#### § 11.15 Application for special nuclear material access authorization.

(a)

(1) Application for special nuclear material access authorization, renewal, or change in level must be filed by the licensee on behalf of the applicant with the Director, Division of Facilities and Security, Mail Stop T7-D57, either by mail addressed to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; by hand delivery to the NRC's offices at 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland; or, where practicable, by electronic submission, for example, via Electronic Information Exchange, or CD-ROM. Electronic submissions must be made in a manner that enables the NRC to receive, read, authenticate, distribute, and archive the submission, and process and retrieve it a single page at a time. Detailed guidance on making electronic submissions can be obtained by visiting the NRC's Web site at *<http://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html>;* by e-mail to *[MSHD.Resource@nrc.gov](mailto:MSHD.Resource@nrc.gov);* or by writing the Office of the Chief Information Officer, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. The guidance discusses, among other topics, the formats the NRC can accept, the use of electronic signatures, and the treatment of nonpublic information. Applications for affected individuals employed on October 28, 1985, shall be submitted within 60 days of notification of Commission approval of the amended security plan.

(2) Licensees who wish to secure NRC-U or NRC-R special nuclear material access authorizations for individuals in possession of an active NRC Q or L access authorization or other security clearance granted by another Federal agency based on an equivalent investigation shall submit a “Security Acknowledgment” (NRC Form 176) and a “Request for Access Authorization” (NRC Form 237). NRC will process these requests by verifying the data on an NRC-cleared individual, or by contacting the Federal agency that granted the clearance, requesting certification of the security clearance, and determining the investigative basis and level of the clearance. Licensees may directly request the Federal agency that administered the security clearance, if other than NRC, to certify to the NRC that it has on file an active security clearance for an individual and to specify the investigative basis and level of the clearance.

(b) Applications for special nuclear material access authorization for individuals, other than those qualifying under the provisions of [§ 11.15(a)(2)](/on/2024-09-17/title-10/section-11.15#p-11.15(a)(2)), must be made on forms supplied by the Commission, including:

(1) Electronic Questionnaire for Investigations Processing (e-QIP), SF-86—Questionnaire for National Security Positions;

(2) Two completed standard fingerprint cards (FD-258);

(3) Security Acknowledgment (NRC Form 176);

(4) Other related forms where specified in accompanying instruction (NRC-254); and

(5) A statement by the employer, prospective employer, or contractor identifying the job to be assigned to or assumed by the individual and the level of authorization needed, justified by appropriate reference to the licensee's security plan.

(c)

(1) Except as provided in [paragraph (c)(2)](/on/2024-09-17/title-10/section-11.15#p-11.15(c)(2)) of this section, NRC-U special nuclear material access authorizations must be renewed every five years from the date of issuance. Except as provided in [paragraph (c)(3)](/on/2024-09-17/title-10/section-11.15#p-11.15(c)(3)) of this section, NRC-R special nuclear material access authorizations must be renewed every ten years from the date of issuance. An application for renewal must be submitted at least 120 days before the expiration of the five-year period for NRC-U and ten-year period for NRC-R, respectively, and must include:

(i) A statement by the licensee that at the time of application for renewal the individual's assigned or assumed job requires an NRC-U or an NRC-R special nuclear material access authorization, justified by appropriate reference to the licensee's security plan;

(ii) The Electronic Questionnaire for Investigations Processing (e-QIP), SF-86—Questionnaire for National Security Positions;

(iii) Two completed standard fingerprint cards (FD-258); and

(iv) Other related forms specified in accompanying NRC instructions (NRC Form 254).

(2) An exception to the time for submission of NRC-U special nuclear material access authorization renewal applications and the paperwork required is provided for individuals who have a current and active DOE-Q access authorization and are subject to DOE Reinvestigation Program requirements. For these individuals, the submission to DOE of the SF-86 pursuant to DOE Reinvestigation Program requirements (generally every five years) will satisfy the NRC renewal submission and paperwork requirements even if less than five years has passed since the date of issuance or renewal of the NRC-U access authorization. Any NRC-U special nuclear material access authorization renewed in response to provisions of this paragraph will not be due for renewal until the date set by DOE for the next reinvestigation of the individual pursuant to DOE's Reinvestigation Program.

(3) An exception to the time for submission of NRC-R special nuclear material access authorization renewal applications and the paperwork required is provided for individuals who have a current and active DOE-L or DOE-Q access authorization and are subject to DOE Reinvestigation Program requirements. For these individuals, the submission to DOE of the SF-86 pursuant to DOE Reinvestigation Program requirements will satisfy the NRC renewal submission and paperwork requirements even if less than ten years have passed since the date of issuance or renewal of the NRC-R access authorization. Any NRC-R special nuclear material access authorization renewed pursuant to this paragraph will not be due for renewal until the date set by DOE for the next reinvestigation of the individual pursuant to DOE's Reinvestigation Program.

(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of [paragraph (c)(2)](/on/2024-09-17/title-10/section-11.15#p-11.15(c)(2)) of this section, the period of time for the initial and each subsequent NRC-U renewal application to NRC may not exceed seven years.

(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of [paragraph (c)(3)](/on/2024-09-17/title-10/section-11.15#p-11.15(c)(3)) of this section, the period of time for the initial and each subsequent NRC-R renewal application to NRC may not exceed twelve years. Any individual who is subject to the DOE Reinvestigation Program requirements but, for administrative or other reasons, does not submit reinvestigation forms to DOE within seven years of the previous submission, for a NRC-U renewal or twelve years of the previous submission for a NRC-R renewal, shall submit a renewal application to NRC using the forms prescribed in [paragraph (c)(1)](/on/2024-09-17/title-10/section-11.15#p-11.15(c)(1)) of this section before the expiration of the seven year period for NRC-U or twelve year period for NRC-R renewal.

(d) If at any time, due to new assignment or assumption of duties, a change in a special nuclear material access authorization level from NRC “R” to “U” is required, the individual shall apply for a change of level of special nuclear material access authorization. The application must include a description of the new duties to be assigned or assumed, justified by appropriate reference to the licensee's security plan.

(e) The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) bills the NRC for the cost of each background investigation conducted in support of an application for special nuclear material access authorization (application). The combined cost of the DCSA investigation and the NRC's application processing overhead (NRC processing fee) are recovered through a material access authorization fee imposed on applicants for special nuclear material access authorization.

(1) Each application for a special nuclear material access authorization, renewal, or change in level must be accompanied by a remittance, payable to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which is equal to the NRC material access authorization fee. This fee must be determined using the following formula: the DCSA investigation billing rates on the day of NRC receipt of the application + the NRC processing fee = the NRC material access authorization fee. The NRC processing fee is determined by multiplying the DCSA investigation billing rate on the day of NRC receipt of the application by 90.2 percent (*i.e.,* DCSA rate × 90.2 percent).

(2) Updated DCSA investigation billing rates are published periodically in a Federal Investigations Notice (FIN) issued by the DCSA's Federal Investigative Services. Copies of the current DCSA investigation billing rates schedule can be obtained by contacting the NRC's Personnel Security Branch, Division of Facilities Security, Office of Administration by email to: *Licensee\_ Access\_ Authorization\_ [Fee.Resource@nrc.gov](mailto:Fee.Resource@nrc.gov).*

(3) The NRC's Material Access Authorization Program (MAAP) is considered reimbursable work representing services provided to an organization for which the NRC is entitled payment. The NRC is authorized to receive and retain fees from licensees for services performed. The NRC's Office of the Chief Financial Officer periodically reviews the fees charged for MAAP and makes recommendations on revising those charges to reflect costs incurred by the NRC in providing those services. The reviews are performed using cost analysis techniques to determine the direct and indirect costs. Based on this review, all MAAP requests for reciprocity will be charged a flat fee rate of $95.00 as referenced in [paragraph (e)(4)(i)](/on/2024-09-17/title-10/section-11.15#p-11.15(e)(4)(i)) of this section. This flat fee would be aligned with the level of effort that has recently been expended by DCSA to process reciprocity requests, and accounts for inflation as well as recovery of the appropriate cost for conducting this work. Copies of the current NRC material access authorization fee may be obtained by contacting the NRC's Personnel Security Branch, Division of Facilities and Security, Office of Administration by email to: *Licensee\_ Access\_ Authorization\_ [Fee.Resource@nrc.gov](mailto:Fee.Resource@nrc.gov)*. Any change in the NRC's access authorization fees will be applicable to each access authorization request received on or after the effective date of the DCSA's most recently published investigation billing rates schedule.

(4) Certain applications from individuals having current Federal access authorizations may be processed expeditiously and at a reduced cost because the Commission, at its discretion, may decide to accept the certification of access authorizations and investigative data from other Federal Government agencies that grant personnel access authorizations.

(i) Applications for reciprocity will be processed at the NRC flat fee rate of $95 per request as referenced in the following table:

| The NRC application fee for an access authorization of type . . . | NRC fee rate |
| --- | --- |
| (A) NRC-R based on certification of comparable investigation1 | $95 |
| (B) NRC-U based on certification of comparable investigation2 | 95 |
| | |
| --- | --- |
| 1 If the NRC determines, based on its review of available data, that a Tier 3 investigation is necessary, the appropriate NRC-R fee will be assessed as shown in [paragraph (e)(4)(ii)](/on/2024-09-17/title-10/section-11.15#p-11.15(e)(4)(ii)) of this section before the conduct of the investigation. | |
| 2 If the NRC determines, based on its review of available data, that a Tier 5 investigation is necessary, the appropriate NRC-U fee will be assessed as shown in [paragraph (e)(4)(ii)](/on/2024-09-17/title-10/section-11.15#p-11.15(e)(4)(ii)) of this section before the conduct of the investigation. | |

(ii) Applicants shall, in cases where reciprocity is not acceptable and it is necessary to perform a background investigation, be charged the appropriate fee referenced in the following table. Applicants shall calculate the access authorization fee according to the stated formula (*i.e.,* DCSA rate × 90.2 percent).

| The NRC application fee for an access authorization of type . . . | Is the sum of the current DCSA investigation billing rate charged for an investigation of type . . . | Plus the NRC's processing fee (rounded to the nearest dollar), which is equal to the DCSA investigation billing rate for the type of investigation referenced multiplied by . . . (%) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| (A) NRC-R initial1 | Tier 3 (T3) (Standard Service) | 90.2 |
| (B) NRC-R renewal1 | Tier 3 Reinvestigation (T3R) (Standard Service) | 90.2 |
| (C) NRC-U initial | Tier 5 (T5) (Standard Service) | 90.2 |
| (D) NRC-U initial | Tier 5 (T5) (Priority Handling) | 90.2 |
| (E) NRC-U renewal1 | Tier 5 Reinvestigation (T5R) (Standard Service) | 90.2 |
| (F) NRC-U renewal1 | Tier 5 Reinvestigation (T5R) (Priority Handling) | 90.2 |
| | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 If the NRC determines, based on its review of available data, that a Tier 5 investigation is necessary, the appropriate NRC-U fee will be assessed before the conduct of the investigation. | | |

(f)

(1) Any Federal employee, employee of a contractor of a Federal agency, licensee, or other person visiting an affected facility for the purpose of conducting official business, who possesses an active NRC or DOE-Q access authorization or an equivalent Federal security clearance granted by another Federal agency (“Top Secret”) based on a comparable T5 background investigation may be permitted, in accordance with [§ 11.11](/on/2024-09-17/title-10/section-11.11), the same level of unescorted access that an NRC-U special nuclear material access authorization would afford.

(2) Any Federal employee, employee of a contractor of a Federal agency, licensee, or other person visiting an affected facility for the purpose of conducting official business, who possesses an active NRC or DOE-L access authorization or an equivalent security clearance granted by another Federal agency (“Secret”) based on a comparable or greater background investigation consisting of a national agency check with law and credit may be permitted, in accordance with [§ 11.11](/on/2024-09-17/title-10/section-11.11), the same level of unescorted access that an NRC-R special nuclear material access authorization would afford. An NRC or DOE-L access authorization or an equivalent security clearance (“Secret”), based on a background investigation or national agency check with credit granted or being processed by another Federal agency before January 1, 1998, is acceptable to meet this requirement.

[[64 FR 15645](https://www.federalregister.gov/citation/64-FR-15645), Apr. 1, 1999, as amended at [68 FR 62511](https://www.federalregister.gov/citation/68-FR-62511), Nov. 5, 2003; [68 FR 65765](https://www.federalregister.gov/citation/68-FR-65765), Nov. 21, 2003; [68 FR 58800](https://www.federalregister.gov/citation/68-FR-58800), Oct. 10, 2003; [72 FR 27410](https://www.federalregister.gov/citation/72-FR-27410), May 16, 2007; [74 FR 62680](https://www.federalregister.gov/citation/74-FR-62680), Dec. 1, 2009; [77 FR 26152](https://www.federalregister.gov/citation/77-FR-26152), May 3, 2012; [77 FR 46257](https://www.federalregister.gov/citation/77-FR-46257), Aug. 3, 2012; [80 FR 74978](https://www.federalregister.gov/citation/80-FR-74978), Dec. 1, 2015; [86 FR 43401](https://www.federalregister.gov/citation/86-FR-43401), Aug. 9, 2021; [87 FR 45240](https://www.federalregister.gov/citation/87-FR-45240), July 28, 2022]