Personnel Security Hearing (10 CFR Part 710)

On October 13, 2013, an OHA Administrative Judge issued a decision in which he determined that an individual’s DOE access authorization should be restored.  The local security office found that the individual had three unpaid charge-off accounts totaling $10,358; 13 unresolved collection accounts totaling $11,519; and five outstanding judgments against her totaling $15,364.  The Administrative Judge determined, however, that the Individual had sufficiently mitigated the security concerns arising from her outstanding debts by submitting evidence showing that she had obtained credit counseling, had consulted an attorney experienced in handling debt issues, and had filed a bankruptcy petition under chapter 13, which had resolved her financial issues.  Accordingly, the Administrative Judge found that the individual had resolved the security concerns.  OHA Case No. PSH-16-0060 (Steven L. Fine)

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Appeal

On October 11, 2016, OHA issued a decision concerning a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Appeal filed by Tim Hadley from a determination issued to him by the DOE’s Office of Information Resources. In his Appeal, Mr. Hadley challenged the DOE’s use of FOIA Exemption 5 to withhold information from two DOE Office of the Inspector General documents it found to be responsive to the FOIA request.  OHA considered the several arguments Mr. Hadley raised in his Appeal, but determined that the information previously withheld under Exemption 5 was properly withheld.  Consequently, OHA upheld the earlier determination.  OHA FIA-16-0050