1.554—Exemptions from public access to agency records.

(a) The exemptions in this paragraph constitute authority to withhold from disclosure certain categories of information in Department of Veterans Affairs records except that any reasonably segregable portion of a record shall be provided to any person requesting such record after deletion of the portions which are exempt under this paragraph.

(1) Specifically authorized under criteria established by an Executive order to be kept secret in the interest of the national defense or foreign policy, and are in fact properly classified pursuant to such Executive order.

(2) Related solely to internal Department of Veterans Affairs personnel rules and practices.

(3) Specifically exempted from disclosure by statute other than 5 U.S.C. 552b, provided that such statute:

(i) Requires that the matters be withheld from the public in such a manner as to leave no discretion on the issue, or

(ii) Establishes particular criteria for withholding or refers to particular types of matters to be withheld.

(4) Trade secrets and commercial or financial information obtained from any person and privileged or confidential.

(5) Interagency or intra-agency memorandums or letters which would not be available by law to a private party in litigation with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

(6) Personnel and medical files and similar files the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.

(7) Records or information compiled for law enforcement purposes, but only to the extent that the production of such law enforcement records or information:

(i) Could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings;

(ii) Would deprive a person of a right to a fair trial or an impartial adjudication;

(iii) Could reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy;

(iv) Could reasonably be expected to disclose the identity of a confidential source, including a State, local or foreign agency or authority or any private institution which furnished information on a confidential basis, and, in the case of a record or information compiled by a criminal law enforcement authority in the course of a criminal investigation, or by an agency conducting a lawful national security intelligence investigation, information furnished by a confidential source;

(v) Would disclose techniques and procedures for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions, or would disclose guidelines for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions if such disclosure could reasonably be expected to risk circumvention of the law, or

(vi) Could reasonably be expected to endanger the life or physical safety of any individual.

(8) Contained in or related to examination, operating, or condition reports prepared by, on behalf of, or for the use of any agency responsible for the regulation or supervision of financial institutions.

(9) Geological and geophysical information and data (including maps) concerning wells.

(b) Information in the categories exempted under paragraph (a) of this section, other than in paragraph (a)(3) which is applicable to Department of Veterans Affairs claimant records, will be released only as authorized in § 1.550. The release of information from Department of Veterans Affairs claimant records will be made only in accordance with §§ 1.501 through 1.526.

(i) The investigation or proceeding involves a possible violation of criminal law, and

(ii) There is reason to believe that

(A) The subject of the investigation or proceeding is not aware of its pendency, and

(B) Disclosure of the existence of the records could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings, the Agency may, during only such time as that circumstance continues, treat the records as not subject to the requirements of this section.

(2) Whenever informant records maintained by a criminal law enforcement agency under an informant's name or personal identifier are requested by a third party according to the informant's name or personal identifier, the Department may treat the records as not subject to the requirements of this section unless the informant's status as an informant has been officially confirmed.

Code of Federal Regulations

(Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(c)(1) and (c)(2))

Code of Federal Regulations

[32 FR 10850, July 25, 1967, as amended at 40 FR 12657, Mar. 20, 1975; 42 FR 37976, July 26, 1977; 53 FR 9442, Mar. 23, 1988]

CFR

1.554—Exemptions from public access to agency records.

Code of Federal Regulations

Code of Federal Regulations