ML20235X437

Responds to Appeal Re Denial of FOIA Request for Documents. Release of Documents Would Compromise Identity of Confidential Sources or Constitute Unwarranted Invasion of Privacy.Documents Withheld (Ref FOIA Exemptions 6 & 7)

ML20235X437
Person / Time
Issue date:	10/14/1987
From:	Chilk S NRC OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY (SECY)
To:	Bauman L GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT
References
FOIA-86-378, FOIA-87-A-77 NUDOCS 8710190363
Download: ML20235X437 (2)

Text

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UNITED STATES

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION c

WASHINGTON, D A 20555 s**c.*/

1 October 14, 1987 I

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY l

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Hs. Linda Bauman Government Accountability Project 104 East Wisconsin k,enue IN RESPONSE REFER i

Appleton, Wisconsin 54911 TO 87-A-77(86-378) j

Dear Ms. Bauman:

This letter is in response to your September 16, 1987 appeal of the Septenber 3,1987 denial ogNRC Office of Investigations documents regrested in F0IA-86-378. -

Some documents were redacted and some were withheid in their entirety.

Pursuant to your appeal, the Commission re-reviewed the documents that wem withheld.

I support the agency's determination that the documents should be withheld under Exem tions 6, 7C, and 70 of the Freedom of Information Act,5U.S.C.I552(b)6),(7)(C),and(7)(D),and10C.F.R.i9.5(a)(6),

1 7(C), and 7(D) of the Commission's regulations. To the extent that material can be released without compromising the identity of confidential sources, or without unjustifiable invading the privacy of certain individuals, this already has be-accomplished.

Exemption 6 of the F0IA permits the NRC to withhold personnel and medical q

information the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted l

invasion of privacy.

Exemption 7(C) of the F0IA pemits the NRC to 1

withhold information whkh "could reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy." Three of the documents were redacted in minor ways to exclude the type of information referenced in i

these' exemptions.

Exemption 7(D) of the F0IA permits the NRC to withhold information which "could reasonably be expected to disclose the identity of a confidential source...." Withheld pursuant to exemption 7(D) were portions of eleven documents and the whole of thirteen documents. As stated in'en

" Investigator's Note" in Document C/26, Report of Investigation (No. 4-84-050) (released to you in redacted fom), the Report treated all individuals except the target of the investigation as confidential sources.

This was done to protect certain individuals who were granted confidentiality. See Report at 8.

If the testimony of most of the witnesses were not treated as confidential, it would be possible to l

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_1f The Executive Director for Operations will respond separately concerning your appeal pertaining to documents of other NRC offices.

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-2 identify the confidential sources.

The same rationale was used in deciding to withhold or redact the requested documents.

The agency's use of exemption 7(D) in this way is clearly. pemissible.

The paramount objective of Exemption 7(D) is to keep open the Government's channels of confidential 'information. Potential

. embarrassment, as well as apprehension 'of physical hann, may discourage a confidential source from connunicating infomation, and thus result in loss of the benefit of that information to the Government.

Birch v. U.S. Postal Service, 803 F.2d 1206,1212 '(D.C. Cir.1986). To prevent the closure.of these channels of confidential information, the Government may withhold infonnation' that could be used to identify-confidential sources.

Id.

This letter represents final agency action on your September.16,1987 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 principal place of business, or in the District of Columbia.

Sincerel,-

Drah i

amue ik Secretary f the Consiss on b

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GNWEMAENT ACCOUNTABlWTY PROJECT 1555 Connect 6 cut Awnue, N.W., Suite 202 Wede gicsi, D.C. 20036 (202)232-8550 l

May 16, 1986 WW 6

Director kdM.-/fy.g j f Office of Administration U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 hgg Re:

FOIA Request To whom it may concern:

i Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C.

552, as amended, the Government Accountability Project (GAP) requests copies of any and all agency records and information, including but not, limited to notes, letters, :semoranda, drafts, minutes, diaries, logs, calendars, tapes, transcripts, summaries,-

interview reports, procedures, instructions, engineering analyses, drawings, files, graphs, charts, m&ppi photographs, i

agreements, handwritten notes,. studies, data sheets, notebooks, books, telephone messages, computations, voice recordings, computer runoffs, any other data compilations, interim and/or j

final reports, status reports, and any and all other records releyant to and/or generated in connection with OI Investigation 4-84'050, " Alleged Intimidation of TUGCO auditors by QC Management," noticed in BN 86-14, April 4, 1986.

3 This request includes all agency records as defined in 10 C.F.R. 9.3a(b) and the NRC Manual, Appendix 0211, Parts 1. A.2 and l

A.3 (approved october: 8,1980), whether the the NRC official, " working", investigative,y currently exist in or other files, or at euy other location, including private residences.

If any records as defined in 10 C.F.R. 9.3a(b~) and the NRC Manual, supra, and oovered by this request have been destroyed and/or removed, or are destroyed and/or removed after receipt of this request, please provide all surrounding records, including but not limited to a list of all records which have ~ been or are destroyed and/or removed, a description of the action (c) taken i

relevant to, generated in connection with, and or issued in order

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to implement the action (s).

GAP requests that fees be waived, because " finding the information can be considered as primarily benefitting the gens-ral public." 5 U.S.C. 552 (a) (4) (A).

GAP is a non-profit, nonpartisan public interest organization concerned with honest and open government.

'through its citizens Clinic, GAP offare assistance to local public interest and citizens groupe seeking to ensure the health and. safety of their communities, i D bE5 N 7k

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l FOIA Request i

May 16, 1986 Page Two GAP is requesting the above information as part of an ongoing monitoring project on the adequacy of the NRC's efforts to protecta public safety and health at nuclear power plants.

l For any documents or portions of documents that you deny due to a specific FOIA exemption, please provide an index itemizing and describing the documents or portions of documents withheld.

l The index should provide a detailed justification of your grounds for claiming each exemption, explaining why each exemption is relevant to the de ament or portion of the document withheld.

This index is required under Vaughn v. Rosen M, 484 F. 2d 820 (D.C. Cir. 1973), cert. denied, 415 U.S. 977 (1974).

1 We look forward to your response to this request within ten days.

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Respectfully,

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Billie Pirner Garde Citizens Clinic Director i

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INFORMATION ACT (FOlA) REQUEST

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PART 1.-RECORD 5 RELEASED (fI NOT LOCATED (See cAscAes &cassi No agency 'usords edgect m the roguest howe been bcesad.

No ed Aussel agency records euhiset a to roguest howe been located.

Agency sessnes messci to the roguast that are identshd Iri Appendh me already sustatdo ter pees kupaction and copying h em NRC Piets Ommammes Aussi, 1717 H summt, ALW., Washsigesn, DC.

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noem.y summes satiset to 9. respost West se idenspied h Appenes me beh made eveAsMe ter an&Ac bispeedon and espy % h Wie ISIC PutAc Dessouse i

k 1717 N seest, N.W., Washhstan, DC > e folder under ins POIA number wuf reevester name.

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p and covW st sie NRC Puhes Document Room,1717 H Street, N.W., WesNngeon, DC, ki e folder under the FOtA reseer and sequeuear name.

Encioned is essermstion en hour yev may alream access to and the charges for copying recones pieced h the NRC Pdde Document Room,1717 H Swast. N.W., Wesemigen, DC.

Agency rammes m& sect to en ree,est are enceosect Any applicable charge for comes of the records prisweded mid psyreent procedures we noted b Wie cormasses escem Records meses to Wie request home been referred to another Feenval egency0es) for revisur and drect response to you.

l in view of aftC's response to tNs request. no further action is being toinen on appeal leser doted PART H.A-INFORMATION WrTHNELD FItOM PUSUC Ot9CLOSuftt Coriain hidermanen h the reiwested records is ber0 ovesiheid from putde ha purement to the FOIA esegsture deserted Wi and for the reasono sessed to Past 5, esc.

X tiene 8, C. erW O. Any reisemed por16are of the documenes for twNch only port of the record is berg meshheed ens berg made sweaside for pubec hopecean and supy% e the NRC Pueec Document Room,1717 H Swast. N.W., WesNngton, DC, h a folder under ins FOIA nunta mid regnester name, h

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PART st B APPUCABLE P$tA EXEMPTIONS Recoros sutapact to the request that ere deserted in the enclosed Appendices

_ ere tM esthheld m their erttwety or an part under FOIA E.ner,iptions and for the reasone set forth below pursuant to 5 U.S C. SE2(b) and to CFR 9.5(e) of NRC Reguistens t 7tw assestd informaten a property cismu'ind pursuere to Enocueve Orcer 9224 itXEMPTION 1) 2 The murenats etormenon reistes soissy w fu intemet personnel rules and s ocedures of NRC. (EXEMPTION 2) 3 The nuevuld informenon is specfficee amarepted from padslic h=e los utstute andcated: (EXEMPTION 3)

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h.k Segean 141146 of the Atomic -Inorgy Act tuhicJi pufttgens the diecinawe of Restricted Date 'or Formerly Ressued Osas te U.S.C. 2101 21 5.

Secess 147 of the Atomic Energy act neuh presdnes sie diedoewe of uncesselResi Sofeguettes Indonsumien se U.S.C. 218P).

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0. Tte adessued kiformenon le e trade esset er conumndes er financisi iniorwasson that is being withheld for the moineen inecused: IEXEMPTION di 7 tie adormenon is consussred to be ceradeneist bunnems (proonstervi adormenon

,3 The adormation is conesesred to be propretary edermamon pureuorn ao 10 CFR 2.?I0idH1).

The seurmenon mes submleted and mosa=J in confidence from a forer source pursuant to 10 CFR 2.7501dN3.

A The messioid hformation coress of kesregency or rurangency econes gun are not eveRebie th decovery ' Bdgemen. Decinews of podedusonst heomenen y

eendd asses to inhapet the osan and free exceenes of idnes eeneness to su seaborothe isrocess.

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...Wn oM n t==re==-o would hterfere with an eC a FL -^,, w-e candd reveel the scope. droction, and face of enforcement eMorts, arts Wius could pommeev 4Aow them to take setson e shint"rtenses wrongoosng or a vuoietson of NRC requirements from vwanestore. IEXEMMION 7(All Dushnare would coneutuas en urvuorrerend s*vesen af personal pmecy OEMPTION 71C))

n&t X The iseermenon consists of rar'iss of biensduals and seier in ormeann to disclosure of which would reveallamanos of conAd r

PART N.C-DENYlft0 OFFICIALS _

i pu,euern es et CpYt 9.9 andler Ellef we U.S. leuem Commemon alpdumons, it has been testermined that tw adhumuseusi insedised is omstruit fium pedueden er and vist as Olweisoi of Guans an;. or esetoes != corese sie l

d Recones, ONke of A8'emesene. Ier any denists that way be esposted a the Esecutlwe Dhecaer tur Opereel 1

Optveso 0FFICIAL TITLE /0FFtCE RECORDS OGNW APP"1LATR OFi4CIAL k4=$

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I YW\\S PART N 0- APPEAL Rs0*f78 The denisi by each denying afRcialidonelEnd h Part II.C may be appested to the AAe Officisiidentend h that enesion. Any such appesi must be in

,,,,aine ensi a'uet be made wanin so dess et eseeipt of this responsa Appeats must be addressed as appropres to te Emeuthie Director for Operations or

v. saeroissy of the Communion. U.s. seudmar Q ^ i Commason. WesNngton, DC 20666, and shods dearly easte on the envWope and in the letter e.t a is.e ~Appesi from en hhist FotA Dec= ion FOIA RESPONSE CONTINUATION

i FOIA-86-378 l

APPENDIX C l

WITHHOLDING EIDIPTION 30, 1.

Various Case Chronology (1 page)

Released l

Dates 2.

Undated Investigative Status

-(2 pages)

Released Records j

3.

Uodated Allegation Data Form (1 page)

Released 4.

10/31/34 Conversation Record -

(1 page)

Release d E. Gilbert 5.

11/26/34 Memo from Noonan to 3. Rayes (1 page)

Released i

6.

11/29/

Handwritten Memo to E.

( page)

Release d i

Fawlik free E. Gilbert l

12/4/

Handwritten Memo to (b page)

Release d File from E. Gilbert 07, 12/19/84 Memo from Griffin te (4 page)

Portions 6 Gilbert 7C & 7D

1. 3.

2/27/85 Handwritten Investigator's (2 pages)

Portions 6, Notes 7C 89.

2/27/85 Handwritten Investigator's (2 pages)

Portions, 7D Notes

• 10.

3/5/45 Handwritten Investigator's (4 pages) 7D, entirety Notes 011. 3/7/85 Handwritten Investigster's (2 pages) 7D, entirety i

l l

Botes

• lt.

3/13/85 Handwritten Investigator's (1 page) 7D, entirety Notes et3. 4/2/85 Handwritten Investigator's (2 pages) 7D. entirety Notes

• 14.

4/8/85 Handwritten Investigator's (1 page) 7D. entirety Notes

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F01A-g6-378 4

WITHH01. DING j

EXEMPTION NO.

o 15. -4/8/85 Eaodwritten Investigator's (1 pap) 7D entirety J

Botes 16.

5/22/85 Handwritten Investigator's (1 pap)

Released Notes

• 17.

4/11/85 Handwritten Investigator's (2 pagis) 7D, entirety Botes

• 18.

Undated Handwritten Investigator's (2 pages)

TD, entirety Notes

• 19.

Undated Isodwritten Investigator's (2 pages) portions, 7D Botes

• 20.

4/12/8 5 sae4 written Investigator's (1 page)

Portions, 7D 5etes 21.

5/10/85 Memo from B. Rayes to (1 page)

Released Chairman Falladino 22.

5/14/85 Memo from B. Hayes to (1 pap)

Released

f. Soonan j

23.

10/15/85 Memo from 3. Hayes to (1 pap)

Released R. Martin 24.

10/15/85 Title Page of R01f (1 page)-

Released 4-44-050 l

25.

Synopsis of ROIf (2 pages)

Ralessed 4-84-050

• 26.

Remainder of ROIf (13 pages) portions, 7D 4-84-050

• 27.

Eskibit 1 to ROIf (74 pages) portions, 6, 4-84-050 7c & 7D Transcript of Investigative j

Interview

a F01A-86-378 j

WITraotsinc ExDeTIon 30.

i

• 2s. 8/23/83 hhibit 2 to 20ff (21 pages)

Portions, 70

.j 4-84-050 tyt. of Investigation of Intimidation sad j

i Cover-Up/TUGC0

• 29. Undated hhibit 3 to ROIf (2 pages) portions, 7D i

4-84-050 Report of Interview -

Spangler

• 30. Undated Exhibit 4 to ROIf (2 pages) portions, 7D 4-84-050 Report of interview -

i Keeley

• 31. 4/10/85 hhibit 5 to 101f (4 pages) 70, entirety 4-84-450 Confidentiality Agreement /

Confidential Statement

• 32. 3/13/85 hhibit 6 to 10!#

(3 pages) 7D, entirety 4-84-050 Confidential Statement

• 33. 3/7/85 hhibit 7 to 201f (3 pages) 7D, entirety 4-84-050 Confidential Statement

• 34. 3/11/85 Exhibit 8 to 301#

(4 p.g. )

7,,,,gg,,,,

4-84-050 Confidential Statement

• 35. 4/2/85 Exhibit 9 to 30!f (3 pages) 7D, ostirety 4-84-050 i

Confidential Statement

• 36. 4/8/85 Exhibit 10 to 301#

(2 pages) portions, 73 4-84-050 Telephone contact /

Tolsoa

• 37. 4/12/85 hhibit 11 to ROIf (1 page).

portions, 7D 4-84-050 Report of Interview /

W. Clasents.

F01A-86-378 4

WITHHOLDING EXDeTION No.

l 38, 4/3/86 Memo 9. Powers to R. Barr (1 page)

Released i

• 39. 2/19/86 NRR; and G. Cunningham, ELD;

Subject:

Memorandum from R. Vollmer, IE, to Enforcement Action Re: Marassment and intimidation at Comanche Peak (28 pages).- Withheld in Entirety

• 40. Undated Note by J. Axelrad, IE, regarding Comanche Peak Nuclear Power (Ex. 5)

Plant (1 page).

Withheld in Entirety

41. Undated Annotations on list of 0! reports and inquiries concerning Released Comanche Peak (1 page).

• 42. Undated Note by E. Holler, IE, (2 pages).

Withheld in Entirety (Ex. 5)

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