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Regional Information Sensitivity (RIS) Training
Introduction
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) depends heavily on information to accomplish the Agency’s mission. Information is a valuable asset to the Agency and care must be taken to ensure that information retains its value and the use for which it was originally obtained. Regional guidance and policy require that you receive information sensitivity training. Consequently, this training will help you become familiar with your responsibilities under these policies and guidelines. (See EPA Security Manual (dated 12/20/99); Regional Order No. R4 2160.4, Procedures for Handling Confidential Business Information (CBI) (dated 11/7/00); and Region 4 Guidance Document for Handling Confidential Business Information (dated 10/01).
EPA collects and processes vast amounts of information that is considered both sensitive and confidential (non-classified executive branch information). There are many provisions or considerations that compel us to control or protect not only from potential inaccessibility or alternation, but also from unauthorized disclosure. All EPA personnel (including support contractors and grantees) and other agencies who have physical possession of EPA records, share responsibility for protecting the Agency’s information.
All EPA personnel handle some type of confidential information during the course of their work - whether it is in the form of a timecard, a leave slip, a contractor invoice, preliminary budgetary information, inspection reports, or pesticide formula.
Okay, let’s do a quick overview just to reinforce what you’ve just learned...........
