Unclassified Nukes

The Defense Department last week released an instruction memo that "updates policies, assigns responsibilities and prescribes procedures for . . . controlling unclassified information on the physical protection of DOD special nuclear material (SNM), SNM equipment, and SNM facilities."

According to the July 12, 2012, instruction:

a. Unauthorized dissemination of unclassified information pertaining to security measures, including security plans, procedures, and equipment, for the physical protection of DoD SNM, SNM equipment, SNM facilities, or nuclear weapons in DoD custody is prohibited.

b. Unclassified information shall be protected as DoD UCNI based on a determination that the unauthorized dissemination of such information could reasonably be expected to have a significant adverse effect on the health and safety of the public or the common defense and security by significantly increasing the likelihood of the illegal production of nuclear weapons or the theft, diversion, or sabotage of DoD SNM, SNM equipment, SNM facilities, or nuclear weapons in DoD custody.

c. Unclassified information regarding physical protection of DoD SNM and nuclear weapons in DoD custody shall be made publicly available to the fullest extent possible by applying the minimum restrictions, consistent with the requirements of Reference (c), necessary to protect the health and safety of the public or the common defense and security.

d. This Instruction and part 1017 of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (Reference (g)) shall be used as guidance for handling DOE UCNI that is under DoD control.

e. This Instruction does not prevent a determination that information previously determined to be DoD UCNI is classified information in accordance with DoD Manual (DoDM) 5200.01-V1 (Reference (h)) and other applicable standards of classification.