PSH-21-0080 - In the Matter of Personnel Security Hearing

On August 26, 2021, an Administrative Judge determined that an individual's access authorization under 10 C.F.R. Part 710 should be denied. The Individual is employed by a DOE contractor in a position that requires her to hold a DOE security clearance. During a background investigation, the Local Security Office (LSO) discovered that the Individual had consumed a bottle of wine about 20 nights per month for about two years. During the hearing, the Individual reported that she had not consumed alcohol for nine months and had completed an intensive outpatient program for substance abuse. However, she also reported that she had not continued attending therapy after completing the program and needed to have a non-alcoholic wine daily. The Administrative Judge determined that doubts remained regarding the Individual's future alcohol use and that the Individual had not resolved the security concerns. Accordingly, she concluded that the Individual's access authorization should not be granted. OHA Case No. PSH-21-0080 (Kristin L. Martin).