(a) No Commission Member or employee has the authority to classify any information on an original basis.

(b) If a Commission employee originates information that appears to require classification, the employee shall immediately notify the Secretary and protect the information accordingly.

(c) If the Chief Operating Officer believes the information warrants classification, it shall be sent to an agency with original classification authority over the subject matter, or to the information Security Oversight Office, for determination.

[44 FR 65737, Nov. 15, 1979, as amended at 51 FR 5315, Feb. 13, 1986]