Classified Information Concerning the Air Force's Operating Location Near Groom Lake, Nevada

President Bush exempted the Air Force's classified operating location near Groom Lake, Nevada (Area 51) from environmental disclosure requirements that would reveal classified information to unauthorized persons. The exemption, issued under 42 U.S.C. 6961(a), shields the site from federal, state, and local hazardous waste laws requiring disclosure of classified details for a one-year period.

Federal Register Open PDF 68 FR 60279

Impact dates

Sep 16, 2004
Exemption expires after one-year statutory period

Key directives

Exempt Air Force operating location near Groom Lake from environmental disclosure requirements
Direct Secretary of the Air Force to publish determination in Federal Register

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Exemption takes effect upon signing
Secretary of the Air Force directed to publish in Federal Register

Near term (90d)

Federal Register publication expected

Long term

Exemption expires after one-year statutory period (September 16, 2004 unless renewed)
Continued precedent for annual classified-environmental exemptions at Groom Lake

Risks & tensions

Balances national security secrecy against environmental transparency and public health accountability
Continues pattern of shielding Area 51 from environmental litigation; plaintiffs in referenced cases seek disclosure of alleged hazardous waste handling
Exemption is narrow—only covers classified information disclosure, not all environmental compliance