INDEX
CHAPTER VI
DECLASSIFICATION AND DOWNGRADING
PART A - AUTHORITY FOR DECLASSIFICATION AND DOWNGRADING
1. INFORMATION.
a. Restricted Data and Formerly Restricted Data.
(1) Authority. Only SA-1 may declassify RD and FRD. SA-1 and
SA-20 may downgrade RD and FRD. (NOTE: Declassification or
downgrading of FRD requires coordination with DOD.)
(2) Information Declassification Procedures. Under the Atomic
Energy Act, DOE is required to continuously review RD to
determine which information may be declassified and removed
from the RD category without undue risk to the common defense
and security. To fulfill this requirement, SA-20 shall
develop and issue procedures which (a) provide for issuance by
SA-20 of a periodic call to Departmental Elements and
contractors for proposed information declassification actions;
(b) establish criteria for SA-20 to evaluate the proposed
declassification actions; and (c) describe the DOE and
other-agency coordination and approval process. Under these
procedures, Departmental Elements and contractors shall assist
SA-20 upon request by analyzing the proposed declassification
actions and providing timely comments.
b. National Security Information. Declassification and downgrading
authority is limited to SA-1, SA-20, and the Original Classifiers
of such information.
2. DOCUMENTS OR MATERIAL.
a. General. Documents or material may be declassified or downgraded
by SA-1, SA-20, Original Classifiers (see page VI-8, Chapter VI,
Part C, paragraph 3, below, for extent and limitations of such
authority), or Derivative Declassifiers. (Note: A custodian of
classified documents or material does not require declassification
authority in order to proceed in accordance with a declassification
or downgrading notice from an authorized source.)
b. Derivative Declassification Authority.
(1) Qualifications. A Derivative Declassifier must (a) have
demonstrated competence in the subject area in which the
authority will be used; (b) be knowledgeable in DOE
classification policy and procedures (especially with all
classification guides in the subject area in which the
authority will be used); (c) be in a position with a proven or
anticipated need for Derivative Declassification Authority;
(d) have successfully completed a training program and
examination; and (e) be so designated in writing by SA-20 as
described below. SA-20 may grant a waiver of the training and
examination requirements for Classification Officers.
(2) Designation.
(a) Requests for Derivative Declassification Authority must
be submitted to SA-20 in the format of Attachment X-1 or
any other format containing the same information.
(b) Individuals for whom Derivative Declassification
Authority has been requested must have successfully
completed a training program and examination and received
official notification of approval by SA-20 prior to
assuming classification authority. SA-20 may grant a
waiver of the training and examination requirements for
Classification Officers.
(c) When an individual assumes a position for which
Derivative Declassification Authority has previously been
granted, a request for declassification authority must be
submitted to SA-20 for approval using the format of
Attachment X-1 or any other format that contains the same
information. The individual may not assume Derivative
Declassification Authority until he or she has completed
the requirements given in paragraph (b) above, except
that the appointing official may waive the requirements
if the individual has met such requirements within the
past 3 years and is transferring to a similar
programmatic position.
(d) Derivative Declassification Authority may not be
redelegated.
(e) Derivative Declassification Authority is granted for a
period of 3 years at which time the individual must be
recertified by passing an examination. SA-20 may grant a
waiver of this examination requirement.
(f) Past frequency of use of Derivative Declassification
Authority is a factor in determining whether renewal of
such authority is needed by an individual. Such use
includes the review of documents to determine whether
they can or cannot be declassified.
(3) Cancellation.
(a) If the Head of a Departmental Element determines that an
individual's position no longer requires Derivative
Declassification Authority, the Element Head shall
promptly inform SA-20 using the format of Attachment X-2
or any other format that contains the same information.
(b) When an individual with Derivative Declassification
Authority vacates a position, the Head of the
individual's Departmental Element will promptly inform
SA-20 using the format of Attachment X-2 or any other
format containing the same information.
(c) If SA-20 determines that an individual no longer requires
Derivative Declassification Authority, SA-20 shall advise
the Head of the individual's Departmental Element of such
determination, of the reason(s) therefor, and of the date
on which the authority will end.
(4) Recordkeeping Requirements. SA-20 shall maintain a list of
all individuals with Derivative Declassification Authority.
This list shall include (a) the name and title of the
individual granted the authority, (b) the individual's
Departmental Element or contractor organization, and (c) the
effective date and expiration date of the designation. In
addition, each Departmental Element and contractor
organization shall maintain a similar list of all individuals
with Derivative Declassification Authority within its
jurisdiction.
(5) Authority Definition. (See page X-23, Chapter X, Part C.)
(a) An individual with Derivative Declassification Authority
may derivatively declassify or downgrade documents or
material originated by his or her organization, its
contractors, or the predecessors of these organizations.
In certain circumstances, SA-20 may grant broader
declassification authority to an individual.
(b) Derivative Declassifiers may declassify documents or
material only in the areas in which they have been
delegated such authority and which disclose only:
1 Information falling within the "unclassified" topics
of classification and/or declassification guidance
specifically authorized for their use in declassifying
documents; or
2 Information identified as unclassified or that has
been declassified by SA-20; or
3 Information of an administrative nature that reveals
no technical or programmatic data. (Caution: This
criterion is intended for historical documents and is
to be interpreted very narrowly. If there is any
doubt as to whether information is "purely
administrative," specific guidance must be sought.)