National Security Information Handbook
epa-nsi-handbook-2012
epa-nsi-handbook-2012
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NSI <strong>Handbook</strong><br />
<strong>Security</strong> Classification<br />
Chapter 2:<br />
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION<br />
Section 1: Overview<br />
2-100 Overview<br />
This chapter defines principles and concepts required to originally and derivatively<br />
classify <strong>National</strong> <strong>Security</strong> <strong>Information</strong> (NSI).<br />
2-200 Classification Principles<br />
Section 2: Original Classification<br />
Classified <strong>National</strong> <strong>Security</strong> <strong>Information</strong> is information that has been determined<br />
pursuant to E.O. 13526 or any predecessor order, to require protection against<br />
unauthorized disclosure, and is appropriately marked to indicate its classified status when<br />
in documentary form. <strong>Information</strong> may be classified in one of two ways, originally or<br />
derivatively.<br />
2-201 Classification Standards<br />
1. <strong>Information</strong> may only be originally classified under the terms of E.O. 13526 when all<br />
of the following conditions are met:<br />
An Original Classification Authority (OCA) classifies the information<br />
The information is owned by, produced by or for, or is under the control of the<br />
United States Government<br />
The OCA determines that the unauthorized disclosure of the information could<br />
reasonably be expected to result in damage to the national security, which<br />
includes defense against transnational terrorism, and the OCA is able to identify<br />
or describe the damage<br />
The information falls within one or more of the categories of information listed in<br />
Section 2-204<br />
2. If there is significant doubt about the need to classify information, it shall not be<br />
classified. This provision does not:<br />
Effect the substantive criteria or procedures for classification<br />
Create any substantive or procedural rights subject to judicial review<br />
3. Classified information shall not be automatically declassified as a result of any<br />
unauthorized disclosure of identical or similar information.<br />
2-202 Classification Levels<br />
1. NSI shall be classified by an authorized OCA at one of the following levels:<br />
<br />
Top Secret shall be applied to information, the unauthorized disclosure of which<br />
reasonably could be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to the national<br />
security that the OCA is able to identify or describe<br />
2-1
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