National Archives Sponsors Mandatory Declassification Review Workshop
Press Release · Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Change of Venue for National Archives Mandatory Declassification Review Workshop on Friday, June 30th

IMPORTANT NOTE: due to recent floods and electrical outages, the National Archives Building in Washington, DC is closed. The workshop will now take place at the National Archives at College Park, MD facility.

WHAT: A free workshop sponsored by the National Archives Information Security Oversight Office that is aimed at informing the researcher public and the media of their rights in obtaining the maximum information by requesting a declassification review of classified national security documents. E-mail isoo@nara.gov to reserve a place.

The workshop will focus on the following:

• What is Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR)?
• How and where does one submit MDR requests?
• What classified records are not subject to MDR?
• What are the classification prohibitions, limitations, and standards?
• What is a Federal agency's MDR responsibility?
• What is the process for appealing a MDR denial to the Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel (ISCAP)?
• What are the advantages to filing an MDR over a FOIA?

BACKGROUND:

Have you ever requested a record from the National Archives or one of its Presidential Libraries only to be informed it was not available because it contained classified national security information? Learn about your rights to insist that the record be reviewed in order to ensure that it still meets the standards for continued classification, a process that, the vast majority of times, results in the record being declassified in whole or in part. Understand what those standards are as well as the prohibitions and limitations that agencies must take into account when classifying information. Receive training in how to file a mandatory declassification review request and learn what your appeal rights are should an agency refuse to declassify a record you have requested. Finally, become familiar with the additional administrative appeal rights you have should an agency deny your appeal.

WHO: J. William Leonard, Director, Information Security Oversight Office Nancy Smith, Director, Presidential Materials Staff Herbert Rawlings-Milton, NARA FOIA

WHEN: 9 A.M. - Noon Friday, June 30, 2006

WHERE: Lecture Rooms D and E
National Archives at College Park
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, MD 20740

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For press information, contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff at (301) 837-1700.

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