[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 14, Volume 5]

[Revised as of January 1, 2006]

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

[CITE: 14CFR1203.200]



[Page 13]

 

                     TITLE 14--AERONAUTICS AND SPACE

 

                          SPACE ADMINISTRATION

 

PART 1203_INFORMATION SECURITY PROGRAM--Table of Contents

 

               Subpart B_NASA Information Security Program

 

Sec. 1203.200  Background and discussion.





    (a) In establishing a civilian space program, the Congress required 

NASA to ``provide for the widest practicable and appropriate 

dissemination of information concerning its activities and the results 

thereof,'' and for the withholding from public inspection of that 

information that is classified to protect the national security.

    (b) In recognition of the essential requirement for an informed 

public concerning the activities of its Government, as well as the need 

to protect certain national security information from unauthorized 

disclosure, ``the Order'' was promulgated. It designates the National 

Aeronautics and Space Administration certain responsibility for matters 

pertaining to national security and confers on the Administrator of 

NASA, or such responsible officers or employees as the Administrator may 

designate, the authority for original classification of official 

information or material which requires protection in the interest of 

national security. It also provides for:

    (1) Basic classification, downgrading and declassification 

guidelines;

    (2) The issuance of directives prescribing the procedures to be 

followed in safeguarding classified information or material;

    (3) A monitoring system to ensure the effectiveness of the Order;

    (4) Appropriate administrative sanctions against officers and 

employees of the United States Government who are found to be in 

violation of the Order or implementing directive; and

    (5) Classification limitations and restrictions as discussed in 

Sec. Sec. 1203.410 and 1203.411.

    (c) ``The Order'' requires the timely identification and protection 

of that NASA information the disclosure of which would be contrary to 

the best interest of national security. Accordingly, the determination 

in each case must be based on a judgment as to whether disclosure of 

information could reasonably be expected to result in damage to the 

national security.



[44 FR 34913, June 18, 1979, as amended at 48 FR 5889, Feb. 9, 1983]