National Security Information Handbook
epa-nsi-handbook-2012
epa-nsi-handbook-2012
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NSI <strong>Handbook</strong><br />
<strong>Security</strong> Declassification<br />
Procedures<br />
(a) <strong>Information</strong> subject to mandatory declassification review. All information classified<br />
under E.O. 13526 or predecessor orders shall be subject to review for declassification by<br />
EPA if:<br />
(1) the request for a review describes the document or material containing the<br />
information with sufficient specificity to enable EPA to locate it with a reasonable<br />
amount of effort<br />
(2) the document or material containing the information responsive to the request is<br />
not contained within an operational file exempted from search and review,<br />
publication, and disclosure under 5 U.S.C. § 552 in accordance with law; and<br />
(3) the information is not the subject of pending litigation<br />
(b) <strong>Information</strong> reviewed within the past 2 years. If EPA has reviewed the requested<br />
information for declassification within the past 2 years, the agency need not conduct<br />
another review and may instead inform the requestor of this fact and the prior review<br />
decision and advise the requestor of appeal rights provided under subsection (h) of this<br />
section<br />
(c) Mandatory declassification review and FOIA. When a requestor submits a request both<br />
under mandatory declassification review and the Freedom of <strong>Information</strong> Act (FOIA),<br />
EPA shall require the requestor to select one process or the other. If the requestor fails to<br />
select one or the other, the request will be treated as a FOIA request unless the requested<br />
information is subject only to mandatory declassification review<br />
(d) Submission of request. Requests for mandatory declassification review shall be<br />
submitted to the following address:<br />
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency<br />
<strong>National</strong> <strong>Security</strong> <strong>Information</strong> Program Team<br />
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW<br />
Mail Code 3206R<br />
Washington, DC 20460<br />
(e) Content of request. Requests for mandatory declassification review shall identify the<br />
requested document or information with sufficient specificity to enable EPA to locate it<br />
with a reasonable amount of effort. <strong>Information</strong> that would provide the sufficient<br />
specificity would include a document identifier such as originator, date, title, and/or<br />
subject, the <strong>National</strong> Archives and Records Administration accession number, or other<br />
applicable unique document identifying number. Broad or topical requests for<br />
information on a particular subject will not meet this standard. All requests shall include<br />
a correct return mailing address and a statement that the requestor understands that the<br />
request may incur processing fees in accordance with subsection (k) of this section<br />
(f) Receipt of request. Upon receipt of a request, EPA shall acknowledge receipt to the<br />
requestor within 30 days and make a final determination within one year from the date of<br />
receipt<br />
(g) Referral. When EPA receives a mandatory declassification review request for documents<br />
in its possession that were originated by another agency, it shall refer the request, the<br />
pertinent documents, and a recommendation for action to the originating agency. EPA<br />
may, after consultation with the originating agency, inform the requestor of the referral<br />
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