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DOCUMtENT RESUME
04786 - [B032520C]
Federal -Ittempts to Influence the Outcome of the June 1976
California Nuclear Kiierendum. EMD-78-31; B-130961. January 27,
1978. 28 pp. + 3 appendfcez (9 pp.).
Bepozt to Sen. Henry 1. Jackson, Chairman, Senate Commitv e on
Energy and Natural Fe$c~72es; by Elmer B. Staats, Comptroller
General.
Issue Area: Enerqy: Exe tive Branch Organization and Processes
for Dealing with Energy Problems (1611).
Contact : Energy and KInerals Div.
Budqet Function: NatarAV Rescurces. Environment, and Energy:
Energy (305).
Orqanization Concerned:-Department or Energy; Energy Research
and Development A'ministration.
Conqressional Relevance ! House Conmittee on Science and
Technology; Senate Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources. Sen. genry N. Jackson.
Authority: Energy Peorganization Act of 1974 4P.L. 93-438).
Attempts to restrict or prohibit construction of new
nuclear powerlants t~rough public referenda were on several
State ballots during 1976. The f.irst referendum, the California
Nuclear Safeguar..s In! itative, 2opositioa 15, was voted on and
aefeated by Cali ornfa citizens by a 2 to I vcte on June 8,
1976. A review was couaiacted of information activities of the
former Enerqy Resear-c and Development Administration (FRDA)
before the June 1976 referendum in California.
Findinqs/Conclusions: Prior to the referendum in California,
ERDA siqziticantly increased certain public information
activities, primarily energy exhibits and publications, as well
as speeches about the agency's irograms and iolicies. High-level
agency officials intended to present nuclear power in a
favorable liqht, avoiding an objective discussion of its
drawbacks. Except for speeches made ty San Franciscc officials,
the San Francisco Operations Office had little or no control
over the types of exhibits and publications given them to
disfeminate. With the exception of the salary and travel
expenses of the speak go z from the San Francisco office, funding
tor the agency's increa.ed information activities was provided
and administered by tl* headquarters offices; the San Francisco
office had no control over any of the funds. EBDA did not
violate an, laws in 4_(iR4ing the increased activities in
California. The agency'.5 actions were not illegal because no
Federal statute prohibit.s Federal agencies from taking actions
to influence a State~election or referendum. Becomm, ndations:
If the Conqress wishes to prevent Federal agencies from
disseminatinq information to influence State legislative or
electionl activities, rFideral legislative action would be
required. The legislation would have to include standards tc
Judqe the otjectivity of %th information to be disseminated and](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.gao/gaobaawnm0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)