Personnel Security (10 CFR Part 710)

On September 5, 2014, an OHA Administrative Judge issued a decision in which she concluded that an individual should not be granted access authorization.  A Local Security Office (LSO) conducted a Personnel Security Interview of the individual to address concerns regarding his alcohol consumption and mental health.  The LSO subsequently referred the individual to meet with a psychiatrist for an examination.  The DOE psychiatrist diagnosed the individual with alcohol abuse disorder and major depressive disorder.  After conducting a hearing and evaluating the evidence, the Administrative Judge found that the while the individual mitigated the concerns with respect to his major depressive disorder, he did not mitigate the concerns with regards to his alcohol dependency.  The Administrative Judge largely relied on the testimony of the DOE psychiatrist, who recommended a year of sobriety in order to establish sufficient evidence of rehabilitation and reformation, and the individual’s expert, a psychologist who evaluated him.  Specifically, the individual has not yet established a sufficient period of abstinence as he last consumed alcohol just three months prior to the hearing. Moreover, the Administrative Judge was concerned about the individual’s judgment as he drank a half of a fifth of vodka after reviewing the DOE psychiatrist’s report, which highlighted issues regarding his alcohol consumption.  OHA Case No. PSH-14-0059 (Shiwali Patel)