§ 0.735-43 - Protection of employees’ statements.

(a) The statements of employment and financial interests, and supplements thereto, required by or pursuant to the regulations in this part shall be held in confidence and afforded adequate physical security. No information as to the contents thereof shall be disclosed except to the head of the employing agency and such other persons as may be designated custodians or reviewers of such reports unless specific authorization has been obtained from the Department Counselor. An official, custodian, reviewer, or other employee having possession of a statement of employment and financial interests shall not allow access to, or allow information to be disclosed from, the statement except to carry out the purpose of this subpart C.

(b) Information from a statement of employment and financial interests shall not be disclosed outside of the Department except as the Civil Service Commission or the Secretary of Agriculture may determine for good cause shown.

(c) Reports shall be separately maintained by the officials designate as custodians for such reports and shall not be made a part of the official personnel folders.

(d) Regardless of the means or manner of transmission, when these reports leave the physical custody of employees or a designated reviewer, they shall be enclosed in a double sealed envelope. The inner envelope shall be marked: “For Official Use Only,” “Contains AD-392 (or AD-392A),” as appropriate, and “To Be Opened by Addressee Only.”