[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 18, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 18CFR3a.31]

[Page 48-50]
 
           TITLE 18--CONSERVATION OF POWER AND WATER RESOURCES
 
  CHAPTER I--FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
 
PART 3a_NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 3a.31  Classification markings and special notations.

    (a) After the chairman, the vice chairman, or the executive director 
determines that classified information is contained in an original 
document or other item, the appropriate marking, i.e., Secret or 
Confidential, will be applied as indicated herein. In addition, each 
classified document will reflect its date of origin and the Bureau, 
Office, or Regional Office responsible for its preparation and issuance, 
and the identity of the highest authority authorizing the 
classification. Where the individual who signs or otherwise 
authenticates the document or other item has also authorized the 
classification, no further annotation as to his identity is required. 
Each classified document will also show on its face whether it is 
subject to or exempt from the General Declassification Schedule 
described in Sec. 3a.22(b).
    (1) For marking documents which are subject to the General 
Declassification Schedule, the following stamp will be used:

    (Top Secret, Secret, or Confidential) Classified by ------------. 
Subject to General Declassification Schedule of E.O. 11652, 
automatically downgraded at 2-year intervals and declassified on 
December 31, ------------ (insert year).

    (2) For marking documents which are to be automatically declassified 
on a given event or date earlier than the General Declassification 
Schedule the following stamp will be used:

    (Top Secret, Secret, or Confidential) Classified by ------------. 
Automatically declassified on -------------------- (effective date or 
event).

    (3) For marking documents which are exempt from the General 
Declassification Schedule the following stamp will be used:


[[Page 49]]


    (Top Secret, Secret, or Confidential) Classified by ------------. 
Exempt from General Declassification Schedule of E.O. 11652, Exemption 
Category (section 5B (1), (2), (3), or (4). Automatically declassified 
on -------------------- (effective date or event, if any).

    (b) Should the classifier fail to mark such document with one of the 
foregoing stamps, the document shall be deemed to be subject to the 
General Declassification Schedule. The person who signs or finally 
approves a document or other material containing classified information 
shall be deemed to be the classifier. If the classifier is other than 
such person he shall be identified on the stamp as indicated.
    (c) On documents, the classification markings Secret and 
Confidential will be stamped in red ink, printed, or written in letters 
considerably larger than those used in the text of the document. On 
documents which are typewritten in elite, pica or executive size type, 
the above markings should be in letters not less than three-sixteenths 
inch in height. No markings, other than those indicated above, are 
authorized to designate that a document or material requires protection 
in the interests of national security. The overall classification 
assigned to a document will be conspicuously marked on the top and 
bottom of each page and on the outside of the front and back covers, if 
any. Letters of transmittal, endorsements, routing slips, or any other 
papers of any size which conceal or partially conceal the cover, the 
title page, or first page, will bear the marking of the overall 
classification.
    (d) Whenever a classified document contains either more than one 
security classification category or unclassified information, each 
section, part or paragraph should be marked to the extent practicable to 
show its classification category or that it is unclassified.
    (e) Letters of transmittal or other covering documents which are 
classified solely because of classified enclosures or attachments, or 
which are classified in a lower category than such enclosures or 
attachments, will bear either of the following markings, as appropriate.
    (1) If the covering document is classified on its own, but has 
enclosures or attachments of a higher classification, or is a component 
(i.e., an endorsement or comment) or a file in which other components 
bear a higher classification:

Regarded________________________________________________________________
                                            (appropriate classification)
When separated from_____________________________________________________
                                 (identify higher classified components)

    (2) If unclassified when separated from its classified enclosures or 
attachments:

When the Attachments Are Removed, This Transmittal Letter Becomes 
Unclassified.

    (f) In addition to the classification category markings prescribed 
above, the first or title page of each classified document will contain 
instructions as appropriate, in accordance with the following:
    (1) Regarding instructions. The declassification and downgrading 
notation, as described in Sec. 3a.31(g) will be applied to classified 
documents only. The notation will not be carried forward to unclassified 
letters of transmittals or other cover documents. When such cover 
documents are classified by their own content, they will be annotated 
with the notwithstanding instructions which pertain to the enclosures.
    (2) ``Special Handling'' notation. Classified information will not 
be released or disclosed to any foreign national without proper specific 
authorization. This applies even when the classified material does not 
bear the special handling notice described below. The special handling 
notice indicated only that the material has been reviewed and a specific 
determination made that the information is not releasable to foreign 
nationals. If it is anticipated that the handling or distribution of a 
classified document will make it liable to inadvertent disclosure to 
foreign nationals it will be marked with a separate special handling 
notation, which will be carried forward to letters of transmittals or 
other cover documents. The notation reads:

      Special Handling Required Not Releasable to Foreign Nationals

    (g) Whenever classified material is upgraded, downgraded, or 
declassified, the material will be marked to reflect:
    (1) The change in classification.

[[Page 50]]

    (2) The authority for the action.
    (3) The effective date.
    (4) The person or unit taking the action.

When classification changes are made, the classification markings 
themselves will be changed or canceled, and each copy or item of the 
material will be marked with the citation of authority. The notation 
below will be used for this purpose:

Classification__________________________________________________________
                                                               (changed)
________________________________________________________________________
                                                              (canceled)
To______________________________________________________________________
Effective on____________________________________________________________
                                                                  (date)
Under authority of______________________________________________________
                                        (authorizing official or office)
By______________________________________________________________________
                                        (person or office taking action)

    (h) In addition to the foregoing marking requirements, warning 
notices shall be displayed prominently on classified documents or 
materials as prescribed below. When display of these warning notices on 
the documents or other materials is not feasible, the warnings shall be 
included in the written notification of the assigned classification.
    (1) Restricted data. For classified information or material 
containing restricted data as defined in the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, 
as amended:

                             Restricted Data

    This document contains restricted data as defined in the Atomic 
Energy Act of 1954. Its dissemination or disclosure to any unauthorized 
person is prohibited.

    (2) Formerly restricted data. For classified information or material 
containing solely Formerly Restricted Data, as defined in section 142.d, 
Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended:

                        Formerly Restricted Data

    Unauthorized disclosure subject to administrative and criminal 
sanctions. Handle as restricted data in foreign dissemination, section 
114.b., Atomic Energy Act, 1954.

    (3) Information other than restricted data or formerly restricted 
data. For classified information or material furnished to persons 
outside the Executive Branch of Government other than as described in 
paragraphs (h)(1) and (2) of this section.

                      National Security Information

    Unauthorized disclosure subject to criminal sanctions.

    (4) Sensitive intelligence information. For classified information 
or material relating to sensitive intelligence sources and methods, the 
following warning notice shall be used, in addition to and in 
conjunction with those prescribed in paragraph (h)(1), (2), or (3), of 
this section, as appropriate:

   Warning Notice--Sensitive Intelligence Sources and Methods Involved

                     Access to Classified Materials