ML19329D391

Expresses Concern Re AEC Prohibiting Film or Tv Coverage of 710208 Hearing in Port Clinton,Oh.Full Access to Hearing by Tv Station Requested

ML19329D391
Person / Time
Site:	Davis Besse
Issue date:	11/11/1970
From:	Meyer R AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
To:	US ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (AEC)
Shared Package
ML19329D386	List: ML19329D385 ML19329D391
References
NUDOCS 8003050981
Download: ML19329D391 (2)

Text

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U.S. Atomic Inergy Comniusion Washing ton, D.C. 20545 v .S.k a Gentlemen:

'this correspondanco is intended to servo as an inquiry into ccanission policy relating to television news coverage of public hearings conducted by the Atomic Inorgy Commission.

I am specifically intorested in the public hearing scheduled for Port Clin ton, Ohio, December Sth, 1970. In the mattier of a licensing pcrmit for the proposed Davis-Oosse Mucicar Power Sta: ion to be built by Toledo Edison Ccmpany near Port Clinton, Ohio, and jointly operated by Toledo Edison and Clevoland 51octric Illuminating company.

I have been advised by two A.2.C. officials, 11ister William Dawncy, Assistant to the Manager of Public Information for the Chicago operations Of fice of the Atomic Energy Commic- .

sion, and Mister Joseph Fouchard, Assistant Director of Public Information, Atomic Energy Cornission, ~1ashington, D.C., that commission policy prohibits any film or TV cov-erage of such hearings. -Frankly, I was astonished.

.I think you can agree that full access to public hearings by the news media is essential in our, fulfilling our respon .

sibility to the public through fair and open filming and You are reporting on matters of vital public interest.

probably aware of the interest in this proposed project, The and the fact that scme controversy has develoced.

suggestion made by Mister Downey and Mister Fouchard that such hearings are generally long, dull and technical is

. fino. However. I think you will agree that such a decision TV news can only koop should rest with the news media.

the public inferacd when it h s unfettered access to the 8008060 h /

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~ -'- . Pago ?.co U.S. At=ic Inorgy C n:niacica Novc.hcr 11, 1970 public affairs of govornment.

- Since i cm cuger to make prollr.einary plano for coverage of this significanc news event, I urgo your irr.cdiate attention in this matter. This correspondance chould ha considered an inquiry. I f, in fact, coraission policy forbades 7/ or --

film coverago, I a:a specifically requesting that the cornin-sion reconsider, and grant penaission for us to freely ob-tain access to this public hearing. I can acauro you that

- our photographic equipment and the denennor of our staff porconnel will not hevo a dicruptive influence on the pro-cceding. A cacc in point would ba a public hearing conducced

, by the Federal ;;arer Quality Control Adminictra'rion in Osledo 13 months ago. W3?D 71 both filmed a:paccc of the actual hear-ing and provided "livo* tolovision coverago of porticas of that proceeding. -

t T'n. % yst for your pronpt considoration.

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Roy Fj2hycr Nows Director WSPD T/ 8*

I cca Joceph Fouchard, Atomic morgy Cormicsion Willir.a D;wney, Atomic Energy Crc =iccion Norman Wagy, Storor ~70shington Bureau Ropresenta tive Colbart La tta Reprocontativo 7. Ludicv Ashlcy Senator William Sa:6a ,

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