CHAPTER III

                            POLICY AND OBJECTIVES

1.  GENERAL.  The objectives of the DOE classification program are (a) the
    establishment of policies and procedures which ensure the proper
    classification of information within the purview of DOE requiring
    protection in the interest of the security of the United States and (b)
    the identification of those documents and material which reveal such
    information so as to assure its protection.  Information within the
    purview of the DOE classification program includes RD and FRD, which are
    classified at their inception pursuant to the Atomic Energy Act, and
    NSI, which is classified pursuant to Executive Order 12356.

2.  RESTRICTED DATA AND FORMERLY RESTRICTED DATA.

    a.   Pursuant to the Department of Energy Organization Act and the
         Energy Reorganization Act of 1914, as amended, the Secretary of
         Energy (the Secretary) has certain responsibilities with regard to
         the control of information which falls under the purview of the
         Atomic Energy Act.  In accordance with the Atomic Energy Act, it is
         DOE policy to control the dissemination and declassification of RD
         and FRD in such a manner as to assure the common defense and
         security.  Consistent with such policy, DOE shall be guided by the
         following principles (section 141, Atomic Energy Act):

              "a.  Until effective and enforceable international safeguards
                   against the use of atomic energy for destructive purposes
                   have been established by an international arrangement,
                   there shall be no exchange of Restricted Data with other
                   nations except as authorized by section 144; and

              "b.  The dissemination of scientific and technical information
                   relating to atomic energy should be permitted and
                   encouraged so as to provide that free interchange of
                   ideas and criticism which is essential to scientific and
                   industrial progress and public understanding and to
                   enlarge the fund of technical information."

    b.   It is DOE's responsibility, through SA-20, to interpret and
         implement the classification and declassification provisions of the
         Atomic Energy Act.  (See Chapter X, Part A, for excerpts from the
         Atomic Energy Act.)

3.  NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION.

    a.   Pursuant to Executive Order 12356 (see Chapter X, Part B, paragraph
         1) and the Presidential Order of 5-1-82, "National Security
         Information" (see Chapter X, Part B, paragraph 2), the Secretary
         has certain responsibilities with regard to the control of
         information that falls under the purview of DOE and that may be
         classified as NSI.  It is DOE policy:

         (1)  To classify as NSI information concerning the national defense
              and foreign relations of the United States that, in the
              interests of the United States and its citizens, must be
              protected against unauthorized disclosure.

         (2)  That only individuals specifically authorized to do so may
              originally classify or declassify information or derivatively
              classify or declassify documents or material.

         (3)  That, whenever possible, all classification determinations
              will be made in accordance with published classification
              guides.

    b.   SA-10 and SA-20 will interpret and implement Executive Order 12356
         as it applies to information under the purview of DOE.

4.  LIMITATIONS ON CLASSIFICATION OF NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION.

    a.   Classification may not be used to conceal violations of the law,
         inefficiency, or administrative error; to prevent embarrassment to
         a person, organization, or agency; or to restrain competition.

    b.   Basic scientific research information not clearly related to the
         national security may not be classified.

    c.   Classification may not be used to limit dissemination of
         information that is not classifiable or to prevent or delay the
         public release of such information.

5.  CLASSIFICATION OF DOCUMENTS RECEIVED FROM FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS OR
    INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.

    a.   Classified documents originated by a foreign government or
         international organization shall retain their original
         classification level marking or be assigned an appropriate U.S.
         classification level marking.  In either case, the marking must
         identify a degree of protection equivalent to that required by the
         government or organization that originated the documents.  Any such
         classified documents shall not be declassified or downgraded
         without the prior consent of the foreign government or
         international organization that originated them.

    b.   If the foreign classification is in English, no additional U.S.
         classification marking is required.  If the classification level
         marking is in a foreign language, an equivalent U.S. classification
         level marking will be added.  Refer to DOE 5635.1A, CONTROL OF
         CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS, for a list of foreign classification
         markings, detailed marking instructions, and instructions for
         safeguarding "Restricted" documents.  If information given "in
         confidence" by another government is not marked as classified when
         received, a determination to classify shall be made in accordance
         with guidance provided by SA-20.

6.  CHALLENGES TO CLASSIFICATION.  Those involved with classified
    information are encouraged to challenge the classification of
    information, a document, or material when there is reason to believe
    that it is classified unnecessarily, improperly, or for an inappropriate
    period of time.  Those who wish to make such a challenge should, under
    normal circumstances, request that those responsible for such
    classifications reexamine their determinations.  If satisfactory
    resolutions are not reached, or if the challengers do not wish to
    challenge the classifiers directly, they may take the matter to a higher
    authority for resolution.