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Reno Gazette-Journal            October 4, 1995
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(headline)    GROOM LAKE REMAINS 'SECRET'
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(sub) Clinton exemption: Air Force information will stay 
classified.
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   Las Vegas--President Clinton has signed an exemption 
allowing the Air Force to withhold classified information 
about Area 51, a secret base northwest of Las Vegas.
   The base, also known as Groom Lake, has been used in 
the testing of aircraft such as the U-2 spy plane, the 
F-117A Stealth Fighter and the SR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance 
plane.
   Some former workers at the site have filed suit against 
the government, saying they were exposed to toxic contaminants
while working at the remote base.
   U.S. District Judge Philip Pro ruled on Aug. 30 that 
the government could not claim certain documents sought in 
the lawsuit were classified unless it obtained an exemption 
from Clinton.
   Clinton signed the exemption Sept. 29, saying: "It is in 
the paramount interest of the United States to exempt the 
Air Force from disclosing classified information about the 
base".
   Attorney Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George 
Washington University who represents the workers, had hailed 
Pro's decision as a victory. Turley said Monday he was not 
discouraged that an exemption was granted.
   "The military should not conclude that a presidential 
exemption is the same as a presidential pardon," Turley said. 
"This relieves them of current and future responsibilities. 
If nothing else, we can accept that the activities at Groom 
Lake have been reviewed at the highest office".
   Lawyers for the Department of Justice filed a motion 
Monday asking Pro to reconsider parts of his decision.
   Attorneys Russell Young and Sylvia Quast argued that 
Congress never intended to require presidential action 
regarding disclosure of classified information. They said 
the order would frustrate the current system that presidents 
use--the delegation of classification decisions to subordinate 
executive branch officials.
   *Associated Press.