Table 11.3. A summary of declassification policies for the different categories of classified information
Category of classified information	Declassification policy	Source for policy
Restricted Data (1946 Atomic Energy Act)^*	“Can be published without adversely affecting the common defense and security”	Atomic Energy Act of 1946, P.L. 585, §10(b)(1)
Restricted Data (1954 Atomic Energy Act)	“Can be published without undue risk to the common defense and security”	Atomic Energy Act of 1954, 68 Stat. 941; 42 U.S.C. §2162(a)
Formerly Restricted Data	“May be published without constituting an unreasonable risk to the common defense and security”	Atomic Energy Act of 1954, 68 Stat. 941; 42 U.S.C. §2162(c)
National Security Information	Disclosure reasonably could be expected to not cause damage to the national security	Executive Order 12356, Preamble and §3.1(a)
^aThe Atomic Energy Act of 1946 was superseded by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954. Therefore, this declassification standard is no longer valid. It is included for comparison purposes only.