Deector. 1 Do,ssion of and Records. Omcs of Acewustreeen, ter arer dwumde yet moy be h to the Eascuevo Osector ter Opersehre oca.

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PAAT 84 0- APPEAL RIGHTS The dereof by sech denying ofMal identired b Part li.C rney be oppested to the Appettate OfMal identrfied h ttet aararwn. Any such apposi must be in wnting and must be made within 30 deys of receipt of thss roeconse. Appeals must be eddressed se agropnote to the Docut>ve Director for Operatiore or to the thet Secretary of the R is an "Appeal Comrreusson, from en Init>ad FOtAU.S.Decolo Nuclear @n ComrNasion, WesNngton, DC 20666, and should cieerty state on the envelope and in the lettw sanc PonM ese sPwt a U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 1

ca. FOtA RESPONSE CONTINUATION l

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l Re: F01A-87-655 APPENDIX C RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE POR UNDER THE ABOVE REQUEST NUMBER

1. 6/;'1/87 Note "Issuefor Scott Newberry,)OEDO,

/Coment". (1 page referencing GA0 Report and I

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Re: F0!A-87-655 APPENDIX D_

RECORDS WITHHELD IN THEIR ENTIRETY

1. Undated Memo from James Lieberman to Jesse L. Funches, subject:

D'Amato/GA0 Report. (3 pages) Exemption 5, 2, 6/2/87 Memo from Thomas E. Murley to T. A. Rehm, subject:

comments on Draf t GA0 Report on NRC's Safety Standard and Inspection and and Enforcement Effort. (3 pages)

Exemption 5.

3. Undated Draft memo with notes from Lando Zech to Senator Alfonse M. D'Amato. (2 pages) Exemption 5.

4. Undated Handwritten notes re: Some points covered by us with media.(1page) Exemption 5.

5. 9/29/87 Handwritten notes on Issues, S. Newberry. (1 page)

6. 9/29/87 Memo from Jesse L. Funches to Themis Speis, subject:

D'Amato GA0 Report. (1 page) Exemption 5.

7. 10/6/87 Draf t Connission Paper, subject: Final GAO Report entitled "Nuclear Regulation: Efforts to Ensure Nuclear Power Plant Safety Can be Strengthened," with handwritten changes.(11pages) Exemption 5.

8. 10/14/87 Note to Barbara Dalry4._ from Walter Schwink, subject:

Response to GA0 and D'Amato letter. (2 pages) Exemption 5.

9. Unda ted Handwritten notes, general discussion. (2 pages)

Exemption 5.

10. Undated Draft Commission Paper, subject: Final GA0 Report entitled: "Nuclear Regulation: Efforts to Ensure Nuclear Power Plant Safety Can Be Strengthened." (11 pages)

Exemption 5.

11. Undated Draft handwritten letter to Honorable John Glenn. (3 pages) Exemption 5.

12. Undated Handwritten draft reconnendation p.43. (1 page)

Eyomption 5.

13. Undated Draft letter to Honorable Jack Broc h . (1 page)

Exemption 5.

14. Undated Draft letter to Honorable John Glenn. (1 page) Exemption ,

5.

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Re: F01A-87-655 APPENDIX D (Continued)

RECORDS WITHHELD IN THEIR ENTIRETY

15. Undated Draft / Commission paper with handwritten notes, subject:

Final GAO report entitled "Nuclear Regulation: Efforts to Ensure Nuclear Power Plant Safety can Be Strengthened." (6 pages) Exemption 5.

16. Undated Draft / Commission paper with handwritten notes, subject:

Final GA0 report entitled "Nuclear Regulation: Efforts to Ensure Nuclear Power Plant Safety Can Be Strengthened." (7 pages) Exemption 5.

17. Undated Draft / Commission paper with handwritten notes, subject:

Final GA0 report entitled "Nuclear Regulation: Efforts to Ensure Nuclear Power Plant Safety Can Be Strengthened."

(13 pages) Exemption 5.

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GbVERNMENT ACCOUNIA0llirf PROJECT I 15S5 Connecticur Avenue. N.W.. Suite 202 I Washirgton. D.C. 20036 (202)232 6 0 MIDWEST OFFICE 104 E. WISCONSIN AVENUE APFLETON, WISCONSIN 54911-4897 September 23, 1987 FR2EDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST EREEDOW OF INFORMATIOR f Administration U.F. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 7- (g Washington, D.C. 20210 pg g TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA, S U.S.C. 552,) the Gcvernment Accountability Project (GAP) requests copies of any and all agency records and inf ormation, including but not limited to notes, letters, memoranda, draf ts, minutes, diaries, logs, calenders, tapes, transcripts, summcries, interview reports, procedures, instructions, engineering analynes, drawings, files, graphs, charts, maps, photographs, agreements, handwritten notes, studies, data sheets, notebooks, books, telephone roessages, computations, voice recordings, computer runoffs, and any other data compilations, interim and/or final reports, status reports, ar.d any and all othez records relevant to and or generated in connection with and including the federal >eport released Tuesday, September 22, 1987 by the General Accounting Office, cegerding the Nuclear Regulatory Commission lacking guidelines on shutting down nuclear power plants for oafety violations. (eee attached article)

This request includes all agency records as defined in 10 C.F.R. 9.3a(b) is cnd tim 'PRC Manual, Apper: dix 0211, Parts 1. A.2 and A.3 (approved October t .8, 1980) whether they currently exist in the NRC offical, "working" investigative or other filec, or at any other location, including private residences.

If any records ~ ds defined in 10 C.F.R. 9.3a(b) and the NRC Manual, supra, and covered by this regnest he.ve been destroyed and/or removed af ter this request, please provide all surrounding records, including but not li'mited to a list of all records which have been or are destroyed and/or removed, a description of the action (s) taken relevant to, generated in cont:

action uith and/or issued in order to implement the action (s).

u y

CAP requests that fees be waived, because "finding the information can be considered as primarily benefitting the general public, "5 U.S.C.

552 (a) (4) (a). GAP is a non-prcfit, non-partisan public interest organization concerr. ai with honest and open government. Through public outreach, the Project promotes whistleblowers as agents of government accountability. Through it Enviromental Whistleblower Clinic, GAP offers assistance to local public interest and citizens groups and intervenors in the concern for safety at nuclear power plants.

We are requesting this information as part of an ongoing monitoring project of the NRC's efforts to protect public health and safety at and near nuclear processing plants and radioactive waste facilities.

For any documents or portions that you deny due to a specific FOIA exemption, please provide an index itemizing and describing the documents or portions of documents withheld. The index should provide a detailed justification of your grounds for claiming each exemption, explaining why each exemption is relevant to the document or portion of the document withheld. This index is required under Vaughn v. Rosen ,(I), 484 F.2d 820 (D.C. Cir. 1973), cert. denied, 415 U.S. 977 (1974).

We look forward to your response to his request within ten (10) working days. .

Sincerely, A

l Linda Bauman FOIA Coordinator Midwest Office Response to this request should be mailed to the Midwest Office:

104 E. Wisconsin Avenue -B Appleotn, Wisconsin 54911-4897 4

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'WASHINGTGN (AF') "Ihe Nudear Regu. Stello said the NRC explains weist v'<d=*'a== any more nudear plantw until it adopts the GAO latory Commission lacks guidelines on shutting would led to a shutdown in a "tedinical specift. receunteendations and Imptoves ertforcement of down nudent power plants for safety violationes, cations" documet each piant receives open 11, safsfy regulatleas. .;c . -

l and somehave operated for yeers with signifkcnt censing. - -

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-T4 two plants 1 hat 1eculd be directly affected

. "To suggest that a rehensive set o' cr$. by 2/Amato's demand are Shoreham in New York g

problems, today. according

,- . to a federal report c , .: .releasec' . teria beyond what weal vdoped. I'm at a loss because we reall yhaveought tobede- aad Seabrook in New Hatopshire. Both plants t

' The report by the General Accounting Offica.

recommeds that the NRC aprovide utt!6 tan daar fairly comprehensivesystem right now,'y have a have been thwarted la their efforts to obtain full-signals on the types of safety and management - beseM.,,"

V-pesar licenses because neither hac an approved l problems that could result is a shutdown." ..,. While the NRC has ordered shutdowns at five.. evseuetion plan. [

• • The C has allowed nacia'ar plants to keep "Nudenr Regulation: Efforts To Ensure Nu .s ans to dose these plants or allow contlained ep. ating plants in the past 25 years. "les deci -@eratt:ng despite fladings el design problems'

dear Power Plant Safety Can Be Strengthened" ..erations look in<mnsistent because it did act W questacamble equipment and avec utility person- j was written in ru.spcstsa toa request from Sen. Al. .the ser.se , action for other plants.yrtth aA= Alargyg mal found

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@rt control room met on whenduty." 6 fanse M. D'Amato. R-N.Y.. who was fo release the . P oblems. me report said, o .'

report at a news 9mference serlans problemas asw Sound. the NRC walta and Some plants with chronic sefety vtatation6 that -

. vsctor Sh,::o. eine NRC's executive directo- for were alloued to stay open woimd up shut down , pts Theand waits rerAst also beforw taldsig polmeed to matances action.". in which .

operat6ans. responded antarview 6cisms an a tesepaeone 20 someof the report's Menday. althaush crit-notud. anyway because of equipment failures, the rgert* the commlaslemers could 2.r't agree en what types l

.m Dr degrass of safety probieros should lead the

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