CHAPTER til, SECTION 6
cant resided in the local area for at least the
Jast ten years. The “QE” also was based upon
the results of a local and sometimes a national
check by agencies. Both types of clearances were
strictly temporary, and the prior approval of
the Ficid Manager, Eniwetok Field Office. had
to be secured before processing could be started.
Simultaneously with the request for either the
Local “P" or the “QE” Clearance, a formal request was made for the conventional “P" or “Q.”
Where the applicant had previously been granted a "Q” Clearance with another activity and
his "Q” Clearance had lapsed, a "Q" Reinstatement was requested.
At the inception of OPERATION CASTLE,
each emplovee was required to have at least a
“P" Approval before he was authorized to enter
the Pacific Proving Ground. During May, 1933,
the Eniwetok Field Office notified Holmes &
Narver that, subsequent to 1 January 1954, no
indivicual would be allowed to enter the Pacific
Proving Ground nor remain at the PPG without
a "OQ" Clearance. To plan for compliance with
this directive, 1t was decided that requests for
“Q” Clearances should be made prior to t September 1953 for emplovees who would be at the
Pacihie Proving Ground subsequent to the cutotf date. Accordingly :n only a few instances of
emergeney were individuals allowed to proceed
to the PPG after 1 September 1953 if they had
not been placed in process for a “Q” Clearance
prior to that date.
AH secumty papers necessary for oblaining
clearances Were submitted to the Atomic Energy
Commission's Los Angeles Security Branch.
Prior to the submission of security papers cach
applicant was screened from a professional and
character standpoint to determine his eligibility
for further processing. This screening was accomplished not only by contacting previous employems and personal references, but also by
utilizing two nationai privale investigative avencies. As a result of information received from
these sources, approximately 11% of the apphcants were removed from security processing,
Information obtained from focal law enfurcement
and Federal Agencies in the area was helpful
in weeding out those individuals who could not

meet established security requirements. Of the
4.293 requests for “P” Approvals. 2.979 were
granted; of the 4,2o8 requests for “Q™ Clearances, 1.329 were granted. Of the 450 requests

for “Q" Reinstatements, 444 were received: 425

requests for Local “PP” Approvals were requested and received, Vhe average time required for
ArtC processing of “P™ Approvals was + 3.03
days; for “Q° Clearances, 101.72 days: for “Q"
Reirstatements, 18.82 days: and for Local “P"
Approvals, 4.5 cays.
A mecting was held 9 Apml 1953. attended
by representatives of the HEN Security De.-artment, AEC Security representatives frorr the

Santa Fe Operations Office, and from the AEC
Los Angeles Security Branch, wherein it was
decided that all clearances would be cancelled
by the AEC Los Angeles security Branch ninety
days after the date of granting unless the individual had been placed on the Holmes & Narver pavroll hy that time. A similar provision
pertained to terminating employees; their clearances lapsed unless they were re-hired within
ninety davs. In order to attect this procedure
a form was prepared for each hired applicant,
setting forth the individual’s full name, his AEC
number. his next of kin and address of next
of kin, and the individual's type of clearance.
This form was transmitted to the AEC Los
Angeles Security Branch, the ®niwetok Field
Olfice Security Representative at the Pacific
Proving Ground. and the Eniwetok Field Office,
Albuquerque, New Mexico. The form served
not only to notify all concerned that H&N was
emploving the applicant, but also to notify the
Department of state of the overseas travel of
an individual. Upon hiring of an individual,
either in the Home Office or at Jobsite, his
clearance status was made known to his sttperVisor.
Entry into the Pacitic Proving Ground was
controlled bv the Commander-in Chief of the
Pacific Fleet, and in order to gain entry, an
individual had to be certified as a good security
risk. The Port Contro) Director, Long Beach
Nava; Station, was the Military representative
authorized to sign all overseas identification
cards and all travel orders for individuals traveiing to the Pacific Proving Ground.
In May 1953, when H&N was advised that
any emplovecs who would be at the Pacific
Proving Ground subsequent to 1 January 1954
would require a “Q” clearance, the Security
Department requested the AEC to commence
processing applicants for “Q” clearances. HowCVeP

renuests for “a” clearance nracessing an

applicants was suspended until “P'’ approvals
were received. thus precluding a costly “Q”
clearance processing on those individuals who
would not be granted a “P" approval.
it was decided that all emplovees signing
one year cantracts after 1 June 1953 would
be placed in process for "Q" clearances. By 15
June 1953, the Jobsite had selected those “P”
approved personne! who were desired after the
“cut-off” date. and they were placed in process
for “Q” clearances. After 15 August 1953, all
apphicart) whose services were required after
the “cut-off date were olaced in process for
a “QP” clearance.
The date 1 September 19453 had heen established early in the Operation as the “limiting
date.” after which an individual normally could
not proceed to the Pacific Proving Ground unless he was in process for a "Q" clearance.
Changes in the planning during August 1953
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