ML20206M891

Final Response to Appeal of FOIA Request.Release of Documents Would Tend to Inhibit Open & Frank Exchange of Ideas Essential to Agency Deliberative Process (Ref FOIA Exemption 5)

ML20206M891
Person / Time
Issue date:	04/15/1987
From:	Chilk S NRC OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY (SECY)
To:	Airozo D MCGRAW-HILL PUBLICATIONS CO.
References
FOIA-86-796, FOIA-87-A-7 NUDOCS 8704200261
Download: ML20206M891 (2)

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UNITED STATES y"

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION n

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April 15, 1987 OFFICE OF THE I

SECRETARY 1

Dave Airozo Assistant Editor McGraw-Hill Nuclear Publications 1120 Vermont Avenue, Suite 1200 Washington, D.C.

20005 i

SUBJECT:

Appeal of F01A-86-796 (87A7)

Dear Mr. Airozo:

This is in response to your letter of January 21, 1987, appealing the withholding, pursuant to Exemptien 5 of the Freedom of Information Act (F0IA), 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(5), of five documents (out of a total of ten 1

withheld in their entirety) in connection with the Agency's response to your November 10, 986, request for Agency documents under the F0IA. As noted in the initial decision of January 16, 1987, four of the documents referenced above were internal drafts of proposed documents. One of the documents reflected, by way of handwritten annotations, the exchange of views among the Comissioners' personal advisors.

It was determined that the release of these documents which would tend to inhibit the open and frank exchange of ideas essential to the Agency's deliberative process. For the reasons set out below, I have determined that the documents were properly withheld in their entirety under Exemption 5 of the F0IA and the Commission's regulations.

See 10 C.F.R. 9.5(a)(5).

Exemption 5 of the F0IA permits the withholding of information which is both predecisional and part of an agency's deliberative process. Jordan

v. Department of Justice, 591 F.2d 514, 774 (D.C. Cir.1982); Vaughn v.

Rosen, 523 F.2d 1136, 1143-44 (D.C. Cir. 1975). Clearly, the exchange of views among the Commissioners' personal advisors in reaching a recommended decision on the release or non-release of an agency document falls within the scope of the protections of Exemption 5.

In addition, among the documents likely to be protectable under Exemption 5 are drafts of documents which are part of a deliberative process. Exxon Corp. v. DOE, 585 F.Supp. 690, 698 (D.D.C. 1983). Moreover, the very process whereby a draft evolves into a final document can itself constitute a deliberative process. Russell v. Department of the Air Force, 682 F.2d 1045, 1048-50 (D.C. Cir. 1982). The remaining four documents are drafts that reflect the deliberative process leading to the issuance of the documents at issue in their final form.

I cannot identify, and you have not provided, any legitimate, overriding public interest warranting the release of the five documents described above.

Accordingly, your appeal of January 21, 1987 is denied.

8704200261 870415 PDR FOIA AIROZOB7-A-7 PDR

Dave Airozo 2

This letter represents the final Agency action on your January 21, 1967 F0IA appeal. Judicial review of this decision is available in the Federal District Court in the District where you reside or have your principal place of business, or in the District of Columbia.

Sincerel,

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Samue J. %1i1 Secretary tof the Comission i

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RESPONSE TO FREEDOM CF lM^*'

'g' INFORMATION ACT (FOlA) REQUEST

• ' JAN 161987 es...

scA;att huvete Si vremmene, oEQUESTER

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PART l.-RECORDS RELEASED OR NOT LOCATED fSee checaev senest No agency records subsect to the request ha.e teen located No addetonal agency records subrect to the roovest have been located Agency recoras sub,ect to tne request that are 4e-Sed e Appendia 1717 H Street. N.W., Washengton, DC.

are already a.aiable for publ.c emoocten and copyeg m the NRC Public Document Roc-Aw4r ecords sobrect to the request that are centdied e Appendis r

Room.1717 H Street, N.W., Washegton, OC, e a folder under the FOIA nuinber and requester nemo.are bemg made avadatee for seelic anspection and c me--

The nonpropr.etary version of the proposallsi that you agreed to accept m a telesaone cor we sation

• t* a member of, staM rs now being made avalable and coymg at the NRC Public Document Room.1717 H Street. N W. Washmgton, DC. m a folder under the FOiA ev eer and requester name.

Enclosed e information on how you may obtain access to and the charges for ccoveg reco ds placed m t9 NRC Puts.c Document Room,1717 H Suset Agency recorde vrect to the request are enciesed Any apptcable charge for copes of the records prowded and par eat procedures are noted a the commenta section l

Records sub,ect to the recuest have been re'e"ed to another Federal agencyfees for review and direct 'esponse to you in we* of NRC s respor se to the request, no Arther action a bemg taken on appealletter dated PART 13 A-INFORMATION WITHHELD FROM PUBLIC DISCLOSURE rtain eformaten en the requested records e beag withheld from public disclcsse pursuant to the FOI A esempt.oes sescreed e and for the reasons stated in Part 1 tes 8. C. and 0 Any reieased portions of the documents for which only part of the record a being withheld are bem *ade awa.lable for publ.c inspect the NRC Public Document Room.1717 H St eet N W., Washington. DC. m a older v

u ce t' s FO! A aurnber and 'eterer name.

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FpEEDOM OF IN50RMATION ACT PESPONSE soiA wveER s. f'W/7 -k D 6 j$ l O N oATE

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PAhi il B - APPLfCABLE FOtA EMEMPTIONS Records suthlect to the request that arm described in the enclosed Appendices - g.

Esemptes and forthe reasons set forth below pursuant to 5 U S.C. 552fbt and 10 CFR 9 5(a) of NRC Regulations.ar$ being withheld in th

1. The vatteised eformeoon a properfy class.fied pursuant to Enocutrve Order 12356 ttXEMPTION tl

2. The wthbeid mformat on relates solely to the enternal personnel rules and p ocedu es of NRC. (EXEMPTION 21 r

3 The wtmee d information a specAcally esempted bom pubhc d sc'csve t;, statute indicated 4EXEMPflON 3, i

Sec:ior tal 145 of the Atorr.c Energ, Act m%ic. oroh.tsts the d.setosse o' Resteicted cata c s rr e r Sesv: es Data ia2 U S C 21612165 a

o Sectice 147 of tee Atomic Eaeegy Act which prohitats the desclosure of UnclassAed Safegua*35 Infor raten 142 U S C 21671.

4. The wtheeed mformaton is a trade secret or commeroel or fmancel eforreadon that is bemg *.t%heid for t*e,easse's. i c.cated IEXEMPTION at The information is considered to be confidentel buseness (proprietary) information The infomation a consideree to be proonetary enformation pursuant to to CFR 2.790fd)(11.

The icfc aten was subm. e: aad e: eses ** c:-'. dea:e 'ro-a fore.ga source pursuant to 10 CFR 2 790 d"2-

$ The wt*>eas unformaten coes.sts of eteragea. or i-~aag,eace recorcs that are not asadable :* rough d scoveS de.ag $6 gat on Osc?osv e of c.ecec.s y a r*:~a5c-e wovd teac to inhibit the ocea and frania encmaNe of ceas essea:.ai to the debbe atne process WPere 'e:or:s a e C-e 3 in their enterety. ta e facts a e **es =cang mtertened wth the odeciscea6 nforenaten There aiso a o no reasonably segregable factual portens because the re ease of the facts woved permit an i

widerect anevery ento t e predecocesi process of the agency IEXEVPTION 5 6 The w me.d information es eie sted hom oveine d.sclosu e because its d,s:'osee *ould result e a clearty urwa. ' tee Mason of persoaa' c ma:v EuEv8' ON 6 e

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7. The a ta+e : ieforr-ation coes.s s of nvestigaton re:oeds cc ensed for tan e-fo,cemeat purposes and is ee.cg *.: aced to tme reasondst md.ca*ec i

ExEY* TION 78 l D.sciosu e would interfere wt% aa enforcement proceedeg because et coud reveal the scope d*ectee 4+c 'ocus of e-*o+cerrent eaas ss co :

poss c. a e* teem to tame a:t.on to sneo poteat ar rergso.eg or a =>c'ation of NRC reau.rements fro ** *e es* gators iExEMPtiON 7 v

Au O sces. e *ould constrtute sa v *ar' anted er.as c of ce soaa' cr.wa:v EMEYPirON 7iCo a

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l T*e.cfomaten cons.sts of r ames of edeveuses and ote r informat.on tre seiosu e of wh ch would eveat identites of confiden e

r EXEVP' 0% 7 Qin PART 11 C-DENYING OFFICIALS Pursuant to 10 CFR 9 9 and 'or 915of *e U S Nuca and tear its croduc:aon or disclosure es coe: arv te tre cuchc.' te estea Regua o y Ce.ss oa reg tateas et has teea dete inec t*a t e erv-a : witeme.d s eie~c:' o-c od.-

t Ocos.on of Rules and Records, Office of Administraten. for any demals that may be appeated to the Execueve Director for Oce s DENviNG OFFICIAL l

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RECORDS DEVE0 APPEaATE OH C A.

Jm e, s p. r. t up.o a insate.t & i- ~~~' G.a Do w m 6 9 z. <-- a 3 seen m e, soo

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PART ff 0- APPEAL filGHTS The denial by each denying otticialidentified in Part II.C may be appealed to the Appellate Official ident fied in that section. Any such appeal r,ust be in wnting and must be made within 31 days of receipt of this response. Appeals must be addressed as appropriatP to the Executive Directof for Operations of to the Secretary of the Comnvesson, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20566. and should clearty state on the envelope and in the letter that it is an " Appeal from an initial FOIA Decision."

some fona ae4 Port a U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

• an FOIA RESPONSE CONTINUATION J

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FOIA-86-796 APPENDIX B 1.

Draft of Response to F0IA E6-649 with Annotations (withheld as draf'.

in entirety under Exemption 5) (13 pages).

2.

Draft of Response to FOIA 86-649 with annotations (withheld as draft in entirety under Exemption 5) (10 pages).

3.

Draft of Response to FOIA 86-649 with annotations (withheld as draft in entirety under Exemption 5) (5 pages).

4 May 18, 1986 Memorandum to B. Grimes /J. Gagliardo/L. Portner from K. Raglin, Re: Black Fox Simulator Proiect Update (Withheld in entirety under Exemption 5)(5 pages).

5.

November 21, 1985 Memorandum to R. Grimes, Director, DOAVT IE from.

K. Raglin, Chief, BWRTB, DQAVT, IE, Re: Report on Telecon Necotiations with GE Held on 11/21/85 (Withheld in entirety under Exemption 5)(3 pages).

6.

November 22, 1985 Memorandum to B. Grimes, Director, D0AVT, IE from K. Raglin, Chief, BWRTB, D0AVT, IE, Re:

Potential Demise of the Black Fox Simulator Project (Withheld in entirety under Exemption 5)

(2 oages).

7.

November 26, 1985 Note to R. Grimes from K. Raglin, Pe: Summaries of options (Withheld in entirety under Exemption 5)(7 paces).

8.

Annotations on 8/10/86 memorandum from Sharon Connelly to James Asselstine. (Annotations withheld under Exemption 5 as predecisional - release would reveal the deliberative process) 8/10/86 menorandum released as document A-17 in 1/8/86 response.

9.

Draft memorandum from James M. McDermott to Sharon Connelly (Withheld in entirety as draft under Exemption 5).

10. Annotations on 10/20/86 memo from D. Grimsley to T. Combs (1 page)

(Withhold annotations under Exemption 5) 10/20/86 memo released as document A-13 of the 1/8/86 response.

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P'J, 5 83a n t to tr e Freedom of I n # c o rr.a t i o n Act. 5 USC 552 et seo.. a s amer.ded. I e

n c. < 3 c. v r e v e.a t toe do l l owi r.9 ma t er t a l.

16 A*1 re e ~.o s, t e l e o r.o r.e loos. or otner certinent cor r + s oo nce rece--t ric l ud i ng

. t e r n a '. c o.'r e s t.onc e n c e--oe twee n Sharon Conr.elly and officials at NRC s t ? : r.

• 3ca? t ' a i r. i t. o c e r. r e r in C r.a r t a ri.

.o a. T y r. n. c o r.c + r r. : n g r e c u i r s a.e re t s for

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r e ; e :.r,o r,e

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or other oert2nent c or r e s t.ondence--i nc l uo l r 9

nte nai cor e es concenc i--be tween Shar on Connel ly or other NRC headayar ter-s o 4 J. c r e.

3 a r..

& e r.r,e t t.

a.i13 n o r-o44 1clais at NRC's te c hri t c a l training cer ter t r. ;..i t

=.. ma. o s c e r r. i n o the leas + and o.selble our chase of the c o n t e r.1 r o n '.

5 : m. ; a -:

45 2a? to te used at tne now -can c e l e d Blac6 Fox EWP-6 unit.

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. r ' o t h e r-certinent corresoondence--includino j <

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or r+1*?tio y e;

,-.: oric y,r.1 rio an 3nvestioation by the Off1Ce of 3. r: t i.

n.:orcert.ent tr.to NAC t ri s o e c t o r training r eou t r ement s.

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.. i r e,o s. s e l e t. h o r, e i..or.

o r-other oe r t s tie r, t cor r es condence--inc i o $ 1 r.9 s r, r., r # : -. e es non.13.sce-concer n t ng Shar on C onne1 I v's f11 Ing or -1 t t e m o t to i11+

<..e ' s. 3 r t a c a i r,s t Commissioner. James Asselstine for c o mrrie n t, he made dur a ng a

a con.res3ionat neartoo s r..J u l v. Asselsttne said he lacsed confidence in C....

tv o or. oleo h+r r-e : r.s t a t e rr.e r t as r.e a d of OIA.

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..s W. ; r.1 44 erin 9 Prodesstonal Gotntons (DAOs) concerning NAC insoector t e s : r,3 r.e r e e.2 3 r eme r, t s a r.0 / o r-tn+ orooosal to lease with an ootion to purchase tne Blac6 Tox simulator.

6) At1 EP0s for the oer l oc.Ja nua r v 1.

1C86 through Oc t oe r-10 (or latest date).

7) A11 merr o s. teleohone logs, or o t h e r-certinent corresoondence--including internal cor r esconcence--dealing with the agency's r esconse to FOIA-86-649 a n..* / o r FOIA-86-85.

14 vou havr any ouestions or reou2re additional i n f o r r ia t t o ri. olease feel free to c o r. t a c t me. Please forward any infromation to the address below. Thank vou f o r-acor-e s s i ng thi s mat ter.

Sincerelv.

p -,.) o a e2? J n D /fIViPT I

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