[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 45, Volume 3]

[Revised as of October 1, 2005]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 45CFR601.7]



[Page 40-41]

 

                        TITLE 45--PUBLIC WELFARE

 

                 CHAPTER VI--NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

 

PART 601_CLASSIFICATION AND DECLASSIFICATION OF NATIONAL SECURITY 

INFORMATION--Table of Contents

 

Sec. 601.7  Mandatory declassification review.



    (a) The Division of Administrative Services is hereby designated as 

the office to which members of the public or Departments may direct 

requests for mandatory review for declassification under this provision. 

In the case of documents originally classified by the Foundation, this 

office shall, in turn, assign the request to the appropriate office for 

action within 60 days. In each instance, receipt of the request will be 

acknowledged in writing immediately



[[Page 41]]



by the office that has been assigned action. A request for 

classification review must reasonably describe the document.

    (b) Whenever a request is deficient in its description of the record 

sought, the requester should be asked to provide additional identifying 

information to the extent possible. Whenever a request does not 

reasonably describe the information sought, the requester shall be 

notified that unless additional information is provided or the scope of 

the request is narrowed, no further action will be undertaken. Upon a 

determination that the requested material no longer warrants 

classification, it shall be declassified and made promptly available to 

the requester, if not otherwise exempt from disclosure under 5 U.S.C. 

552(b) (Freedom of Information Act) or other provision of law. If the 

information may not be released in whole or in part the requester shall 

be given a brief statement as to the reasons for denial, a notice of the 

right to appeal the determination of the Classification Review 

Committee, and a notice that such an appeal must be filed with the 

Foundation within 60 days in order to be considered.

    (c) When the request relates to a document given derivative 

classification by the Foundation or originated by another agency, the 

request and the document will be forwarded to the originator of the 

source document, and the requestor notified of such referral.

    (d) Employees presently cleared for access to classified information 

are encouraged to challenge classification in cases where there is 

reasonable cause to believe that information is classified 

unnecessarily, improperly, or for an inappropriate period of time. Such 

challenges should be brought to the attention of the Security Officer 

(Information) who will act thereon within 30 days, informing the 

challenger of actions taken. Requests for confidentiality will be 

honored.