82_FR_57336 82 FR 57105 - Procedures for Determining Eligibility for Access to Classified Matter or Special Nuclear Material

82 FR 57105 - Procedures for Determining Eligibility for Access to Classified Matter or Special Nuclear Material

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 231 (December 4, 2017)

Page Range57105-57115
FR Document2017-25257

The Department of Energy (DOE) is amending its regulations which set forth the policies and procedures for resolving questions concerning eligibility for DOE access authorization. The revisions update appendix A, and related text, with the most current national standards for determining eligibility for access to classified matter and special nuclear material, and delete references to Executive Order 10450, which was revoked pursuant to Executive Order 13764, dated January 17, 2017.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 231 (Monday, December 4, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 231 (Monday, December 4, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 57105-57115]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-25257]



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Rules and Regulations
                                                Federal Register
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having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed 
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under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents. 

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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 231 / Monday, December 4, 2017 / 
Rules and Regulations

[[Page 57105]]



DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Part 710

[Docket No. AU-RM-17-PACNM]
RIN 1992-AA56


Procedures for Determining Eligibility for Access to Classified 
Matter or Special Nuclear Material

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) is amending its regulations 
which set forth the policies and procedures for resolving questions 
concerning eligibility for DOE access authorization. The revisions 
update appendix A, and related text, with the most current national 
standards for determining eligibility for access to classified matter 
and special nuclear material, and delete references to Executive Order 
10450, which was revoked pursuant to Executive Order 13764, dated 
January 17, 2017.

DATES: This rule is effective January 3, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of 
Departmental Personnel Security, (202) 586-3249, 
[email protected], or Christina Pak, 
Office of the General Counsel, (202) 586-4114, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
I. Background
II. Section-by-Section Analysis
III. Procedural Analysis
    A. Review Under the Administrative Procedure Act
    B. Review Under Executive Order 12866 and 13563
    C. Review Under Executive Order 12988
    D. Review Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act
    E. Review Under the Paperwork Reduction Act
    F. Review Under the National Environmental Policy Act
    G. Review Under Executive Order 13132
    H. Review Under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
    I. Review Under the Treasury and General Government 
Appropriations Act, 1999
    J. Review Under Executive Order 13211
    K. Review Under the Treasury and General Government 
Appropriations Act, 2001
    L. Approval by the Office of the Secretary of Energy
    M. Congressional Notification

I. Background

    The Department of Energy is publishing this final rule in order to 
ensure it contains the most current national standards for determining 
access to classified matter and special nuclear material and to ensure 
listed authorities are still valid.
    Appendix A to 10 CFR part 710 contained the Adjudicative Guidelines 
for Determining Eligibility for Access to Classified Information 
(Adjudicative Guidelines), originally issued in 1997. These were 
included because they were the standard to which all such access 
eligibility determinations within the Department of Energy were 
rendered. On December 10, 2016, the Director of National Intelligence, 
in his role as Security Executive Agent, signed Security Executive 
Agent Directive (SEAD) 4, National Security Adjudicative Guidelines, 
which became effective June 8, 2017. The standards enumerated in SEAD 4 
supersede the former standards. This final rule now includes SEAD 4 as 
appendix A. Also, Executive Order (E.O.) 10450, Security Requirements 
for Government Employees, issued April 27, 1953, has historically been 
cited as one of the authorities within the rule. E.O. 10450 was revoked 
pursuant to E.O. 13764 of January 17, 2017. This rule deletes 
references to E.O. 10450.
    Laws, regulations and directives which may apply to part 710 
include, but are not limited to: The Atomic Energy Act of 1954; 
Executive Order 13764 (81 FR 8115, January 23, 2017) Executive Order 
13467 (73 FR 38103), June 30, 2008; Executive Order 12968 (60 FR 40245, 
August 2, 1995, as amended); Executive Order 13526 (75 FR 707, January 
5, 2010); Executive Order 10865 (25 FR 1583, February 24, 1960, as 
amended); Presidential Policy Directive 19 (October 10, 2012).

II. Section-by-Section Analysis

    DOE amends 10 CFR part 710 as follows:
    1. In the contents section, appendix A has been revised to reflect 
it now contains Security Executive Agency Directive 4--National 
Security Adjudicative Guidelines.
    2. In the contents section, under ``Authority'', reference to E.O. 
10450 has been deleted.
    3. Section 710.1 ``Purpose'' deletes references to E.O. 10450 and 
the former Adjudicative Guidelines and replaces them with current 
citations.
    4. Section 710.2 ``Scope'' removes reference to the Adjudicative 
Guidelines.
    5. Section 710.3 ``Reference'' replaces ``Adjudicative Guidelines'' 
with ``National Security Adjudicative Guidelines.''
    6. Section 710.7 ``Application of the Adjudicative Guidelines'', is 
retitled ``Application of the National Security Adjudicative 
Guidelines.''
    7. Section 710.7(b) replaces ``Adjudicative Guidelines'' with 
``National Security Adjudicative Guidelines.''
    8. Appendix A is retitled ``SEAD 4, National Security Adjudicative 
Guidelines'' and its content is changed to delete the former 
Adjudicative Guidelines and replace with the current SEAD 4 standards.

III. Procedural Requirements

A. Review Under the Administrative Procedure Act

    The Administrative Procedure Act (APA) requires that a notice of 
proposed rulemaking be published in the Federal Register unless certain 
exceptions apply. 5 U.S.C. 553(b). These exceptions include rules of 
agency procedure or practice, as well as rules for which the agency 
finds good cause to waive notice and comment as unnecessary, 
impracticable or contrary to the public interest. Id. This rule amends 
DOE regulations that set forth the policies and procedures for 
resolving questions concerning eligibility for DOE access 
authorization. Specifically, the revisions update Appendix A, and 
related text, with the most current national standards for determining 
eligibility for access to classified matter and special nuclear 
material, and delete references to Executive Order 10450, which was 
revoked pursuant to Executive Order 13764. The rule provides the means 
by which DOE determines eligibility for access to its own data--
classified matter

[[Page 57106]]

and special nuclear material. As such, the rule is one of agency 
procedure or practice exempt from the notice and comment requirements 
of the APA. In addition, the Department has no discretion in adopting 
the guidelines, which by their terms are ``applicable to any executive 
branch agency authorized or designated to conduct adjudications of 
covered individuals to determine eligibility for initial or continued 
access to classified national security information or eligibility to 
hold a sensitive position.'' (See SEAD 4, Section C. Applicability.) 
The new SEAD 4 standards also do not differ substantively from the 
Adjudicative Guidelines. SEAD 4 continues to set forth 13 criteria 
(Guidelines A to M) that may raise a security concern, but was revised 
to add or remove conditions that could raise and/or mitigate security 
concerns. Variations between the two versions are not expected to 
result in differing access eligibility determinations depending upon 
which standard was employed. For these reasons, DOE also finds that 
notice and comment on the adoption of SEAD 4 is also unnecessary, 
impracticable and contrary to the public interest. The 30-day delay in 
effective date specified in 5 U.S.C. 553(d) is waived for these same 
reasons.

B. Review Under Executive Orders 12866 and 13563

    This final rule has been determined not to be a ``significant 
regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory Planning 
and Review,'' 58 FR 51735 (October 4, 1993). Accordingly, this rule is 
not subject to review under the Executive Order by the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs within the Office of Management and 
Budget.
    DOE has also reviewed the regulation pursuant to Executive Order 
13563, issued on January 18, 2011 (76 FR 3281 (Jan. 21, 2011)). 
Executive Order 13563 is supplemental to and explicitly reaffirms the 
principles, structures, and definitions governing regulatory review 
established in Executive Order 12866. To the extent permitted by law, 
agencies are required by Executive Order 13563 to: (1) Propose or adopt 
a regulation only upon a reasoned determination that its benefits 
justify its costs (recognizing that some benefits and costs are 
difficult to quantify); (2) tailor regulations to impose the least 
burden on society, consistent with obtaining regulatory objectives, 
taking into account, among other things, and to the extent practicable, 
the costs of cumulative regulations; (3) select, in choosing among 
alternative regulatory approaches, those approaches that maximize net 
benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public health 
and safety, and other advantages; distributive impacts; and equity); 
(4) to the extent feasible, specify performance objectives, rather than 
specifying the behavior or manner of compliance that regulated entities 
must adopt; and (5) identify and assess available alternatives to 
direct regulation, including providing economic incentives to encourage 
the desired behavior, such as user fees or marketable permits, or 
providing information upon which choices can be made by the public.
    DOE emphasizes as well that Executive Order 13563 requires agencies 
to use the best available techniques to quantify anticipated present 
and future benefits and costs as accurately as possible. In its 
guidance, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs has 
emphasized that such techniques may include identifying changing future 
compliance costs that might result from technological innovation or 
anticipated behavioral changes. DOE believes that this rule is 
consistent with these principles, including the requirement that, to 
the extent permitted by law, agencies adopt a regulation only upon a 
reasoned determination that its benefits justify its costs and, in 
choosing among alternative regulatory approaches, those approaches 
maximize net benefits.

C. Review Under Executive Order 12988

    With respect to the review of existing regulations and the 
promulgation of new regulations, section 3(a) of Executive Order 12988, 
``Civil Justice Reform,'' 61 FR 4729 (February 7, 1996), imposes on 
Executive agencies the general duty to adhere to the following 
requirements: (1) Eliminate drafting errors and ambiguity; (2) write 
regulations to minimize litigation; and (3) provide a clear legal 
standard for affected conduct rather than a general standard and 
promote simplification and burden reduction.
    With regard to the review required by section 3(a), section 3(b) of 
Executive Order 12988 specifically requires that Executive agencies 
make every reasonable effort to ensure that the regulation: (1) Clearly 
specifies the preemptive effect, if any; (2) clearly specifies any 
effect on existing Federal law or regulation; (3) provides a clear 
legal standard for affected conduct while promoting simplification and 
burden reduction; (4) specifies the retroactive effect, if any; (5) 
adequately defines key terms; and (6) addresses other important issues 
affecting clarity and general draftsmanship under any guidelines issued 
by the Attorney General. Section 3(c) of Executive Order 12988 requires 
Executive agencies to review regulations in light of applicable 
standards in section 3(a) and section 3(b) to determine whether they 
are met or it is unreasonable to meet one or more of them. DOE has 
completed the required review and determined that, to the extent 
permitted by law, this regulation meets the relevant standards of 
Executive Order 12988.

D. Review Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) requires 
preparation of an initial regulatory flexibility analysis for any rule 
that by law must be proposed for public comment, unless the agency 
certifies that the rule, if promulgated, will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. As required 
by Executive Order 13272, ``Proper Consideration of Small Entities in 
Agency Rulemaking,'' (67 FR 53461, August 16, 2002), DOE published 
procedures and policies on February 19, 2003, to ensure that the 
potential impacts of its rules on small entities are properly 
considered during the rulemaking process (68 FR 7990). DOE has made its 
procedures and policies available on the Office of the General 
Counsel's Web site at http://www.gc.doe.gov.
    This rule amends procedures that apply to the determination of 
eligibility of individuals for access to classified information and 
access to special nuclear material. The rule applies to individuals, 
and would not apply to ``small entities,'' as that term is defined in 
the Regulatory Flexibility Act. In addition, as stated above, the 
Department has no discretion in adopting the guidelines; it is the 
guidelines themselves that impose any impact on affected individuals. 
As a result, the rule does not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities.
    Accordingly, DOE certifies that the rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, 
and, therefore, no regulatory flexibility analysis is required. DOE's 
certification and supporting statement of factual basis will be 
provided to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
Administration for review under 5 U.S.C. 605(b).

E. Review Under the Paperwork Reduction Act

    This rule does not impose a collection of information requirement 
subject to

[[Page 57107]]

the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

F. Review Under the National Environmental Policy Act

    DOE has concluded that promulgation of this rule falls into a class 
of actions which would not individually or cumulatively have 
significant impact on the human environment, as determined by DOE's 
regulations (10 CFR part 1021, subpart D) implementing the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). 
Specifically, this rule is categorically excluded from NEPA review 
because the amendments to the previous rule are strictly procedural 
(categorical exclusion A6). Therefore, this rule does not require an 
environmental impact statement or environmental assessment pursuant to 
NEPA.

G. Review Under Executive Order 13132

    Executive Order 13132, 64 FR 43255 (August 4, 1999), imposes 
certain requirements on agencies formulating and implementing policies 
or regulations that preempt State law or that have federalism 
implications. Agencies are required to examine the constitutional and 
statutory authority supporting any action that would limit the 
policymaking discretion of the States and carefully assess the 
necessity for such actions. DOE has examined this rule and has 
determined that it does not preempt State law and does not have a 
substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship between 
the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power 
and responsibilities among the various levels of government. No further 
action is required by Executive Order 13132.

H. Review Under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-4) 
generally requires a Federal agency to perform a detailed assessment of 
costs and benefits of any rule imposing a Federal Mandate with costs to 
State, local or tribal governments, or to the private sector, of $100 
million or more. This rulemaking does not impose a Federal mandate on 
State, local or tribal governments or on the private sector.

I. Review Under the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 
1999

    Section 654 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations 
Act, 1999 (Pub. L. 105-277), requires Federal agencies to issue a 
Family Policymaking Assessment for any rule or policy that may affect 
family well being. This rule, has no impact on family well-being. 
Accordingly, DOE has concluded that it is not necessary to prepare a 
Family Policymaking Assessment.

J. Review Under Executive Order 13211

    Executive Order 13211, ``Actions Concerning Regulations That 
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use,'' 66 FR 28355 
(May 22, 2001), requires Federal agencies to prepare and submit to the 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office of 
Management and Budget, a Statement of Energy Effects for any 
significant energy action. A ``significant energy action'' is defined 
as any action by an agency that promulgates or is expected to lead to 
promulgation of a final rule, and that: (1) Is a significant regulatory 
action under Executive Order 12866, or any successor order; and (2) is 
likely to have a significant adverse effect on the supply, 
distribution, or use of energy, or (3) is designated by the 
Administrator of OIRA as a significant energy action. For any proposed 
significant energy action, the agency must give a detailed statement of 
any adverse effects on energy supply, distribution or use should the 
proposal be implemented, and of reasonable alternatives to the action 
and their expected benefits on energy supply, distribution and use. 
This rule is not a significant energy action. Accordingly, DOE has not 
prepared a Statement of Energy Effects.

K. Review Under the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 
2001

    The Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 2001 (44 
U.S.C. 3516, note) provides for agencies to review most disseminations 
of information to the public under implementing guidelines established 
by each agency pursuant to general guidelines issued by OMB. OMB's 
guidelines were published at 67 FR 8452 (February 22, 2002), and DOE's 
guidelines were published at 67 FR 62446 (October 7, 2002). DOE has 
reviewed this rule under the OMB and DOE guidelines and has concluded 
that it is consistent with applicable policies in those guidelines.

L. Approval by the Office of the Secretary of Energy

    The Secretary of Energy has approved issuance of this rule.

M. Congressional Notification

    As required by 5 U.S.C. 801, DOE will report to Congress on the 
promulgation of this rule prior to its effective date. The report will 
state that it has been determined that the rule is not a ``major rule'' 
as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

List of Subjects in 10 CFR Part 710

    Administrative practice and procedure, Classified information, 
Government contracts, Government employees, Nuclear energy.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 31, 2017.
Rick Perry,
Secretary of Energy.
    For the reasons set out in the preamble, DOE amends part 710 of 
title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations as set forth below.

PART 710--PROCEDURES FOR DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY FOR ACCESS TO 
CLASSIFIED MATTER AND SPECIAL NUCLEAR MATERIAL

0
1. The authority citation for part 710 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority:  42 U.S.C. 2165, 2201, 5815, 7101, et seq., 7383h-l; 
50 U.S.C. 2401 et seq.; E.O. 10865, 3 CFR 1959-1963 comp., p. 398, 
as amended, 3 CFR Chap. IV; E.O. 13526, 3 CFR 2010 Comp., pp. 298-
327 (or successor orders); E.O. 12968, 3 CFR 1995 Comp., p. 391.


0
2. Section 710.1 is amended by revising paragraph (b) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  710.1   Purpose.

* * * * *
    (b) This part implements: Executive Order 12968, 60 FR 40245 
(August 2, 1995), as amended; Executive Order 13526, 75 FR 707 (January 
5, 2010) as amended; Executive Order 10865, 25 FR 1583 (February 24, 
1960), as amended; and the National Security Adjudicative Guidelines, 
issued as Security Executive Agent Directive 4 by the Director of 
National Intelligence on December 10, 2016.

0
3. Section 710.2 is amended by revising the introductory text to read 
as follows:


Sec.  710.2  Scope.

    The procedures outlined in this rule apply to determinations of 
eligibility for access authorization for:
* * * * *

0
4. Revise Sec.  710.3 to read as follows:


Sec.  710.3   Reference.

    The National Security Adjudicative Guidelines are set forth in 
Appendix A to this part.

0
5. Section 710.7 is amended by revising the section heading and 
paragraph (b) to read as follows:

[[Page 57108]]

Sec.  710.7   Application of the National Security Adjudicative 
Guidelines.

* * * * *
    (b) All such determinations shall be based upon the application of 
the National Security Adjudicative Guidelines (Adjudicative 
Guidelines), or any successor national standard issued under authority 
of the President.
* * * * *

0
6. Appendix A is revised to read as follows:

Appendix A to Part 710--Security Executive Agent Directive 4, National 
Security Adjudicative Guidelines (June 8, 2017)

    (The following guidelines, included in this part for reference 
purposes only, are reproduced by DOE with minor formatting changes 
to comply with the Document Drafting Handbook issued by the Office 
of the Federal Register. The original guidelines were signed by 
James Clapper, Security Executive Agent, on December 10, 2016, with 
an effective date 180 days after signature (June 8, 2017). For any 
discrepancies between the original guidelines and the guidelines 
published in this appendix, the original guidelines control.)
    A. Authority: The National Security Act of 1947, as amended; 
Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA), as 
amended; Executive Order (E.O.) 10450, Security Requirements for 
Government Employment, as amended; EO 12968, Access to Classified 
Information, as amended; E.O. 13467, Reforming Processes Related to 
Suitability for Government Employment, Fitness for Contractor 
Employees, and Eligibility for Access to Classified National 
Security Information; E.O. 13549, Classified National Security 
Information Program for State, Local, Tribal and Private Sector 
Entities; Performance Accountability Council memorandum, Assignment 
of Functions Relating to Coverage of Contractor Employee Fitness in 
the Federal Investigative Standards, 6 December 2012; and other 
applicable provisions of law.
    B. Purpose: This Security Executive Agent (SecEA) Directive 
establishes the single, common adjudicative criteria for all covered 
individuals who require initial or continued eligibility for access 
to classified information or eligibility to hold a sensitive 
position. The Guidelines reflected herein supersede all previously 
issued national security adjudicative criteria or guidelines.
    C. Applicability: This Directive applies to any executive branch 
agency authorized or designated to conduct adjudications of covered 
individuals to determine eligibility for initial or continued access 
to classified national security information or eligibility to hold a 
sensitive position.
    D. Definitions: As used in this Directive, the following terms 
have the meanings set forth in the following paragraphs 1 through 8:
    1. Agency: Any ``Executive agency'' as defined in Section 105 of 
Title 5, United States Code (U.S.C.), including the ``military 
departments,'' as defined in Section 102 of Title 5, U.S.C. and any 
other entity within the Executive Branch that comes into possession 
of classified information or has positions designated as sensitive.
    2. Authorized adjudicative agency: An agency authorized by law, 
executive order, or designation by the SecEA to determine 
eligibility for access to classified information in accordance with 
E.O. 12968, as amended, or eligibility to hold a sensitive position.
    3. Authorized investigative agency: An agency authorized by law, 
executive order, or designation by the SecEA to conduct a background 
investigation of individuals who are proposed for access to 
classified information or eligibility to hold a sensitive position 
or to ascertain whether such individuals continue to satisfy the 
criteria for retaining access to such information or eligibility to 
hold such positions.
    4. Classified national security information or classified 
information: Information that has been determined pursuant to E.O. 
13526 or any predecessor or successor order, or the Atomic Energy 
Act of 1954, as amended, to require protection against unauthorized 
disclosure.
    5. Covered individual:
    a. A person who performs work for or on behalf of the executive 
branch or who seeks to perform work for or on behalf of the 
executive branch, but does not include the President or (except to 
the extent otherwise directed by the President) employees of the 
President under 3 U.S.C. 105 or 107, the Vice President, or (except 
to the extent otherwise directed by the Vice President) employees of 
the Vice President under 3 U.S.C. 106 or annual legislative branch 
appropriations acts;
    b. A person who performs work for or on behalf of a state, 
local, tribal, or private sector entity as defined in E.O. 13549 
requiring eligibility for access to classified information;
    c. A person working in or for the legislative or judicial 
branches requiring eligibility for access to classified information 
and the investigation or determination is conducted by the executive 
branch, but does not include members of Congress; Justices of the 
Supreme Court; and Federal judges appointed by the President.
    d. Covered individuals are not limited to government employees 
and include all persons, not excluded under paragraphs D.5.a., b., 
or c. of this appendix, who require eligibility for access to 
classified information or eligibility to hold a sensitive position, 
including, but not limited to, contractors, subcontractors, 
licensees, certificate holders, grantees, experts, consultants, and 
government employees.
    6. Foreign Intelligence Entity: Known or suspected foreign state 
or non-state organizations or persons that conduct intelligence 
activities to acquire U.S. information, block or impair U.S. 
intelligence collection, influence U.S. policy, or disrupt U.S. 
systems and programs. The term includes foreign intelligence and 
security services and international terrorists.
    7. National Security Eligibility: Eligibility for access to 
classified information or eligibility to hold a sensitive position, 
to include access to sensitive compartmented information, restricted 
data, and controlled or special access program information.
    8. Sensitive Position: Any position within or in support of an 
agency in which the occupant could bring about, by virtue of the 
nature of the position, a material adverse effect on the national 
security regardless of whether the occupant has access to classified 
information, and regardless of whether the occupant is an employee, 
military service member, or contractor.
    E. Policy:
    1. The National Security Adjudicative Guidelines in annex A to 
this appendix shall be used by all authorized adjudicative agencies 
when rendering a determination for initial or continued eligibility 
for access to classified information or initial or continued 
eligibility to hold a sensitive position.
    2. Annex B to this appendix sets forth statutory restrictions on 
agencies making certain eligibility determinations for access to 
classified information, as well as waiver and congressional 
reporting requirements. These amendments to the IRTPA are commonly 
referred to as the Bond Amendment. By definition, the risk to 
national security is equivalent for covered individuals with access 
to classified information and covered individuals occupying a 
sensitive position. Occupants of sensitive positions could bring 
about, by virtue of the nature of the position, a material adverse 
effect on the national security regardless of whether the occupant 
has access to classified information. Due to the equivalent adverse 
effect on the national security and to ensure uniformity, 
consistency, and reciprocity of national security background 
investigations and adjudications, the statutory restrictions imposed 
by the Bond Amendment are extended to apply to all covered 
individuals who require initial or continued eligibility for access 
to classified information or eligibility to hold a sensitive 
position. Authorized adjudicative agencies shall maintain a record 
of the number and type of meritorious waivers granted under Bond 
Amendment criteria, to include the rationale for each waiver, and 
shall report this data annually to the SecEA in advance of the 
annual report to Congress. Authorized adjudicative agencies will 
also maintain a record of all disqualifications due to Bond 
Amendment criteria.
    3. Exceptions, as provided for in annex C to this appendix, 
shall be used when a favorable adjudicative decision to grant 
initial or continued eligibility for access to classified 
information or to hold a sensitive position is made, despite failure 
to meet adjudicative or investigative standards.
    4. Eligibility shall be determined by appropriately trained 
adjudicative personnel through the evaluation of all information 
bearing on an individual's loyalty and allegiance to the United 
States, including any information relevant to strength of character, 
honesty, discretion, sound judgment, reliability, ability to protect 
classified or sensitive information, and trustworthiness. 
Eligibility for access to classified information or eligibility to 
occupy a sensitive position shall only be granted when the 
evaluation of all such information demonstrates that such 
eligibility is clearly consistent with the interests of the United 
States; any doubt shall be resolved in favor of the national 
security.

[[Page 57109]]

    5. All adjudicative determinations, including any associated 
exceptions, shall be recorded in either Scattered Castles, the Joint 
Personnel Adjudication System within the Department of Defense, or 
the Central Verification System database within U.S. Office of 
Personnel Management or successor databases, unless authorized by 
the SecEA to withhold information from the database for national 
security purposes.
    6. When an adjudicative determination is made to deny or revoke 
eligibility for access to classified information or eligibility to 
hold a sensitive position, review proceedings, to the extent they 
are made available in E.O. 12968, as amended, Part 5, shall be 
afforded covered individuals at a minimum.
    7. The agency with adjudicative authority remains responsible 
for the final determination.
    8. Agencies shall update internal policies and replace existing 
national security adjudicative criteria or guidelines with the 
guidelines in this appendix A no later than June 8, 2017.
    9. This Directive is not intended to, and does not, create any 
right to administrative or judicial review, or any other right or 
benefit, or trust responsibility substantive or procedural, 
enforceable by a party against the United States, its agencies or 
instrumentalities, its officers or employees, or any other person.
    F. Effective Date: This Directive becomes effective June 8, 
2017.

Annex A to Appendix A to Part 710--National Security Adjudicative 
Guidelines for Determining Eligibility for Access to Classified 
Information or Eligibility to Hold a Sensitive Position

1. Introduction

    (a) The following National Security Adjudicative Guidelines 
(``guidelines'') are established as the single common criteria for 
all U.S. Government civilian and military personnel, consultants, 
contractors, licensees, certificate holders or grantees and their 
employees, and other individuals who require initial or continued 
eligibility for access to classified information or eligibility to 
hold a sensitive position, to include access to sensitive 
compartmented information, restricted data, and controlled or 
special access program information (hereafter referred to as 
``national security eligibility''). These guidelines shall be used 
by all Executive Branch Agencies when rendering any final national 
security eligibility determination.
    (b) National security eligibility determinations take into 
account a person's stability, trustworthiness, reliability, 
discretion, character, honesty, and judgment. Individuals must be 
unquestionably loyal to the United States. No amount of oversight or 
security procedures can replace the self-discipline and integrity of 
an individual entrusted to protect the nation's secrets or occupying 
a sensitive position. When a person's life history shows evidence of 
unreliability or untrustworthiness, questions arise as to whether 
the individual can be relied upon and trusted to exercise the 
responsibility necessary for working in an environment where 
protecting the national security is paramount.
    (c) The U.S. Government does not discriminate on the basis of 
race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or sexual 
orientation in making a national security eligibility determination. 
No negative inference concerning eligibility under these guidelines 
may be raised solely on the basis of mental health counseling. No 
adverse action concerning these guidelines may be taken solely on 
the basis of polygraph examination technical calls in the absence of 
adjudicatively significant information.
    (d) In accordance with E.O. 12968, as amended, eligibility for 
covered individuals shall be granted only when facts and 
circumstances indicate that eligibility is clearly consistent with 
the national security interests of the United States, and any doubt 
shall be resolved in favor of national security.

2. The Adjudicative Process

    (a) The adjudicative process is an examination of a sufficient 
period and a careful weighing of a number of variables of an 
individual's life to make an affirmative determination that the 
individual is an acceptable security risk. This is known as the 
whole-person concept. All available, reliable information about the 
person, past and present, favorable and unfavorable, should be 
considered in reaching a national security eligibility 
determination.
    (b) Each case must be judged on its own merits, and the final 
determination remains the responsibility of the authorized 
adjudicative agency. Any doubt concerning personnel being considered 
for national security eligibility will be resolved in favor of the 
national security.
    (c) The ultimate determination of whether the granting or 
continuing of national security eligibility is clearly consistent 
with the interests of national security must be an overall common 
sense judgment based upon careful consideration of the following 
guidelines, each of which is to be evaluated in the context of the 
whole person.

(1) GUIDELINE A: Allegiance to the United States
(2) GUIDELINE B: Foreign Influence
(3) GUIDELINE C: Foreign Preference
(4) GUIDELINE D: Sexual Behavior
(5) GUIDELINE E: Personal Conduct
(6) GUIDELINE F: Financial Considerations
(7) GUIDELINE G: Alcohol Consumption
(8) GUIDELINE H: Drug Involvement and Substance Misuse
(9) GUIDELINE I: Psychological Conditions
(10) GUIDELINE J: Criminal Conduct
(11) GUIDELINE K: Handling Protected Information
(12) GUIDELINE L: Outside Activities
(13) GUIDELINE M: Use of Information Technology

    (d) In evaluating the relevance of an individual's conduct, the 
adjudicator should consider the following factors:
    (1) The nature, extent, and seriousness of the conduct;
    (2) The circumstances surrounding the conduct, to include 
knowledgeable participation;
    (3) The frequency and recency of the conduct;
    (4) The individual's age and maturity at the time of the 
conduct;
    (5) The extent to which participation is voluntary;
    (6) The presence or absence of rehabilitation and other 
permanent behavioral changes;
    (7) The motivation for the conduct;
    (8) The potential for pressure, coercion, exploitation, or 
duress; and
    (9) The likelihood of continuation or recurrence.
    (e) Although adverse information concerning a single criterion 
may not be sufficient for an unfavorable eligibility determination, 
the individual may be found ineligible if available information 
reflects a recent or recurring pattern of questionable judgment, 
irresponsibility, or unstable behavior. However, a single criterion 
may be sufficient to make an unfavorable eligibility determination 
even in the absence of a recent occurrence or a recurring pattern. 
Notwithstanding the whole-person concept, pursuit of further 
investigation may be terminated by an appropriate adjudicative 
agency in the face of reliable, significant, disqualifying, adverse 
information.
    (f) When information of security concern becomes known about an 
individual who is currently eligible for access to classified 
information or eligible to hold a sensitive position, the 
adjudicator should consider whether the individual:
    (1) Voluntarily reported the information;
    (2) Was truthful and complete in responding to questions;
    (3) Sought assistance and followed professional guidance, where 
appropriate;
    (4) Resolved or appears likely to favorably resolve the security 
concern;
    (5) Has demonstrated positive changes in behavior; and
    (6) Should have his or her national security eligibility 
suspended pending final adjudication of the information.
    (g) If after evaluating information of security concern, the 
adjudicator decides the information is serious enough to warrant a 
recommendation of denial or revocation of the national security 
eligibility, but the specific risk to national security can be 
managed with appropriate mitigation measures, an adjudicator may 
recommend approval to grant initial or continued eligibility for 
access to classified information or to hold a sensitive position 
with an exception as defined in Appendix C of this document.
    (h) If after evaluating information of security concern, the 
adjudicator decides that the information is not serious enough to 
warrant a recommendation of denial or revocation of the national 
security eligibility, an adjudicator may recommend approval with a 
warning that future incidents of a similar nature or other incidents 
of adjudicative concern may result in revocation of national 
security eligibility.
    (i) It must be noted that the adjudicative process is predicated 
upon individuals providing relevant information pertaining to their 
background and character for use in investigating and adjudicating 
their national security eligibility. Any incident of intentional 
material falsification or

[[Page 57110]]

purposeful non-cooperation with security processing is of 
significant concern. Such conduct raises questions about an 
individual's judgment, reliability, and trustworthiness and may be 
predictive of their willingness or ability to protect the national 
security.

Guidelines

Guideline A: Allegiance to the United States

    3. The Concern. The willingness to safeguard classified or 
sensitive information is in doubt if there is any reason to suspect 
an individual's allegiance to the United States. There is no 
positive test for allegiance, but there are negative indicators. 
These include participation in or support for acts against the 
United States or placing the welfare or interests of another country 
above those of the United States. Finally, the failure to adhere to 
the laws of the United States may be relevant if the violation of 
law is harmful to stated U.S. interests. An individual who engages 
in acts against the United States or provides support or 
encouragement to those who do has already demonstrated willingness 
to compromise national security.
    4. Conditions that could raise a security concern and may be 
disqualifying include:
    (a) Involvement in, support of, training to commit, or advocacy 
of any act of sabotage, espionage, treason, terrorism, or sedition 
against the United States;
    (b) Association or sympathy with persons who are attempting to 
commit, or who are committing, any of the above acts; and
    (c) Association or sympathy with persons or organizations that 
advocate, threaten, or use force or violence, or use any other 
illegal or unconstitutional means, in an effort to:
    (1) Overthrow or influence the U.S. Government or any state or 
local government;
    (2) Prevent Federal, state, or local government personnel from 
performing their official duties;
    (3) Gain retribution for perceived wrongs caused by the Federal, 
state, or local government; and
    (4) Prevent others from exercising their rights under the 
Constitution or laws of the United States or of any state.
    5. Conditions that could mitigate security concerns include:
    (a) The individual was unaware of the unlawful aims of the 
individual or organization and severed ties upon learning of these;
    (b) The individual's involvement was humanitarian and permitted 
under U.S. law;
    (c) Involvement in the above activities occurred for only a 
short period of time and was attributable to curiosity or academic 
interest; and
    (d) The involvement or association with such activities occurred 
under such unusual circumstances, or so much time has elapsed, that 
it is unlikely to recur and does not cast doubt on the individual's 
current reliability, trustworthiness, or allegiance.

Guideline B: Foreign Influence

    6. The Concern. Foreign contacts and interests, including, but 
not limited to, business, financial, and property interests, are a 
national security concern if they result in divided allegiance. They 
may also be a national security concern if they create circumstances 
in which the individual may be manipulated or induced to help a 
foreign person, group, organization, or government in a way 
inconsistent with U.S. interests or otherwise made vulnerable to 
pressure or coercion by any foreign interest. Assessment of foreign 
contacts and interests should consider the country in which the 
foreign contact or interest is located, including, but not limited 
to, considerations such as whether it is known to target U.S. 
citizens to obtain classified or sensitive information or is 
associated with a risk of terrorism.
    7. Conditions that could raise a security concern and may be 
disqualifying include:
    (a) Contact, regardless of method, with a foreign family member, 
business or professional associate, friend, or other person who is a 
citizen of or resident in a foreign country if that contact creates 
a heightened risk of foreign exploitation, inducement, manipulation, 
pressure, or coercion;
    (b) Connections to a foreign person, group, government, or 
country that create a potential conflict of interest between the 
individual's obligation to protect classified or sensitive 
information or technology and the individual's desire to help a 
foreign person, group, or country by providing that information or 
technology;
    (c) Failure to report or fully disclose, when required, 
association with a foreign person, group, government, or country;
    (d) Counterintelligence information, whether classified or 
unclassified, that indicates the individual's access to classified 
information or eligibility for a sensitive position may involve 
unacceptable risk to national security;
    (e) Shared living quarters with a person or persons, regardless 
of citizenship status, if that relationship creates a heightened 
risk of foreign inducement, manipulation, pressure, or coercion;
    (f) Substantial business, financial, or property interests in a 
foreign country, or in any foreignowned or foreign-operated business 
that could subject the individual to a heightened risk of foreign 
influence or exploitation or personal conflict of interest;
    (g) Unauthorized association with a suspected or known agent, 
associate, or employee of a foreign intelligence entity;
    (h) Indications that representatives or nationals from a foreign 
country are acting to increase the vulnerability of the individual 
to possible future exploitation, inducement, manipulation, pressure, 
or coercion; and
    (i) Conduct, especially while traveling or residing outside the 
U.S., that may make the individual vulnerable to exploitation, 
pressure, or coercion by a foreign person, group, government, or 
country.
    8. Conditions that could mitigate security concerns include:
    (a) The nature of the relationships with foreign persons, the 
country in which these persons are located, or the positions or 
activities of those persons in that country are such that it is 
unlikely the individual will be placed in a position of having to 
choose between the interests of a foreign individual, group, 
organization, or government and the interests of the United States;
    (b) There is no conflict of interest, either because the 
individual's sense of loyalty or obligation to the foreign person, 
or allegiance to the group, government, or country is so minimal, or 
the individual has such deep and longstanding relationships and 
loyalties in the United States, that the individual can be expected 
to resolve any conflict of interest in favor of the U.S. interest;
    (c) Contact or communication with foreign citizens is so casual 
and infrequent that there is little likelihood that it could create 
a risk for foreign influence or exploitation;
    (d) The foreign contacts and activities are on U.S. Government 
business or are approved by the agency head or designee;
    (e) The individual has promptly complied with existing agency 
requirements regarding the reporting of contacts, requests, or 
threats from persons, groups, or organizations from a foreign 
country; and
    (f) The value or routine nature of the foreign business, 
financial, or property interests is such that they are unlikely to 
result in a conflict and could not be used effectively to influence, 
manipulate, or pressure the individual.

Guideline C: Foreign Preference

    9. The Concern. When an individual acts in such a way as to 
indicate a preference for a foreign country over the United States, 
then he or she may provide information or make decisions that are 
harmful to the interests of the United States. Foreign involvement 
raises concerns about an individual's judgment, reliability, and 
trustworthiness when it is in conflict with U.S. national interests 
or when the individual acts to conceal it. By itself, the fact that 
a U.S. citizen is also a citizen of another country is not 
disqualifying without an objective showing of such conflict or 
attempt at concealment. The same is true for a U.S. citizen's 
exercise of any right or privilege of foreign citizenship and any 
action to acquire or obtain recognition of a foreign citizenship.
    10. Conditions that could raise a security concern and may be 
disqualifying include:
    (a) Applying for and/or acquiring citizenship in any other 
country;
    (b) Failure to report, or fully disclose when required, to an 
appropriate security official, the possession of a passport or 
identity card issued by any country other than the United States;
    (c) Failure to use a U.S. passport when entering or exiting the 
U.S.;
    (d) Participation in foreign activities, including but not 
limited to:
    (1) Assuming or attempting to assume any type of employment, 
position, or political office in a foreign government or military 
organization; and
    (2) Otherwise acting to serve the interests of a foreign person, 
group, organization, or government in any way that conflicts with 
U.S. national security interests;
    (e) Using foreign citizenship to protect financial or business 
interests in another country in violation of U.S. law; and
    (f) An act of expatriation from the United States such as 
declaration of intent to renounce U.S. citizenship, whether through 
words or actions.
    11. Conditions that could mitigate security concerns include:

[[Page 57111]]

    (a) The foreign citizenship is not in conflict with U.S. 
national security interests;
    (b) Dual citizenship is based solely on parental citizenship or 
birth in a foreign country, and there is no evidence of foreign 
preference;
    (c) The individual has expressed a willingness to renounce the 
foreign citizenship that is in conflict with U.S. national security 
interests;
    (d) The exercise of the rights, privileges, or obligations of 
foreign citizenship occurred before the individual became a U.S. 
citizen;
    (e) The exercise of the entitlements or benefits of foreign 
citizenship do not present a national security concern;
    (f) The foreign preference, if detected, involves a foreign 
country, entity, or association that poses a low national security 
risk;
    (g) Civil employment or military service was authorized under 
U.S. law, or the employment or service was otherwise consented to as 
required by U.S. law; and
    (h) Any potentially disqualifying activity took place after 
receiving the approval by the agency head or designee.

Guideline D: Sexual Behavior

    12. The Concern. Sexual behavior that involves a criminal 
offense; reflects a lack of judgment or discretion; or may subject 
the individual to undue influence of coercion, exploitation, or 
duress. These issues, together or individually, may raise questions 
about an individual's judgment, reliability, trustworthiness, and 
ability to protect classified or sensitive information. Sexual 
behavior includes conduct occurring in person or via audio, visual, 
electronic, or written transmission. No adverse inference concerning 
the standards in this Guideline may be raised solely on the basis of 
the sexual orientation of the individual.
    13. Conditions that could raise a security concern and may be 
disqualifying include:
    (a) Sexual behavior of a criminal nature, whether or not the 
individual has been prosecuted;
    (b) A pattern of compulsive, self-destructive, or high-risk 
sexual behavior that the individual is unable to stop;
    (c) Sexual behavior that causes an individual to be vulnerable 
to coercion, exploitation, or duress; and
    (d) Sexual behavior of a public nature or that reflects lack of 
discretion or judgment.
    14. Conditions that could mitigate security concerns include:
    (a) The behavior occurred prior to or during adolescence and 
there is no evidence of subsequent conduct of a similar nature;
    (b) The sexual behavior happened so long ago, so infrequently, 
or under such unusual circumstances, that it is unlikely to recur 
and does not cast doubt on the individual's current reliability, 
trustworthiness, or judgment;
    (c) The behavior no longer serves as a basis for coercion, 
exploitation, or duress;
    (d) The sexual behavior is strictly private, consensual, and 
discreet; and
    (e) The individual has successfully completed an appropriate 
program of treatment, or is currently enrolled in one, has 
demonstrated ongoing and consistent compliance with the treatment 
plan, and/or has received a favorable prognosis from a qualified 
mental health professional indicating the behavior is readily 
controllable with treatment.

Guideline E: Personal Conduct

    15. The Concern. Conduct involving questionable judgment, lack 
of candor, dishonesty, or unwillingness to comply with rules and 
regulations can raise questions about an individual's reliability, 
trustworthiness, and ability to protect classified or sensitive 
information. Of special interest is any failure to cooperate or 
provide truthful and candid answers during national security 
investigative or adjudicative processes. The following will normally 
result in an unfavorable national security eligibility 
determination, security clearance action, or cancellation of further 
processing for national security eligibility:
    (a) Refusal, or failure without reasonable cause, to undergo or 
cooperate with security processing, including but not limited to 
meeting with a security investigator for subject interview, 
completing security forms or releases, cooperation with medical or 
psychological evaluation, or polygraph examination, if authorized 
and required; and
    (b) Refusal to provide full, frank, and truthful answers to 
lawful questions of investigators, security officials, or other 
official representatives in connection with a personnel security or 
trustworthiness determination.
    16. Conditions that could raise a security concern and may be 
disqualifying include:
    (a) Deliberate omission, concealment, or falsification of 
relevant facts from any personnel security questionnaire, personal 
history statement, or similar form used to conduct investigations, 
determine employment qualifications, award benefits or status, 
determine national security eligibility or trustworthiness, or award 
fiduciary responsibilities;
    (b) Deliberately providing false or misleading information; or 
concealing or omitting information, concerning relevant facts to an 
employer, investigator, security official, competent medical or 
mental health professional involved in making a recommendation 
relevant to a national security eligibility determination, or other 
official government representative;
    (c) Credible adverse information in several adjudicative issue 
areas that is not sufficient for an adverse determination under any 
other single guideline, but which, when considered as a whole, 
supports a whole-person assessment of questionable judgment, 
untrustworthiness, unreliability, lack of candor, unwillingness to 
comply with rules and regulations, or other characteristics 
indicating that the individual may not properly safeguard classified 
or sensitive information;
    (d) Credible adverse information that is not explicitly covered 
under any other guideline and may not be sufficient by itself for an 
adverse determination, but which, when combined with all available 
information, supports a whole-person assessment of questionable 
judgment, untrustworthiness, unreliability, lack of candor, 
unwillingness to comply with rules and regulations, or other 
characteristics indicating that the individual may not properly 
safeguard classified or sensitive information. This includes, but is 
not limited to, consideration of:
    (1) Untrustworthy or unreliable behavior to include breach of 
client confidentiality, release of proprietary information, 
unauthorized release of sensitive corporate or government protected 
information;
    (2) Any disruptive, violent, or other inappropriate behavior;
    (3) A pattern of dishonesty or rule violations; and
    (4) Evidence of significant misuse of Government or other 
employer's time or resources;
    (e) Personal conduct, or concealment of information about one's 
conduct, that creates a vulnerability to exploitation, manipulation, 
or duress by a foreign intelligence entity or other individual or 
group. Such conduct includes:
    (1) Engaging in activities which, if known, could affect the 
person's personal, professional, or community standing;
    (2) While in another country, engaging in any activity that is 
illegal in that country;
    (3) While in another country, engaging in any activity that, 
while legal there, is illegal in the United States;
    (f) Violation of a written or recorded commitment made by the 
individual to the employer as a condition of employment; and
    (g) Association with persons involved in criminal activity.
    17. Conditions that could mitigate security concerns include:
    (a) The individual made prompt, good-faith efforts to correct 
the omission, concealment, or falsification before being confronted 
with the facts;
    (b) The refusal or failure to cooperate, omission, or 
concealment was caused or significantly contributed to by advice of 
legal counsel or of a person with professional responsibilities for 
advising or instructing the individual specifically concerning 
security processes. Upon being made aware of the requirement to 
cooperate or provide the information, the individual cooperated 
fully and truthfully;
    (c) The offense is so minor, or so much time has passed, or the 
behavior is so infrequent, or it happened under such unique 
circumstances that it is unlikely to recur and does not cast doubt 
on the individual's reliability, trustworthiness, or good judgment;
    (d) The individual has acknowledged the behavior and obtained 
counseling to change the behavior or taken other positive steps to 
alleviate the stressors, circumstances, or factors that contributed 
to untrustworthy, unreliable, or other inappropriate behavior, and 
such behavior is unlikely to recur;
    (e) The individual has taken positive steps to reduce or 
eliminate vulnerability to exploitation, manipulation, or duress;
    (f) The information was unsubstantiated or from a source of 
questionable reliability; and
    (g) Association with persons involved in criminal activities was 
unwitting, has ceased, or occurs under circumstances that do not 
cast doubt upon the individual's reliability, trustworthiness, 
judgment, or willingness to comply with rules and regulations.

[[Page 57112]]

Guideline F: Financial Considerations

    18. The Concern. Failure to live within one's means, satisfy 
debts, and meet financial obligations may indicate poor self-
control, lack of judgment, or unwillingness to abide by rules and 
regulations, all of which can raise questions about an individual's 
reliability, trustworthiness, and ability to protect classified or 
sensitive information. Financial distress can also be caused or 
exacerbated by, and thus can be a possible indicator of, other 
issues of personnel security concern such as excessive gambling, 
mental health conditions, substance misuse, or alcohol abuse or 
dependence. An individual who is financially overextended is at 
greater risk of having to engage in illegal or otherwise 
questionable acts to generate funds. Affluence that cannot be 
explained by known sources of income is also a security concern 
insofar as it may result from criminal activity, including 
espionage.
    19. Conditions that could raise a security concern and may be 
disqualifying include:
    (a) Inability to satisfy debts;
    (b) Unwillingness to satisfy debts regardless of the ability to 
do so;
    (c) A history of not meeting financial obligations;
    (d) Deceptive or illegal financial practices such as 
embezzlement, employee theft, check fraud, expense account fraud, 
mortgage fraud, filing deceptive loan statements and other 
intentional financial breaches of trust;
    (e) Consistent spending beyond one's means or frivolous or 
irresponsible spending, which may be indicated by excessive 
indebtedness, significant negative cash flow, a history of late 
payments or of non-payment, or other negative financial indicators;
    (f) Failure to file or fraudulently filing annual Federal, 
state, or local income tax returns or failure to pay annual Federal, 
state, or local income tax as required;
    (g) Unexplained affluence, as shown by a lifestyle or standard 
of living, increase in net worth, or money transfers that are 
inconsistent with known legal sources of income;
    (h) Borrowing money or engaging in significant financial 
transactions to fund gambling or pay gambling debts; and
    (i) Concealing gambling losses, family conflict, or other 
problems caused by gambling.
    20. Conditions that could mitigate security concerns include:
    (a) The behavior happened so long ago, was so infrequent, or 
occurred under such circumstances that it is unlikely to recur and 
does not cast doubt on the individual's current reliability, 
trustworthiness, or good judgment;
    (b) The conditions that resulted in the financial problem were 
largely beyond the person's control (e.g., loss of employment, a 
business downturn, unexpected medical emergency, a death, divorce or 
separation, clear victimization by predatory lending practices, or 
identity theft), and the individual acted responsibly under the 
circumstances;
    (c) The individual has received or is receiving financial 
counseling for the problem from a legitimate and credible source, 
such as a non-profit credit counseling service, and there are clear 
indications that the problem is being resolved or is under control;
    (d) The individual initiated and is adhering to a good-faith 
effort to repay overdue creditors or otherwise resolve debts;
    (e) The individual has a reasonable basis to dispute the 
legitimacy of the past-due debt which is the cause of the problem 
and provides documented proof to substantiate the basis of the 
dispute or provides evidence of actions to resolve the issue;
    (f) The affluence resulted from a legal source of income; and
    (g) The individual has made arrangements with the appropriate 
tax authority to file or pay the amount owed and is in compliance 
with those arrangements.

Guideline G: Alcohol Consumption

    21. The Concern. Excessive alcohol consumption often leads to 
the exercise of questionable judgment or the failure to control 
impulses, and can raise questions about an individual's reliability 
and trustworthiness.
    22. Conditions that could raise a security concern and may be 
disqualifying include:
    (a) Alcohol-related incidents away from work, such as driving 
while under the influence, fighting, child or spouse abuse, 
disturbing the peace, or other incidents of concern, regardless of 
the frequency of the individual's alcohol use or whether the 
individual has been diagnosed with alcohol use disorder;
    (b) Alcohol-related incidents at work, such as reporting for 
work or duty in an intoxicated or impaired condition, drinking on 
the job, or jeopardizing the welfare and safety of others, 
regardless of whether the individual is diagnosed with alcohol use 
disorder;
    (c) Habitual or binge consumption of alcohol to the point of 
impaired judgment, regardless of whether the individual is diagnosed 
with alcohol use disorder;
    (d) Diagnosis by a duly qualified medical or mental health 
professional (e.g., physician, clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, 
or licensed clinical social worker) of alcohol use disorder;
    (e) The failure to follow treatment advice once diagnosed;
    (f) Alcohol consumption, which is not in accordance with 
treatment recommendations, after a diagnosis of alcohol use 
disorder; and
    (g) Failure to follow any court order regarding alcohol 
education, evaluation, treatment, or abstinence.
    23. Conditions that could mitigate security concerns include:
    (a) So much time has passed, or the behavior was so infrequent, 
or it happened under such unusual circumstances that it is unlikely 
to recur or does not cast doubt on the individual's current 
reliability, trustworthiness, or judgment;
    (b) The individual acknowledges his or her pattern of 
maladaptive alcohol use, provides evidence of actions taken to 
overcome this problem, and has demonstrated a clear and established 
pattern of modified consumption or abstinence in accordance with 
treatment recommendations;
    (c) The individual is participating in counseling or a treatment 
program, has no previous history of treatment and relapse, and is 
making satisfactory progress in a treatment program; and
    (d) The individual has successfully completed a treatment 
program along with any required aftercare, and has demonstrated a 
clear and established pattern of modified consumption or abstinence 
in accordance with treatment recommendations.

Guideline H: Drug Involvement \1\ and Substance Misuse
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Reference annex B to this appendix regarding statutory 
requirements contained in Public Law 110-118 (Bond Amendment) 
applicable to this guideline.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    24. The Concern. The illegal use of controlled substances, to 
include the misuse of prescription and non-prescription drugs, and 
the use of other substances that cause physical or mental impairment 
or are used in a manner inconsistent with their intended purpose can 
raise questions about an individual's reliability and 
trustworthiness, both because such behavior may lead to physical or 
psychological impairment and because it raises questions about a 
person's ability or willingness to comply with laws, rules, and 
regulations. Controlled substance means any ``controlled substance'' 
as defined in 21 U.S.C. 802. Substance misuse is the generic term 
adopted in this guideline to describe any of the behaviors listed in 
this paragraph.
    25. Conditions that could raise a security concern and may be 
disqualifying include:
    (a) Any substance misuse (see definition listed in paragraph 
24);
    (b) Testing positive for an illegal drug;
    (c) Illegal possession of a controlled substance, including 
cultivation, processing, manufacture, purchase, sale, or 
distribution; or possession of drug paraphernalia;
    (d) Diagnosis by a duly qualified medical or mental health 
professional (e.g., physician, clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, 
or licensed clinical social worker) of substance use disorder;
    (e) Failure to successfully complete a drug treatment program 
prescribed by a duly qualified medical or mental health 
professional;
    (f) Any illegal drug use while granted access to classified 
information or holding a sensitive position; and
    (g) Expressed intent to continue drug involvement and substance 
misuse, or failure to clearly and convincingly commit to discontinue 
such misuse.
    26. Conditions that could mitigate security concerns include:
    (a) The behavior happened so long ago, was so infrequent, or 
happened under such circumstances that it is unlikely to recur or 
does not cast doubt on the individual's current reliability, 
trustworthiness, or good judgment;
    (b) The individual acknowledges his or her drug involvement and 
substance misuse, provides evidence of actions taken to overcome 
this problem, and has established a pattern of abstinence, 
including, but not limited to:
    (1) Disassociation from drug-using associates and contacts;

[[Page 57113]]

    (2) Changing or avoiding the environment where drugs were used; 
and
    (3) Providing a signed statement of intent to abstain from all 
drug involvement and substance misuse, acknowledging that any future 
involvement or misuse is grounds for revocation of national security 
eligibility;
    (c) Abuse of prescription drugs was after a severe or prolonged 
illness during which these drugs were prescribed, and abuse has 
since ended; and
    (d) Satisfactory completion of a prescribed drug treatment 
program, including, but not limited to, rehabilitation and aftercare 
requirements, without recurrence of abuse, and a favorable prognosis 
by a duly qualified medical professional.

Guideline I: Psychological Conditions \2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ Reference annex B to this appendix regarding statutory 
requirements contained in Public Law 110-118 (Bond Amendment) 
applicable to this guideline.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    27. The Concern. Certain emotional, mental, and personality 
conditions can impair judgment, reliability, or trustworthiness. A 
formal diagnosis of a disorder is not required for there to be a 
concern under this guideline. A duly qualified mental health 
professional (e.g., clinical psychologist or psychiatrist) employed 
by, or acceptable to and approved by the U.S. Government, should be 
consulted when evaluating potentially disqualifying and mitigating 
information under this guideline and an opinion, including 
prognosis, should be sought. No negative inference concerning the 
standards in this guideline may be raised solely on the basis of 
mental health counseling.
    28. Conditions that could raise a security concern and may be 
disqualifying include:
    (a) Behavior that casts doubt on an individual's judgment, 
stability, reliability, or trustworthiness, not covered under any 
other guideline and that may indicate an emotional, mental, or 
personality condition, including, but not limited to, irresponsible, 
violent, self-harm, suicidal, paranoid, manipulative, impulsive, 
chronic lying, deceitful, exploitative, or bizarre behaviors;
    (b) An opinion by a duly qualified mental health professional 
that the individual has a condition that may impair judgment, 
stability, reliability, or trustworthiness;
    (c) Voluntary or involuntary inpatient hospitalization;
    (d) Failure to follow a prescribed treatment plan related to a 
diagnosed psychological/psychiatric condition that may impair 
judgment, stability, reliability, or trustworthiness, including, but 
not limited to, failure to take prescribed medication or failure to 
attend required counseling sessions; and
    (e) Pathological gambling, the associated behaviors of which may 
include unsuccessful attempts to stop gambling; gambling for 
increasingly higher stakes, usually in an attempt to cover losses; 
concealing gambling losses; borrowing or stealing money to fund 
gambling or pay gambling debts; and family conflict resulting from 
gambling.
    29. Conditions that could mitigate security concerns include:
    (a) The identified condition is readily controllable with 
treatment, and the individual has demonstrated ongoing and 
consistent compliance with the treatment plan;
    (b) The individual has voluntarily entered a counseling or 
treatment program for a condition that is amenable to treatment, and 
the individual is currently receiving counseling or treatment with a 
favorable prognosis by a duly qualified mental health professional;
    (c) Recent opinion by a duly qualified mental health 
professional employed by, or acceptable to and approved by, the U.S. 
Government that an individual's previous condition is under control 
or in remission, and has a low probability of recurrence or 
exacerbation;
    (d) The past psychological/psychiatric condition was temporary, 
the situation has been resolved, and the individual no longer shows 
indications of emotional instability;
    (e) There is no indication of a current problem.

Guideline J: Criminal Conduct \3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ Reference annex B to this appendix regarding statutory 
requirements contained in Public Law 110-118 (Bond Amendment) 
applicable to this guideline.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    30. The Concern. Criminal activity creates doubt about a 
person's judgment, reliability, and trustworthiness. By its very 
nature, it calls into question a person's ability or willingness to 
comply with laws, rules, and regulations.
    31. Conditions that could raise a security concern and may be 
disqualifying include:
    (a) A pattern of minor offenses, any one of which on its own 
would be unlikely to affect a national security eligibility 
decision, but which in combination cast doubt on the individual's 
judgment, reliability, or trustworthiness;
    (b) Evidence (including, but not limited to, a credible 
allegation, an admission, and matters of official record) of 
criminal conduct, regardless of whether the individual was formally 
charged, prosecuted, or convicted;
    (c) Individual is currently on parole or probation;
    (d) Violation or revocation of parole or probation, or failure 
to complete a court-mandated rehabilitation program; and
    (e) Discharge or dismissal from the Armed Forces for reasons 
less than ``Honorable.''
    32. Conditions that could mitigate security concerns include:
    (a) So much time has elapsed since the criminal behavior 
happened, or it happened under such unusual circumstances, that it 
is unlikely to recur and does not cast doubt on the individual's 
reliability, trustworthiness, or good judgment;
    (b) The individual was pressured or coerced into committing the 
act and those pressures are no longer present in the person's life;
    (c) No reliable evidence to support that the individual 
committed the offense; and
    (d) There is evidence of successful rehabilitation; including, 
but not limited to, the passage of time without recurrence of 
criminal activity, restitution, compliance with the terms of parole 
or probation, job training or higher education, good employment 
record, or constructive community involvement.

Guideline K: Handling Protected Information

    33. The Concern. Deliberate or negligent failure to comply with 
rules and regulations for handling protected information--which 
includes classified and other sensitive government information, and 
proprietary information--raises doubt about an individual's 
trustworthiness, judgment, reliability, or willingness and ability 
to safeguard such information, and is a serious security concern.
    34. Conditions that could raise a security concern and may be 
disqualifying include:
    (a) Deliberate or negligent disclosure of protected information 
to unauthorized persons, including, but not limited to, personal or 
business contacts, the media, or persons present at seminars, 
meetings, or conferences;
    (b) Collecting or storing protected information in any 
unauthorized location;
    (c) Loading, drafting, editing, modifying, storing, 
transmitting, or otherwise handling protected information, including 
images, on any unauthorized equipment or medium;
    (d) Inappropriate efforts to obtain or view protected 
information outside one's need to know;
    (e) Copying or modifying protected information in an 
unauthorized manner designed to conceal or remove classification or 
other document control markings;
    (f) Viewing or downloading information from a secure system when 
the information is beyond the individual's need-to-know;
    (g) Any failure to comply with rules for the protection of 
classified or sensitive information;
    (h) Negligence or lax security practices that persist despite 
counseling by management; and
    (i) Failure to comply with rules or regulations that results in 
damage to the national security, regardless of whether it was 
deliberate or negligent.
    35. Conditions that could mitigate security concerns include:
    (a) So much time has elapsed since the behavior, or it has 
happened so infrequently or under such unusual circumstances, that 
it is unlikely to recur and does not cast doubt on the individual's 
current reliability, trustworthiness, or good judgment;
    (b) The individual responded favorably to counseling or remedial 
security training and now demonstrates a positive attitude toward 
the discharge of security responsibilities;
    (c) The security violations were due to improper or inadequate 
training or unclear instructions; and
    (d) The violation was inadvertent, it was promptly reported, 
there is no evidence of compromise, and it does not suggest a 
pattern.

Guideline L: Outside Activities

    36. The Concern. Involvement in certain types of outside 
employment or activities is of security concern if it poses a 
conflict of interest with an individual's security

[[Page 57114]]

responsibilities and could create an increased risk of unauthorized 
disclosure of classified or sensitive information.
    37. Conditions that could raise a security concern and may be 
disqualifying include:
    (a) Any employment or service, whether compensated or volunteer, 
with:
    (1) The government of a foreign country;
    (2) Any foreign national, organization, or other entity;
    (3) A representative of any foreign interest; and
    (4) Any foreign, domestic, or international organization or 
person engaged in analysis, discussion, or publication of material 
on intelligence, defense, foreign affairs, or protected technology; 
and
    (b) Failure to report or fully disclose an outside activity when 
this is required.
    38. Conditions that could mitigate security concerns include:
    (a) Evaluation of the outside employment or activity by the 
appropriate security or counterintelligence office indicates that it 
does not pose a conflict with an individual's security 
responsibilities or with the national security interests of the 
United States; and
    (b) The individual terminated the employment or discontinued the 
activity upon being notified that it was in conflict with his or her 
security responsibilities.

Guideline M: Use of Information Technology

    39. The Concern. Failure to comply with rules, procedures, 
guidelines, or regulations pertaining to information technology 
systems may raise security concerns about an individual's 
reliability and trustworthiness, calling into question the 
willingness or ability to properly protect sensitive systems, 
networks, and information. Information Technology includes any 
computer-based, mobile, or wireless device used to create, store, 
access, process, manipulate, protect, or move information. This 
includes any component, whether integrated into a larger system or 
not, such as hardware, software, or firmware, used to enable or 
facilitate these operations.
    40. Conditions that could raise a security concern and may be 
disqualifying include:
    (a) Unauthorized entry into any information technology system;
    (b) Unauthorized modification, destruction, or manipulation of, 
or denial of access to, an information technology system or any data 
in such a system;
    (c) Use of any information technology system to gain 
unauthorized access to another system or to a compartmented area 
within the same system;
    (d) Downloading, storing, or transmitting classified, sensitive, 
proprietary, or other protected information on or to any 
unauthorized information technology system;
    (e) Unauthorized use of any information technology system;
    (f) Introduction, removal, or duplication of hardware, firmware, 
software, or media to or from any information technology system when 
prohibited by rules, procedures, guidelines, or regulations or when 
otherwise not authorized;
    (g) Negligence or lax security practices in handling information 
technology that persists despite counseling by management; and
    (h) Any misuse of information technology, whether deliberate or 
negligent, that results in damage to the national security.
    41. Conditions that could mitigate security concerns include:
    (a) So much time has elapsed since the behavior happened, or it 
happened under such unusual circumstances, that it is unlikely to 
recur and does not cast doubt on the individual's reliability, 
trustworthiness, or good judgment;
    (b) The misuse was minor and done solely in the interest of 
organizational efficiency and effectiveness;
    (c) The conduct was unintentional or inadvertent and was 
followed by a prompt, good-faith effort to correct the situation and 
by notification to appropriate personnel; and
    (d) The misuse was due to improper or inadequate training or 
unclear instructions.

Annex B to Appendix A to Part 710--Bond Amendment Guidance

    On January 28, 2008, Congress amended the IRTPA of 2004, adding 
statutory restrictions on certain eligibility determinations and 
establishing waiver and congressional reporting requirements. These 
modifications are collectively referred to as the ``Bond 
Amendments'' and were made effective on January 1, 2008.\4\ For the 
reasons identified in paragraph E.2 of this appendix, application of 
the Bond Amendment's statutory restrictions will be applied to all 
adjudications covered under this Directive.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ IRTPA of 2004 section 3002, 50 U.S.C. 3343.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    1. Prohibition: Heads of agencies are prohibited from granting 
or renewing national security eligibility for any covered individual 
who is an unlawful user of a controlled substance or is an addict as 
defined. If an authorized adjudicative agency has a case pending 
review that involves an unlawful user of a controlled substance or 
an addict, the statutory prohibition must be applied and the 
individual will receive the agency's established administrative 
review procedures. A meritorious waiver may not be authorized with 
reference to this prohibition. For purposes of this prohibition:
    (a) An ``addict'' is any individual who habitually uses any 
narcotic drug so as to endanger the public morals, health, safety, 
or welfare; or is so far addicted to the use of narcotic drugs as to 
have lost the power of self-control with reference to his addiction.
    (b) A ``controlled substance'' means any ``controlled 
substance'' as defined in 21 U.S.C. 802.
    2. Disqualification: The Bond Amendment also contains 
disqualification provisions which apply only to those covered 
individuals seeking access to Sensitive Compartmented Information 
(SCI), Special Access Programs (SAP), or Restricted Data (RD). Heads 
of agencies may not grant or renew access to SCI, SAP, or RD to a 
covered individual who:
    (a) Has been convicted in any court of the U.S. of a crime, was 
sentenced to imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, and was 
incarcerated as a result of that sentence for not less than one 
year;
    (b) Has been discharged or dismissed from the Armed Forces under 
dishonorable conditions; or
    (c) Is determined to be mentally incompetent; an individual is 
``mentally incompetent'' when he or she has been declared mentally 
incompetent as determined by competency proceedings conducted in a 
court or administrative agency with proper jurisdiction.
    3. Waiver Standard and Procedures: When a disqualifier reflected 
in paragraphs 2(a) through (c) of this annex B exists, the 
adjudicator will proceed with the adjudication using the appropriate 
mitigation conditions found in these adjudicative guidelines. If the 
adjudicator would have arrived at a favorable decision but for the 
Bond Amendment disqualification, a meritorious waiver may be 
appropriate.
    (a) Meritorious waivers will be considered an ``Exception'' to 
the adjudicative guidelines and will be annotated as a ``Waiver'' in 
the adjudicative decision recorded in the appropriate databases 
listed in paragraph E.5 of this appendix. Adjudicators will provide 
a detailed justification for the meritorious waiver in the final 
adjudicative report.
    (b) If, after applying the appropriate mitigating factors listed 
in these adjudicative guidelines, a meritorious waiver is not 
appropriate, the SCI, SAP, or RD access will be denied or revoked 
with a written explanation that cites the adjudicative guidelines 
applied and the Bond Amendment disqualifier. The authorized 
adjudicative agency's established administrative review procedures 
shall be followed in all such cases.
    (c) Each authorized adjudicative agency shall maintain a record 
of the number and type of meritorious waivers granted, to include 
the rationale for each waiver, and shall report this data annually 
to the SecEA in advance of the annual report to Congress. Authorized 
adjudicative agencies will also maintain a record of all 
disqualifications, broken down by type, due to Bond Amendment 
requirements.
    4. Authorized adjudicative agencies often have no ability to 
predict whether the covered individual for whom national security 
eligibility determinations are being made will also require access 
to SCI, SAP, or RD. Accordingly, the guidance in paragraphs 4(a) and 
(b) applies to all national security adjudicative determinations:
    (a) All adjudicators will determine whether any of the Bond 
Amendment disqualifiers in paragraphs 2(a) through (c) of this annex 
B apply to the case being adjudicated.
    (b) If a disqualifier exists, adjudicators shall annotate that 
fact in one of the databases identified in paragraph E.5 of this 
annex B to ensure that any subsequent requests for access to SCI, 
SAP, or RD for the individual will undergo appropriate re-
adjudication and waiver procedures in meritorious cases.

Annex C to Appendix A to Part 710--Exceptions

    Exceptions are an adjudicative decision to grant initial or 
continued eligibility for access to classified information or to 
hold a sensitive position despite failure to meet the

[[Page 57115]]

full adjudicative or investigative standards. The authorized 
exceptions are defined below and supersede the definitions in Office 
of Management and Budget memorandum, Reciprocal Recognition of 
Existing Personnel Security Clearances, 14 November 2007.
    Waiver (W): Eligibility granted or continued despite the 
presence of substantial issue information that would normally 
preclude eligibility. Approval authorities may approve a waiver only 
when the benefit of initial or continued eligibility clearly 
outweighs any security concerns. A waiver may also require 
conditions for eligibility as described below.
    Condition (C): Eligibility granted or continued, despite the 
presence of issue information that can be partially but not 
completely mitigated, with the provision that additional security 
measures shall be required to mitigate the issue(s). Such measures 
include, but are not limited to, additional security monitoring, 
access restrictions, submission of periodic financial statements, or 
attendance at counseling sessions.
    Deviation (D): Eligibility granted or continued despite either a 
significant gap in coverage or scope of the investigation. 
``Significant gap'' for this purpose means either complete lack of 
coverage for a period of six months or longer within the most recent 
five years investigated or the lack of one or more relevant 
investigative scope components (e.g., employment checks, financial 
review, or a subject interview) in its entirety.
    Out of Scope (O): Reinvestigation is overdue.

[FR Doc. 2017-25257 Filed 12-1-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6450-01-P



                                                                                                                                                                                             57105

                                             Rules and Regulations                                                                                         Federal Register
                                                                                                                                                           Vol. 82, No. 231

                                                                                                                                                           Monday, December 4, 2017



                                             This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER                      H. Review Under the Unfunded Mandates                  1. In the contents section, appendix A
                                             contains regulatory documents having general                 Reform Act of 1995                               has been revised to reflect it now
                                             applicability and legal effect, most of which             I. Review Under the Treasury and General            contains Security Executive Agency
                                             are keyed to and codified in the Code of                     Government Appropriations Act, 1999              Directive 4—National Security
                                             Federal Regulations, which is published under             J. Review Under Executive Order 13211
                                                                                                       K. Review Under the Treasury and General
                                                                                                                                                           Adjudicative Guidelines.
                                             50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.
                                                                                                          Government Appropriations Act, 2001                 2. In the contents section, under
                                             The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by                L. Approval by the Office of the Secretary          ‘‘Authority’’, reference to E.O. 10450 has
                                             the Superintendent of Documents.                             of Energy                                        been deleted.
                                                                                                       M. Congressional Notification                          3. Section 710.1 ‘‘Purpose’’ deletes
                                                                                                                                                           references to E.O. 10450 and the former
                                             DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY                                    I. Background                                         Adjudicative Guidelines and replaces
                                                                                                        The Department of Energy is                        them with current citations.
                                             10 CFR Part 710                                         publishing this final rule in order to                   4. Section 710.2 ‘‘Scope’’ removes
                                             [Docket No. AU–RM–17–PACNM]                             ensure it contains the most current                   reference to the Adjudicative
                                                                                                     national standards for determining                    Guidelines.
                                             RIN 1992–AA56                                           access to classified matter and special                  5. Section 710.3 ‘‘Reference’’ replaces
                                                                                                     nuclear material and to ensure listed                 ‘‘Adjudicative Guidelines’’ with
                                             Procedures for Determining Eligibility                                                                        ‘‘National Security Adjudicative
                                             for Access to Classified Matter or                      authorities are still valid.
                                                                                                        Appendix A to 10 CFR part 710                      Guidelines.’’
                                             Special Nuclear Material                                                                                         6. Section 710.7 ‘‘Application of the
                                                                                                     contained the Adjudicative Guidelines
                                             AGENCY:    Department of Energy.                        for Determining Eligibility for Access to             Adjudicative Guidelines’’, is retitled
                                             ACTION:   Final rule.                                   Classified Information (Adjudicative                  ‘‘Application of the National Security
                                                                                                     Guidelines), originally issued in 1997.               Adjudicative Guidelines.’’
                                             SUMMARY:    The Department of Energy                    These were included because they were                    7. Section 710.7(b) replaces
                                             (DOE) is amending its regulations which                 the standard to which all such access                 ‘‘Adjudicative Guidelines’’ with
                                             set forth the policies and procedures for               eligibility determinations within the                 ‘‘National Security Adjudicative
                                             resolving questions concerning                          Department of Energy were rendered.                   Guidelines.’’
                                             eligibility for DOE access authorization.               On December 10, 2016, the Director of                    8. Appendix A is retitled ‘‘SEAD 4,
                                             The revisions update appendix A, and                    National Intelligence, in his role as                 National Security Adjudicative
                                             related text, with the most current                     Security Executive Agent, signed                      Guidelines’’ and its content is changed
                                             national standards for determining                      Security Executive Agent Directive                    to delete the former Adjudicative
                                             eligibility for access to classified matter             (SEAD) 4, National Security                           Guidelines and replace with the current
                                             and special nuclear material, and delete                Adjudicative Guidelines, which became                 SEAD 4 standards.
                                             references to Executive Order 10450,                    effective June 8, 2017. The standards                 III. Procedural Requirements
                                             which was revoked pursuant to                           enumerated in SEAD 4 supersede the
                                             Executive Order 13764, dated January                    former standards. This final rule now                 A. Review Under the Administrative
                                             17, 2017.                                               includes SEAD 4 as appendix A. Also,                  Procedure Act
                                             DATES: This rule is effective January 3,                Executive Order (E.O.) 10450, Security                  The Administrative Procedure Act
                                             2018.                                                   Requirements for Government                           (APA) requires that a notice of proposed
                                             FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: U.S.                   Employees, issued April 27, 1953, has                 rulemaking be published in the Federal
                                             Department of Energy, Office of                         historically been cited as one of the                 Register unless certain exceptions
                                             Departmental Personnel Security, (202)                  authorities within the rule. E.O. 10450               apply. 5 U.S.C. 553(b). These exceptions
                                             586–3249,                                               was revoked pursuant to E.O. 13764 of                 include rules of agency procedure or
                                             officeofdepartmentalpersonnelsecurity@                  January 17, 2017. This rule deletes                   practice, as well as rules for which the
                                             hq.doe.gov, or Christina Pak, Office of                 references to E.O. 10450.                             agency finds good cause to waive notice
                                             the General Counsel, (202) 586–4114,                       Laws, regulations and directives                   and comment as unnecessary,
                                             christina.pak@hq.doe.gov.                               which may apply to part 710 include,                  impracticable or contrary to the public
                                                                                                     but are not limited to: The Atomic                    interest. Id. This rule amends DOE
                                             SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                             I. Background                                           Energy Act of 1954; Executive Order                   regulations that set forth the policies
                                             II. Section-by-Section Analysis                         13764 (81 FR 8115, January 23, 2017)                  and procedures for resolving questions
                                             III. Procedural Analysis                                Executive Order 13467 (73 FR 38103),                  concerning eligibility for DOE access
                                                A. Review Under the Administrative                   June 30, 2008; Executive Order 12968                  authorization. Specifically, the revisions
                                                   Procedure Act                                     (60 FR 40245, August 2, 1995, as                      update Appendix A, and related text,
                                                B. Review Under Executive Order 12866                amended); Executive Order 13526 (75                   with the most current national
                                                   and 13563                                         FR 707, January 5, 2010); Executive                   standards for determining eligibility for
                                                C. Review Under Executive Order 12988                                                                      access to classified matter and special
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                                                                                                     Order 10865 (25 FR 1583, February 24,
                                                D. Review Under the Regulatory Flexibility                                                                 nuclear material, and delete references
                                                                                                     1960, as amended); Presidential Policy
                                                   Act
                                                E. Review Under the Paperwork Reduction              Directive 19 (October 10, 2012).                      to Executive Order 10450, which was
                                                   Act                                                                                                     revoked pursuant to Executive Order
                                                                                                     II. Section-by-Section Analysis                       13764. The rule provides the means by
                                                F. Review Under the National
                                                   Environmental Policy Act                            DOE amends 10 CFR part 710 as                       which DOE determines eligibility for
                                                G. Review Under Executive Order 13132                follows:                                              access to its own data—classified matter


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                                             57106            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 231 / Monday, December 4, 2017 / Rules and Regulations

                                             and special nuclear material. As such,                  approaches, those approaches that                     guidelines issued by the Attorney
                                             the rule is one of agency procedure or                  maximize net benefits (including                      General. Section 3(c) of Executive Order
                                             practice exempt from the notice and                     potential economic, environmental,                    12988 requires Executive agencies to
                                             comment requirements of the APA. In                     public health and safety, and other                   review regulations in light of applicable
                                             addition, the Department has no                         advantages; distributive impacts; and                 standards in section 3(a) and section
                                             discretion in adopting the guidelines,                  equity); (4) to the extent feasible, specify          3(b) to determine whether they are met
                                             which by their terms are ‘‘applicable to                performance objectives, rather than                   or it is unreasonable to meet one or
                                             any executive branch agency authorized                  specifying the behavior or manner of                  more of them. DOE has completed the
                                             or designated to conduct adjudications                  compliance that regulated entities must               required review and determined that, to
                                             of covered individuals to determine                     adopt; and (5) identify and assess                    the extent permitted by law, this
                                             eligibility for initial or continued access             available alternatives to direct                      regulation meets the relevant standards
                                             to classified national security                         regulation, including providing                       of Executive Order 12988.
                                             information or eligibility to hold a                    economic incentives to encourage the
                                                                                                                                                           D. Review Under the Regulatory
                                             sensitive position.’’ (See SEAD 4,                      desired behavior, such as user fees or
                                                                                                                                                           Flexibility Act
                                             Section C. Applicability.) The new                      marketable permits, or providing
                                             SEAD 4 standards also do not differ                     information upon which choices can be                    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5
                                             substantively from the Adjudicative                     made by the public.                                   U.S.C. 601 et seq.) requires preparation
                                             Guidelines. SEAD 4 continues to set                        DOE emphasizes as well that                        of an initial regulatory flexibility
                                             forth 13 criteria (Guidelines A to M) that              Executive Order 13563 requires agencies               analysis for any rule that by law must
                                             may raise a security concern, but was                   to use the best available techniques to               be proposed for public comment, unless
                                             revised to add or remove conditions that                quantify anticipated present and future               the agency certifies that the rule, if
                                             could raise and/or mitigate security                    benefits and costs as accurately as                   promulgated, will not have a significant
                                             concerns. Variations between the two                    possible. In its guidance, the Office of              economic impact on a substantial
                                             versions are not expected to result in                  Information and Regulatory Affairs has                number of small entities. As required by
                                             differing access eligibility                            emphasized that such techniques may                   Executive Order 13272, ‘‘Proper
                                             determinations depending upon which                     include identifying changing future                   Consideration of Small Entities in
                                             standard was employed. For these                        compliance costs that might result from               Agency Rulemaking,’’ (67 FR 53461,
                                             reasons, DOE also finds that notice and                 technological innovation or anticipated               August 16, 2002), DOE published
                                             comment on the adoption of SEAD 4 is                    behavioral changes. DOE believes that                 procedures and policies on February 19,
                                             also unnecessary, impracticable and                     this rule is consistent with these                    2003, to ensure that the potential
                                             contrary to the public interest. The 30-                principles, including the requirement                 impacts of its rules on small entities are
                                             day delay in effective date specified in                that, to the extent permitted by law,                 properly considered during the
                                             5 U.S.C. 553(d) is waived for these same                agencies adopt a regulation only upon a               rulemaking process (68 FR 7990). DOE
                                             reasons.                                                reasoned determination that its benefits              has made its procedures and policies
                                                                                                     justify its costs and, in choosing among              available on the Office of the General
                                             B. Review Under Executive Orders                        alternative regulatory approaches, those              Counsel’s Web site at http://
                                             12866 and 13563                                         approaches maximize net benefits.                     www.gc.doe.gov.
                                                This final rule has been determined                                                                           This rule amends procedures that
                                             not to be a ‘‘significant regulatory                    C. Review Under Executive Order 12988                 apply to the determination of eligibility
                                             action’’ under Executive Order 12866,                      With respect to the review of existing             of individuals for access to classified
                                             ‘‘Regulatory Planning and Review,’’ 58                  regulations and the promulgation of                   information and access to special
                                             FR 51735 (October 4, 1993).                             new regulations, section 3(a) of                      nuclear material. The rule applies to
                                             Accordingly, this rule is not subject to                Executive Order 12988, ‘‘Civil Justice                individuals, and would not apply to
                                             review under the Executive Order by the                 Reform,’’ 61 FR 4729 (February 7, 1996),              ‘‘small entities,’’ as that term is defined
                                             Office of Information and Regulatory                    imposes on Executive agencies the                     in the Regulatory Flexibility Act. In
                                             Affairs within the Office of Management                 general duty to adhere to the following               addition, as stated above, the
                                             and Budget.                                             requirements: (1) Eliminate drafting                  Department has no discretion in
                                                DOE has also reviewed the regulation                 errors and ambiguity; (2) write                       adopting the guidelines; it is the
                                             pursuant to Executive Order 13563,                      regulations to minimize litigation; and               guidelines themselves that impose any
                                             issued on January 18, 2011 (76 FR 3281                  (3) provide a clear legal standard for                impact on affected individuals. As a
                                             (Jan. 21, 2011)). Executive Order 13563                 affected conduct rather than a general                result, the rule does not have a
                                             is supplemental to and explicitly                       standard and promote simplification                   significant economic impact on a
                                             reaffirms the principles, structures, and               and burden reduction.                                 substantial number of small entities.
                                             definitions governing regulatory review                    With regard to the review required by                 Accordingly, DOE certifies that the
                                             established in Executive Order 12866.                   section 3(a), section 3(b) of Executive               rule will not have a significant
                                             To the extent permitted by law, agencies                Order 12988 specifically requires that                economic impact on a substantial
                                             are required by Executive Order 13563                   Executive agencies make every                         number of small entities, and, therefore,
                                             to: (1) Propose or adopt a regulation                   reasonable effort to ensure that the                  no regulatory flexibility analysis is
                                             only upon a reasoned determination                      regulation: (1) Clearly specifies the                 required. DOE’s certification and
                                             that its benefits justify its costs                     preemptive effect, if any; (2) clearly                supporting statement of factual basis
                                             (recognizing that some benefits and                     specifies any effect on existing Federal              will be provided to the Chief Counsel
                                             costs are difficult to quantify); (2) tailor            law or regulation; (3) provides a clear               for Advocacy of the Small Business
                                             regulations to impose the least burden                  legal standard for affected conduct
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                                                                                                                                                           Administration for review under 5
                                             on society, consistent with obtaining                   while promoting simplification and                    U.S.C. 605(b).
                                             regulatory objectives, taking into                      burden reduction; (4) specifies the
                                             account, among other things, and to the                 retroactive effect, if any; (5) adequately            E. Review Under the Paperwork
                                             extent practicable, the costs of                        defines key terms; and (6) addresses                  Reduction Act
                                             cumulative regulations; (3) select, in                  other important issues affecting clarity                This rule does not impose a collection
                                             choosing among alternative regulatory                   and general draftsmanship under any                   of information requirement subject to


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                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 231 / Monday, December 4, 2017 / Rules and Regulations                                              57107

                                             the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C.                  being. This rule, has no impact on                    The report will state that it has been
                                             3501 et seq.                                            family well-being. Accordingly, DOE                   determined that the rule is not a ‘‘major
                                                                                                     has concluded that it is not necessary to             rule’’ as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
                                             F. Review Under the National
                                                                                                     prepare a Family Policymaking
                                             Environmental Policy Act                                                                                      List of Subjects in 10 CFR Part 710
                                                                                                     Assessment.
                                                DOE has concluded that promulgation                                                                          Administrative practice and
                                             of this rule falls into a class of actions              J. Review Under Executive Order 13211
                                                                                                                                                           procedure, Classified information,
                                             which would not individually or                            Executive Order 13211, ‘‘Actions                   Government contracts, Government
                                             cumulatively have significant impact on                 Concerning Regulations That                           employees, Nuclear energy.
                                             the human environment, as determined                    Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
                                                                                                                                                             Issued in Washington, DC, on October 31,
                                             by DOE’s regulations (10 CFR part 1021,                 Distribution, or Use,’’ 66 FR 28355 (May
                                                                                                                                                           2017.
                                             subpart D) implementing the National                    22, 2001), requires Federal agencies to
                                                                                                                                                           Rick Perry,
                                             Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of                      prepare and submit to the Office of
                                             1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).                          Information and Regulatory Affairs                    Secretary of Energy.
                                             Specifically, this rule is categorically                (OIRA), Office of Management and                        For the reasons set out in the
                                             excluded from NEPA review because                       Budget, a Statement of Energy Effects for             preamble, DOE amends part 710 of title
                                             the amendments to the previous rule are                 any significant energy action. A                      10 of the Code of Federal Regulations as
                                             strictly procedural (categorical                        ‘‘significant energy action’’ is defined as           set forth below.
                                             exclusion A6). Therefore, this rule does                any action by an agency that
                                             not require an environmental impact                     promulgates or is expected to lead to                 PART 710—PROCEDURES FOR
                                             statement or environmental assessment                   promulgation of a final rule, and that:               DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY FOR
                                             pursuant to NEPA.                                       (1) Is a significant regulatory action                ACCESS TO CLASSIFIED MATTER
                                                                                                     under Executive Order 12866, or any                   AND SPECIAL NUCLEAR MATERIAL
                                             G. Review Under Executive Order 13132
                                                                                                     successor order; and (2) is likely to have
                                                Executive Order 13132, 64 FR 43255                   a significant adverse effect on the                   ■  1. The authority citation for part 710
                                             (August 4, 1999), imposes certain                       supply, distribution, or use of energy, or            is revised to read as follows:
                                             requirements on agencies formulating                    (3) is designated by the Administrator of               Authority: 42 U.S.C. 2165, 2201, 5815,
                                             and implementing policies or                            OIRA as a significant energy action. For              7101, et seq., 7383h-l; 50 U.S.C. 2401 et seq.;
                                             regulations that preempt State law or                   any proposed significant energy action,               E.O. 10865, 3 CFR 1959–1963 comp., p. 398,
                                             that have federalism implications.                      the agency must give a detailed                       as amended, 3 CFR Chap. IV; E.O. 13526, 3
                                             Agencies are required to examine the                    statement of any adverse effects on                   CFR 2010 Comp., pp. 298–327 (or successor
                                             constitutional and statutory authority                                                                        orders); E.O. 12968, 3 CFR 1995 Comp., p.
                                                                                                     energy supply, distribution or use
                                             supporting any action that would limit                                                                        391.
                                                                                                     should the proposal be implemented,
                                             the policymaking discretion of the                      and of reasonable alternatives to the                 ■ 2. Section 710.1 is amended by
                                             States and carefully assess the necessity               action and their expected benefits on                 revising paragraph (b) to read as follows:
                                             for such actions. DOE has examined this                 energy supply, distribution and use.
                                             rule and has determined that it does not                This rule is not a significant energy                 § 710.1    Purpose.
                                             preempt State law and does not have a                   action. Accordingly, DOE has not                      *     *    *     *    *
                                             substantial direct effect on the States, on             prepared a Statement of Energy Effects.                 (b) This part implements: Executive
                                             the relationship between the national                                                                         Order 12968, 60 FR 40245 (August 2,
                                             government and the States, or on the                    K. Review Under the Treasury and
                                                                                                     General Government Appropriations                     1995), as amended; Executive Order
                                             distribution of power and                                                                                     13526, 75 FR 707 (January 5, 2010) as
                                             responsibilities among the various                      Act, 2001
                                                                                                                                                           amended; Executive Order 10865, 25 FR
                                             levels of government. No further action                    The Treasury and General                           1583 (February 24, 1960), as amended;
                                             is required by Executive Order 13132.                   Government Appropriations Act, 2001                   and the National Security Adjudicative
                                                                                                     (44 U.S.C. 3516, note) provides for                   Guidelines, issued as Security Executive
                                             H. Review Under the Unfunded
                                                                                                     agencies to review most disseminations                Agent Directive 4 by the Director of
                                             Mandates Reform Act of 1995
                                                                                                     of information to the public under                    National Intelligence on December 10,
                                                The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act                     implementing guidelines established by                2016.
                                             of 1995 (Public Law 104–4) generally                    each agency pursuant to general
                                             requires a Federal agency to perform a                  guidelines issued by OMB. OMB’s                       ■ 3. Section 710.2 is amended by
                                             detailed assessment of costs and                        guidelines were published at 67 FR                    revising the introductory text to read as
                                             benefits of any rule imposing a Federal                 8452 (February 22, 2002), and DOE’s                   follows:
                                             Mandate with costs to State, local or                   guidelines were published at 67 FR                    § 710.2    Scope.
                                             tribal governments, or to the private                   62446 (October 7, 2002). DOE has
                                             sector, of $100 million or more. This                   reviewed this rule under the OMB and                    The procedures outlined in this rule
                                             rulemaking does not impose a Federal                    DOE guidelines and has concluded that                 apply to determinations of eligibility for
                                             mandate on State, local or tribal                       it is consistent with applicable policies             access authorization for:
                                             governments or on the private sector.                   in those guidelines.                                  *    *     *    *     *
                                             I. Review Under the Treasury and                        L. Approval by the Office of the                      ■   4. Revise § 710.3 to read as follows:
                                             General Government Appropriations                       Secretary of Energy                                   § 710.3    Reference.
                                             Act, 1999
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                                                                                                        The Secretary of Energy has approved                 The National Security Adjudicative
                                                Section 654 of the Treasury and                      issuance of this rule.
                                             General Government Appropriations                                                                             Guidelines are set forth in Appendix A
                                             Act, 1999 (Pub. L. 105–277), requires                   M. Congressional Notification                         to this part.
                                             Federal agencies to issue a Family                        As required by 5 U.S.C. 801, DOE will               ■ 5. Section 710.7 is amended by
                                             Policymaking Assessment for any rule                    report to Congress on the promulgation                revising the section heading and
                                             or policy that may affect family well                   of this rule prior to its effective date.             paragraph (b) to read as follows:


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                                             57108            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 231 / Monday, December 4, 2017 / Rules and Regulations

                                             § 710.7 Application of the National                     Title 5, U.S.C. and any other entity within              8. Sensitive Position: Any position within
                                             Security Adjudicative Guidelines.                       the Executive Branch that comes into                  or in support of an agency in which the
                                             *     *     *    *    *                                 possession of classified information or has           occupant could bring about, by virtue of the
                                               (b) All such determinations shall be                  positions designated as sensitive.                    nature of the position, a material adverse
                                                                                                        2. Authorized adjudicative agency: An              effect on the national security regardless of
                                             based upon the application of the                       agency authorized by law, executive order, or         whether the occupant has access to classified
                                             National Security Adjudicative                          designation by the SecEA to determine                 information, and regardless of whether the
                                             Guidelines (Adjudicative Guidelines), or                eligibility for access to classified information      occupant is an employee, military service
                                             any successor national standard issued                  in accordance with E.O. 12968, as amended,            member, or contractor.
                                             under authority of the President.                       or eligibility to hold a sensitive position.             E. Policy:
                                             *     *     *    *    *                                    3. Authorized investigative agency: An                1. The National Security Adjudicative
                                                                                                     agency authorized by law, executive order, or         Guidelines in annex A to this appendix shall
                                             ■ 6. Appendix A is revised to read as                   designation by the SecEA to conduct a                 be used by all authorized adjudicative
                                             follows:                                                background investigation of individuals who           agencies when rendering a determination for
                                             Appendix A to Part 710—Security                         are proposed for access to classified                 initial or continued eligibility for access to
                                                                                                     information or eligibility to hold a sensitive        classified information or initial or continued
                                             Executive Agent Directive 4, National                   position or to ascertain whether such                 eligibility to hold a sensitive position.
                                             Security Adjudicative Guidelines (June                  individuals continue to satisfy the criteria for         2. Annex B to this appendix sets forth
                                             8, 2017)                                                retaining access to such information or               statutory restrictions on agencies making
                                                (The following guidelines, included in this          eligibility to hold such positions.                   certain eligibility determinations for access to
                                             part for reference purposes only, are                      4. Classified national security information        classified information, as well as waiver and
                                             reproduced by DOE with minor formatting                 or classified information: Information that           congressional reporting requirements. These
                                             changes to comply with the Document                     has been determined pursuant to E.O. 13526            amendments to the IRTPA are commonly
                                             Drafting Handbook issued by the Office of the           or any predecessor or successor order, or the         referred to as the Bond Amendment. By
                                             Federal Register. The original guidelines were          Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, to             definition, the risk to national security is
                                             signed by James Clapper, Security Executive             require protection against unauthorized               equivalent for covered individuals with
                                             Agent, on December 10, 2016, with an                    disclosure.                                           access to classified information and covered
                                             effective date 180 days after signature (June              5. Covered individual:                             individuals occupying a sensitive position.
                                             8, 2017). For any discrepancies between the                a. A person who performs work for or on            Occupants of sensitive positions could bring
                                             original guidelines and the guidelines                  behalf of the executive branch or who seeks           about, by virtue of the nature of the position,
                                             published in this appendix, the original                to perform work for or on behalf of the               a material adverse effect on the national
                                             guidelines control.)                                    executive branch, but does not include the            security regardless of whether the occupant
                                                A. Authority: The National Security Act of           President or (except to the extent otherwise          has access to classified information. Due to
                                             1947, as amended; Intelligence Reform and               directed by the President) employees of the           the equivalent adverse effect on the national
                                             Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA), as            President under 3 U.S.C. 105 or 107, the Vice         security and to ensure uniformity,
                                             amended; Executive Order (E.O.) 10450,                  President, or (except to the extent otherwise         consistency, and reciprocity of national
                                             Security Requirements for Government                    directed by the Vice President) employees of          security background investigations and
                                             Employment, as amended; EO 12968, Access                the Vice President under 3 U.S.C. 106 or              adjudications, the statutory restrictions
                                             to Classified Information, as amended; E.O.             annual legislative branch appropriations acts;        imposed by the Bond Amendment are
                                             13467, Reforming Processes Related to                      b. A person who performs work for or on            extended to apply to all covered individuals
                                             Suitability for Government Employment,                  behalf of a state, local, tribal, or private sector   who require initial or continued eligibility
                                             Fitness for Contractor Employees, and                   entity as defined in E.O. 13549 requiring             for access to classified information or
                                             Eligibility for Access to Classified National           eligibility for access to classified information;     eligibility to hold a sensitive position.
                                             Security Information; E.O. 13549, Classified               c. A person working in or for the legislative      Authorized adjudicative agencies shall
                                             National Security Information Program for               or judicial branches requiring eligibility for        maintain a record of the number and type of
                                             State, Local, Tribal and Private Sector                 access to classified information and the              meritorious waivers granted under Bond
                                             Entities; Performance Accountability Council            investigation or determination is conducted           Amendment criteria, to include the rationale
                                             memorandum, Assignment of Functions                     by the executive branch, but does not include         for each waiver, and shall report this data
                                             Relating to Coverage of Contractor Employee             members of Congress; Justices of the                  annually to the SecEA in advance of the
                                             Fitness in the Federal Investigative                    Supreme Court; and Federal judges                     annual report to Congress. Authorized
                                             Standards, 6 December 2012; and other                   appointed by the President.                           adjudicative agencies will also maintain a
                                             applicable provisions of law.                              d. Covered individuals are not limited to          record of all disqualifications due to Bond
                                                B. Purpose: This Security Executive Agent            government employees and include all                  Amendment criteria.
                                             (SecEA) Directive establishes the single,               persons, not excluded under paragraphs                   3. Exceptions, as provided for in annex C
                                             common adjudicative criteria for all covered            D.5.a., b., or c. of this appendix, who require       to this appendix, shall be used when a
                                             individuals who require initial or continued            eligibility for access to classified information      favorable adjudicative decision to grant
                                             eligibility for access to classified information        or eligibility to hold a sensitive position,          initial or continued eligibility for access to
                                             or eligibility to hold a sensitive position. The        including, but not limited to, contractors,           classified information or to hold a sensitive
                                             Guidelines reflected herein supersede all               subcontractors, licensees, certificate holders,       position is made, despite failure to meet
                                             previously issued national security                     grantees, experts, consultants, and                   adjudicative or investigative standards.
                                             adjudicative criteria or guidelines.                    government employees.                                    4. Eligibility shall be determined by
                                                C. Applicability: This Directive applies to             6. Foreign Intelligence Entity: Known or           appropriately trained adjudicative personnel
                                             any executive branch agency authorized or               suspected foreign state or non-state                  through the evaluation of all information
                                             designated to conduct adjudications of                  organizations or persons that conduct                 bearing on an individual’s loyalty and
                                             covered individuals to determine eligibility            intelligence activities to acquire U.S.               allegiance to the United States, including any
                                             for initial or continued access to classified           information, block or impair U.S. intelligence        information relevant to strength of character,
                                             national security information or eligibility to         collection, influence U.S. policy, or disrupt         honesty, discretion, sound judgment,
                                             hold a sensitive position.                              U.S. systems and programs. The term                   reliability, ability to protect classified or
                                                D. Definitions: As used in this Directive,           includes foreign intelligence and security            sensitive information, and trustworthiness.
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                                             the following terms have the meanings set               services and international terrorists.                Eligibility for access to classified information
                                             forth in the following paragraphs 1 through                7. National Security Eligibility: Eligibility      or eligibility to occupy a sensitive position
                                             8:                                                      for access to classified information or               shall only be granted when the evaluation of
                                                1. Agency: Any ‘‘Executive agency’’ as               eligibility to hold a sensitive position, to          all such information demonstrates that such
                                             defined in Section 105 of Title 5, United               include access to sensitive compartmented             eligibility is clearly consistent with the
                                             States Code (U.S.C.), including the ‘‘military          information, restricted data, and controlled          interests of the United States; any doubt shall
                                             departments,’’ as defined in Section 102 of             or special access program information.                be resolved in favor of the national security.



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                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 231 / Monday, December 4, 2017 / Rules and Regulations                                              57109

                                                5. All adjudicative determinations,                  environment where protecting the national                (4) The individual’s age and maturity at the
                                             including any associated exceptions, shall be           security is paramount.                                time of the conduct;
                                             recorded in either Scattered Castles, the Joint           (c) The U.S. Government does not                       (5) The extent to which participation is
                                             Personnel Adjudication System within the                discriminate on the basis of race, color,             voluntary;
                                             Department of Defense, or the Central                   religion, sex, national origin, disability, or           (6) The presence or absence of
                                             Verification System database within U.S.                sexual orientation in making a national               rehabilitation and other permanent
                                             Office of Personnel Management or successor             security eligibility determination. No                behavioral changes;
                                             databases, unless authorized by the SecEA to            negative inference concerning eligibility                (7) The motivation for the conduct;
                                             withhold information from the database for              under these guidelines may be raised solely              (8) The potential for pressure, coercion,
                                             national security purposes.                             on the basis of mental health counseling. No          exploitation, or duress; and
                                                6. When an adjudicative determination is             adverse action concerning these guidelines               (9) The likelihood of continuation or
                                             made to deny or revoke eligibility for access           may be taken solely on the basis of polygraph         recurrence.
                                             to classified information or eligibility to hold        examination technical calls in the absence of            (e) Although adverse information
                                             a sensitive position, review proceedings, to            adjudicatively significant information.               concerning a single criterion may not be
                                             the extent they are made available in E.O.                (d) In accordance with E.O. 12968, as               sufficient for an unfavorable eligibility
                                             12968, as amended, Part 5, shall be afforded            amended, eligibility for covered individuals          determination, the individual may be found
                                             covered individuals at a minimum.                       shall be granted only when facts and                  ineligible if available information reflects a
                                                7. The agency with adjudicative authority            circumstances indicate that eligibility is            recent or recurring pattern of questionable
                                             remains responsible for the final                       clearly consistent with the national security         judgment, irresponsibility, or unstable
                                             determination.                                          interests of the United States, and any doubt         behavior. However, a single criterion may be
                                                8. Agencies shall update internal policies           shall be resolved in favor of national security.      sufficient to make an unfavorable eligibility
                                             and replace existing national security                                                                        determination even in the absence of a recent
                                                                                                     2. The Adjudicative Process                           occurrence or a recurring pattern.
                                             adjudicative criteria or guidelines with the
                                             guidelines in this appendix A no later than                (a) The adjudicative process is an                 Notwithstanding the whole-person concept,
                                             June 8, 2017.                                           examination of a sufficient period and a              pursuit of further investigation may be
                                                9. This Directive is not intended to, and            careful weighing of a number of variables of          terminated by an appropriate adjudicative
                                             does not, create any right to administrative or         an individual’s life to make an affirmative           agency in the face of reliable, significant,
                                             judicial review, or any other right or benefit,         determination that the individual is an               disqualifying, adverse information.
                                             or trust responsibility substantive or                  acceptable security risk. This is known as the           (f) When information of security concern
                                             procedural, enforceable by a party against the          whole-person concept. All available, reliable         becomes known about an individual who is
                                             United States, its agencies or                          information about the person, past and                currently eligible for access to classified
                                             instrumentalities, its officers or employees,           present, favorable and unfavorable, should be         information or eligible to hold a sensitive
                                             or any other person.                                    considered in reaching a national security            position, the adjudicator should consider
                                                F. Effective Date: This Directive becomes            eligibility determination.                            whether the individual:
                                             effective June 8, 2017.                                    (b) Each case must be judged on its own               (1) Voluntarily reported the information;
                                                                                                     merits, and the final determination remains              (2) Was truthful and complete in
                                             Annex A to Appendix A to Part 710—                      the responsibility of the authorized                  responding to questions;
                                             National Security Adjudicative                          adjudicative agency. Any doubt concerning                (3) Sought assistance and followed
                                             Guidelines for Determining Eligibility                  personnel being considered for national               professional guidance, where appropriate;
                                             for Access to Classified Information or                 security eligibility will be resolved in favor           (4) Resolved or appears likely to favorably
                                                                                                     of the national security.                             resolve the security concern;
                                             Eligibility to Hold a Sensitive Position
                                                                                                        (c) The ultimate determination of whether             (5) Has demonstrated positive changes in
                                             1. Introduction                                         the granting or continuing of national                behavior; and
                                                (a) The following National Security                  security eligibility is clearly consistent with          (6) Should have his or her national security
                                             Adjudicative Guidelines (‘‘guidelines’’) are            the interests of national security must be an         eligibility suspended pending final
                                             established as the single common criteria for           overall common sense judgment based upon              adjudication of the information.
                                             all U.S. Government civilian and military               careful consideration of the following                   (g) If after evaluating information of
                                             personnel, consultants, contractors,                    guidelines, each of which is to be evaluated          security concern, the adjudicator decides the
                                             licensees, certificate holders or grantees and          in the context of the whole person.                   information is serious enough to warrant a
                                             their employees, and other individuals who              (1) GUIDELINE A: Allegiance to the United             recommendation of denial or revocation of
                                             require initial or continued eligibility for                  States                                          the national security eligibility, but the
                                             access to classified information or eligibility         (2) GUIDELINE B: Foreign Influence                    specific risk to national security can be
                                             to hold a sensitive position, to include access         (3) GUIDELINE C: Foreign Preference                   managed with appropriate mitigation
                                             to sensitive compartmented information,                 (4) GUIDELINE D: Sexual Behavior                      measures, an adjudicator may recommend
                                             restricted data, and controlled or special              (5) GUIDELINE E: Personal Conduct                     approval to grant initial or continued
                                             access program information (hereafter                   (6) GUIDELINE F: Financial Considerations             eligibility for access to classified information
                                             referred to as ‘‘national security eligibility’’).      (7) GUIDELINE G: Alcohol Consumption                  or to hold a sensitive position with an
                                             These guidelines shall be used by all                   (8) GUIDELINE H: Drug Involvement and                 exception as defined in Appendix C of this
                                             Executive Branch Agencies when rendering                      Substance Misuse                                document.
                                             any final national security eligibility                 (9) GUIDELINE I: Psychological Conditions                (h) If after evaluating information of
                                             determination.                                          (10) GUIDELINE J: Criminal Conduct                    security concern, the adjudicator decides that
                                                (b) National security eligibility                    (11) GUIDELINE K: Handling Protected                  the information is not serious enough to
                                             determinations take into account a person’s                   Information                                     warrant a recommendation of denial or
                                             stability, trustworthiness, reliability,                (12) GUIDELINE L: Outside Activities                  revocation of the national security eligibility,
                                             discretion, character, honesty, and judgment.           (13) GUIDELINE M: Use of Information                  an adjudicator may recommend approval
                                             Individuals must be unquestionably loyal to                   Technology                                      with a warning that future incidents of a
                                             the United States. No amount of oversight or               (d) In evaluating the relevance of an              similar nature or other incidents of
                                             security procedures can replace the self-               individual’s conduct, the adjudicator should          adjudicative concern may result in
                                             discipline and integrity of an individual               consider the following factors:                       revocation of national security eligibility.
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                                             entrusted to protect the nation’s secrets or               (1) The nature, extent, and seriousness of            (i) It must be noted that the adjudicative
                                             occupying a sensitive position. When a                  the conduct;                                          process is predicated upon individuals
                                             person’s life history shows evidence of                    (2) The circumstances surrounding the              providing relevant information pertaining to
                                             unreliability or untrustworthiness, questions           conduct, to include knowledgeable                     their background and character for use in
                                             arise as to whether the individual can be               participation;                                        investigating and adjudicating their national
                                             relied upon and trusted to exercise the                    (3) The frequency and recency of the               security eligibility. Any incident of
                                             responsibility necessary for working in an              conduct;                                              intentional material falsification or



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                                             57110            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 231 / Monday, December 4, 2017 / Rules and Regulations

                                             purposeful non-cooperation with security                in divided allegiance. They may also be a                (b) There is no conflict of interest, either
                                             processing is of significant concern. Such              national security concern if they create              because the individual’s sense of loyalty or
                                             conduct raises questions about an                       circumstances in which the individual may             obligation to the foreign person, or allegiance
                                             individual’s judgment, reliability, and                 be manipulated or induced to help a foreign           to the group, government, or country is so
                                             trustworthiness and may be predictive of                person, group, organization, or government            minimal, or the individual has such deep and
                                             their willingness or ability to protect the             in a way inconsistent with U.S. interests or          longstanding relationships and loyalties in
                                             national security.                                      otherwise made vulnerable to pressure or              the United States, that the individual can be
                                                                                                     coercion by any foreign interest. Assessment          expected to resolve any conflict of interest in
                                             Guidelines                                              of foreign contacts and interests should              favor of the U.S. interest;
                                             Guideline A: Allegiance to the United States            consider the country in which the foreign                (c) Contact or communication with foreign
                                                                                                     contact or interest is located, including, but        citizens is so casual and infrequent that there
                                                3. The Concern. The willingness to                                                                         is little likelihood that it could create a risk
                                                                                                     not limited to, considerations such as
                                             safeguard classified or sensitive information                                                                 for foreign influence or exploitation;
                                                                                                     whether it is known to target U.S. citizens to
                                             is in doubt if there is any reason to suspect                                                                    (d) The foreign contacts and activities are
                                                                                                     obtain classified or sensitive information or
                                             an individual’s allegiance to the United                                                                      on U.S. Government business or are
                                                                                                     is associated with a risk of terrorism.
                                             States. There is no positive test for allegiance,                                                             approved by the agency head or designee;
                                                                                                        7. Conditions that could raise a security
                                             but there are negative indicators. These                                                                         (e) The individual has promptly complied
                                                                                                     concern and may be disqualifying include:
                                             include participation in or support for acts                                                                  with existing agency requirements regarding
                                                                                                        (a) Contact, regardless of method, with a
                                             against the United States or placing the                                                                      the reporting of contacts, requests, or threats
                                                                                                     foreign family member, business or
                                             welfare or interests of another country above                                                                 from persons, groups, or organizations from
                                                                                                     professional associate, friend, or other person
                                             those of the United States. Finally, the failure                                                              a foreign country; and
                                                                                                     who is a citizen of or resident in a foreign
                                             to adhere to the laws of the United States                                                                       (f) The value or routine nature of the
                                                                                                     country if that contact creates a heightened
                                             may be relevant if the violation of law is                                                                    foreign business, financial, or property
                                                                                                     risk of foreign exploitation, inducement,
                                             harmful to stated U.S. interests. An                                                                          interests is such that they are unlikely to
                                             individual who engages in acts against the              manipulation, pressure, or coercion;
                                                                                                        (b) Connections to a foreign person, group,        result in a conflict and could not be used
                                             United States or provides support or                                                                          effectively to influence, manipulate, or
                                             encouragement to those who do has already               government, or country that create a potential
                                                                                                     conflict of interest between the individual’s         pressure the individual.
                                             demonstrated willingness to compromise
                                             national security.                                      obligation to protect classified or sensitive         Guideline C: Foreign Preference
                                                4. Conditions that could raise a security            information or technology and the
                                                                                                                                                              9. The Concern. When an individual acts
                                             concern and may be disqualifying include:               individual’s desire to help a foreign person,
                                                                                                                                                           in such a way as to indicate a preference for
                                                (a) Involvement in, support of, training to          group, or country by providing that
                                                                                                                                                           a foreign country over the United States, then
                                             commit, or advocacy of any act of sabotage,             information or technology;
                                                                                                                                                           he or she may provide information or make
                                             espionage, treason, terrorism, or sedition                 (c) Failure to report or fully disclose, when
                                                                                                                                                           decisions that are harmful to the interests of
                                             against the United States;                              required, association with a foreign person,
                                                                                                                                                           the United States. Foreign involvement raises
                                                (b) Association or sympathy with persons             group, government, or country;
                                                                                                                                                           concerns about an individual’s judgment,
                                             who are attempting to commit, or who are                   (d) Counterintelligence information,               reliability, and trustworthiness when it is in
                                             committing, any of the above acts; and                  whether classified or unclassified, that              conflict with U.S. national interests or when
                                                (c) Association or sympathy with persons             indicates the individual’s access to classified       the individual acts to conceal it. By itself, the
                                             or organizations that advocate, threaten, or            information or eligibility for a sensitive            fact that a U.S. citizen is also a citizen of
                                             use force or violence, or use any other illegal         position may involve unacceptable risk to             another country is not disqualifying without
                                             or unconstitutional means, in an effort to:             national security;                                    an objective showing of such conflict or
                                                (1) Overthrow or influence the U.S.                     (e) Shared living quarters with a person or        attempt at concealment. The same is true for
                                             Government or any state or local government;            persons, regardless of citizenship status, if         a U.S. citizen’s exercise of any right or
                                                (2) Prevent Federal, state, or local                 that relationship creates a heightened risk of        privilege of foreign citizenship and any
                                             government personnel from performing their              foreign inducement, manipulation, pressure,           action to acquire or obtain recognition of a
                                             official duties;                                        or coercion;                                          foreign citizenship.
                                                (3) Gain retribution for perceived wrongs               (f) Substantial business, financial, or               10. Conditions that could raise a security
                                             caused by the Federal, state, or local                  property interests in a foreign country, or in        concern and may be disqualifying include:
                                             government; and                                         any foreignowned or foreign-operated                     (a) Applying for and/or acquiring
                                                (4) Prevent others from exercising their             business that could subject the individual to         citizenship in any other country;
                                             rights under the Constitution or laws of the            a heightened risk of foreign influence or                (b) Failure to report, or fully disclose when
                                             United States or of any state.                          exploitation or personal conflict of interest;        required, to an appropriate security official,
                                                5. Conditions that could mitigate security              (g) Unauthorized association with a                the possession of a passport or identity card
                                             concerns include:                                       suspected or known agent, associate, or               issued by any country other than the United
                                                (a) The individual was unaware of the                employee of a foreign intelligence entity;            States;
                                             unlawful aims of the individual or                         (h) Indications that representatives or               (c) Failure to use a U.S. passport when
                                             organization and severed ties upon learning             nationals from a foreign country are acting to        entering or exiting the U.S.;
                                             of these;                                               increase the vulnerability of the individual to          (d) Participation in foreign activities,
                                                (b) The individual’s involvement was                 possible future exploitation, inducement,             including but not limited to:
                                             humanitarian and permitted under U.S. law;              manipulation, pressure, or coercion; and                 (1) Assuming or attempting to assume any
                                                (c) Involvement in the above activities                 (i) Conduct, especially while traveling or         type of employment, position, or political
                                             occurred for only a short period of time and            residing outside the U.S., that may make the          office in a foreign government or military
                                             was attributable to curiosity or academic               individual vulnerable to exploitation,                organization; and
                                             interest; and                                           pressure, or coercion by a foreign person,               (2) Otherwise acting to serve the interests
                                                (d) The involvement or association with              group, government, or country.                        of a foreign person, group, organization, or
                                             such activities occurred under such unusual                8. Conditions that could mitigate security         government in any way that conflicts with
                                             circumstances, or so much time has elapsed,             concerns include:                                     U.S. national security interests;
                                             that it is unlikely to recur and does not cast             (a) The nature of the relationships with              (e) Using foreign citizenship to protect
                                             doubt on the individual’s current reliability,          foreign persons, the country in which these           financial or business interests in another
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                                             trustworthiness, or allegiance.                         persons are located, or the positions or              country in violation of U.S. law; and
                                                                                                     activities of those persons in that country are          (f) An act of expatriation from the United
                                             Guideline B: Foreign Influence                          such that it is unlikely the individual will be       States such as declaration of intent to
                                               6. The Concern. Foreign contacts and                  placed in a position of having to choose              renounce U.S. citizenship, whether through
                                             interests, including, but not limited to,               between the interests of a foreign individual,        words or actions.
                                             business, financial, and property interests,            group, organization, or government and the               11. Conditions that could mitigate security
                                             are a national security concern if they result          interests of the United States;                       concerns include:



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                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 231 / Monday, December 4, 2017 / Rules and Regulations                                              57111

                                                (a) The foreign citizenship is not in conflict       compliance with the treatment plan, and/or            comply with rules and regulations, or other
                                             with U.S. national security interests;                  has received a favorable prognosis from a             characteristics indicating that the individual
                                                (b) Dual citizenship is based solely on              qualified mental health professional                  may not properly safeguard classified or
                                             parental citizenship or birth in a foreign              indicating the behavior is readily controllable       sensitive information. This includes, but is
                                             country, and there is no evidence of foreign            with treatment.                                       not limited to, consideration of:
                                             preference;                                                                                                      (1) Untrustworthy or unreliable behavior to
                                                (c) The individual has expressed a                   Guideline E: Personal Conduct                         include breach of client confidentiality,
                                             willingness to renounce the foreign                        15. The Concern. Conduct involving                 release of proprietary information,
                                             citizenship that is in conflict with U.S.               questionable judgment, lack of candor,                unauthorized release of sensitive corporate or
                                             national security interests;                            dishonesty, or unwillingness to comply with           government protected information;
                                                (d) The exercise of the rights, privileges, or       rules and regulations can raise questions                (2) Any disruptive, violent, or other
                                             obligations of foreign citizenship occurred             about an individual’s reliability,                    inappropriate behavior;
                                             before the individual became a U.S. citizen;            trustworthiness, and ability to protect                  (3) A pattern of dishonesty or rule
                                                (e) The exercise of the entitlements or              classified or sensitive information. Of special       violations; and
                                             benefits of foreign citizenship do not present          interest is any failure to cooperate or provide          (4) Evidence of significant misuse of
                                             a national security concern;                            truthful and candid answers during national           Government or other employer’s time or
                                                (f) The foreign preference, if detected,             security investigative or adjudicative                resources;
                                             involves a foreign country, entity, or                  processes. The following will normally result            (e) Personal conduct, or concealment of
                                             association that poses a low national security          in an unfavorable national security eligibility       information about one’s conduct, that creates
                                             risk;                                                   determination, security clearance action, or          a vulnerability to exploitation, manipulation,
                                                (g) Civil employment or military service             cancellation of further processing for national       or duress by a foreign intelligence entity or
                                             was authorized under U.S. law, or the                   security eligibility:                                 other individual or group. Such conduct
                                             employment or service was otherwise                        (a) Refusal, or failure without reasonable         includes:
                                             consented to as required by U.S. law; and               cause, to undergo or cooperate with security             (1) Engaging in activities which, if known,
                                                (h) Any potentially disqualifying activity           processing, including but not limited to              could affect the person’s personal,
                                                                                                     meeting with a security investigator for              professional, or community standing;
                                             took place after receiving the approval by the
                                                                                                     subject interview, completing security forms             (2) While in another country, engaging in
                                             agency head or designee.
                                                                                                     or releases, cooperation with medical or              any activity that is illegal in that country;
                                             Guideline D: Sexual Behavior                            psychological evaluation, or polygraph                   (3) While in another country, engaging in
                                                12. The Concern. Sexual behavior that                examination, if authorized and required; and          any activity that, while legal there, is illegal
                                                                                                        (b) Refusal to provide full, frank, and            in the United States;
                                             involves a criminal offense; reflects a lack of
                                                                                                                                                              (f) Violation of a written or recorded
                                             judgment or discretion; or may subject the              truthful answers to lawful questions of
                                                                                                                                                           commitment made by the individual to the
                                             individual to undue influence of coercion,              investigators, security officials, or other
                                                                                                                                                           employer as a condition of employment; and
                                             exploitation, or duress. These issues, together         official representatives in connection with a
                                                                                                                                                              (g) Association with persons involved in
                                             or individually, may raise questions about an           personnel security or trustworthiness
                                                                                                                                                           criminal activity.
                                             individual’s judgment, reliability,                     determination.                                           17. Conditions that could mitigate security
                                             trustworthiness, and ability to protect                    16. Conditions that could raise a security         concerns include:
                                             classified or sensitive information. Sexual             concern and may be disqualifying include:                (a) The individual made prompt, good-faith
                                             behavior includes conduct occurring in                     (a) Deliberate omission, concealment, or           efforts to correct the omission, concealment,
                                             person or via audio, visual, electronic, or             falsification of relevant facts from any              or falsification before being confronted with
                                             written transmission. No adverse inference              personnel security questionnaire, personal            the facts;
                                             concerning the standards in this Guideline              history statement, or similar form used to               (b) The refusal or failure to cooperate,
                                             may be raised solely on the basis of the                conduct investigations, determine                     omission, or concealment was caused or
                                             sexual orientation of the individual.                   employment qualifications, award benefits or          significantly contributed to by advice of legal
                                                13. Conditions that could raise a security           status, determine national security eligibility       counsel or of a person with professional
                                             concern and may be disqualifying include:               or trustworthiness, or award fiduciary                responsibilities for advising or instructing the
                                                (a) Sexual behavior of a criminal nature,            responsibilities;                                     individual specifically concerning security
                                             whether or not the individual has been                     (b) Deliberately providing false or                processes. Upon being made aware of the
                                             prosecuted;                                             misleading information; or concealing or              requirement to cooperate or provide the
                                                (b) A pattern of compulsive, self-                   omitting information, concerning relevant             information, the individual cooperated fully
                                             destructive, or high-risk sexual behavior that          facts to an employer, investigator, security          and truthfully;
                                             the individual is unable to stop;                       official, competent medical or mental health             (c) The offense is so minor, or so much
                                                (c) Sexual behavior that causes an                   professional involved in making a                     time has passed, or the behavior is so
                                             individual to be vulnerable to coercion,                recommendation relevant to a national                 infrequent, or it happened under such unique
                                             exploitation, or duress; and                            security eligibility determination, or other          circumstances that it is unlikely to recur and
                                                (d) Sexual behavior of a public nature or            official government representative;                   does not cast doubt on the individual’s
                                             that reflects lack of discretion or judgment.              (c) Credible adverse information in several        reliability, trustworthiness, or good
                                                14. Conditions that could mitigate security          adjudicative issue areas that is not sufficient       judgment;
                                             concerns include:                                       for an adverse determination under any other             (d) The individual has acknowledged the
                                                (a) The behavior occurred prior to or                single guideline, but which, when considered          behavior and obtained counseling to change
                                             during adolescence and there is no evidence             as a whole, supports a whole-person                   the behavior or taken other positive steps to
                                             of subsequent conduct of a similar nature;              assessment of questionable judgment,                  alleviate the stressors, circumstances, or
                                                (b) The sexual behavior happened so long             untrustworthiness, unreliability, lack of             factors that contributed to untrustworthy,
                                             ago, so infrequently, or under such unusual             candor, unwillingness to comply with rules            unreliable, or other inappropriate behavior,
                                             circumstances, that it is unlikely to recur and         and regulations, or other characteristics             and such behavior is unlikely to recur;
                                             does not cast doubt on the individual’s                 indicating that the individual may not                   (e) The individual has taken positive steps
                                             current reliability, trustworthiness, or                properly safeguard classified or sensitive            to reduce or eliminate vulnerability to
                                             judgment;                                               information;                                          exploitation, manipulation, or duress;
                                                (c) The behavior no longer serves as a basis            (d) Credible adverse information that is not          (f) The information was unsubstantiated or
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                                             for coercion, exploitation, or duress;                  explicitly covered under any other guideline          from a source of questionable reliability; and
                                                (d) The sexual behavior is strictly private,         and may not be sufficient by itself for an               (g) Association with persons involved in
                                             consensual, and discreet; and                           adverse determination, but which, when                criminal activities was unwitting, has ceased,
                                                (e) The individual has successfully                  combined with all available information,              or occurs under circumstances that do not
                                             completed an appropriate program of                     supports a whole-person assessment of                 cast doubt upon the individual’s reliability,
                                             treatment, or is currently enrolled in one, has         questionable judgment, untrustworthiness,             trustworthiness, judgment, or willingness to
                                             demonstrated ongoing and consistent                     unreliability, lack of candor, unwillingness to       comply with rules and regulations.



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                                             57112            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 231 / Monday, December 4, 2017 / Rules and Regulations

                                             Guideline F: Financial Considerations                   service, and there are clear indications that         previous history of treatment and relapse,
                                                18. The Concern. Failure to live within              the problem is being resolved or is under             and is making satisfactory progress in a
                                             one’s means, satisfy debts, and meet financial          control;                                              treatment program; and
                                             obligations may indicate poor self-control,               (d) The individual initiated and is adhering           (d) The individual has successfully
                                             lack of judgment, or unwillingness to abide             to a good-faith effort to repay overdue               completed a treatment program along with
                                             by rules and regulations, all of which can              creditors or otherwise resolve debts;                 any required aftercare, and has demonstrated
                                             raise questions about an individual’s                     (e) The individual has a reasonable basis to        a clear and established pattern of modified
                                             reliability, trustworthiness, and ability to            dispute the legitimacy of the past-due debt           consumption or abstinence in accordance
                                             protect classified or sensitive information.            which is the cause of the problem and                 with treatment recommendations.
                                                                                                     provides documented proof to substantiate
                                             Financial distress can also be caused or                                                                      Guideline H: Drug Involvement 1 and
                                                                                                     the basis of the dispute or provides evidence
                                             exacerbated by, and thus can be a possible                                                                    Substance Misuse
                                                                                                     of actions to resolve the issue;
                                             indicator of, other issues of personnel
                                                                                                       (f) The affluence resulted from a legal                24. The Concern. The illegal use of
                                             security concern such as excessive gambling,
                                                                                                     source of income; and                                 controlled substances, to include the misuse
                                             mental health conditions, substance misuse,
                                                                                                       (g) The individual has made arrangements            of prescription and non-prescription drugs,
                                             or alcohol abuse or dependence. An
                                                                                                     with the appropriate tax authority to file or         and the use of other substances that cause
                                             individual who is financially overextended is
                                                                                                     pay the amount owed and is in compliance              physical or mental impairment or are used in
                                             at greater risk of having to engage in illegal
                                                                                                     with those arrangements.                              a manner inconsistent with their intended
                                             or otherwise questionable acts to generate
                                             funds. Affluence that cannot be explained by            Guideline G: Alcohol Consumption                      purpose can raise questions about an
                                             known sources of income is also a security                                                                    individual’s reliability and trustworthiness,
                                                                                                        21. The Concern. Excessive alcohol                 both because such behavior may lead to
                                             concern insofar as it may result from criminal          consumption often leads to the exercise of
                                             activity, including espionage.                                                                                physical or psychological impairment and
                                                                                                     questionable judgment or the failure to
                                                19. Conditions that could raise a security                                                                 because it raises questions about a person’s
                                                                                                     control impulses, and can raise questions
                                             concern and may be disqualifying include:                                                                     ability or willingness to comply with laws,
                                                                                                     about an individual’s reliability and
                                                (a) Inability to satisfy debts;                                                                            rules, and regulations. Controlled substance
                                                                                                     trustworthiness.
                                                (b) Unwillingness to satisfy debts                      22. Conditions that could raise a security         means any ‘‘controlled substance’’ as defined
                                             regardless of the ability to do so;                     concern and may be disqualifying include:             in 21 U.S.C. 802. Substance misuse is the
                                                (c) A history of not meeting financial                  (a) Alcohol-related incidents away from            generic term adopted in this guideline to
                                             obligations;                                            work, such as driving while under the                 describe any of the behaviors listed in this
                                                (d) Deceptive or illegal financial practices         influence, fighting, child or spouse abuse,           paragraph.
                                             such as embezzlement, employee theft, check             disturbing the peace, or other incidents of              25. Conditions that could raise a security
                                             fraud, expense account fraud, mortgage                  concern, regardless of the frequency of the           concern and may be disqualifying include:
                                             fraud, filing deceptive loan statements and             individual’s alcohol use or whether the                  (a) Any substance misuse (see definition
                                             other intentional financial breaches of trust;          individual has been diagnosed with alcohol            listed in paragraph 24);
                                                (e) Consistent spending beyond one’s                 use disorder;                                            (b) Testing positive for an illegal drug;
                                             means or frivolous or irresponsible spending,              (b) Alcohol-related incidents at work, such           (c) Illegal possession of a controlled
                                             which may be indicated by excessive                     as reporting for work or duty in an                   substance, including cultivation, processing,
                                             indebtedness, significant negative cash flow,           intoxicated or impaired condition, drinking           manufacture, purchase, sale, or distribution;
                                             a history of late payments or of non-payment,           on the job, or jeopardizing the welfare and           or possession of drug paraphernalia;
                                             or other negative financial indicators;                 safety of others, regardless of whether the              (d) Diagnosis by a duly qualified medical
                                                (f) Failure to file or fraudulently filing           individual is diagnosed with alcohol use              or mental health professional (e.g., physician,
                                             annual Federal, state, or local income tax              disorder;                                             clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, or
                                             returns or failure to pay annual Federal, state,           (c) Habitual or binge consumption of               licensed clinical social worker) of substance
                                             or local income tax as required;                        alcohol to the point of impaired judgment,            use disorder;
                                                (g) Unexplained affluence, as shown by a             regardless of whether the individual is                  (e) Failure to successfully complete a drug
                                             lifestyle or standard of living, increase in net        diagnosed with alcohol use disorder;                  treatment program prescribed by a duly
                                             worth, or money transfers that are                         (d) Diagnosis by a duly qualified medical          qualified medical or mental health
                                             inconsistent with known legal sources of                or mental health professional (e.g., physician,       professional;
                                             income;                                                 clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, or                  (f) Any illegal drug use while granted
                                                (h) Borrowing money or engaging in                   licensed clinical social worker) of alcohol use       access to classified information or holding a
                                             significant financial transactions to fund              disorder;                                             sensitive position; and
                                             gambling or pay gambling debts; and                        (e) The failure to follow treatment advice            (g) Expressed intent to continue drug
                                                (i) Concealing gambling losses, family               once diagnosed;                                       involvement and substance misuse, or failure
                                             conflict, or other problems caused by                      (f) Alcohol consumption, which is not in           to clearly and convincingly commit to
                                             gambling.                                               accordance with treatment recommendations,            discontinue such misuse.
                                                20. Conditions that could mitigate security          after a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder; and           26. Conditions that could mitigate security
                                             concerns include:                                          (g) Failure to follow any court order              concerns include:
                                                (a) The behavior happened so long ago,               regarding alcohol education, evaluation,                 (a) The behavior happened so long ago,
                                             was so infrequent, or occurred under such               treatment, or abstinence.                             was so infrequent, or happened under such
                                             circumstances that it is unlikely to recur and             23. Conditions that could mitigate security        circumstances that it is unlikely to recur or
                                             does not cast doubt on the individual’s                 concerns include:                                     does not cast doubt on the individual’s
                                             current reliability, trustworthiness, or good              (a) So much time has passed, or the                current reliability, trustworthiness, or good
                                             judgment;                                               behavior was so infrequent, or it happened            judgment;
                                                (b) The conditions that resulted in the              under such unusual circumstances that it is              (b) The individual acknowledges his or her
                                             financial problem were largely beyond the               unlikely to recur or does not cast doubt on           drug involvement and substance misuse,
                                             person’s control (e.g., loss of employment, a           the individual’s current reliability,                 provides evidence of actions taken to
                                             business downturn, unexpected medical                   trustworthiness, or judgment;                         overcome this problem, and has established
                                             emergency, a death, divorce or separation,                 (b) The individual acknowledges his or her         a pattern of abstinence, including, but not
                                             clear victimization by predatory lending                pattern of maladaptive alcohol use, provides          limited to:
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                                             practices, or identity theft), and the                  evidence of actions taken to overcome this               (1) Disassociation from drug-using
                                             individual acted responsibly under the                  problem, and has demonstrated a clear and             associates and contacts;
                                             circumstances;                                          established pattern of modified consumption
                                                (c) The individual has received or is                or abstinence in accordance with treatment              1 Reference annex B to this appendix regarding
                                             receiving financial counseling for the                  recommendations;                                      statutory requirements contained in Public Law
                                             problem from a legitimate and credible                     (c) The individual is participating in             110–118 (Bond Amendment) applicable to this
                                             source, such as a non-profit credit counseling          counseling or a treatment program, has no             guideline.



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                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 231 / Monday, December 4, 2017 / Rules and Regulations                                              57113

                                               (2) Changing or avoiding the environment                (a) The identified condition is readily             with the terms of parole or probation, job
                                             where drugs were used; and                              controllable with treatment, and the                  training or higher education, good
                                               (3) Providing a signed statement of intent            individual has demonstrated ongoing and               employment record, or constructive
                                             to abstain from all drug involvement and                consistent compliance with the treatment              community involvement.
                                             substance misuse, acknowledging that any                plan;
                                                                                                       (b) The individual has voluntarily entered          Guideline K: Handling Protected
                                             future involvement or misuse is grounds for
                                                                                                     a counseling or treatment program for a               Information
                                             revocation of national security eligibility;
                                               (c) Abuse of prescription drugs was after a           condition that is amenable to treatment, and             33. The Concern. Deliberate or negligent
                                             severe or prolonged illness during which                the individual is currently receiving                 failure to comply with rules and regulations
                                             these drugs were prescribed, and abuse has              counseling or treatment with a favorable              for handling protected information—which
                                             since ended; and                                        prognosis by a duly qualified mental health           includes classified and other sensitive
                                               (d) Satisfactory completion of a prescribed           professional;                                         government information, and proprietary
                                             drug treatment program, including, but not                (c) Recent opinion by a duly qualified              information—raises doubt about an
                                             limited to, rehabilitation and aftercare                mental health professional employed by, or            individual’s trustworthiness, judgment,
                                             requirements, without recurrence of abuse,              acceptable to and approved by, the U.S.               reliability, or willingness and ability to
                                             and a favorable prognosis by a duly qualified           Government that an individual’s previous              safeguard such information, and is a serious
                                             medical professional.                                   condition is under control or in remission,           security concern.
                                                                                                     and has a low probability of recurrence or               34. Conditions that could raise a security
                                             Guideline I: Psychological Conditions 2                 exacerbation;                                         concern and may be disqualifying include:
                                                27. The Concern. Certain emotional,                    (d) The past psychological/psychiatric                 (a) Deliberate or negligent disclosure of
                                             mental, and personality conditions can                  condition was temporary, the situation has            protected information to unauthorized
                                             impair judgment, reliability, or                        been resolved, and the individual no longer           persons, including, but not limited to,
                                             trustworthiness. A formal diagnosis of a                shows indications of emotional instability;           personal or business contacts, the media, or
                                             disorder is not required for there to be a                (e) There is no indication of a current             persons present at seminars, meetings, or
                                             concern under this guideline. A duly                    problem.                                              conferences;
                                             qualified mental health professional (e.g.,             Guideline J: Criminal Conduct 3                          (b) Collecting or storing protected
                                             clinical psychologist or psychiatrist)                                                                        information in any unauthorized location;
                                                                                                       30. The Concern. Criminal activity creates             (c) Loading, drafting, editing, modifying,
                                             employed by, or acceptable to and approved
                                                                                                     doubt about a person’s judgment, reliability,
                                             by the U.S. Government, should be consulted                                                                   storing, transmitting, or otherwise handling
                                                                                                     and trustworthiness. By its very nature, it
                                             when evaluating potentially disqualifying                                                                     protected information, including images, on
                                                                                                     calls into question a person’s ability or
                                             and mitigating information under this                                                                         any unauthorized equipment or medium;
                                                                                                     willingness to comply with laws, rules, and
                                             guideline and an opinion, including                                                                              (d) Inappropriate efforts to obtain or view
                                                                                                     regulations.
                                             prognosis, should be sought. No negative                                                                      protected information outside one’s need to
                                                                                                       31. Conditions that could raise a security
                                             inference concerning the standards in this                                                                    know;
                                                                                                     concern and may be disqualifying include:
                                             guideline may be raised solely on the basis                                                                      (e) Copying or modifying protected
                                                                                                       (a) A pattern of minor offenses, any one of
                                             of mental health counseling.                                                                                  information in an unauthorized manner
                                                                                                     which on its own would be unlikely to affect
                                                28. Conditions that could raise a security                                                                 designed to conceal or remove classification
                                                                                                     a national security eligibility decision, but
                                             concern and may be disqualifying include:               which in combination cast doubt on the                or other document control markings;
                                                (a) Behavior that casts doubt on an                  individual’s judgment, reliability, or                   (f) Viewing or downloading information
                                             individual’s judgment, stability, reliability, or       trustworthiness;                                      from a secure system when the information
                                             trustworthiness, not covered under any other              (b) Evidence (including, but not limited to,        is beyond the individual’s need-to-know;
                                             guideline and that may indicate an                      a credible allegation, an admission, and                 (g) Any failure to comply with rules for the
                                             emotional, mental, or personality condition,            matters of official record) of criminal               protection of classified or sensitive
                                             including, but not limited to, irresponsible,           conduct, regardless of whether the individual         information;
                                             violent, self-harm, suicidal, paranoid,                 was formally charged, prosecuted, or                     (h) Negligence or lax security practices that
                                             manipulative, impulsive, chronic lying,                 convicted;                                            persist despite counseling by management;
                                             deceitful, exploitative, or bizarre behaviors;            (c) Individual is currently on parole or            and
                                                (b) An opinion by a duly qualified mental            probation;                                               (i) Failure to comply with rules or
                                             health professional that the individual has a             (d) Violation or revocation of parole or            regulations that results in damage to the
                                             condition that may impair judgment,                     probation, or failure to complete a court-            national security, regardless of whether it
                                             stability, reliability, or trustworthiness;             mandated rehabilitation program; and                  was deliberate or negligent.
                                                (c) Voluntary or involuntary inpatient                 (e) Discharge or dismissal from the Armed              35. Conditions that could mitigate security
                                             hospitalization;                                        Forces for reasons less than ‘‘Honorable.’’           concerns include:
                                                (d) Failure to follow a prescribed treatment           32. Conditions that could mitigate security            (a) So much time has elapsed since the
                                             plan related to a diagnosed psychological/              concerns include:                                     behavior, or it has happened so infrequently
                                             psychiatric condition that may impair                     (a) So much time has elapsed since the              or under such unusual circumstances, that it
                                             judgment, stability, reliability, or                    criminal behavior happened, or it happened            is unlikely to recur and does not cast doubt
                                             trustworthiness, including, but not limited             under such unusual circumstances, that it is          on the individual’s current reliability,
                                             to, failure to take prescribed medication or            unlikely to recur and does not cast doubt on          trustworthiness, or good judgment;
                                             failure to attend required counseling                   the individual’s reliability, trustworthiness,           (b) The individual responded favorably to
                                             sessions; and                                           or good judgment;                                     counseling or remedial security training and
                                                (e) Pathological gambling, the associated              (b) The individual was pressured or                 now demonstrates a positive attitude toward
                                             behaviors of which may include unsuccessful             coerced into committing the act and those             the discharge of security responsibilities;
                                             attempts to stop gambling; gambling for                 pressures are no longer present in the                   (c) The security violations were due to
                                             increasingly higher stakes, usually in an               person’s life;                                        improper or inadequate training or unclear
                                             attempt to cover losses; concealing gambling              (c) No reliable evidence to support that the        instructions; and
                                             losses; borrowing or stealing money to fund             individual committed the offense; and                    (d) The violation was inadvertent, it was
                                             gambling or pay gambling debts; and family                (d) There is evidence of successful                 promptly reported, there is no evidence of
                                             conflict resulting from gambling.                       rehabilitation; including, but not limited to,        compromise, and it does not suggest a
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                                                29. Conditions that could mitigate security          the passage of time without recurrence of             pattern.
                                             concerns include:                                       criminal activity, restitution, compliance
                                                                                                                                                           Guideline L: Outside Activities
                                               2 Reference annex B to this appendix regarding          3 Reference annex B to this appendix regarding        36. The Concern. Involvement in certain
                                             statutory requirements contained in Public Law          statutory requirements contained in Public Law        types of outside employment or activities is
                                             110–118 (Bond Amendment) applicable to this             110–118 (Bond Amendment) applicable to this           of security concern if it poses a conflict of
                                             guideline.                                              guideline.                                            interest with an individual’s security



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                                             57114            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 231 / Monday, December 4, 2017 / Rules and Regulations

                                             responsibilities and could create an increased            (h) Any misuse of information technology,             (b) Has been discharged or dismissed from
                                             risk of unauthorized disclosure of classified           whether deliberate or negligent, that results         the Armed Forces under dishonorable
                                             or sensitive information.                               in damage to the national security.                   conditions; or
                                                37. Conditions that could raise a security             41. Conditions that could mitigate security           (c) Is determined to be mentally
                                             concern and may be disqualifying include:               concerns include:                                     incompetent; an individual is ‘‘mentally
                                                (a) Any employment or service, whether                 (a) So much time has elapsed since the              incompetent’’ when he or she has been
                                             compensated or volunteer, with:                         behavior happened, or it happened under               declared mentally incompetent as
                                                (1) The government of a foreign country;             such unusual circumstances, that it is                determined by competency proceedings
                                                (2) Any foreign national, organization, or           unlikely to recur and does not cast doubt on          conducted in a court or administrative
                                             other entity;                                           the individual’s reliability, trustworthiness,        agency with proper jurisdiction.
                                                (3) A representative of any foreign interest;        or good judgment;                                       3. Waiver Standard and Procedures: When
                                             and                                                       (b) The misuse was minor and done solely            a disqualifier reflected in paragraphs 2(a)
                                                (4) Any foreign, domestic, or international          in the interest of organizational efficiency          through (c) of this annex B exists, the
                                             organization or person engaged in analysis,             and effectiveness;                                    adjudicator will proceed with the
                                             discussion, or publication of material on                 (c) The conduct was unintentional or                adjudication using the appropriate mitigation
                                             intelligence, defense, foreign affairs, or              inadvertent and was followed by a prompt,             conditions found in these adjudicative
                                             protected technology; and                               good-faith effort to correct the situation and        guidelines. If the adjudicator would have
                                                (b) Failure to report or fully disclose an           by notification to appropriate personnel; and         arrived at a favorable decision but for the
                                             outside activity when this is required.                   (d) The misuse was due to improper or               Bond Amendment disqualification, a
                                                38. Conditions that could mitigate security          inadequate training or unclear instructions.          meritorious waiver may be appropriate.
                                             concerns include:                                                                                               (a) Meritorious waivers will be considered
                                                (a) Evaluation of the outside employment                                                                   an ‘‘Exception’’ to the adjudicative guidelines
                                                                                                     Annex B to Appendix A to Part 710—                    and will be annotated as a ‘‘Waiver’’ in the
                                             or activity by the appropriate security or
                                             counterintelligence office indicates that it            Bond Amendment Guidance                               adjudicative decision recorded in the
                                             does not pose a conflict with an individual’s              On January 28, 2008, Congress amended              appropriate databases listed in paragraph E.5
                                             security responsibilities or with the national          the IRTPA of 2004, adding statutory                   of this appendix. Adjudicators will provide
                                             security interests of the United States; and            restrictions on certain eligibility                   a detailed justification for the meritorious
                                                (b) The individual terminated the                    determinations and establishing waiver and            waiver in the final adjudicative report.
                                             employment or discontinued the activity                 congressional reporting requirements. These             (b) If, after applying the appropriate
                                             upon being notified that it was in conflict             modifications are collectively referred to as         mitigating factors listed in these adjudicative
                                             with his or her security responsibilities.              the ‘‘Bond Amendments’’ and were made                 guidelines, a meritorious waiver is not
                                                                                                                                                           appropriate, the SCI, SAP, or RD access will
                                             Guideline M: Use of Information Technology              effective on January 1, 2008.4 For the reasons
                                                                                                                                                           be denied or revoked with a written
                                                                                                     identified in paragraph E.2 of this appendix,
                                                39. The Concern. Failure to comply with                                                                    explanation that cites the adjudicative
                                                                                                     application of the Bond Amendment’s
                                             rules, procedures, guidelines, or regulations                                                                 guidelines applied and the Bond Amendment
                                                                                                     statutory restrictions will be applied to all
                                             pertaining to information technology systems                                                                  disqualifier. The authorized adjudicative
                                                                                                     adjudications covered under this Directive.           agency’s established administrative review
                                             may raise security concerns about an                       1. Prohibition: Heads of agencies are
                                             individual’s reliability and trustworthiness,                                                                 procedures shall be followed in all such
                                                                                                     prohibited from granting or renewing                  cases.
                                             calling into question the willingness or                national security eligibility for any covered
                                             ability to properly protect sensitive systems,                                                                  (c) Each authorized adjudicative agency
                                                                                                     individual who is an unlawful user of a               shall maintain a record of the number and
                                             networks, and information. Information                  controlled substance or is an addict as
                                             Technology includes any computer-based,                                                                       type of meritorious waivers granted, to
                                                                                                     defined. If an authorized adjudicative agency         include the rationale for each waiver, and
                                             mobile, or wireless device used to create,              has a case pending review that involves an
                                             store, access, process, manipulate, protect, or                                                               shall report this data annually to the SecEA
                                                                                                     unlawful user of a controlled substance or an         in advance of the annual report to Congress.
                                             move information. This includes any
                                                                                                     addict, the statutory prohibition must be             Authorized adjudicative agencies will also
                                             component, whether integrated into a larger
                                                                                                     applied and the individual will receive the           maintain a record of all disqualifications,
                                             system or not, such as hardware, software, or
                                                                                                     agency’s established administrative review            broken down by type, due to Bond
                                             firmware, used to enable or facilitate these
                                                                                                     procedures. A meritorious waiver may not be           Amendment requirements.
                                             operations.
                                                                                                     authorized with reference to this prohibition.          4. Authorized adjudicative agencies often
                                                40. Conditions that could raise a security
                                                                                                     For purposes of this prohibition:                     have no ability to predict whether the
                                             concern and may be disqualifying include:
                                                                                                        (a) An ‘‘addict’’ is any individual who            covered individual for whom national
                                                (a) Unauthorized entry into any
                                                                                                     habitually uses any narcotic drug so as to            security eligibility determinations are being
                                             information technology system;
                                                                                                     endanger the public morals, health, safety, or        made will also require access to SCI, SAP, or
                                                (b) Unauthorized modification,
                                                                                                     welfare; or is so far addicted to the use of          RD. Accordingly, the guidance in paragraphs
                                             destruction, or manipulation of, or denial of
                                             access to, an information technology system             narcotic drugs as to have lost the power of           4(a) and (b) applies to all national security
                                             or any data in such a system;                           self-control with reference to his addiction.         adjudicative determinations:
                                                (c) Use of any information technology                   (b) A ‘‘controlled substance’’ means any             (a) All adjudicators will determine whether
                                             system to gain unauthorized access to                   ‘‘controlled substance’’ as defined in 21             any of the Bond Amendment disqualifiers in
                                             another system or to a compartmented area               U.S.C. 802.                                           paragraphs 2(a) through (c) of this annex B
                                             within the same system;                                    2. Disqualification: The Bond Amendment            apply to the case being adjudicated.
                                                (d) Downloading, storing, or transmitting            also contains disqualification provisions               (b) If a disqualifier exists, adjudicators
                                             classified, sensitive, proprietary, or other            which apply only to those covered                     shall annotate that fact in one of the
                                             protected information on or to any                      individuals seeking access to Sensitive               databases identified in paragraph E.5 of this
                                             unauthorized information technology system;             Compartmented Information (SCI), Special              annex B to ensure that any subsequent
                                                (e) Unauthorized use of any information              Access Programs (SAP), or Restricted Data             requests for access to SCI, SAP, or RD for the
                                             technology system;                                      (RD). Heads of agencies may not grant or              individual will undergo appropriate re-
                                                (f) Introduction, removal, or duplication of         renew access to SCI, SAP, or RD to a covered          adjudication and waiver procedures in
                                             hardware, firmware, software, or media to or            individual who:                                       meritorious cases.
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                                             from any information technology system                     (a) Has been convicted in any court of the
                                                                                                     U.S. of a crime, was sentenced to                     Annex C to Appendix A to Part 710—
                                             when prohibited by rules, procedures,
                                                                                                     imprisonment for a term exceeding one year,           Exceptions
                                             guidelines, or regulations or when otherwise
                                             not authorized;                                         and was incarcerated as a result of that                Exceptions are an adjudicative decision to
                                                (g) Negligence or lax security practices in          sentence for not less than one year;                  grant initial or continued eligibility for access
                                             handling information technology that persists                                                                 to classified information or to hold a
                                             despite counseling by management; and                     4 IRTPA   of 2004 section 3002, 50 U.S.C. 3343.     sensitive position despite failure to meet the



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                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 231 / Monday, December 4, 2017 / Rules and Regulations                                         57115

                                             full adjudicative or investigative standards.           changing air traffic requirements. These              associated Takeoff Minimums or ODP
                                             The authorized exceptions are defined below             changes are designed to provide safe                  for an identified airport is listed on FAA
                                             and supersede the definitions in Office of              and efficient use of the navigable                    form documents which are incorporated
                                             Management and Budget memorandum,                       airspace and to promote safe flight                   by reference in this amendment under 5
                                             Reciprocal Recognition of Existing Personnel
                                             Security Clearances, 14 November 2007.
                                                                                                     operations under instrument flight rules              U.S.C. 552(a), 1 CFR part 51, and 14
                                                Waiver (W): Eligibility granted or                   at the affected airports.                             CFR part 97.20. The applicable FAA
                                             continued despite the presence of substantial           DATES: This rule is effective December 4,             forms are FAA Forms 8260–3, 8260–4,
                                             issue information that would normally                   2017. The compliance date for each                    8260–5, 8260–15A, and 8260–15B when
                                             preclude eligibility. Approval authorities              SIAP, associated Takeoff Minimums,                    required by an entry on 8260–15A.
                                             may approve a waiver only when the benefit              and ODP is specified in the amendatory                  The large number of SIAPs, Takeoff
                                             of initial or continued eligibility clearly             provisions.                                           Minimums and ODPs, their complex
                                             outweighs any security concerns. A waiver                                                                     nature, and the need for a special format
                                                                                                        The incorporation by reference of
                                             may also require conditions for eligibility as                                                                make publication in the Federal
                                             described below.                                        certain publications listed in the
                                                                                                     regulations is approved by the Director               Register expensive and impractical.
                                                Condition (C): Eligibility granted or
                                                                                                     of the Federal Register as of December                Further, airmen do not use the
                                             continued, despite the presence of issue
                                             information that can be partially but not               4, 2017.                                              regulatory text of the SIAPs, Takeoff
                                             completely mitigated, with the provision that           ADDRESSES: Availability of matters
                                                                                                                                                           Minimums or ODPs, but instead refer to
                                             additional security measures shall be                   incorporated by reference in the                      their graphic depiction on charts
                                             required to mitigate the issue(s). Such                 amendment is as follows:                              printed by publishers of aeronautical
                                             measures include, but are not limited to,                                                                     materials. Thus, the advantages of
                                             additional security monitoring, access                  For Examination                                       incorporation by reference are realized
                                             restrictions, submission of periodic financial                                                                and publication of the complete
                                             statements, or attendance at counseling                   1. U.S. Department of Transportation,
                                                                                                     Docket Ops–M30, 1200 New Jersey                       description of each SIAP, Takeoff
                                             sessions.
                                                                                                     Avenue SE., West Bldg., Ground Floor,                 Minimums and ODP listed on FAA form
                                                Deviation (D): Eligibility granted or
                                             continued despite either a significant gap in           Washington, DC 20590–0001.                            documents is unnecessary. This
                                             coverage or scope of the investigation.                   2. The FAA Air Traffic Organization                 amendment provides the affected CFR
                                             ‘‘Significant gap’’ for this purpose means              Service Area in which the affected                    sections and specifies the types of
                                             either complete lack of coverage for a period           airport is located;                                   SIAPs, Takeoff Minimums and ODPs
                                             of six months or longer within the most                   3. The office of Aeronautical                       with their applicable effective dates.
                                             recent five years investigated or the lack of           Navigation Products, 6500 South                       This amendment also identifies the
                                             one or more relevant investigative scope                                                                      airport and its location, the procedure,
                                             components (e.g., employment checks,
                                                                                                     MacArthur Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK
                                                                                                     73169 or,                                             and the amendment number.
                                             financial review, or a subject interview) in its
                                             entirety.                                                 4. The National Archives and Records                Availability and Summary of Material
                                                Out of Scope (O): Reinvestigation is                 Administration (NARA). For                            Incorporated by Reference
                                             overdue.                                                information on the availability of this
                                                                                                     material at NARA, call 202–741–6030,                    The material incorporated by
                                             [FR Doc. 2017–25257 Filed 12–1–17; 8:45 am]                                                                   reference is publicly available as listed
                                                                                                     or go to: http://www.archives.gov/
                                             BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
                                                                                                     federal_register/code_of_federal_                     in the ADDRESSES section.
                                                                                                                                                             The material incorporated by
                                                                                                     regulations/ibr_locations.html.
                                                                                                                                                           reference describes SIAPS, Takeoff
                                             DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION                            Availability                                          Minimums and/or ODPS as identified in
                                                                                                       All SIAPs and Takeoff Minimums and                  the amendatory language for part 97 of
                                             Federal Aviation Administration                                                                               this final rule.
                                                                                                     ODPs are available online free of charge.
                                                                                                     Visit the National Flight Data Center at              The Rule
                                             14 CFR Part 97
                                                                                                     nfdc.faa.gov to register. Additionally,
                                                                                                                                                              This amendment to 14 CFR part 97 is
                                             [Docket No. 31166; Amdt. No. 3775]                      individual SIAP and Takeoff Minimums
                                                                                                                                                           effective upon publication of each
                                                                                                     and ODP copies may be obtained from
                                             Standard Instrument Approach                                                                                  separate SIAP, Takeoff Minimums and
                                                                                                     the FAA Air Traffic Organization
                                             Procedures, and Takeoff Minimums                                                                              ODP as Amended in the transmittal.
                                                                                                     Service Area in which the affected
                                             and Obstacle Departure Procedures;                                                                            Some SIAP and Takeoff Minimums and
                                                                                                     airport is located.
                                             Miscellaneous Amendments                                                                                      textual ODP amendments may have
                                                                                                     FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      been issued previously by the FAA in a
                                             AGENCY:  Federal Aviation                               Thomas J. Nichols, Flight Procedure                   Flight Data Center (FDC) Notice to
                                             Administration (FAA), DOT.                              Standards Branch (AFS–420), Flight                    Airmen (NOTAM) as an emergency
                                             ACTION: Final rule.
                                                                                                     Technologies and Programs Divisions,                  action of immediate flight safety relating
                                                                                                     Flight Standards Service, Federal                     directly to published aeronautical
                                             SUMMARY:    This rule establishes, amends,              Aviation Administration, Mike                         charts.
                                             suspends, or removes Standard                           Monroney Aeronautical Center, 6500                       The circumstances that created the
                                             Instrument Approach Procedures                          South MacArthur Blvd., Oklahoma City,                 need for some SIAP and Takeoff
                                             (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff                          OK 73169 (Mail Address: P.O. Box                      Minimums and ODP amendments may
                                             Minimums and Obstacle Departure                         25082, Oklahoma City, OK 73125)                       require making them effective in less
                                             Procedures (ODPs) for operations at                     Telephone: (405) 954–4164.                            than 30 days. For the remaining SIAPs
                                             certain airports. These regulatory
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                                                                                                     SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This rule                  and Takeoff Minimums and ODPs, an
                                             actions are needed because of the                       amends Title 14 of the Code of Federal                effective date at least 30 days after
                                             adoption of new or revised criteria, or                 Regulations, Part 97 (14 CFR part 97), by             publication is provided.
                                             because of changes occurring in the                     establishing, amending, suspending, or                   Further, the SIAPs and Takeoff
                                             National Airspace System, such as the                   removes SIAPS, Takeoff Minimums                       Minimums and ODPs contained in this
                                             commissioning of new navigational                       and/or ODPS. The complete regulatory                  amendment are based on the criteria
                                             facilities, adding new obstacles, or                    description of each SIAP and its                      contained in the U.S. Standard for


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Document Created: 2017-12-02 00:40:58
Document Modified: 2017-12-02 00:40:58
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionFinal rule.
DatesThis rule is effective January 3, 2018.
ContactU.S. Department of Energy, Office of Departmental Personnel Security, (202) 586-3249, [email protected], or Christina Pak, Office of the General Counsel, (202) 586-4114, [email protected]
FR Citation82 FR 57105 
RIN Number1992-AA56
CFR AssociatedAdministrative Practice and Procedure; Classified Information; Government Contracts; Government Employees and Nuclear Energy

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