Opinion ID: 587237
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Previous Related Case and the Board's Response

Text: 10 In Energy Research Foundation v. Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Bd., 917 F.2d 581 (D.C.Cir.1990), we rejected the Board's assertion that it was not an agency within the scope of the Sunshine Act and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). We therefore held that the Sunshine Act and FOIA applied, although we express[ed] no opinion on the subject of whether exceptions to [the Sunshine Act and FOIA] would enable [the Board] to close its meetings and withhold its records. Id. at 582. After this decision, the Board promulgated Rules Implementing the Government In the Sunshine Act. See 56 Fed.Reg. 9605-11 (1991) (codified at 10 C.F.R. § 1704 (1992)). Section 1704.4 of these rules provides that 11 a meeting may be closed and information pertinent to such meeting ... may be withheld if the Board properly determines that such meeting or portion thereof or the disclosure of such information is likely to: 12 .... 13 (c) Disclose matters specifically exempted from disclosure by statute ... Provided, That such statute: 14 (1) Requires that the matters be withheld from the public in such a manner as to leave no discretion on the issue; or 15 (2) Establishes particular criteria for withholding or refers to particular types of matters to be withheld; 16 This exemption applies to Board meetings, or portions of meetings, involving deliberations regarding recommendations which, under 42 U.S.C. 2286d(a) and (g)(3), may not be made publicly available until after they have been received by the Secretary of Energy or the President, respectively. 17 10 C.F.R. § 1704.4 (second emphasis added). 18 Petitioners challenge the regulation, arguing that sections 2286d(a) and (g)(3) of the Safety Board Act do not require the Board to withhold recommendations from the public. The Board insists, however, that the sections require, in unambiguous terms, that they not be released to the public until after they have been received by either the Secretary or the President. The Board also maintains that allowing the public to attend meetings at which recommendations are considered would frustrate free and open debate of highly sensitive [297 U.S.App.D.C. 251] issues affecting national security and public health and safety.