Safeguarding Privacy and Employee Rights

10 C.F.R. Part ..., Subpart C
in effectEffective: 2024-07-01

10 C.F.R. § 709.21 Requirements for notification of a polygraph examination.

When a polygraph examination is scheduled, the DOE must notify the covered person, in writing, of the date, time, and place of the polygraph examination, the provisions for a medical waiver, and the covered person's right to obtain and consult with legal counsel or to secure another representative prior to the examination. DOE must provide a copy of this part to the covered person. The covered person must receive the notification at least ten days, excluding weekend days and holidays, before the time of the examination except when good cause is shown or when the covered person waives the advance notice provision.

10 C.F.R. § 709.22 Right to counsel or other representation.

(a) At the covered person's own expense, a covered person has the right to obtain and consult with legal counsel or another representative. However, the counsel or representative may not be present during the polygraph examination. Except for interpreters and signers, no one other than the covered person and the examiner may be present in the examination room during the polygraph examination. (b) A covered person has the right to consult with legal counsel or another representative at any time during an interview conducted in accordance with § 709.15 of this part.

10 C.F.R. § 709.23 Obtaining consent to a polygraph examination.

DOE may not administer a polygraph examination unless DOE: (a) Notifies the covered person of the polygraph examination in writing in accordance with § 709.21 of this part; and (b) Obtains written consent from the covered person prior to the polygraph examination.

10 C.F.R. § 709.24 Other information provided to a covered person prior to a polygraph examination.

Before administering the polygraph examination, the examiner must: (a) Inform the covered person that audio and video recording of each polygraph examination session will be made, and that other observation devices, such as two-way mirrors and observation rooms, also may be employed; (b) Explain to the covered person the characteristics and nature of the polygraph instrument and examination; (c) Explain to the covered person the physical operation of the instrument and the procedures to be followed during the examination; (d) Review with the covered person the relevant questions to be asked during the examination; (e) Advise the covered person of the covered person right against self-incrimination; and (f) Provide the covered person with a pre-addressed envelope, which may be used to submit a quality assurance questionnaire, comments or complaints concerning the examination.

10 C.F.R. § 709.25 Limits on use of polygraph examination results that reflect “Significant Response” or “No Opinion”.

DOE or its contractors may not: (a) Take an adverse personnel action against a covered person or make an adverse access recommendation solely on the basis of a polygraph examination result of “significant response” or “no opinion”; or (b) Use a polygraph examination that reflects “significant response” or “no opinion” as a substitute for any other required investigation.

10 C.F.R. § 709.26 Protection of confidentiality of CI evaluation records to include polygraph examination records and other pertinent documentation.

(a) DOE owns all CI evaluation records, including polygraph examination records and reports and other evaluation documentation. (b) DOE maintains all CI evaluation records, including polygraph examination records and other pertinent documentation acquired in conjunction with a counterintelligence evaluation, in a system of records established under the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a). (c) DOE must afford the full privacy protection provided by law to information regarding a covered person's refusal to participate in a CI evaluation to include a polygraph examination and the completion of other pertinent documentation. (d) With the exception of the polygraph report, all other polygraph examination records are destroyed ninety days after the CI evaluation is completed, provided that a favorable recommendation has been made to grant or continue the access to the position. If a recommendation is made to deny or revoke access to the information or involvement in the activities that justified conducting the CI evaluation, then all of the polygraph examination records are retained until the final resolution of any request for reconsideration by the covered person or the completion of any ongoing investigation.

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