Norman Pomeroy v. Department of Energy ( 2024 )

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD
NORMAN POMEROY, DOCKET NUMBER
Appellant, DC-0752-18-0526-I-1
v.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, DATE: March 5, 2024
Agency.
THIS FINAL ORDER IS NONPRECEDENTIAL 1
Andrew Kim , Esquire, Atlanta, Georgia, for the appellant.
Pamela Simmonds , Esquire, Washington, D.C., for the agency.
BEFORE
Cathy A. Harris, Vice Chairman
Raymond A. Limon, Member
FINAL ORDER
The appellant has filed a petition for review of the initial decision, which
sustained his removal. Generally, we grant petitions such as this one only in the
following circumstances: the initial decision contains erroneous findings of
material fact; the initial decision is based on an erroneous interpretation of statute
or regulation or the erroneous application of the law to the facts of the case; the
administrative judge’s rulings during either the course of the appeal or the initial
1
A nonprecedential order is one that the Board has determined does not add
significantly to the body of MSPB case law. Parties may cite nonprecedential orders,
but such orders have no precedential value; the Board and administrative judges are not
required to follow or distinguish them in any future decisions. In contrast, a
precedential decision issued as an Opinion and Order has been identified by the Board
as significantly contributing to the Board’s case law. See 5 C.F.R. § 1201.117(c).
2
decision were not consistent with required procedures or involved an abuse of
discretion, and the resulting error affected the outcome of the case; or new and
material evidence or legal argument is available that, despite the petitioner’s due
diligence, was not available when the record closed. Title 5 of the Code of
Federal Regulations, section 1201.115 (5 C.F.R. § 1201.115). After fully
considering the filings in this appeal, we conclude that the petitioner has not
established any basis under section 1201.115 for granting the petition for review.
Therefore, we DENY the petition for review and AFFIRM the initial decision,
which is now the Board’s final decision. 5 C.F.R. § 1201.113(b).
BACKGROUND
The essential undisputed facts as set forth in the initial decision are as
follows. The appellant was formerly employed by the agency as an Intelligence
Research Specialist with the agency’s Office of Intelligence and
Counterintelligence (IN). Initial Appeal File (IAF), Tab 19, Initial Decision (ID)
at 1. As a condition of his employment, he was required to maintain a top secret
security clearance with access to sensitive compartmented information (SCI). ID
at 2. On November 17, 2014, the agency issued the appellant a notice of intent to
revoke his SCI access. ID at 6. The agency afforded the appellant various
internal appeals before the IN Director ultimately notified the appellant of his
decision to revoke the appellant’s SCI access on June 6, 2017. ID at 6-10. On
November 8, 2017, the agency proposed the appellant’s removal based on a
charge of failure to maintain SCI access as required by his position. ID at 10.
After affording the appellant an opportunity to respond to the proposal notice, on
April 4, 2018, the agency issued a decision removing the appellant from service.
ID at 10-11.
The appellant filed a Board appeal in which he raised an affirmative
defense of harmful procedural error based on the agency’s alleged failure to
follow its internal policies when revoking his SCI access. IAF, Tab 1. After the
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appellant withdrew his request for a hearing, IAF, Tab 10, the administrative
judge issued an initial decision based on the written record, finding that the
agency proved its charge and the appellant failed to prove his affirmative defense
of harmful procedural error, ID at 11-16. She further found that the appellant’s
removal promoted the efficiency of the service. ID at 16-17.
The appellant has filed a petition for review in which he disputes the
administrative judge’s finding that he failed to prove his affirmative defense of
harmful procedural error. Petition for Review (PFR) File, Tab 1. The agency has
opposed the appellant’s petition. PFR File, Tab 3.
DISCUSSION OF ARGUMENTS ON REVIEW
In an appeal of an adverse action under 5 U.S.C. § 7513 based on the
denial, revocation, or suspension of a security clearance, the Board does not have
authority to review the substance of the underlying security clearance
determination, but may review the following: (1) whether the employee’s
position required a security clearance; (2) whether the security clearance was
denied, revoked, or suspended; and (3) whether the agency followed the
procedures set forth in 5 U.S.C. § 7513. Department of the Navy v. Egan,
484 U.S. 518, 529-31 (1988); Cheney v. Department of Justice, 479 F.3d 1343,
1352 (Fed. Cir. 2007); Hesse v. Department of State, 217 F.3d 1372, 1376 (Fed.
Cir. 2000). On review, the appellant does not dispute the administrative judge’s
findings that these conditions are satisfied here, and we discern no error in the
administrative judge’s analysis. ID at 12.
Rather, on review the appellant reiterates his argument that the agency
committed harmful procedural error in the security clearance revocation process.
PFR File, Tab 1 at 8-15. He correctly observes that in some cases the Board has
the authority to review such a claim. Id. at 11-12; see Romero v. Department of
Defense, 527 F.3d 1324, 1329 (Fed. Cir. 2008) (holding that the Board may
review whether an agency has complied with its procedures for revoking a
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security clearance, even though it may not review the substance of the revocation
decision). However, in this case, the administrative judge correctly found that the
appellant’s harmful procedural error claims exceed the Board’s review authority.
ID at 15. The appellant’s chief argument is that the agency failed to follow its
Standard Operating Procedures for the Office of Intelligence and
Counterintelligence (SOP) to determine whether his conduct amounted to a
“security infraction” or a “security violation,” which he contends was required to
decide the appropriate disciplinary action to be imposed. 2 PFR File, Tab 1
at 8-13. The appellant also claims that the agency improperly applied a
Work Force Discipline policy dated May 14, 2015, issued after the conduct at
issue occurred, which recommends more severe discipline for a single offense of
improper storage of classified materials as compared with the prior version in
effect. Id. at 10-11. In essence, these arguments amount to the appellant’s
disagreement with the agency’s decision that revocation of his security clearance,
instead of a lesser penalty, was warranted under the circumstances. Such an
issue, however, goes to the substance of the agency’s clearance determination,
which lies outside of our review authority. Hence, as the administrative judge
explained, this case is distinguishable from Romero, in which the procedural
review did not overstep the boundaries set by Egan. See Romero, 527 F.3d
at 1329-30; ID at 15.
Moreover, to the extent the appellant’s arguments can be construed as
alleged procedural errors, we find that the appellant has not shown that the
agency erred in the application of its procedures. As the administrative judge
noted, the agency’s SOP contains permissive language by identifying certain
2
The appellant also asserts for the first time on review that he only received a heavily
redacted version of the SOP, which prevented him from knowing that the agency
considered the matter to be a “security violation” instead of a “security infraction” and
mounting an effective defense. PFR File, Tab 1 at 13-15. We decline to consider this
argument in the first instance because the appellant has not shown that it is based on
new and material evidence that was unavailable before the record below closed. See
Banks v. Department of the Air Force, 4 M.S.P.R. 268, 271 (1980).
5
incidents that “may” be considered security infractions and suggesting
disciplinary actions that “may be given to the offender.” IAF, Tab 7 at 35-39; ID
at 14. Nothing in the SOP mandates that the agency take a certain disciplinary
action or precludes the agency from imposing alternative discipline to the extent
the agency deems it warranted. Thus, the appellant has not shown that the
agency’s decision to review or revoke his access to SCI instead of imposing a
penalty recommended in the SOP amounted to a failure by the agency to follow
its procedures. Nor does the SOP require, as the appellant contends, that the
agency determine in its security report whether the matter was a violation or
infraction for purposes of imposing discipline. PFR File, Tab 1 at 13. Rather, the
SOP states that the purpose of a security inquiry is to determine whether there has
been a compromise of classified matter or a violation of law, and if so, to
determine the precise nature and extent of the compromise or illegal activity.
IAF, Tab 7 at 38.
Regarding the appellant’s remaining harmful error claim, we find that he
has not shown that the agency’s alleged error would have likely resulted in a
different conclusion. See 5 C.F.R. § 1201.4(r). The appellant argues that the
agency failed to follow the SOP which states that the Division Director and
Headquarters Special Security Officer would recommend appropriate disciplinary
action after considering the findings of the report of security inquiry. PFR File,
Tab 1 at 9-10. However, as the administrative judge found, the appellant has not
presented evidence that his Division Director would have recommended a
different action. ID at 15. Moreover, notwithstanding any such recommendation,
under the relevant agency policies, the IN Director is the final appeal authority
and decides and administers disciplinary action. IAF, Tab 4 at 26, Tab 7 at 38.
The record reflects that the IN Director made a final decision to revoke the
appellant’s SCI access. IAF, Tab 4 at 22.
Accordingly, we affirm the initial decision, sustaining the appellant’s
removal.
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NOTICE OF APPEAL RIGHTS 3
You may obtain review of this final decision. 5 U.S.C. § 7703(a)(1). By
statute, the nature of your claims determines the time limit for seeking such
review and the appropriate forum with which to file. 5 U.S.C. § 7703(b).
Although we offer the following summary of available appeal rights, the Merit
Systems Protection Board does not provide legal advice on which option is most
appropriate for your situation and the rights described below do not represent a
statement of how courts will rule regarding which cases fall within their
jurisdiction. If you wish to seek review of this final decision, you should
immediately review the law applicable to your claims and carefully follow all
filing time limits and requirements. Failure to file within the applicable time
limit may result in the dismissal of your case by your chosen forum.
Please read carefully each of the three main possible choices of review
below to decide which one applies to your particular case. If you have questions
about whether a particular forum is the appropriate one to review your case, you
should contact that forum for more information.
(1) Judicial review in general . As a general rule, an appellant seeking
judicial review of a final Board order must file a petition for review with the U.S.
Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which must be received by the court
within 60 calendar days of the date of issuance of this decision. 5 U.S.C.
§ 7703(b)(1)(A).
If you submit a petition for review to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the
Federal Circuit, you must submit your petition to the court at the
following address:
3
Since the issuance of the initial decision in this matter, the Board may have updated
the notice of review rights included in final decisions. As indicated in the notice, the
Board cannot advise which option is most appropriate in any matter.
7
U.S. Court of Appeals
for the Federal Circuit
717 Madison Place, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20439
Additional information about the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal
Circuit is available at the court’s website, www.cafc.uscourts.gov. Of particular
relevance is the court’s “Guide for Pro Se Petitioners and Appellants,” which is
contained within the court’s Rules of Practice, and Forms 5, 6, 10, and 11.
If you are interested in securing pro bono representation for an appeal to
the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, you may visit our website at
http://www.mspb.gov/probono for information regarding pro bono representation
for Merit Systems Protection Board appellants before the Federal Circuit. The
Board neither endorses the services provided by any attorney nor warrants that
any attorney will accept representation in a given case.
(2) Judicial or EEOC review of cases involving a claim of
discrimination . This option applies to you only if you have claimed that you
were affected by an action that is appealable to the Board and that such action
was based, in whole or in part, on unlawful discrimination. If so, you may obtain
judicial review of this decision—including a disposition of your discrimination
claims —by filing a civil action with an appropriate U.S. district court ( not the
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit), within 30 calendar days after you
receive this decision. 5 U.S.C. § 7703(b)(2); see Perry v. Merit Systems
Protection Board, 582 U.S. 420 (2017). If you have a representative in this case,
and your representative receives this decision before you do, then you must file
with the district court no later than 30 calendar days after your representative
receives this decision. If the action involves a claim of discrimination based on
race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or a disabling condition, you may be
entitled to representation by a court-appointed lawyer and to waiver of any
8
requirement of prepayment of fees, costs, or other security. See 42 U.S.C.
§ 2000e-5(f) and 29 U.S.C. § 794a.
Contact information for U.S. district courts can be found at their respective
websites, which can be accessed through the link below:
http://www.uscourts.gov/Court_Locator/CourtWebsites.aspx .
Alternatively, you may request review by the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (EEOC) of your discrimination claims only, excluding
all other issues . 5 U.S.C. § 7702(b)(1). You must file any such request with the
EEOC’s Office of Federal Operations within 30 calendar days after you receive
this decision. 5 U.S.C. § 7702(b)(1). If you have a representative in this case,
and your representative receives this decision before you do, then you must file
with the EEOC no later than 30 calendar days after your representative receives
this decision.
If you submit a request for review to the EEOC by regular U.S. mail, the
address of the EEOC is:
Office of Federal Operations
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
P.O. Box 77960
Washington, D.C. 20013
If you submit a request for review to the EEOC via commercial delivery or
by a method requiring a signature, it must be addressed to:
Office of Federal Operations
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
131 M Street, N.E.
Suite 5SW12G
Washington, D.C. 20507
(3) Judicial review pursuant to the Whistleblower Protection
Enhancement Act of 2012 . This option applies to you only if you have raised
claims of reprisal for whistleblowing disclosures under 5 U.S.C. § 2302(b)(8) or
other protected activities listed in 5 U.S.C. § 2302(b)(9)(A)(i), (B), (C), or (D).
If so, and your judicial petition for review “raises no challenge to the Board’s
9
disposition of allegations of a prohibited personnel practice described in section
2302(b) other than practices described in section 2302(b)(8), or 2302(b)(9)(A)(i),
(B), (C), or (D),” then you may file a petition for judicial review either with the
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit or any court of appeals of
competent jurisdiction. 4 The court of appeals must receive your petition for
review within 60 days of the date of issuance of this decision. 5 U.S.C.
§ 7703(b)(1)(B).
If you submit a petition for judicial review to the U.S. Court of Appeals for
the Federal Circuit, you must submit your petition to the court at the
following address:
U.S. Court of Appeals
for the Federal Circuit
717 Madison Place, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20439
Additional information about the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal
Circuit is available at the court’s website, www.cafc.uscourts.gov. Of particular
relevance is the court’s “Guide for Pro Se Petitioners and Appellants,” which is
contained within the court’s Rules of Practice, and Forms 5, 6, 10, and 11.
If you are interested in securing pro bono representation for an appeal to
the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, you may visit our website at
http://www.mspb.gov/probono for information regarding pro bono representation
for Merit Systems Protection Board appellants before the Federal Circuit. The
Board neither endorses the services provided by any attorney nor warrants that
any attorney will accept representation in a given case.
4
The original statutory provision that provided for judicial review of certain
whistleblower claims by any court of appeals of competent jurisdiction expired on
December 27, 2017. The All Circuit Review Act, signed into law by the President on
July 7, 2018, permanently allows appellants to file petitions for judicial review of
MSPB decisions in certain whistleblower reprisal cases with the U.S. Court of Appeals
for the Federal Circuit or any other circuit court of appeals of competent jurisdiction.
The All Circuit Review Act is retroactive to November 26, 2017. Pub. L. No. 115-195,
132 Stat. 1510.
10
Contact information for the courts of appeals can be found at their
respective websites, which can be accessed through the link below:
http://www.uscourts.gov/Court_Locator/CourtWebsites.aspx .
FOR THE BOARD: ______________________________
Gina K. Grippando
Clerk of the Board
Washington, D.C.