I am pleased to announce that formation of the Department of Energy Openness Advisory Panel has been completed. The thirteen members were chosen from an outstanding list of candidates, including those nominated in response to the February 7, 1996 letter from A. Bryan Siebert, Director, Office of Declassification, requesting nominations from stakeholders.
Dr. Richard Meserve, a partner in the Washington law firm of Covington and Burling, will chair the Openness Advisory Panel. Dr. Meserve previously served with distinction as Chair of the National Academy of Sciences Review of DOE Classification Policy and Practice. A list of all the members of the Openness Advisory Panel is enclosed.
The Terms of Reference for the Openness Advisory Panel charge the Panel to rigorously scrutinize the Department's current policies and procedures relating to Classification, Declassification and Openness, and to vigorously advocate improvements. A copy of the Terms of Reference is also enclosed for your information.
I very much appreciate your interest in the Openness Advisory Panel and in the Department's Openness Initiative and encourage you to maintain a continuing dialog with the Panel, the Office of Declassification, and the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board. Your observations, perspectives and recommendations are important and will be listened to.
Please address any written comments or questions you may have to me at the following address:
U.S. Department of Energy
Secretary of Energy Advisory Board, AB-1
1000 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20585-0108
You may also provide comments or questions to Mr. Siebert at (301)903-3521, Fax: (301)903-1230; or to my Deputy, Dick Fredlund at (202)586-9083, Fax: (202)586-6279.
Sincerely,
David W. Cheney
Acting Executive Director
Enclosures
Openness Advisory Panel
Dr. Richard A. Meserve (Chairman)
Partner
Covington and Burling
Washington, DC
Mr. David H. Albright
President
Institute for Science and International Security
Washington, DC
Ms. Cheryl Alexander
President
Alexander Companies
Wayzata, Minnesota
Mr. Ralph Cavanagh
Senior Attorney
Natural Resources Defense Council
San Francisco, California
Dr. Thomas A. Cotton
Vice President
JK Research Associates, Inc.
Vienna, Virginia
Dr. Douglas M. Eardley
Professor
Institute for Theoretical Physics
University of California
Santa Barbara, California
Dr. E.G. Mahler
President
E.G. Mahler & Associates, Inc.
Wilmington, Delaware
Dr. Page P. Miller
Director
National Coordinating Committee for the Promotion of History
Washington, DC
Dr. Al Narath
President
Energy and Environment Sector
Lockheed Martin Corporation
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Dr. Allen L. Sessoms
President
Queens College
The City University of New York
Flushing, New York
Mr. Troy E. Wade II
President
Wade Associates, Inc.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Ms. Ellyn R. Weiss
Partner
Foley, Hoag and Eliot
Washington, DC
Dr. Eric H. Willis
Counselor
DynMeridian Corporation
Alexandria, Virginia
Purpose
The purpose of the Openness Advisory Panel (Panel) is to provide advice to the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board (SEAB) regarding the current status and strategic direction for the Department's classification and declassification policies and programs, as well as other aspects of the Department's ongoing Openness Initiative. The Panel's work will help institutionalize the Department's Openness Initiative.
The Panel's principal goal is to enhance the credibility of the Department's classification, declassification and openness programs through rigorous, independent scrutiny of current policies and vigorous advocacy for improvements. The Panel also will bring sharpened focus to both the strength and weaknesses of current classification, declassification and openness policies and ensuring speedy resolution of major issues and problems.
Finally, the Panel will facilitate application of best business practices in the management of the Department's classification, declassification and openness programs, so as to maximize both program effectiveness and public accountability, and will develop recommendations for the Secretary regarding changes in the size, missions, scope, direction and emphasis of these programs. In carrying out these responsibilities, the Panel will provide:
The Panel responds to current Administration policy and Department of Energy leadership which recognize that government openness fosters confidence among the public and other stakeholders by assuring the free flow of information between government bodies and the public. By establishing readily understandable policies and procedures which facilitate information availability, stakeholders are assured accessibility to information without compromising national security. By debating such policies in public to the maximum extent practicable, stakeholders can verify and validate the Department's success in affording appropriate public access to its policies and programs.
The primary focus of the Panel will be on those classification, declassification and related policy issues relating to nuclear weapons, nuclear materials, and other issues of particular interest to DOE stakeholders, including those issues potentially relating to public health and safety and/or environmental quality.
Membership
The Panel will be comprised of approximately twelve (12) members appointed by the SEAB Chair from among the members of the SEAB and other appropriate experts and members of the public.
Panel members will be appointed for staggered terms to provide continuity through changes of Presidential administrations. The Panel will be chaired by a member selected by the SEAB Chair and will constitute a standing panel of the SEAB.
Roles and Responsibilities
The Panel will focus on issues of primary interest to the public and on measures to ensure the Department remains responsive to public policy needs and continues to foster confidence with the public and the Congress. In the discharge of this responsibility, the Panel will provide advice and recommendations to the SEAB, with regard to:
Reporting
The Panel shall report as required to the SEAB, on its activities, findings, recommendations, plans and other relevant matters. Such reports should assess progress and management initiatives by the Department and its programs in meeting goals in areas such as national security, public accountability, productivity improvement, progress toward completion of declassification review commitments and other programmatic accomplishments.
Meetings
The Panel will meet at the call of the Chair, but not less than three times per year. Minutes of meetings will be recorded and an unclassified version will be published and made available to the public. Consistent with national security requirements, meetings will be open to the public to the maximum extent feasible.
Support
The Office of Declassification and the SEAB staff shall provide integrated staff support to the Panel. Duties shall include agenda and meeting preparation, development of issue and background papers and follow-up actions.