95-24507. Freedom of Information Act Statement of Organizations, Functions, and Authority Delegations  

  • [Federal Register Volume 60, Number 191 (Tuesday, October 3, 1995)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 51773-51774]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 95-24507]
    
    
    
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    ASSASSINATION RECORDS REVIEW BOARD
    
    
    Freedom of Information Act Statement of Organizations, Functions, 
    and Authority Delegations
    
    AGENCY: Assassination Records Review Board.
    
    ACTION: Notice.
    
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    SUMMARY: The Assassination Records Review Board (Review Board) is 
    issuing the following notice in accordance with the affirmative 
    disclosure provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The 
    FOIA requires each Federal agency to publish in the Federal Register a 
    statement of its organizations and functions.
        This notice provides a brief history of the Review Board, describes 
    the organization of the Review Board, and identifies the primary 
    responsibilities of the Review Board.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    T. Jeremy Gunn, Acting General Counsel, Assassination Records Review 
    Board, 600 E Street, NW., 2nd Floor, Washington, DC. 20530.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Congress conceived of the Assassination 
    Records Review Board (Review Board) as an independent Federal agency to 
    oversee the identification and release of records related to the 
    assassination of President John F. Kennedy. President Bush signed into 
    law The President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act 
    of 1992, 44 U.S.C. 2107 (1992) (JFK Act) in October, 1992, and 
    President Clinton appointed the five members of the Review Board. The 
    Review Board members were sworn in on April 11, 1994, after 
    confirmation by the Senate.
        The JFK Act gives the Review Board the authority to identify, 
    secure, and make available all records related to the assassination of 
    President Kennedy. The Act provides that ``[a]ll Government records 
    concerning the assassination of President John F. Kennedy should carry 
    a presumption of immediate disclosure.'' The Act mandates that all 
    assassination records be housed in a single collection at the National 
    Archives and Records Administration (NARA).
        The Review Board oversees a larger process of agency record review 
    and release established by the JFK Act. The Act requires all Federal 
    agencies to identify records in their possession that may relate to the 
    assassination and to determine whether such records may be disclosed 
    immediately or whether the agency will ask the Review Board to postpone 
    release of the information. The Review Board then evaluates all agency 
    decisions to postpone the release of records. The Act allows the Review 
    Board to sustain Federal agencies' requests for postponements only if 
    the information at issue falls into defined categories, such as 
    national security, intelligence gathering, and privacy, provided the 
    agency provides the Review Board ``clear and convincing evidence'' of 
    some harm that outweighs the public interest in disclosure. Once the 
    Review Board completes its review of agency recommendations for 
    postponement, all records, including those that have postponed release 
    dates, will be transferred to the National Archives for inclusion in 
    the John F. Kennedy Assassination Record Collection. The JFK Act 
    requires that all 
    
    [[Page 51774]]
    assassination records be released by the year 2017, with the exception 
    of records that the President of the United States certifies for 
    continued postponement after that point.
        The Review Board will seek to identify and secure assassination 
    records held by Federal, state, and local governments as well as 
    records held by private entities.
        The Senate report on the JFK Act states that ``the underlying 
    principles guiding the legislation are independence, public confidence, 
    efficiency, and cost effectiveness.'' In order to achieve these 
    objectives, the Act gives the Review Board the specific powers to: (1) 
    Direct Government offices to provide identification aids and organize 
    assassination records; (2) direct Government offices to transmit 
    assassination records to the National Archives; (3) obtain 
    assassination records that have been identified and organized by a 
    Government office; (4) direct Government offices to investigate the 
    facts, additional information, records, or testimony from individuals 
    which the Review Board has reason to believe is required; (5) request 
    the Attorney General to subpoena private persons to compel testimony, 
    records, and other relevant information; (6) require any Government 
    office to account in writing for the destruction of any records 
    relating to the assassination of President Kennedy; (7) receive 
    information from the public regarding the identification and public 
    disclosure of assassination records; and (8) hold hearings, administer 
    oaths, and subpoena witnesses and documents.
        The Review Board is currently supported by a senior staff 
    consisting of an Executive Director, an Associate Director for 
    Communications, an Associate Director for Administration, and an 
    Associate Director for Research and Analysis, who is also serving as 
    Acting General Counsel. In addition to the senior staff, the Review 
    Board has hired a Chief Investigator, fourteen analysts, five 
    administrative support personnel, an investigator, and a part-time 
    computer specialist.
        Activities of the Review Board are carried out through the 
    operation of a central office located in Washington, D.C. The Review 
    Board's office is located at 600 E Street NW., 2nd Floor, Washington, 
    DC 20530.
        The Review Board has until October 1, 1996, to fulfill its mandate, 
    plus an additional year at the Review Board's discretion to complete 
    its responsibilities.
        The Review Board issues this notice in accordance with the 
    affirmative disclosure provisions of the FOIA, at 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(1).
    
        Dated: September 27, 1995.
    David G. Marwell,
    Executive Director.
    [FR Doc. 95-24507 Filed 10-2-95; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6118-01-M
    
    

Document Information

Published:
10/03/1995
Department:
Assassination Records Review Board
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice.
Document Number:
95-24507
Pages:
51773-51774 (2 pages)
PDF File:
95-24507.pdf