(2006-0527-F) Area 51

The materials in FOIA 2006­0527­F are a selective, not necessarily all inclusive, body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult the archivist about related materials. FOIA request 2006­0527­F contains materials from the White House Automated Records Management System Emails, NSC Records Management, and NSC Cable and NSC Email systems. “Area 51” is an unofficial title that often refers to an area in southern Nevada containing United States Air Force (USAF) facilities. The USAF does not recognize owning or operating any facility regarded as “Area 51.” They do recognize operations at the Nellis Range Complex which includes an Operating Location near Groom Lake, Nevada. However, much of the information regarding activities at these sites remains classified. During the Clinton Administration, the Operating location near Groom Lake was named in a lawsuit. In 1994, suit was filed against the USAF and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) alleging contractors at the Groom Lake site had been exposed to high levels of toxic chemicals. The suit claimed that the EPA had failed to enforce the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act resulting in high level chemical exposures. President Clinton signed a Presidential Determination in 1995 2006­0527­F NARA’s web site is http://www.archives.gov exempting the Air Force from disclosing classified information related to Groom Lake. The suit was eventually dismissed and the following appeal was also rejected. The WHORM Subject Files contain no relevant records. The WHORM Alpha Files contain no relevant records. The White House Staff and Office Files contain no relevant records. The Automated Records Management System (ARMS) Emails contains back and forth correspondence regarding a “Good Morning America” interview related to the Groom Lake lawsuit. The NSC Cable, Email, and Records Management Systems contain Presidential Determinations regarding the Operating Location near Groom Lake, Nevada and memoranda concerning these Determinations. “Area 51” articles and a press briefing that references the Groom Lake lawsuit are included in the NSC Cable and Email systems.