The Honorable Chalmers P. Wylie There are two reasons for protecting the confidentiality of sensitive information concerning insured institutions. First the confidential nature of the examination process facilitates the free flow of information between savings institutions and examiners. Second, examiners are encouraged to express freely their conclusions about examined institutions and the confidential nature of the reports permits them to do so. For these reasons breaches of the confidentiality of examination reports and related information erode the effectiveness of the examination process. While we have no hesitation in providing access to the requested information for the Committee's investigation, we request that you respect the need for confidentiality and refrain from placing sensitive information in the public record or otherwise disclosing its contents. This is in response to your May 29, 1992, correspondence regarding Congressman Chalmers Wylie's request for access to confidential documents pertaining to Centennial Savings and Loan Association, Santa Rosa, California. The Office of Thrift Supervision recently responded to Congressman Wylie indicating access to the requested documents vould be provided to his staff. I have enclosed a copy of our response for your information. Should your staff wish to view these same documents, please contact Stephanie Bluher at 906-6288. me. If I may be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF THRIFT SUPERVISION 92-230 Order No. Date: June 2, 1992 WHEREAS, Congress in the performance of its official duties, is investigating regulatory issues at the former Centennial Savings and Loan Association of Santa Rosa, California; WHEREAS, Congressman Chalmers P. Wylie, has written to the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) requesting that OTS make available to his staff, any supervisory documents relating to Centennial Savings and Loan Association of Santa Rosa, as well as exam reports and the S-memo and L-memo prepared for the closing of the subject institution; WHEREAS, pursuant to to 31 C.F.R. 1.2(c)(5), the OTS may specifically authorize the disclosure of information that would otherwise be treated as confidential; NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the delegated power and authority vested in me as Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision, all present and former employees of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board (FHLBB) and OTS and present and past agents of the FHLBB and OTS are hereby directed and authorized to disclose to Congressman Chalmers P. Wylie, and/or his staff, pursuant to established OTS procedures, the requested information regarding the subject institution. Timothy Ryan, Director I am writing in response to your letter dated June 30, 1993, and in further response to the letter from Congresswoman Patricia Schroeder dated January 21, 1993, to which you refer in your letter, which requested that the Resolution Trust Corporation provide information and documentation relating to last year's reorganization of the RTC's Division of Legal Services, personnel decisions in the Denver office, the restructuring of the Professional Liability Section, and the use of certain outside counsel and their fees. On April 29, 1993, we provided Congresswoman Schroeder's staff with a preliminary response which consisted of materials relating to the planning involved in the reorganization and downsizing of the Legal Division. In a letter to Congresswoman Schroeder dated June 21, 1993, we explained the privileged and confidential nature of some of the remaining material responsive to her request, and we requested that the Subcommittee agree to protect the confidentiality of this material. At this time, in accordance with the terms documented in your letter to us dated June 30, 1993, we are pleased to provide to you, as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Civil Service, the remaining material responsive to Congresswoman Schroeder's request. If you have We appreciate your recognition of our concerns relating to the privileged and confidential nature of this material. any questions, please let me know. Sincerely,! Enclosures Peter E. Knight |