[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 22, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 22CFR9b.7]

[Page 46-47]
 
                       TITLE 22--FOREIGN RELATIONS
 
                     CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF STATE
 
PART 9b--REGULATIONS GOVERNING DEPARTMENT OF STATE PRESS BUILDING PASSES--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 9b.7  Procedures for denial, revocation, or non-renewal of Department of State press building passes.

    (a) If the Director of the Office of Press Relations, Department of 
State, anticipates, after consultation with the Office of the Legal 
Adviser, that in applying the standard set forth in Sec. 9b.6 a 
Department of State press building pass might be denied, revoked or not 
renewed, the media correspondent or technician will be notified in 
writing by the Director of the basis for the proposed denial in as much 
detail as the security of any confidential source of information will 
permit. This notification will be sent by registered mail.
    (b) The notification of the proposed denial, revocation or non-
renewal sent to the correspondent will also contain a statement advising 
the correspondent of his or her right to respond to the proposed denial 
and to rebut any factual basis supporting the proposed denial.
    (c) The correspondent shall be allowed thirty (30) days from the 
date of the mailing of the proposed denial, revocation or non-renewal 
notification to respond in writing. The response shall consist of any 
explanation or rebuttal deemed appropriate by the correspondent and will 
be signed by the correspondent under oath or affirmation.
    (d) If the correspondent is unable to prepare a response within 30 
days, an extension for one additional 30-day period will be granted upon 
receipt of the correspondent's written request for such an extension.
    (e) At the time of the filing of the media correspondent's or 
technician's written response to the notification of the proposed 
denial, revocation or non-renewal, the correspondent or technician may 
request, and will be granted, the opportunity to make a personal 
appearance before the Director of the Office of Press Relations, 
Department of State, for the purpose of personally supporting his/her 
eligibility for a press pass and to rebut or explain the factual basis 
for the proposed denial.

[[Page 47]]

The Director shall exercise, in consultation with the Bureau of 
Diplomatic Security and the Office of the Legal Adviser, final review 
authority in the matter. The correspondent or technician may be 
represented by counsel during this appearance.
    (f)(1) On the basis of the correspondent's or technician's written 
and personal response and the factual basis for the proposed denial, 
revocation or non-renewal, the Director of the Office of Press 
Relations, Department of State, will consult with the Bureau of 
Diplomatic Security and the Office of the Legal Adviser to determine 
whether or not further inquiry or investigation concerning the issues 
raised is necessary.
    (2) If a decision is made that no such inquiry is necessary, a final 
decision will be issued in conformity with paragraph (g) of this 
section.
    (3) If a decision is made that such further inquiry is necessary, 
the Director of the Office of Press Relations of the Department of 
State, the Bureau of Diplomatic Security and the Office of the Legal 
Adviser will conduct such further inquiry as is deemed appropriate. At 
the Director's discretion the inquiry may consist of:
    (i) The securing of documentary evidence:
    (ii) Personal interviews:
    (iii) An informal hearing:
    (iv) Any combination of paragraphs (f)(3)(i) through (f)(3)(iii) of 
this section.
    (g) On the basis of the correspondent's or technician's written and 
personal response, the factual basis for the proposed denial and the 
additional inquiry provided for if such inquiry is conducted, the 
Director of the Office of Press Relations of the Department of State 
will consult with the Bureau of Diplomatic Security and the Office of 
the Legal Adviser and expeditiously reach a final decision in accordance 
with the standard set forth in Sec. 9b.6. If a final adverse decision is 
reached, the correspondent or technician will be notified of this final 
decision in writing. This notification will set forth as precisely as 
possible, and to the extent that security considerations permit, the 
factual basis for the denial in relation to the standard set forth in 
Sec. 9b.6. This notification will be sent by registered mail and will be 
signed by the Director of the Office of Press Relations of the 
Department of State.

[49 FR 4465, Feb. 7, 1984, as amended at 54 FR 1687, Jan. 17, 1989]