The Department of Energy is one of several government agencies that has its own personnel security program. Most notably, it doesn’t just have its own program for establishing clearance eligibility, it has its own terms entirely. Where the Defense Department has Top Secret, DoE has Q. Where DoD has Secret, DoE has L. These clearances are ‘equivalent’ – which means that someone with a Q level clearance should be able to transition into a position requiring a Top Secret clearance, with only the time it takes to transfer the clearance.
The terms aren’t the only area where the DoE and DoD differ. DoE clearance policies are governed by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, in addition to the federal adjudicative guidelines. That means the policy framework around classification is different – the terms you’ll see used to classify information are different.
The security clearance investigations process is conducted by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA). Completed investigations are adjudicated by Office of Personnel and Facility Clearances and Classification within DoE. Why does DoE have its own security clearance process? It may not be the 1950s or the 1980s any more, but keeping the U.S. nuclear arsenal safe remains of -critical- importance. The DoE security clearance process ensures classification and security measures fit the unique mission of the DoE.
DoE Classes of Information
Unclassified Controlled Nuclear Information (UCNI) is a dissemination category for identifying, controlling and limiting the dissemination of unclassified information on the physical protection of special nuclear material, vital equipment and facilities.
Formerly Restricted Data (FRD) is information removed from the Restricted Data category upon a joint determination by the Department of Energy (or antecedent agencies) and the Department of Defense that such information relates primarily to the military utilization of atomic weapons and that such information can be safeguarded adequately as classified National Security Information in the United States. For purposes of foreign dissemination, however, such information is treated in the same manner as Restricted Data.
Restricted Data is all data concerning design, manufacture or utilization of atomic weapons; the production of special nuclear material, or the use of special nuclear material in the production of energy, but does not include data declassified or removed from the Restricted Data category under Section 142 of Public Law 83-703.
The DOE classification system also encompasses other categories of military information, as well as the dissemination of nuclear-related information to other agencies.
National Security Information (NSI) is information which requires protection against unauthorized disclosure in the interest of the national security of the United States and which has been determined to be classified in accordance with the provisions of Executive Order 12356 or any predecessor or successor order.
Critical Nuclear Weapon Design Information (CNWDI) is that Top Secret Restricted Data, or Secret Restricted Data, revealing the theory of operation or design of the components of a thermonuclear or implosion-type fission bomb, warhead, demolition munition or test device. Specifically excluded is information concerning arming, fuzing, and firing systems; limited life components; and total contained quantities of fissionable, fusionable, and high explosive materials by type. Among these excluded items are the components which DoD personnel set, maintain, operate, test, or a replace. Critical Nuclear Weapon Design Information (CNWDI) is an access limiter used primarily within the DOD to control need-to-know access for nuclear weapon design information.
