36 CFR § 291.6 - Confidentiality of information—general.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t36/s291.6"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "36 CFR § 291.6 - Confidentiality of information—general."
title_number: 36
title_name: "Parks, Forests, and Public Property"
section_number: "291.6"
section_name: "Confidentiality of information—general."
chapter_name: "FOREST SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE"
part_number: "291"
part_name: "PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "16 U.S.C. 470aaa through 470aaa-11."
regulatory_source: "80 FR 21630, Apr. 17, 2015, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "291"
---


# 291.6 Confidentiality of information—general.

(a) Information concerning the nature and specific location of a paleontological resource is exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), unless the Authorized Officer has made a written determination that disclosure would:

(1) Further the purposes of the Act and this part;

(2) Not create risk of harm to or theft or destruction of the resource or the site containing the resource; and

(3) Be in accordance with other applicable laws.

(b) *Sharing protected information does not constitute a disclosure.* The Authorized Officer may share information concerning the nature and specific location of a paleontological resource with non-Agency personnel for scientific, educational, or resource management purposes. A recipient of such information may be required to sign a confidentiality agreement in which the recipient agrees not to share the information with anyone not authorized to receive the information.