George Washington University
Office of University Relations
Washington, DC 20052

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                   MEDIA CONTACT: NORA KELLEY
   March 15, 1995                            (202) 994-3087


        "GROOM LAKE" ATTORNEY TURLEY FILES MOTION AGAINST
 GOVERNMENT'S INVOCATION OF MILITARY AND STATE SECRETS PRIVILEGE

     Washington, D.C. -- In an on-going battle over disclosure of
the identity of "Groom Lake," the top-secret Air Force base in
Nevada where workers were allegedly exposed to hazardous materials,
Jonathan Turley, pro bono lawyer for the plaintiffs and professor
of law at The George Washington University National Law Center,
will file a motion against the government's invocation of the
Military and State Secrets Privilege on Thursday, March 16. 
Disclosure of the identity of the base is the first step toward
Turley's ability to identify and question government officials and
other witnesses involved in the case.

     Turley alleges that the government is trying to use national
security as an excuse to hide evidence of possible crimes committed
at the facilty.  The federal law expresssly requires disclosure of
the name of every federal facility.  "The statute does not allow
for a stealth federal facility or "black" hazardous waste program,"
says Turley.

     Ten days ago, the secretary of the Air Force gave the court a
sworn affidavit stating that the confirmation of even publicly used
names like "Area 51" would cause "exceptionally grave damage" to
national security and place American lives in extreme jeopardy.  

     This is the second time such an allegation has been made.  
At the outset of this case, the military attempted to dismiss the
actions on the grounds of national security, but were successfuly
thwarted.  As part of his current motion, Turley will submit a 300-
page exhibit containing over 290 articles published internationally
which name the top-secret base.  

     Turley will also present proof that government officials have
used the words "Area 51" and "Dreamland" to refer to the base; that
the court overseeing the case has put "Area 51" into written
opinions; that the term was entered into the Congressional Record
by various congressional leaders; and that the Pentagon itself has
distributed articles referring to the base through its publication
"Inside the Pentagon."

     "The defendants have improperly invoked the State Secrets
Privilege in order to avert the establishment of a prima facie case
against itself and the growing embarassment from their own
contradictions in this case," says Turley. "When the case was filed
the defendants refused to even acknowledge the facility's existence
even though it is visible from public land."

-- 30 --