Title: JUDGE SHUTS DOOR ON AREA 51 ACTION
Subtitle: TV station's request for secret data denied
Type: Newspaper article
Publication: Las Vegas Sun
Date: Jan. 23, 1996
Author: Rachel Levy

A local television station lost its attempt to shed light on a lawsuit 
brought by former Groom Lake workers who claim exposure to toxic fumes 
while at the once-secret military base.

U.S. District Court Judge Philip Pro rejected KLAS Channel 8's request 
to unseal a June 20, 1995, telephonic hearing.

"The right of access by the public is not absolute," Pro wrote.

The June hearing involved a dispute about a classified military manual. 
The taped conversation and all documents related to it were sealed for 
national security reasons.

The lawsuit is brought by former workers who said they were exposed to 
open-pit burning of hazardous waste. Groom Lake, also referred to as 
Area 51, is an Air Force operation located 35 miles west of Alamo.
	
Channel 8's attorney, Christopher Byrd, argued that the records should 
be unsealed because the telephone line was not secured and the court 
employees attending the hearing had not received military clearance.
	
Pro conceded that the June hearing was not in line with court protocol 
on sealed cases. But, the judge said, that does not negate the fact that 
the material discussed was classified and should remain so.
	
Pro said that once he has ruled on all sealed motions, he will give the 
military 30 days to delete sensitive material from all court records. 
Then he will consider releasing them for public view.
	
Pro had dismissed one of two lawsuits the workers had filed. He said the 
case was outside the court's jurisdiction since President Clinton signed 
an order to keep Groom Lake work conditions a secret.

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