§ 128.
Control and physical protection of special nuclear material: limitation on dissemination of unclassified information
(a)
(1)
In addition to any other authority or requirement regarding protection from dissemination of information, and subject to
(2)
The Secretary may prescribe regulations or issue orders under paragraph (1) to prohibit the dissemination of any information described in such paragraph only if and to the extent that the Secretary determines that the unauthorized dissemination of such information could reasonably be expected to have a significant adverse effect on the health and safety of the public or the common defense and security by significantly increasing the likelihood of—
(A)
illegal production of nuclear weapons, or
(B)
theft, diversion, or sabotage of special nuclear materials, equipment, or facilities.
(3)
In making a determination under paragraph (2), the Secretary may consider what the likelihood of an illegal production, theft, diversion, or sabotage referred to in such paragraph would be if the information proposed to be prohibited from dissemination under this section were at no time available for dissemination.
(4)
The Secretary shall exercise his authority under this subsection to prohibit the dissemination of any information described in paragraph (1)—
(A)
so as to apply the minimum restrictions needed to protect the health and safety of the public or the common defense and security; and
(B)
upon a determination that the unauthorized dissemination of such information could reasonably be expected to result in a significant adverse effect on the health and safety of the public or the common defense and security by significantly increasing the likelihood of—
(i)
illegal production of nuclear weapons, or
(ii)
theft, diversion, or sabotage of nuclear materials, equipment, or facilities.
(b)
Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize the Secretary to withhold, or to authorize the withholding of, information from the appropriate committees of the Congress.
(d)
Information that the Secretary prohibits to be disseminated pursuant to subsection (a) that is provided to a State or local government shall remain under the control of the Department of Defense, and a State or local law authorizing or requiring a State or local government to disclose such information shall not apply to such information.
(Added [Pub. L. 100–180, div. A, title XI, § 1123(a)], Dec. 4, 1987, [101 Stat. 1149]; amended [Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title XIII, § 1311(1)], Nov. 5, 1990, [104 Stat. 1669]; [Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title X, § 1031(a)(4)], Nov. 24, 2003, [117 Stat. 1596]; [Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title XVI, § 1662(a)(1)], (2), Dec. 23, 2016, [130 Stat. 2614].)