Bush ok's "secret" EPA Information

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Subject:  Bush ok's "secret" EPA Information
 Date:     Wed, 15 May 2002 10:35:45-0400
From:      Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization:     Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)

To:     Paul Helliker <phelliker@cdpr.ca.gov>
          Director, State of California, Department of Pesticide Regulation 

cc:    Christine Whitman whitman.christine@epa.gov

On May 6, 2002, President Bush granted Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Christine Todd Whitman the authority to classify information as "Secret." 

This order was published in the May 9, 2002, Federal Register. The delegation of this authority is provided in accordance with Executive Order 12958 of April 17, 1995, entitled ''Classified National Security Information.'' 

Executive Order 12958 prescribes a uniform system for classifying, safeguarding, and declassifying national security information.  According to E.O. 12958, information may be classified at three levels: Top Secret, Secret, and Confidential. President Bush's May 6 order allows Administrator Whitman to classify information as Secret or Confidential, but not as Top Secret. The Executive Order indicates that Confidential should be used for information which an unauthorized disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause "damage" to national security, Secret classification for "serious damage" and Top Secret for "exceptionally grave damage." 

Once the information has been classified a person can only gain access to the information if it meets three requirements: 

1. An agency head or the agency head's designee determines eligibility for access; 

2. The person has signed an approved nondisclosure agreement; and

3. The person has a "need-to-know" the information. 

For the rest of the article go to: http://www.ombwatch.org/article/articleview/721/1/115/

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