36 CFR § 1251.6 - How does the General Counsel determine whether to comply with a demand for records or testimony?

The General Counsel may consider the following factors in determining whether or not to grant an employee permission to testify on matters relating to agency information, or permission to produce records in response to a demand:

(a) NARA's compliance with the demand is required by federal law, regulation or rule, or is otherwise permitted by this part;

(b) The purposes of this part are met;

(c) Allowing such testimony or production of records would be necessary to prevent a miscarriage of justice;

(d) NARA has an interest in the decision that may be rendered in the legal proceeding;

(e) Allowing such testimony or production of records would assist or hinder NARA in performing its statutory duties;

(f) Allowing such testimony or production of records would involve a substantial use of NARA resources;

(g) Responding to the demand would interfere with the ability of NARA employees to do their work;

(h) Allowing such testimony or production of records would be in the best interest of NARA or the United States;

(i) The records or testimony can be obtained from the publicly available records of NARA or from other sources;

(j) The demand is unduly burdensome or otherwise inappropriate under the applicable rules of discovery or the rules of procedure governing the case or matter in which the demand arose;

(k) Disclosure would violate a statute, Executive Order or regulation;

(l) Disclosure would reveal confidential, sensitive, or privileged information, trade secrets or similar, confidential commercial or financial information, otherwise protected information, or information which would otherwise be inappropriate for release;

(m) Disclosure would impede or interfere with an ongoing law enforcement investigation or proceeding, or compromise constitutional rights;

(n) Disclosure would result in NARA appearing to favor one litigant over another;

(o) Disclosure relates to documents that were created by another agency;

(p) A substantial Government interest is implicated;

(q) The demand is within the authority of the party making it;

(r) The demand is sufficiently specific to be answered; and

(s) Other factors, as appropriate.