L clearance

{{Short description |U.S. Department of Energy security clearance level}} An '''L clearance''' is a [[security clearance]] used by the [[United States Department of Energy]] (DOE) and [[Nuclear Regulatory Commission]] for civilian access relating to [[nuclear material|nuclear materials]] and information under the [[Atomic Energy Act of 1954]]. It is equivalent to a [[United States Department of Defense]] (DOD) [[Security_clearance#Secret|Secret clearance]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.energy.gov/ehss/security-policy-guidance-reports/departmental-personnel-security-faqs|title=Departmental Personnel Security FAQs {{!}} Department of Energy|website=www.energy.gov|language=en|access-date=2018-09-08}}</ref>

The DOE L clearance provides less access than the agency's [[Q clearance]]. L-cleared persons are allowed unescorted access to "limited" and "protected" areas, as well as access to Confidential Restricted Data, Confidential and Secret Formerly Restricted Data, Confidential and Secret National Security Information, and Category III [[special nuclear material]].<ref>[http://www.lanl.gov/security/clearances/index.shtml Clearance Processing], [[Los Alamos National Laboratory]] website, accessed August 26, 2009</ref>

As of 1989, the NRC required the Q clearance for employees in the most important and sensitive positions, while most employees in positions deemed "noncritical-sensitive" held L clearances.<ref>Keith G. Fultz, [http://archive.gao.gov/d39t12/138185.pdf Weaknesses in NRC's Security Clearance Program], US General Accounting Office Testimony, March 15, 1989</ref>

[[File:Dataaccess.tiff|thumb|372x372px|Access authorizations based on clearance level]]

==See also== *[[Classified information in the United States]]

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:L Clearance}} [[Category:Nuclear secrecy]] [[Category:United States Department of Energy]] [[Category:United States government secrecy]]