1260.50—What procedures does NARA follow when it receives a request for Executive Branch records under mandatory review?
(a)
If the requested records are less than 25 years old, NARA refers copies of the records to the originating agency and to agencies that have equities in the information for declassification review. Agencies may also send personnel to a NARA facility where the records are located to conduct a declassification review, or may delegate declassification authority to NARA in the form of declassification guidance.
(b)
If the requested records are more than 25 years old, NARA will review the records using systematic declassification guidance provided by the originating agency and agencies having equities in the information. If the originating agency, or agencies having equities in the information have not provided systematic declassification guidance, or if there is a question regarding the guidance, NARA will refer any requested documents it is unable to declassify to the appropriate agency or agencies for declassification determinations.
(c)
When the records were originated by a defunct agency that has no successor agency, NARA is responsible for making the declassification determinations, but will consult with agencies having primary subject matter interest.
(d)
Requests for mandatory review must describe the document or material containing the information with sufficient specificity to enable NARA to locate it with a reasonable amount of effort.
(e)
If the document or information has been properly reviewed for declassification within the past 2 years, or if the specific information is the subject of pending litigation, NARA will inform the requester of this fact and of the requester's appeal rights.
(f)
If NARA determines that a requester has submitted a request for the same information or material under both the mandatory review and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), as amended, the request will be treated as a request under the FOIA, unless the requested information or materials are subject only to mandatory review.
(g)
In every case, NARA will acknowledge receipt of the request and inform the requester of the action taken. If additional time is necessary to make a declassification determination on material for which NARA has delegated authority, NARA will tell the requester how long it will take to process the request. NARA will also tell the requester if part or all of the requested information is referred to other agencies for declassification review, subject to section 3.6 (a) and (b) of EO 12958 as amended.