Office of the Attorney General

Washington, D.C. 20530

April 29, 1998

Mr. L. Ralph Mecham
Director, Administrative Office
of the United States Courts
Washington, D.C. 20544

Dear Mr. Mecham:

This report is submitted pursuant to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, Title 50, United States Code, Section 1807, as amended.

During calendar year 1997, 749 applications were made for orders and extension of orders approving electronic surveillance or physical search under the Act. The United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court issued orders for 748 applications granting authority to the Government for the requested electronic surveillance and physical searches. In one case, although satisfied as to the probable cause to believe the target to be an agent of a foreign power, the court declined to approve the application as plead for other reasons, and gave the government leave to amend the application. The government has filed a motion to withdraw that case as it has become moot. No orders were entered which modified or denied the requested authority.

Sincerely,

Janet Reno