Declassified Documents

Explanation of Exemptions

You will note that, in some instances, information has been deleted from GulfLINK documents. The documents contained in GulfLINK have been reviewed and declassified for operational security, intelligence, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and Privacy Act concerns and annotated accordingly. The following exemption code explanations serve to clarify these annotations.

• Freedom of Information Act exemption codes
• FOIA and GulfLINK
• Extract From Executive Order 12958

Freedom of Information Act Exemption codes:

(b)(1) applies to material which is properly classified pursuant to an Executive Order in the interest of national defense or foreign policy (see Exec Order 12958 Extract);

(b)(2) applies to information which pertains solely to the internal rules and practices of the Agency;

(b)(3) applies to information specifically exempted by a statue establishing particular criteria for withholding.

(b)(4) applies to information such as trade secrets and commercial or financial information obtained from a person on a privileged or confidential basis;

(b)(5) applies to inter and intra-agency memoranda which are advisory in nature;

(b)(6) applies to information release of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of the personal privacy of other individuals; and

(b)(7) applies to investigatory records, release of which could (C) constitute an unwarranted invasion of the personal privacy of others, (D) disclose the identity of a confidential source, (E) disclose investigative techniques and procedure, or (F) endanger the life of physical safety of law enforcement personnel. (To be used in conjunction with FOIA (b)(1) exemption).

FOIA and GulfLINK

Documents within GulfLINK which contain any of the above codes contained information that, upon initial review, was considered to be exempt from the mandatory disclosure provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). However, you have the right, under the FOIA, to request disclosure of the deleted information. Should you desire to invoke the FOIA for that purpose, please send your request to the respective Department of Defense (DoD) organization which originated the record. The DoD organizations are listed below. In order to determine which organization originated the record, readers would refer to the "FROM" or "FM" line at the beginning of each message. The "FROM" line usually consists of a group of numbers, letters, or a combination of both, which identify the specific Army, Navy, Air Force, or defense agency originator. An example might be "123MSS, ANYNAME AFB, VA" which would reflect an Air Force originated message. Once the originator is identified by military service or defense agency by either the "FROM" line or the context of the message, you should forward the request to the appropriate address below:

Department of the Army

Freedom of Information/Privacy Act Office

SAIS-IDP-F/P, Suite 201

1725 Jefferson Davis Hwy.

Arlington, VA 22202-4102

Department of the Navy

Chief of Naval Operations

N-09B830, Room 5E521

200 Navy Pentagon

Washington, D.C. 20350-2000

Department of the Air Force

11 MSS/IMS (FOIA)

Room 4A1088C

1000 Air Force Pentagon

Washington, DC 20330-1000

Defense Intelligence Agency

Attn: PSP/FOIA

Washington, DC 20340-5100

National Security Agency

Central Security Service

ATTN: N5P5

Ft. George G. Meade, MD 20755-6000

In the event you are unsure as to where to send your request, or you desire records originating from the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs), forward your request to the below address. Please include all the record identifying information provided in the document.

Directorate for Freedom of Information and Security Review

Room 2C757

1400 Defense Pentagon

Washington, DC 20301-1400

Extract From Executive Order 12958

Sec. 1.5. Classification Categories.

Information may not be considered for classification unless it concerns:

(a) military plans, weapons systems, or operations;

(b) foreign government information;

(c) intelligence activities (including special activities), intelligence sources or methods, or cryptology;

(d) foreign relations or foreign activities of the United States, including confidential sources;

(e) scientific, technological, or economic matters relating to the national security;

(f) United States Government programs for safeguarding nuclear materials or facilities; or

(g) vulnerabilities or capabilities of systems, installations, projects or plans relating to the national security.