News from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission

Jim Palmer, Director of Information

October 5, 1999

(OKLAHOMA CITY)—After releasing all the information about the Oklahoma Natural Gas (ONG) gas purchase contracts with Dynamic Energy Resources it was possible under the Open Records Act to release, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission has learned it can now release all additional information previously protected as confidential.

The freedom of information revelation comes from the commission’s General Counsel, Bill Burkett, who reports that all the companies which were parties to the two protective orders preventing the release of certain information considered confidential no longer object to full public release of the information.

Commission Chairman Bob Anthony called the development a victory for freedom of information and referred to the opening paragraph stating the purpose of Oklahoma’s Open Records Act, often referred to as the sunshine law, which reads in part "it is the public policy of the state of Oklahoma that the people are vested with the inherent right to know and be fully informed about their government."

The OCC hearing set for Wednesday morning, Oct. 6, will go on as scheduled but will no longer be an inquiry on what is and is not confidential language. Instead, the commissioners will have orders prepared for their signature to provide the information requested by several individuals and groups. Commissioner Anthony wishes to thank all those who submitted Open Records Act requests in the ONG-Dynamic Energy case including Edwin Kessler, Interim Chair of Common Cause Oklahoma.