40 CFR § 11.2 - Background.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t40/s11.2"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "40 CFR § 11.2 - Background."
title_number: 40
title_name: "Protection of Environment"
section_number: "11.2"
section_name: "Background."
chapter_name: "ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY"
subchapter_number: "A"
subchapter_name: "GENERAL"
part_number: "11"
part_name: "SECURITY CLASSIFICATION REGULATIONS PURSUANT TO EXECUTIVE ORDER 11652"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "Executive Order 11652 (37 FR 5209, March 10, 1972) and the National Security Directive of May 17, 1972 (37 FR 10053, May 19, 1972)."
regulatory_source: "37 FR 23541, Nov. 4, 1972, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "11"
---


# 11.2 Background.

While the Environmental Protection Agency does not have the authority to originally classify information or material in the interest of the national security, it may under certain circumstances downgrade or declassify previously classified material or generate documents incorporating classified information properly originated by other agencies of the Federal Government which must be safeguarded. Agency policy and procedures must conform to applicable provisions of Executive Order 11652, and the National Security Council Directive of May 17, 1972, governing the safeguarding of national security information.