The Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel (ISCAP) Bylaws, Rules, and Appeal Procedures, 40261-40265 [2012-16655]
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 131 / Monday, July 9, 2012 / Rules and Regulations
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BILLING CODE 3510–33–P
NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS
ADMINISTRATION
Information Security Oversight Office
32 CFR Part 2003
[NARA–12–0003]
RIN 3095–AB76
The Interagency Security Classification
Appeals Panel (ISCAP) Bylaws, Rules,
and Appeal Procedures
Information Security Oversight
Office, National Archives and Records
Administration.
ACTION: Direct final rule.
AGENCY:
The Interagency Security
Classification Appeals Panel (ISCAP) is
a Presidential panel that decides on
certain classification and
declassification issues, as established in
Executive Order 13526, Classified
National Security Information,
December 29, 2009, section 5.3(a)(1),
and the E.O.’s implementing directives.
Section 5.3(c) of the E.O. directs ISCAP
to issue bylaws, rules, and procedures
and to publish them in the Federal
Register. ISCAP previously published
its bylaws as a regulatory appendix,
Classified National Security Information
Directive No. 1. This rule revamps
ISCAP’s bylaws and appellate
procedures and publishes them in their
own part for easier access.
DATES: This rule is effective September
7, 2012, without further action, unless
adverse comment is received by August
8, 2012. If adverse comment is received,
NARA will publish a timely withdrawal
of the rule in the Federal Register.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
SUMMARY:
16:36 Jul 06, 2012
*
NARA invites interested
persons to submit comments on this
direct final rule. Please include ‘‘Attn:
3095–AB76 and your name and mailing
address in your comments. Comments
may be submitted by any of the
following methods:
D Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to:
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
D Fax: Submit comments by facsimile
transmission to 301–837–0319, attention
Regulations Comments Desk.
D Mail: Send comments to Strategy
and Policy Office (SP); Regulations
Comments Desk, Room 4100; National
and Archives Records Administration;
ATTN: Laura McCarthy; 8601 Adelphi
Road; College Park, MD 20740.
D Hand Delivery or Courier: Deliver
comments to 8601 Adelphi Road,
College Park, MD. Address them to
Strategy and Policy Office (SP);
Regulations Comments Desk, Room
4100, Attn: Laura McCarthy.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John
P. Fitzpatrick, Director, ISOO, at 202–
357–5250.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ISCAP is a
Presidential appellate panel made up of
representatives from the Departments of
State, Defense, and Justice, the National
Archives and Records Administration,
the Office of the Director of National
Intelligence, and the National Security
Advisor, with an occasional
representative from the Central
Intelligence Agency. The director of the
Information Security Oversight Office
(ISOO), a unit of the National Archives
and Records Administration (NARA),
has been tasked by E.O. 13526 as the
Panel’s Executive Secretary, and the
ISOO staff as the administrative staff
supporting the Panel. As a result, the
ISCAP bylaws and appellate procedures
are published by NARA along with
other ISOO regulations.
ISCAP’s bylaws were previously
published in 2004 as Appendix A to
ISOO’s Directive 1. When ISOO’s
ADDRESSES:
[FR Doc. 2012–16724 Filed 7–6–12; 8:45 am]
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directive was updated in 2009, the
ISCAP bylaws were not included as an
appendix again, and are now being
added, along with appellate procedures,
for publication as Part 2003. Publishing
ISCAP’s bylaws and appellate
procedures in a separate part will make
them easier to find and to use.
This rule is effective upon publication
for good cause as permitted by the
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C.
553(d)(3)). NARA believes that delaying
the effective date for 30 days is
unnecessary as this rule represents
minor technical amendments from the
previous by-laws as mandated by E.O.
13526.
This direct final rule is not a
significant regulatory action for the
purposes of E.O. 12866 and has [not]
been reviewed by the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB). The
proposed amendment is also not a major
rule as defined in 5 U.S.C. chapter 8,
Congressional Review of Agency
Rulemaking. As required by the
Regulatory Flexibility Act, we certify
that this rule will not have a significant
impact on a substantial number of small
entities because it sets out only the
bylaws by which the Panel will operate
and the review procedures for Federal
agency declassification actions.
List of Subjects in 32 CFR Part 2003
Classified information.
For the reasons stated in the
preamble, NARA adds 32 CFR part
2003, to read as follows:
PART 2003—INTERAGENCY
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
APPEALS PANEL (ISCAP) BYLAWS,
RULES, AND APPEAL PROCEDURES
Subpart A—Bylaws
Sec.
2003.1 Purpose (Article I).
2003.2 Authority (Article II).
2003.3 Functions (Article III).
2003.4 Membership (Article IV).
2003.5 Meetings (Article V).
2003.6 Voting (Article VI.).
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2003.7 Support Staff (Article VII).
2003.8 Records (Article VIII).
2003.9 Reports to the President (Article IX).
2003.10 Approval, amendment, and
publication of bylaws, rules, and
procedures (Article X).
Subpart B—Appeal Procedures
Sec.
2003.11 Appeals of agency decisions
regarding classification challenges under
section 1.8 of the Order.
2003.12 Review of agency exemptions from
automatic declassification under section
3.3 of the Order.
2003.13 Appeals of agency decisions
denying declassification under
mandatory review provisions in section
3.5 of the Order.
2003.14 Dissemination of ISCAP decisions.
2003.15 Additional functions.
Authority: E.O. 13526, 75 FR 707, 75 FR
1013, 3 CFR, 2010 Comp., p. 298
Subpart A—Bylaws
§ 2003.1
Purpose (Article I).
The Interagency Security
Classification Appeals Panel (hereafter
‘‘ISCAP’’ or ‘‘the Panel’’) advises and
assists the President in the discharge of
his constitutional and discretionary
authority to protect the national security
of the United States.
§ 2003.2
Authority (Article II).
ISCAP was established by, and
receives its authority from, Executive
Order 13526 ‘‘Classified National
Security Information’’ (hereafter the
‘‘Order’’), December 29, 2009, section
5.3(a)(1), and the Order’s implementing
directives. Section 5.3(c) of the Order
directs ISCAP to issue bylaws, rules,
and procedures and to publish them in
the Federal Register.
§ 2003.3
Functions (Article III).
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In carrying out its purpose, the Panel:
(a) Decides appeals by people who
have filed classification challenges
under section 1.8 of the Order;
(b) Approves, denies, or amends
agency exemptions from automatic
declassification under section 3.3 of the
Order;
(c) Decides appeals by people or
entities who have filed requests for
mandatory declassification review
under section 3.5 of the Order; and
(d) Informs senior agency officials and
the public, as appropriate, of final Panel
decisions on appeals under sections 1.8
and 3.5 of the Order.
§ 2003.4
Membership (Article IV).
(a) Member organizations and
members.
(1) The Departments of State, Defense,
and Justice, the National Archives and
Records Administration, the Office of
the Director of National Intelligence,
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and the National Security Advisor each
have a member on the Panel.
(2) Additionally, the Director of the
Central Intelligence Agency may
appoint a temporary representative, who
meets the member criteria, to participate
as a voting member in all Panel
deliberations and associated support
activities concerning classified
information originated by the Central
Intelligence Agency.
(b) Alternate member. Each member
organization also designates in writing
an alternate, or alternates, to represent
it on all occasions when the primary
member is unable to participate. When
serving for a primary member, an
alternate assumes all the rights and
responsibilities of that primary member,
including voting. The alternate member
must meet the member criteria. The
member organization head, or the
organization’s deputy or senior agency
official for the Order, makes the written
designation of an alternate, addressed to
the ISCAP Chair.
(c) Selection criteria for member.
(1) Members must be senior-level
agency Federal officials or employees,
full-time or permanent part-time, and
must be designated to serve as a member
on the Panel by the respective agency
head.
(2) Panel members must meet security
access criteria in order to fulfill the
Panel’s functions.
(d) Member vacancies. Vacancies
among the primary members must be
filled as quickly as possible. The Chair,
working through the Executive
Secretary, takes all appropriate
measures to encourage the organization
to fill the vacancy quickly. In the
interim, the organization’s designated
alternate serves as its member.
(e) Liaisons. Each member
organization also designates in writing
an individual or individuals (hereafter
‘‘liaisons’’) to serve as liaison to the
Executive Secretary in support of the
primary member and alternate(s). The
liaisons meet at the call of the Executive
Secretary. The agency head, or the
deputy or senior agency official for the
Order, makes the written designation,
addressed to the ISCAP Chair.
(f) Chair. The President of the United
States selects the Chair from among the
primary members.
(g) Vice Chair. The members may
elect from among the primary members
a Vice Chair who:
(1) Chairs meetings that the Chair is
unable to attend; and
(2) Serves as Acting Chair during a
vacancy in the Chair of the ISCAP.
(h) Executive Secretary. The Director
of the Information Security Oversight
Office (ISOO), National Archives and
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Records Administration, is the
Executive Secretary of the Panel and
oversees the Panel’s support staff.
§ 2003.5
Meetings (Article V).
(a) Purpose. The primary purpose of
ISCAP meetings is to discuss and bring
formal resolution to matters before the
Panel and carry out the functions listed
in § 2003.3, Article III, of these bylaws.
(b) Frequency. The Panel meets at the
call of the Chair, who schedules
meetings as necessary for the Panel to
fulfill its functions in a timely manner.
The Chair also convenes the ISCAP
when requested by a majority of its
member organizations.
(c) Quorum. Panel meetings may be
held only when a quorum is present.
For this purpose, a quorum requires the
presence of at least five primary or
alternate members.
(d) Attendance. As determined by the
Chair, attendance at Panel meetings is
limited to only the people necessary for
the Panel to fulfill its functions in a
complete and timely manner. The
members may arrange briefings by
substantive experts from individual
departments or agencies, after
consultation with the Chair.
(e) Agenda. The Chair establishes the
agenda for all meetings. Any member or
the Executive Secretary may submit
potential items for the agenda. Acting
through the Executive Secretary, the
Chair distributes the agenda and
supporting materials to the members as
soon as possible before a scheduled
meeting.
(f) Minutes. The Executive Secretary
and staff prepare each meeting’s
minutes, and distribute draft minutes to
each member. The minutes include a
record of the members present at the
meeting and the result of each vote. At
each Panel meeting, the Chair reads or
references the previous meeting’s draft
minutes. At that time the minutes are
corrected, as necessary, approved by the
membership, and certified by the Chair.
The approved minutes are maintained
among the Panel’s records.
§ 2003.6
Voting (Article VI).
(a) Motions. When the Panel is
required to make a decision or
recommendation to resolve a matter
before it, the Chair requests or accepts
a motion for a vote. Any member,
including the Chair, may make a motion
for a vote. No second is required to
bring any motion to a vote. A quorum
must be present when a vote is taken.
(b) Eligibility. Only the member,
including the Chair, may vote on a
motion before the ISCAP, with each
represented member organization
having one vote.
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(c) Voting procedures at meetings.
Votes are ordinarily taken and tabulated
by a show of hands.
(d) Passing a motion. In response to
a motion, members may vote
affirmatively, negatively, or abstain from
voting. A motion passes when it
receives a majority of affirmative votes
of the members voting. In circumstances
in which members abstain from voting,
a Panel decision to reverse an agency’s
classification decision requires the
affirmative vote of at least a majority of
the members present.
(e) Votes in a non-meeting context.
The Chair may call for a vote of the
membership outside the context of a
formal ISCAP meeting. An alternate
member may also participate in such a
vote if the primary member cannot be
present. The Executive Secretary
records and retains such votes in a
documentary form and immediately
reports the results to the Chair and other
primary or alternate members, including
all notes of concurrence or dissent. If a
member expresses dissent to taking a
non-meeting vote, any member may
request the Chair call a meeting of the
members to discuss the issue under
consideration and to hold an in-person
vote.
§ 2003.7
Support Staff (Article VII).
The staff of the Information Security
Oversight Office (ISOO), National
Archives and Records Administration,
provides program and administrative
support for the Panel. The Executive
Secretary supervises the staff in this
function pursuant to the direction of the
Chair and ISCAP. On an as-needed
basis, the Panel may seek detailees from
agencies to augment the ISOO staff in
support of the ISCAP. All staff must
meet security access criteria in order to
fulfill the Panel’s functions.
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§ 2003.8
Records (Article VIII).
(a) Integrity of ISCAP Records. The
Executive Secretary maintains records
that are produced by or presented to the
ISCAP or its staff in the performance of
the Panel’s functions, consistent with
applicable law.
(b) Access requests or Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) requests for
ISCAP records. The Panel refers any
FOIA request or other access request for
information that originated within an
agency other than the ISCAP to that
agency for processing. The Panel
processes requests for information
originated by the ISCAP in accordance
with 44 U.S.C. sections 2201–2207
(Presidential Records Act).
(c) Disposition. The Executive
Secretary maintains Panel records in
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accordance with 44 U.S.C. sections
2201–2207 (Presidential Records Act).
§ 2003.9
IX).
Reports to the President (Article
ISOO includes pertinent information
and data about the activities of the Panel
in ISOO’s reports to the President of the
United States. The Panel also includes
such information in any reports it may
make to the President. The Chair, in
coordination with the other members of
the ISCAP and the Executive Secretary,
determines what information and data
to include in each report.
§ 2003.10 Approval, amendment, and
publication of bylaws, rules, and
procedures (Article X).
Approval and amendment of Panel
bylaws, rules, and procedures requires
the affirmative vote of at least four
members. The Executive Secretary
submits approved bylaws, rules,
procedures, and their amendments, for
publication in the Federal Register.
Subpart B—Appeal Procedures
§ 2003.11 Appeals of agency decisions
regarding classification challenges under
section 1.8 of the Order.
Authorized holders of information
who, in good faith, believe that its
classification status is improper may
challenge an agency’s classification of
the information in accordance with
agency procedures. After challenging
the classification at the agency level, the
authorized holder may appeal the
agency’s decision to the ISCAP.
(a) Jurisdiction. The ISCAP will
consider and decide appeals from
classification challenges that otherwise
meet the standards of the Order if:
(1) The appeal is filed in accordance
with these procedures;
(2) The appellant has previously
challenged the classification action at
the agency that originated, or is
otherwise responsible for, the
information in question. The previous
challenge must have followed the
agency’s established procedures or, if
the agency has failed to establish
procedures, the appellant must have
filed a written challenge directly with
the agency head or designated senior
agency official, as defined in section
5.4(d) of the Order;
(3) The appellant has:
(i) Received a final agency decision
denying his or her challenge; or
(ii) Not received—
(A) An initial written response to the
classification challenge from the agency
within 120 days of its filing, or
(B) A written response to an agency
level appeal within 90 days of the filing
of the appeal;
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(4) There is no action pending in the
federal courts regarding the information
in question;
(5) The information in question has
not been the subject of a FOIA or
mandatory declassification review
within the past two years; and
(6) The information in question has
not been the subject of a prepublication
review or other administrative process
pursuant to an approved nondisclosure
agreement.
(b) Submission of appeals. Appeals
may be submitted to the Panel by email
or mail. Appeals should be sent via
email to: ISCAP@nara.gov or by mail to:
Executive Secretary, Interagency
Security Classification Appeals Panel;
Attn: Classification Challenge Appeals;
c/o Information Security Oversight
Office; National Archives and Records
Administration; 700 Pennsylvania
Avenue NW., Room 503; Washington,
DC 20408.
(1) The appeal must contain enough
information for the Executive Secretary
to be able to obtain all pertinent
documents about the classification
challenge from the affected agency.
(2) No classified information should
be included within the initial appeal
correspondence. The Executive
Secretary will arrange for the transmittal
of classified information from the
agency after receiving the appeal. If it is
impossible for the appellant to file an
appeal without including classified
information, prior arrangements must be
made by contacting the Panel in one of
the two methods listed above.
(c) Timeliness of appeals. An appeal
to the ISCAP must be filed within 60
days of:
(1) The date of the final agency
decision; or
(2) The agency’s failure to meet the
time frames established in paragraph
(a)(3)(i) and (ii) of this section.
(d) Rejection of appeals. If the
Executive Secretary determines that an
appeal does not meet the requirements
of the Order or these bylaws, the
Executive Secretary notifies the
appellant in writing that the appeal will
not be considered by the ISCAP. The
notification includes an explanation of
why the appeal is deficient.
(e) Preparation of appeals and
creation of appeals files. The Executive
Secretary notifies the designated senior
agency official, and, if applicable, the
primary member, alternate, or liaison of
the affected agency(ies) when an appeal
is lodged. Under the direction of the
ISCAP, the Executive Secretary
supervises the preparation of an appeal
file, pertinent portions of which are
presented to the members of the Panel
for review prior to a vote on the appeal.
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The appeal file eventually includes all
records pertaining to the appeal.
(f) Resolution of appeals. The Panel
may vote to affirm the agency’s
decision, to reverse the agency’s
decision in whole or in part, or to
remand the matter to the agency for
further consideration. A decision to
reverse an agency’s decision requires
the affirmative vote of at least a majority
of the members present. In
circumstances in which members
abstain from voting, a Panel decision to
reverse an agency’s classification
decision requires the affirmative vote of
at least a majority of the members
present.
(g) Notification. The Executive
Secretary promptly notifies the
appellant and the designated senior
agency official in writing of the Panel’s
decision.
(h) Agency appeals. Within 60 days of
receipt of an ISCAP decision that
reverses a final agency decision, the
agency head may petition the President
through the National Security Advisor
to overrule the Panel’s decision. The
information at issue remains classified
until the President has issued a
decision.
(i) Protection of classified
information. All persons involved in the
appeal will make every effort to
minimize the inclusion of classified
information in the appeal file. Any
classified information contained in the
appeal file is handled and protected in
accordance with the Order and its
implementing directives. Information
being challenged for classification
remains classified unless and until a
final decision is made to declassify it.
(j) Maintenance and disposition of
file. The Executive Secretary maintains
the appeal file among the ISCAP’s
records in accordance with 44 U.S.C.
2201–2207 (the Presidential Records
Act).
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§ 2003.12 Review of agency exemptions
from automatic declassification under
section 3.3 of the Order.
All classified records that are more
than 25 years old and have been
determined to have permanent
historical value under title 44, United
States Code, are automatically
declassified whether or not the records
have been reviewed. However, agency
heads may exempt information that
would otherwise fall into this category
on specific bases set out in section 3.3
of the Order. The ISCAP reviews and
approves, denies, or amends agency
proposals to exempt such information
from automatic declassification.
(a) Agency notification of exemptions.
The agency head or designated senior
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agency official notifies the Executive
Secretary of proposed agency
exemptions in accordance with the
requirements of the Order and its
implementing directives. Agencies
provide any additional information or
justification that the Executive Secretary
believes is necessary or helpful in order
for the ISCAP to review and decide on
the exemption.
(b) Preparation of the exemptions
files. The Executive Secretary notifies
the Chair of an agency’s submission. At
the direction of the ISCAP, the
Executive Secretary supervises the
preparation of an exemption file,
pertinent portions of which are
presented to the members of the Panel
for review prior to a vote on the
exemptions. The exemption file
eventually includes all records
pertaining to the ISCAP’s consideration
of the agency’s exemptions.
(c) Resolution. The Panel may vote to
approve an agency exemption, to deny
an agency exemption, to amend an
agency exemption, or to remand the
matter to the agency for further
consideration. A decision to deny or
amend an agency exemption requires
the affirmative vote of a majority of the
members present.
(d) Notification. The Executive
Secretary promptly notifies the
designated senior agency official in
writing of the Panel’s decision.
(e) Agency appeals. Within 60 days of
receipt of an ISCAP decision that denies
or amends an agency exemption, the
agency head may petition the President
through the National Security Advisor
to overrule the Panel’s decision.
(f) Protection of classified
information. All persons involved in the
appeal will make every effort to
minimize the inclusion of classified
information in the appeal file. Any
classified information contained in the
exemption file is handled and protected
in accordance with the Order and its
implementing directives. Information
that the agency maintains is exempt
from declassification remains classified
unless and until a final decision is made
to declassify it.
(g) Maintenance and disposition of
file. The Executive Secretary maintains
the exemption file among the ISCAP’s
records in accordance with 44 U.S.C.
2201–2207 (the Presidential Records
Act).
§ 2003.13 Appeals of agency decisions
denying declassification under mandatory
review provisions in section 3.5 of the
Order.
Section 3.5 of the Order requires
agencies to conduct a mandatory
declassification review, upon request, of
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classified information that meets the
requirements set out in the Order. An
agency may deny such a review for
specific reasons set out in section 5.3(a)
of the Order. If an agency denies a
request for such review, a person may
appeal the denial through the agency’s
appeal process. After that process, a
person may further appeal to the ISCAP.
(a) Jurisdiction. The ISCAP considers
and decides appeals from denials of
mandatory review for declassification
requests that otherwise meet the
standards of the Order if:
(1) The appeal is filed in accordance
with these procedures;
(2) The appellant has previously filed
a request for mandatory declassification
review at the agency that originated, or
is otherwise responsible for, the
information in question, and filed an
appeal at the agency level. The request
and appeal must have followed the
agency’s established procedures or, if
the agency has failed to establish
procedures, the appellant must have
filed a written request directly with the
agency head or designated senior agency
official;
(3) The appellant has:
(i) Received a final agency decision
denying his or her request; or
(ii) Not received—
(A) An initial decision on the request
for mandatory declassification review
from the agency within one year of its
filing, or
(B) A final decision on an agency
level appeal within 180 days of the
filing of the appeal;
(4) There is no action pending in the
federal courts regarding the information
in question;
(5) The information in question has
not been the subject of an access review
by the Federal courts or the ISCAP
within the past two years; and
(6) The information in question is not
the subject of a prepublication review or
other administrative process pursuant to
an approved nondisclosure agreement.
(b) Submission of appeals. Appeals
may be submitted to the Panel by email
or mail. Appeals should be sent via
email to: ISCAP@nara.gov or by mail to:
Executive Secretary, Interagency
Security Classification Appeals Panel;
Attn: Mandatory Declassification
Review Appeals; c/o Information
Security Oversight Office; National
Archives and Records Administration;
700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Room
503; Washington, DC 20408.
(1) The appeal must contain enough
information for the Executive Secretary
to be able to obtain all pertinent
documents about the mandatory
declassification review appeal from the
affected agency.
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(2) No classified information should
be included within the initial appeal
correspondence. The Executive
Secretary will arrange for the transmittal
of classified information from the
agency after receiving the appeal. If it is
impossible for the appellant to file an
appeal without including classified
information, prior arrangements must be
made by contacting the Panel in one of
the two methods listed above.
(c) Timeliness of appeals. An appeal
to the ISCAP must be filed within 60
days of:
(1) The date of the final agency
decision; or
(2) The agency’s failure to meet the
time frames established in paragraph
(a)(3)(i) and (ii) of this section.
(d) Rejection of appeals. If the
Executive Secretary determines that an
appeal does not meet the requirements
of the Order or these bylaws, the
Executive Secretary notifies the
appellant in writing that the appeal will
not be considered by the ISCAP. The
notification includes an explanation of
why the appeal is deficient.
(e) Preparation of appeals and
creation of appeals files. The Executive
Secretary notifies the senior agency
official or primary member, alternate, or
liaison of the affected agency(ies) when
an appeal is lodged. Under the direction
of the ISCAP, the Executive Secretary
supervises the preparation of an appeal
file, pertinent portions of which are
presented to the members of the Panel
for review prior to a vote on the appeal.
The appeal file eventually includes all
records pertaining to the appeal.
(f) Narrowing appeals. To expedite
the resolution of appeals and minimize
backlogs, the Executive Secretary
consults as relevant with appellants and
agencies to narrow or prioritize the
information subject to the appeal.
(g) Resolution of appeals. The Panel
may vote to affirm the agency’s
decision, to reverse the agency’s
decision in whole or in part, or to
remand the matter to the agency for
further consideration. A decision to
reverse an agency’s decision requires
the affirmative vote of at least a majority
of the members present. In
circumstances in which members
abstain from voting, a Panel decision to
reverse an agency’s classification
decision requires the affirmative vote of
at least a majority of the members
present.
(h) Notification. The Executive
Secretary promptly notifies the
appellant and designated senior agency
official in writing of the Panel’s
decision.
(i) Agency appeals. Within 60 days of
receipt of an ISCAP decision that
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:36 Jul 06, 2012
Jkt 226001
reverses a final agency decision, the
agency head may petition the President
through the National Security Advisor
to overrule the Panel’s decision.
(j) Protection of classified
information. All persons involved in the
appeal will make every effort to
minimize the inclusion of classified
information in the appeal file. Any
classified information contained in the
appeal file is handled and protected in
accordance with the Order and its
implementing directives. Information
that is subject to an appeal from an
agency decision denying
declassification under the mandatory
review provisions of the Order remains
classified unless and until a final
decision is made to declassify it.
(k) Maintenance and disposition of
file. The Executive Secretary shall
maintain the appeal file among the
ISCAP’s records in accordance with 44
U.S.C. 2201–2207 (Presidential Records
Act).
§ 2003.14 Dissemination of ISCAP
decisions.
The Executive Secretary informs
senior agency officials and the public of
final ISCAP decisions on appeals under
sections 1.8 and 3.5 of the Order.
§ 2003.15
Additional functions.
As directed by the President through
the National Security Advisor, the
ISCAP performs such additional
advisory functions as are consistent
with, and supportive of, the successful
implementation of the Order.
Dated: June 25, 2012.
John P. Fitzpatrick,
Director, Information Security Oversight
Office.
Approved: June 25, 2012.
David S. Ferriero,
Archivist of the United States.
[FR Doc. 2012–16655 Filed 7–6–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7515–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[Docket No. USCG–2012–0592]
Drawbridge Operation Regulation;
Tennessee River, Decatur, AL
Coast Guard, DHS.
Notice of temporary deviation
from regulations.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Coast Guard has issued a
temporary deviation from the operating
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
40265
schedule that governs the Southern
Railroad Drawbridge across the
Tennessee River, mile 304.4, at Decatur,
AL. The deviation is necessary to install
new rail joints and perform other
maintenance essential to the safe
operation of the bridge. This deviation
allows the bridge to be in the closed-tonavigation position.
DATES: This deviation is effective from
8:00 a.m. to noon and from 12:30 p.m.
to 4:30 p.m. July 16 through July 19,
2012.
ADDRESSES: Documents mentioned in
this preamble as being available in the
docket are part of docket USCG–2012–
0592 and are available online by going
to https://www.regulations.gov, inserting
USCG–2012–0592 in the ‘‘Keyword’’
box and then clicking ‘‘Search’’. They
are also available for inspection or
copying at the Docket Management
Facility (M–30), U.S. Department of
Transportation, West Building Ground
Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590,
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If
you have questions on this rule, call or
email Eric A. Washburn, Bridge
Administrator, Western Rivers, Coast
Guard; telephone 314–269–2378, email
Eric.Washburn@uscg.mil. If you have
questions on viewing the docket, call
Renee V. Wright, Program Manager,
Docket Operations, telephone 202–366–
9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Norfolk Southern Railroad requested a
temporary deviation for the Southern
Railroad Drawbridge, across the
Tennessee River, mile 304.4, at Decatur,
AL.
The vertical clearance of the bridge in
the closed position is 10.5 feet. The
bridge opens on request or by signal as
required by 33 CFR 117.5. The deviation
period is from 8:00 a.m. to noon and
from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. July 16
through July 19, 2012. The Coast Guard
will inform the public through
broadcast notices to mariners of any
changes in the schedule for this
deviation. During the deviation period
new rail joints will be installed which
require steel cutting and welding
activity on the bridge.
Vessel traffic consists of commercial
tows ranging from a single barge to 15barges and approximately six openings
during the deviation period could
normally occur. This deviation was
coordinated with the commercial
waterway users and no objections were
expressed. The bridge, in the closed
position, does not provide ample
clearance for vessels to pass beneath
E:\FR\FM\09JYR1.SGM
09JYR1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 131 (Monday, July 9, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 40261-40265]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-16655]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION
Information Security Oversight Office
32 CFR Part 2003
[NARA-12-0003]
RIN 3095-AB76
The Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel (ISCAP)
Bylaws, Rules, and Appeal Procedures
AGENCY: Information Security Oversight Office, National Archives and
Records Administration.
ACTION: Direct final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel (ISCAP)
is a Presidential panel that decides on certain classification and
declassification issues, as established in Executive Order 13526,
Classified National Security Information, December 29, 2009, section
5.3(a)(1), and the E.O.'s implementing directives. Section 5.3(c) of
the E.O. directs ISCAP to issue bylaws, rules, and procedures and to
publish them in the Federal Register. ISCAP previously published its
bylaws as a regulatory appendix, Classified National Security
Information Directive No. 1. This rule revamps ISCAP's bylaws and
appellate procedures and publishes them in their own part for easier
access.
DATES: This rule is effective September 7, 2012, without further
action, unless adverse comment is received by August 8, 2012. If
adverse comment is received, NARA will publish a timely withdrawal of
the rule in the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: NARA invites interested persons to submit comments on this
direct final rule. Please include ``Attn: 3095-AB76 and your name and
mailing address in your comments. Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
[ssquf] Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
[ssquf] Fax: Submit comments by facsimile transmission to 301-837-
0319, attention Regulations Comments Desk.
[ssquf] Mail: Send comments to Strategy and Policy Office (SP);
Regulations Comments Desk, Room 4100; National and Archives Records
Administration; ATTN: Laura McCarthy; 8601 Adelphi Road; College Park,
MD 20740.
[ssquf] Hand Delivery or Courier: Deliver comments to 8601 Adelphi
Road, College Park, MD. Address them to Strategy and Policy Office
(SP); Regulations Comments Desk, Room 4100, Attn: Laura McCarthy.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John P. Fitzpatrick, Director, ISOO,
at 202-357-5250.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ISCAP is a Presidential appellate panel made
up of representatives from the Departments of State, Defense, and
Justice, the National Archives and Records Administration, the Office
of the Director of National Intelligence, and the National Security
Advisor, with an occasional representative from the Central
Intelligence Agency. The director of the Information Security Oversight
Office (ISOO), a unit of the National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA), has been tasked by E.O. 13526 as the Panel's
Executive Secretary, and the ISOO staff as the administrative staff
supporting the Panel. As a result, the ISCAP bylaws and appellate
procedures are published by NARA along with other ISOO regulations.
ISCAP's bylaws were previously published in 2004 as Appendix A to
ISOO's Directive 1. When ISOO's directive was updated in 2009, the
ISCAP bylaws were not included as an appendix again, and are now being
added, along with appellate procedures, for publication as Part 2003.
Publishing ISCAP's bylaws and appellate procedures in a separate part
will make them easier to find and to use.
This rule is effective upon publication for good cause as permitted
by the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3)). NARA believes
that delaying the effective date for 30 days is unnecessary as this
rule represents minor technical amendments from the previous by-laws as
mandated by E.O. 13526.
This direct final rule is not a significant regulatory action for
the purposes of E.O. 12866 and has [not] been reviewed by the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB). The proposed amendment is also not a major
rule as defined in 5 U.S.C. chapter 8, Congressional Review of Agency
Rulemaking. As required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act, we certify
that this rule will not have a significant impact on a substantial
number of small entities because it sets out only the bylaws by which
the Panel will operate and the review procedures for Federal agency
declassification actions.
List of Subjects in 32 CFR Part 2003
Classified information.
For the reasons stated in the preamble, NARA adds 32 CFR part 2003,
to read as follows:
PART 2003--INTERAGENCY SECURITY CLASSIFICATION APPEALS PANEL
(ISCAP) BYLAWS, RULES, AND APPEAL PROCEDURES
Subpart A--Bylaws
Sec.
2003.1 Purpose (Article I).
2003.2 Authority (Article II).
2003.3 Functions (Article III).
2003.4 Membership (Article IV).
2003.5 Meetings (Article V).
2003.6 Voting (Article VI.).
[[Page 40262]]
2003.7 Support Staff (Article VII).
2003.8 Records (Article VIII).
2003.9 Reports to the President (Article IX).
2003.10 Approval, amendment, and publication of bylaws, rules, and
procedures (Article X).
Subpart B--Appeal Procedures
Sec.
2003.11 Appeals of agency decisions regarding classification
challenges under section 1.8 of the Order.
2003.12 Review of agency exemptions from automatic declassification
under section 3.3 of the Order.
2003.13 Appeals of agency decisions denying declassification under
mandatory review provisions in section 3.5 of the Order.
2003.14 Dissemination of ISCAP decisions.
2003.15 Additional functions.
Authority: E.O. 13526, 75 FR 707, 75 FR 1013, 3 CFR, 2010 Comp.,
p. 298
Subpart A--Bylaws
Sec. 2003.1 Purpose (Article I).
The Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel (hereafter
``ISCAP'' or ``the Panel'') advises and assists the President in the
discharge of his constitutional and discretionary authority to protect
the national security of the United States.
Sec. 2003.2 Authority (Article II).
ISCAP was established by, and receives its authority from,
Executive Order 13526 ``Classified National Security Information''
(hereafter the ``Order''), December 29, 2009, section 5.3(a)(1), and
the Order's implementing directives. Section 5.3(c) of the Order
directs ISCAP to issue bylaws, rules, and procedures and to publish
them in the Federal Register.
Sec. 2003.3 Functions (Article III).
In carrying out its purpose, the Panel:
(a) Decides appeals by people who have filed classification
challenges under section 1.8 of the Order;
(b) Approves, denies, or amends agency exemptions from automatic
declassification under section 3.3 of the Order;
(c) Decides appeals by people or entities who have filed requests
for mandatory declassification review under section 3.5 of the Order;
and
(d) Informs senior agency officials and the public, as appropriate,
of final Panel decisions on appeals under sections 1.8 and 3.5 of the
Order.
Sec. 2003.4 Membership (Article IV).
(a) Member organizations and members.
(1) The Departments of State, Defense, and Justice, the National
Archives and Records Administration, the Office of the Director of
National Intelligence, and the National Security Advisor each have a
member on the Panel.
(2) Additionally, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
may appoint a temporary representative, who meets the member criteria,
to participate as a voting member in all Panel deliberations and
associated support activities concerning classified information
originated by the Central Intelligence Agency.
(b) Alternate member. Each member organization also designates in
writing an alternate, or alternates, to represent it on all occasions
when the primary member is unable to participate. When serving for a
primary member, an alternate assumes all the rights and
responsibilities of that primary member, including voting. The
alternate member must meet the member criteria. The member organization
head, or the organization's deputy or senior agency official for the
Order, makes the written designation of an alternate, addressed to the
ISCAP Chair.
(c) Selection criteria for member.
(1) Members must be senior-level agency Federal officials or
employees, full-time or permanent part-time, and must be designated to
serve as a member on the Panel by the respective agency head.
(2) Panel members must meet security access criteria in order to
fulfill the Panel's functions.
(d) Member vacancies. Vacancies among the primary members must be
filled as quickly as possible. The Chair, working through the Executive
Secretary, takes all appropriate measures to encourage the organization
to fill the vacancy quickly. In the interim, the organization's
designated alternate serves as its member.
(e) Liaisons. Each member organization also designates in writing
an individual or individuals (hereafter ``liaisons'') to serve as
liaison to the Executive Secretary in support of the primary member and
alternate(s). The liaisons meet at the call of the Executive Secretary.
The agency head, or the deputy or senior agency official for the Order,
makes the written designation, addressed to the ISCAP Chair.
(f) Chair. The President of the United States selects the Chair
from among the primary members.
(g) Vice Chair. The members may elect from among the primary
members a Vice Chair who:
(1) Chairs meetings that the Chair is unable to attend; and
(2) Serves as Acting Chair during a vacancy in the Chair of the
ISCAP.
(h) Executive Secretary. The Director of the Information Security
Oversight Office (ISOO), National Archives and Records Administration,
is the Executive Secretary of the Panel and oversees the Panel's
support staff.
Sec. 2003.5 Meetings (Article V).
(a) Purpose. The primary purpose of ISCAP meetings is to discuss
and bring formal resolution to matters before the Panel and carry out
the functions listed in Sec. 2003.3, Article III, of these bylaws.
(b) Frequency. The Panel meets at the call of the Chair, who
schedules meetings as necessary for the Panel to fulfill its functions
in a timely manner. The Chair also convenes the ISCAP when requested by
a majority of its member organizations.
(c) Quorum. Panel meetings may be held only when a quorum is
present. For this purpose, a quorum requires the presence of at least
five primary or alternate members.
(d) Attendance. As determined by the Chair, attendance at Panel
meetings is limited to only the people necessary for the Panel to
fulfill its functions in a complete and timely manner. The members may
arrange briefings by substantive experts from individual departments or
agencies, after consultation with the Chair.
(e) Agenda. The Chair establishes the agenda for all meetings. Any
member or the Executive Secretary may submit potential items for the
agenda. Acting through the Executive Secretary, the Chair distributes
the agenda and supporting materials to the members as soon as possible
before a scheduled meeting.
(f) Minutes. The Executive Secretary and staff prepare each
meeting's minutes, and distribute draft minutes to each member. The
minutes include a record of the members present at the meeting and the
result of each vote. At each Panel meeting, the Chair reads or
references the previous meeting's draft minutes. At that time the
minutes are corrected, as necessary, approved by the membership, and
certified by the Chair. The approved minutes are maintained among the
Panel's records.
Sec. 2003.6 Voting (Article VI).
(a) Motions. When the Panel is required to make a decision or
recommendation to resolve a matter before it, the Chair requests or
accepts a motion for a vote. Any member, including the Chair, may make
a motion for a vote. No second is required to bring any motion to a
vote. A quorum must be present when a vote is taken.
(b) Eligibility. Only the member, including the Chair, may vote on
a motion before the ISCAP, with each represented member organization
having one vote.
[[Page 40263]]
(c) Voting procedures at meetings. Votes are ordinarily taken and
tabulated by a show of hands.
(d) Passing a motion. In response to a motion, members may vote
affirmatively, negatively, or abstain from voting. A motion passes when
it receives a majority of affirmative votes of the members voting. In
circumstances in which members abstain from voting, a Panel decision to
reverse an agency's classification decision requires the affirmative
vote of at least a majority of the members present.
(e) Votes in a non-meeting context. The Chair may call for a vote
of the membership outside the context of a formal ISCAP meeting. An
alternate member may also participate in such a vote if the primary
member cannot be present. The Executive Secretary records and retains
such votes in a documentary form and immediately reports the results to
the Chair and other primary or alternate members, including all notes
of concurrence or dissent. If a member expresses dissent to taking a
non-meeting vote, any member may request the Chair call a meeting of
the members to discuss the issue under consideration and to hold an in-
person vote.
Sec. 2003.7 Support Staff (Article VII).
The staff of the Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO),
National Archives and Records Administration, provides program and
administrative support for the Panel. The Executive Secretary
supervises the staff in this function pursuant to the direction of the
Chair and ISCAP. On an as-needed basis, the Panel may seek detailees
from agencies to augment the ISOO staff in support of the ISCAP. All
staff must meet security access criteria in order to fulfill the
Panel's functions.
Sec. 2003.8 Records (Article VIII).
(a) Integrity of ISCAP Records. The Executive Secretary maintains
records that are produced by or presented to the ISCAP or its staff in
the performance of the Panel's functions, consistent with applicable
law.
(b) Access requests or Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests
for ISCAP records. The Panel refers any FOIA request or other access
request for information that originated within an agency other than the
ISCAP to that agency for processing. The Panel processes requests for
information originated by the ISCAP in accordance with 44 U.S.C.
sections 2201-2207 (Presidential Records Act).
(c) Disposition. The Executive Secretary maintains Panel records in
accordance with 44 U.S.C. sections 2201-2207 (Presidential Records
Act).
Sec. 2003.9 Reports to the President (Article IX).
ISOO includes pertinent information and data about the activities
of the Panel in ISOO's reports to the President of the United States.
The Panel also includes such information in any reports it may make to
the President. The Chair, in coordination with the other members of the
ISCAP and the Executive Secretary, determines what information and data
to include in each report.
Sec. 2003.10 Approval, amendment, and publication of bylaws, rules,
and procedures (Article X).
Approval and amendment of Panel bylaws, rules, and procedures
requires the affirmative vote of at least four members. The Executive
Secretary submits approved bylaws, rules, procedures, and their
amendments, for publication in the Federal Register.
Subpart B--Appeal Procedures
Sec. 2003.11 Appeals of agency decisions regarding classification
challenges under section 1.8 of the Order.
Authorized holders of information who, in good faith, believe that
its classification status is improper may challenge an agency's
classification of the information in accordance with agency procedures.
After challenging the classification at the agency level, the
authorized holder may appeal the agency's decision to the ISCAP.
(a) Jurisdiction. The ISCAP will consider and decide appeals from
classification challenges that otherwise meet the standards of the
Order if:
(1) The appeal is filed in accordance with these procedures;
(2) The appellant has previously challenged the classification
action at the agency that originated, or is otherwise responsible for,
the information in question. The previous challenge must have followed
the agency's established procedures or, if the agency has failed to
establish procedures, the appellant must have filed a written challenge
directly with the agency head or designated senior agency official, as
defined in section 5.4(d) of the Order;
(3) The appellant has:
(i) Received a final agency decision denying his or her challenge;
or
(ii) Not received--
(A) An initial written response to the classification challenge
from the agency within 120 days of its filing, or
(B) A written response to an agency level appeal within 90 days of
the filing of the appeal;
(4) There is no action pending in the federal courts regarding the
information in question;
(5) The information in question has not been the subject of a FOIA
or mandatory declassification review within the past two years; and
(6) The information in question has not been the subject of a
prepublication review or other administrative process pursuant to an
approved nondisclosure agreement.
(b) Submission of appeals. Appeals may be submitted to the Panel by
email or mail. Appeals should be sent via email to: ISCAP@nara.gov or
by mail to: Executive Secretary, Interagency Security Classification
Appeals Panel; Attn: Classification Challenge Appeals; c/o Information
Security Oversight Office; National Archives and Records
Administration; 700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Room 503; Washington, DC
20408.
(1) The appeal must contain enough information for the Executive
Secretary to be able to obtain all pertinent documents about the
classification challenge from the affected agency.
(2) No classified information should be included within the initial
appeal correspondence. The Executive Secretary will arrange for the
transmittal of classified information from the agency after receiving
the appeal. If it is impossible for the appellant to file an appeal
without including classified information, prior arrangements must be
made by contacting the Panel in one of the two methods listed above.
(c) Timeliness of appeals. An appeal to the ISCAP must be filed
within 60 days of:
(1) The date of the final agency decision; or
(2) The agency's failure to meet the time frames established in
paragraph (a)(3)(i) and (ii) of this section.
(d) Rejection of appeals. If the Executive Secretary determines
that an appeal does not meet the requirements of the Order or these
bylaws, the Executive Secretary notifies the appellant in writing that
the appeal will not be considered by the ISCAP. The notification
includes an explanation of why the appeal is deficient.
(e) Preparation of appeals and creation of appeals files. The
Executive Secretary notifies the designated senior agency official,
and, if applicable, the primary member, alternate, or liaison of the
affected agency(ies) when an appeal is lodged. Under the direction of
the ISCAP, the Executive Secretary supervises the preparation of an
appeal file, pertinent portions of which are presented to the members
of the Panel for review prior to a vote on the appeal.
[[Page 40264]]
The appeal file eventually includes all records pertaining to the
appeal.
(f) Resolution of appeals. The Panel may vote to affirm the
agency's decision, to reverse the agency's decision in whole or in
part, or to remand the matter to the agency for further consideration.
A decision to reverse an agency's decision requires the affirmative
vote of at least a majority of the members present. In circumstances in
which members abstain from voting, a Panel decision to reverse an
agency's classification decision requires the affirmative vote of at
least a majority of the members present.
(g) Notification. The Executive Secretary promptly notifies the
appellant and the designated senior agency official in writing of the
Panel's decision.
(h) Agency appeals. Within 60 days of receipt of an ISCAP decision
that reverses a final agency decision, the agency head may petition the
President through the National Security Advisor to overrule the Panel's
decision. The information at issue remains classified until the
President has issued a decision.
(i) Protection of classified information. All persons involved in
the appeal will make every effort to minimize the inclusion of
classified information in the appeal file. Any classified information
contained in the appeal file is handled and protected in accordance
with the Order and its implementing directives. Information being
challenged for classification remains classified unless and until a
final decision is made to declassify it.
(j) Maintenance and disposition of file. The Executive Secretary
maintains the appeal file among the ISCAP's records in accordance with
44 U.S.C. 2201-2207 (the Presidential Records Act).
Sec. 2003.12 Review of agency exemptions from automatic
declassification under section 3.3 of the Order.
All classified records that are more than 25 years old and have
been determined to have permanent historical value under title 44,
United States Code, are automatically declassified whether or not the
records have been reviewed. However, agency heads may exempt
information that would otherwise fall into this category on specific
bases set out in section 3.3 of the Order. The ISCAP reviews and
approves, denies, or amends agency proposals to exempt such information
from automatic declassification.
(a) Agency notification of exemptions. The agency head or
designated senior agency official notifies the Executive Secretary of
proposed agency exemptions in accordance with the requirements of the
Order and its implementing directives. Agencies provide any additional
information or justification that the Executive Secretary believes is
necessary or helpful in order for the ISCAP to review and decide on the
exemption.
(b) Preparation of the exemptions files. The Executive Secretary
notifies the Chair of an agency's submission. At the direction of the
ISCAP, the Executive Secretary supervises the preparation of an
exemption file, pertinent portions of which are presented to the
members of the Panel for review prior to a vote on the exemptions. The
exemption file eventually includes all records pertaining to the
ISCAP's consideration of the agency's exemptions.
(c) Resolution. The Panel may vote to approve an agency exemption,
to deny an agency exemption, to amend an agency exemption, or to remand
the matter to the agency for further consideration. A decision to deny
or amend an agency exemption requires the affirmative vote of a
majority of the members present.
(d) Notification. The Executive Secretary promptly notifies the
designated senior agency official in writing of the Panel's decision.
(e) Agency appeals. Within 60 days of receipt of an ISCAP decision
that denies or amends an agency exemption, the agency head may petition
the President through the National Security Advisor to overrule the
Panel's decision.
(f) Protection of classified information. All persons involved in
the appeal will make every effort to minimize the inclusion of
classified information in the appeal file. Any classified information
contained in the exemption file is handled and protected in accordance
with the Order and its implementing directives. Information that the
agency maintains is exempt from declassification remains classified
unless and until a final decision is made to declassify it.
(g) Maintenance and disposition of file. The Executive Secretary
maintains the exemption file among the ISCAP's records in accordance
with 44 U.S.C. 2201-2207 (the Presidential Records Act).
Sec. 2003.13 Appeals of agency decisions denying declassification
under mandatory review provisions in section 3.5 of the Order.
Section 3.5 of the Order requires agencies to conduct a mandatory
declassification review, upon request, of classified information that
meets the requirements set out in the Order. An agency may deny such a
review for specific reasons set out in section 5.3(a) of the Order. If
an agency denies a request for such review, a person may appeal the
denial through the agency's appeal process. After that process, a
person may further appeal to the ISCAP.
(a) Jurisdiction. The ISCAP considers and decides appeals from
denials of mandatory review for declassification requests that
otherwise meet the standards of the Order if:
(1) The appeal is filed in accordance with these procedures;
(2) The appellant has previously filed a request for mandatory
declassification review at the agency that originated, or is otherwise
responsible for, the information in question, and filed an appeal at
the agency level. The request and appeal must have followed the
agency's established procedures or, if the agency has failed to
establish procedures, the appellant must have filed a written request
directly with the agency head or designated senior agency official;
(3) The appellant has:
(i) Received a final agency decision denying his or her request; or
(ii) Not received--
(A) An initial decision on the request for mandatory
declassification review from the agency within one year of its filing,
or
(B) A final decision on an agency level appeal within 180 days of
the filing of the appeal;
(4) There is no action pending in the federal courts regarding the
information in question;
(5) The information in question has not been the subject of an
access review by the Federal courts or the ISCAP within the past two
years; and
(6) The information in question is not the subject of a
prepublication review or other administrative process pursuant to an
approved nondisclosure agreement.
(b) Submission of appeals. Appeals may be submitted to the Panel by
email or mail. Appeals should be sent via email to: ISCAP@nara.gov or
by mail to: Executive Secretary, Interagency Security Classification
Appeals Panel; Attn: Mandatory Declassification Review Appeals; c/o
Information Security Oversight Office; National Archives and Records
Administration; 700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Room 503; Washington, DC
20408.
(1) The appeal must contain enough information for the Executive
Secretary to be able to obtain all pertinent documents about the
mandatory declassification review appeal from the affected agency.
[[Page 40265]]
(2) No classified information should be included within the initial
appeal correspondence. The Executive Secretary will arrange for the
transmittal of classified information from the agency after receiving
the appeal. If it is impossible for the appellant to file an appeal
without including classified information, prior arrangements must be
made by contacting the Panel in one of the two methods listed above.
(c) Timeliness of appeals. An appeal to the ISCAP must be filed
within 60 days of:
(1) The date of the final agency decision; or
(2) The agency's failure to meet the time frames established in
paragraph (a)(3)(i) and (ii) of this section.
(d) Rejection of appeals. If the Executive Secretary determines
that an appeal does not meet the requirements of the Order or these
bylaws, the Executive Secretary notifies the appellant in writing that
the appeal will not be considered by the ISCAP. The notification
includes an explanation of why the appeal is deficient.
(e) Preparation of appeals and creation of appeals files. The
Executive Secretary notifies the senior agency official or primary
member, alternate, or liaison of the affected agency(ies) when an
appeal is lodged. Under the direction of the ISCAP, the Executive
Secretary supervises the preparation of an appeal file, pertinent
portions of which are presented to the members of the Panel for review
prior to a vote on the appeal. The appeal file eventually includes all
records pertaining to the appeal.
(f) Narrowing appeals. To expedite the resolution of appeals and
minimize backlogs, the Executive Secretary consults as relevant with
appellants and agencies to narrow or prioritize the information subject
to the appeal.
(g) Resolution of appeals. The Panel may vote to affirm the
agency's decision, to reverse the agency's decision in whole or in
part, or to remand the matter to the agency for further consideration.
A decision to reverse an agency's decision requires the affirmative
vote of at least a majority of the members present. In circumstances in
which members abstain from voting, a Panel decision to reverse an
agency's classification decision requires the affirmative vote of at
least a majority of the members present.
(h) Notification. The Executive Secretary promptly notifies the
appellant and designated senior agency official in writing of the
Panel's decision.
(i) Agency appeals. Within 60 days of receipt of an ISCAP decision
that reverses a final agency decision, the agency head may petition the
President through the National Security Advisor to overrule the Panel's
decision.
(j) Protection of classified information. All persons involved in
the appeal will make every effort to minimize the inclusion of
classified information in the appeal file. Any classified information
contained in the appeal file is handled and protected in accordance
with the Order and its implementing directives. Information that is
subject to an appeal from an agency decision denying declassification
under the mandatory review provisions of the Order remains classified
unless and until a final decision is made to declassify it.
(k) Maintenance and disposition of file. The Executive Secretary
shall maintain the appeal file among the ISCAP's records in accordance
with 44 U.S.C. 2201-2207 (Presidential Records Act).
Sec. 2003.14 Dissemination of ISCAP decisions.
The Executive Secretary informs senior agency officials and the
public of final ISCAP decisions on appeals under sections 1.8 and 3.5
of the Order.
Sec. 2003.15 Additional functions.
As directed by the President through the National Security Advisor,
the ISCAP performs such additional advisory functions as are consistent
with, and supportive of, the successful implementation of the Order.
Dated: June 25, 2012.
John P. Fitzpatrick,
Director, Information Security Oversight Office.
Approved: June 25, 2012.
David S. Ferriero,
Archivist of the United States.
[FR Doc. 2012-16655 Filed 7-6-12; 8:45 am]
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