FOIA Response ( .gif image 1 - July 9, 2001

John Greenewald, Jr.

Re: FOIA Request No. F2001-00282

Dear Mr. Greenewald:

This is a final response to the request for information that you sent to the Department of Energy (DOE) under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552. You asked for documents that relate to "Area 51"

The request was assigned to the History Division in the Office of the Executive Secretariat at DOE headquarters to conduct a search of their files. That office was the Headquarters ffice most reasonably expected to have documents that are responsive to your request. The search, however, did not locate any responsive documents. Therefore, persuant to Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Section 1004.4(d), I am unable to provide you with any responsive documents. Ms. Marie E. Hallion, Ph.D., the DOE Historian in the Office of the Executive Secretariat, is responsible for the determination by her office that no responsive documents exist.

You may challenge the adequacy of this search for responsive documents by submitting a written appeal to the Directory, Office of Hearings and Appeals, at the Department of Energy, 1000 Independance Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20585-0107. You should submit your appeal within 30 calendary days of receipt of this determination. The written appeal, including the envelope, must clearly indicate that a FOIA appeal is being made. The appeal must contact all elements required by 10 CFR 1004.8. Judicial review will thereafter be available (1) in the District of Columbia; (2) in the district where you reside; (3) in the district where you have a principal place of business; or (4) in the district where the DOE records are located.

An inquiry was also sent to the Nevada Operations Office, since that is the DOE office located closest to the subject of your request. For your convenience I have enclosed a copy of their reply that is sent in response to all such requests.

The above referenced number has been assigned to your request and you should refer to it in correspondence to the DOE concerning this matter. If you have questions about the processing of your request, you may contact Ms. Carol Wolf of my staff on (202) 586-3141.

I appreciate the opportunity to assist you.

Sincerely,

Abel Lopez, Director
FOIA/Privacy Act Division
Office of the Executive Secretariat

Enclosure: ( .gif image of the enclosure )

Department of Energy Nevada Operations Office Response to Inquiries about Area 51:

The 38,400-acre land area once known as "Area 51" was withdrawn from public use by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, a predecessor to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), more than 25 years ago under Public Land Order 1662 (filed June 25, 1958)

Since that time, the parcel has been used and administered as a national asset. Because DOE is not now active there, Area 51 no longer appears on maps of DOE's Nevada Test Site (NTS)

Today that land area is used by the Department of Defense as part of its 4,120-square-mile Nellis Air Force Range. For safety and national security reasons, air space above both Nellis Range and the NTS is closed to commercial aviation and the general public.

For more information, you may wish to contact HQ USAF/Secretary of the Air Force, Liaison Office, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 20330-5054.