Access authorization means an administrative determination that an individual (including a consultant) who is employed by or an applicant for employment with the NRC, NRC contractors, agents, licensees and certificate holders, or other person designated by the Executive Director for Operations, is eligible for a security clearance for access to classified information.

Act means the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (68 Stat. 919), as amended.

Certificate holder means a facility operating under the provisions of parts 71 or 76 of this chapter.

Classified information means either classified National Security Information, Restricted Data, or Formerly Restricted Data or any one of them. It is the generic term for information requiring protection in the interest of National Security whether classified under an Executive Order or the Atomic Energy Act.

Classified National Security Information means information that has been determined under E.O. 13526, as amended, or any predecessor or successor order to require protection against unauthorized disclosure and that is so designated.

Cognizant Security Agency (CSA) means agencies of the Executive Branch that have been authorized by E.O. 12829 to establish an industrial security program for the purpose of safeguarding classified information under the jurisdiction of those agencies when disclosed or released to U.S. industry. These agencies are the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. A facility has a single CSA which exercises primary authority for the protection of classified information at the facility. The CSA for the facility provides security representation for other government agencies with security interests at the facility. The Secretary of Defense has been designated as Executive Agent for the National Industrial Security Program.

Commission means the Nuclear Regulatory Commission or its duly authorized representatives.

“L” access authorization means an access authorization granted by the Commission that is normally based on a Tier 3 (T3) investigation conducted by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA).

License means a license issued pursuant to 10 CFR parts 50, 52, 60, 63, 70, or 72.

Matter means documents or material.

National Security Information means information that has been determined pursuant to Executive Order 12958, as amended, or any predecessor order to require protection against unauthorized disclosure and that is so designated.

Need-to-know means a determination made by an authorized holder of classified information that a prospective recipient requires access to a specific classified information to perform or assist in a lawful and authorized governmental function under the cognizance of the Commission.

Person means (1) any individual, corporation, partnership, firm, association, trust, estate, public or private institution, group, government agency other than the Commission or the Department of Energy (DOE), except that the DOE shall be considered a person to the extent that its facilities are subject to the licensing and related regulatory authority of the Commission pursuant to section 202 of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 and sections 104, 105 and 202 of the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978, any State or any political subdivision of, or any political entity within a State, any foreign government or nation or any political subdivision of any such government or nation, or other entity; and (2) any legal successor, representative, agent, or agency of the foregoing.

“Q” access authorization means an access authorization granted by the Commission normally based on a Tier 5 (T5) investigation conducted by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, or other U.S. Government agency that conducts personnel security investigations.

Restricted Data means all data concerning design, manufacture or utilization of atomic weapons, the production of special nuclear material, or the use of special nuclear material in the production of energy, but shall not include data declassified or removed from the Restricted Data category pursuant to section 142 of the Act.

Visit authorization letters (VAL) means a letter, generated by a licensee, certificate holder or other organization under the requirements of 10 CFR parts 25 and/or 95, verifying the need-to-know and access authorization of an individual from that organization who needs to visit another authorized facility for the purpose of exchanging or acquiring classified information related to the license.