Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence Prepublication Review Process
What is Prepublication Review?
Prepublication review is the process to determine that information proposed for public release contains no classified intelligence and classified intelligence related information (including Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI)) (hereinafter “covered intelligence”) and is consistent with Intelligence Community Directive (ICD) 711 and established DOE-IN, and IC policies.
Who is obligated to submit their material for review?
Any individual who previously or currently receives, handles, stores, or processes covered intelligence and whose access to covered intelligence was or is sponsored by DOE, including individuals in executive departments and agencies of the U.S. Government, the Executive Office of the President, the legislative and judicial branches of the U.S. Government and all other U.S. entities as defined by EO 13526, Section 6. l(ss) (hereinafter "covered personnel").
Why Perform Prepublication Review?
All covered personnel who were given access to covered intelligence by DOE, or signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) with DOE binds them to these lifetime obligations:
- Safeguarding protected information
- Prepublication Review
- Reporting unauthorized disclosures of protected information
What Should Be Reviewed?
Non-official material that a fully-informed person granted access to covered intelligence might reasonably deem to contain or be derived from covered intelligence and that is intended for disclosure to, or discussion with, one or more individuals not authorized to access covered intelligence, or which is intended for public dissemination.
a. non-official material are products prepared by covered personnel in a personal capacity (i.e., not created in an official U.S. Government capacity or on behalf of the U.S. Government).
b. non-official material may include, but is not limited to works, including works of fiction or non-fiction, such as: prepared oral statements, resumes, editorials, videos, books, scholarly papers, scripts, screenplays, interviews, speeches, newsletters, websites, social media postings, brochures, graphics, briefings, articles, presentations, book reviews, or remarks for panel discussions.
REMINDER: Official DOE information appearing in the public domain shall not be considered automatically UNCLASSIFIED or approved for public release. Information remains classified and must be protected until a U.S. government official with Original Classification Authority (OCA) declassifies the information.
EXEMPTION: Material containing no information about or gained through, one's affiliation with DOE or the Intelligence Community in general (e.g., books about gardening, cooking, sports, crafts, etc.) is not subject to prepublication review.
How long will it take?
Actual review time will vary based on current workloads, the length and subject(s) of the material submitted, and if coordination with other government agencies/departments is required.
Relatively short, and time-sensitive requests will be processes as quickly as possible.
Requestors should allow up to 30 days for processing, 90 for longer/larger materials.
If DOE needs to reach out or coordinate with other agencies/departments, each coordinated agency/department has 15 days to respond to DOE, so those requests may take longer.
If your request is denied, you will be notified of the material portions that are the reason for denial, and given 60 days from the date of denial to submit an appeal. Appeals should be submitted via the same method explained below.
What do I need to send and where do I send my request?
Your submission package must include:
- Title of document
- Document for review in its FULL and FINAL form. Partial information (drafts) will not be accepted.
- Name - *Read the Privacy Act Statement at the end of this section
- Contact Information (address, telephone number, and e-mail address)
- Intended audience or publication venue - please include as much detail as possible
- Specific Deadline, if applicable (i.e., conference date, research paper due date, etc.)
- Written approval for name uses from all former and present DOE affiliates named in your material, if applicable
*PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT: Authority for collecting the information requested is contained in 50 U.S.C. § 402 note; 50 U.S.C. §§ 831-835; and Executive Orders 10450, 12356, 12958, as amended, and 12968. The information provided will be used to verify your identity and potentially classified information and/or information that requires protection from public disclosure. Your disclosure of the requested information is voluntary. However, failure to furnish the requested information may delay the prepublication review of your information.
What happens next?
Once the request is received the prepublication review team will:
- Confirm that the request qualifies as a prepublication review
- Confirm that all required information is included in the package (name, publication venue, etc.)
- Issue an acknowledgement or receipt to the submitter.
- Review the information to ensure that it is unclassified and appropriate for public release.
- Coordinate with internal offices, as needed.
- Issue a determination to the submitter within or by the end of the 30 business days, if applicable
Email the package to:
How do I check on the status of my submission?
Contact the Prepublication Review Team at (202) 287-5529 and request a status check.