§ 0.504   Processing requests for declassification.

   (a) Responses to mandatory declassification review requests shall be
   governed by the amount of search and review time required to process
   the request. A final determination shall be made within one year from
   the date of receipt of the request, except in unusual circumstances.

   (b) Upon a determination by the bureau or office that the requested
   material originally classified by the Commission no longer warrants
   protection, it shall be declassified and made available to the
   requester, unless withholding is otherwise authorized under law.

   (c) If the information may not be declassified or released in whole or
   in part, the requester shall be notified as to the reasons for the
   denial, given notice of the right to appeal the denial to the
   Classification Review Committee, and given notice that such an appeal
   must be filed within 60 days of the date of denial in order to be
   considered.

   (d) The Commission's Classification Review Committee, consisting of the
   Managing Director (Chairman), the General Counsel or his designee, and
   the Chief, Internal Review and Security Division, shall have authority
   to act, within 30 days, upon all appeals regarding denials of requests
   for mandatory declassification of Commission-originated
   classifications. The Committee shall be authorized to overrule previous
   determinations in whole or in part when, in its judgment, continued
   classification is no longer required. If the Committee determines that
   continued classification is required under the criteria of the Order,
   the requester shall be promptly notified and advised that an
   application for review may be filed with the Commission pursuant to 47
   CFR 1.115.

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