TL-SEC-04 — Information Security Classification System
Document: TL-SEC-04 Issued by: Information Security & Records Division Applies to: All Trinity Laboratories personnel, records, facilities, specimens, and research programs Download: Metadata-scrubbed policy PDF
This public release is normalized as TL-0 in archive metadata. The transcription preserves the supplied policy terminology and its original eight-page order while presenting tables and lists as searchable HTML.
Clearance level summary
Section titled “Clearance level summary”| Clearance | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| TL-0 | General Release | Public information. No clearance required. |
| TL-1 | Institutional | Internal Trinity Laboratories information. |
| TL-2 | Controlled Research | Active, unpublished, or sensitive research information. |
| TL-3 | Restricted | Sensitive operational and scientific information. |
| TL-4 | Special Access | Compartmentalized programs requiring specific authorization. |
| TL-5 | Directorate Control | Highly sensitive information controlled by senior Trinity leadership. |
| TL-6 | Isolated | Named-access information deliberately separated from normal Trinity operations. |
| TL-7 | Null Record | Information whose existence is itself classified. |
| TL/Ø | Null Access | Exceptional designation. Access exists only by individual authorization. |
TL-0 — General Release
Section titled “TL-0 — General Release”- Access: Unrestricted
- Authorization: None required
- Public disclosure: Permitted
Information approved for public distribution.
Examples
Section titled “Examples”- Published scientific research
- Recruitment materials
- Corporate information
- Public-facing laboratory programs
- Approved photographs
- Public statements
Document marking: GENERAL RELEASE — TL-0
TL-1 — Institutional
Section titled “TL-1 — Institutional”- Access: Trinity personnel
- Authorization: Active Trinity employment
- Public disclosure: Not authorized
Routine internal information not intended for public distribution. Unauthorized disclosure is undesirable but would not normally compromise Trinity operations.
Examples
Section titled “Examples”- Employee notices
- Laboratory schedules
- Internal correspondence
- Supply records
- Maintenance documentation
- Routine administrative records
Document marking: TRINITY INSTITUTIONAL — TL-1
TL-2 — Controlled Research
Section titled “TL-2 — Controlled Research”- Access: Research and technical personnel
- Authorization: Departmental
- Public disclosure: Prohibited without approval
Information concerning active or unpublished Trinity research. External distribution requires departmental authorization.
Examples
Section titled “Examples”- Experimental procedures
- Preliminary findings
- Engineering specifications
- Prototype documentation
- Specimen records
- Laboratory observations
- Unpublished technical reports
Document marking: CONTROLLED RESEARCH — TL-2
TL-3 — Restricted
Section titled “TL-3 — Restricted”- Access: Authorized personnel
- Authorization: Individual or departmental
- Public disclosure: Prohibited
Sensitive information whose unauthorized disclosure could compromise Trinity personnel, facilities, research, or operations. Possession of Trinity credentials alone does not authorize access.
Examples
Section titled “Examples”- Sensitive experiments
- Facility security information
- Incident reports
- Hazardous research
- Selected personnel records
- Restricted technical documentation
Document marking: RESTRICTED — TL-3 — AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY
TL-4 — Special Access
Section titled “TL-4 — Special Access”- Access: Compartmented
- Authorization: Program specific
- Need-to-know: Required
- Public disclosure: Strictly prohibited
Information belonging to compartmentalized Trinity programs. TL-4 personnel must be separately authorized for each applicable project. Access to one TL-4 program does not grant access to another.
Examples
Section titled “Examples”- Unusual specimens
- Sensitive experimental programs
- Concealed facilities
- Classified contractual research
- Unexplained experimental results
- Programs isolated from ordinary laboratory operations
Document marking: SPECIAL ACCESS — TL-4 — COMPARTMENT AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED
TL-5 — Directorate Control
Section titled “TL-5 — Directorate Control”- Access: Highly restricted
- Authorization: Senior Directorate
- Need-to-know: Mandatory
- Public disclosure: Strictly prohibited
Information capable of causing severe institutional, legal, scientific, or public consequences if disclosed.
TL-5 records are normally maintained separately from standard Trinity information systems. All access is individually logged. Personnel may be permitted to know that a TL-5 program exists without being authorized to know its purpose.
Document marking: DIRECTORATE CONTROL — TL-5 — DISCLOSURE STRICTLY PROHIBITED
TL-6 — Isolated
Section titled “TL-6 — Isolated”- Access: Named personnel only
- Authorization: Individual written authorization
- Need-to-know: Absolute
- Public disclosure: Prohibited
Information deliberately isolated from Trinity’s normal administrative structure.
Access cannot be obtained through:
- Rank
- Seniority
- Department
- General security clearance
- Facility authority
Every authorized individual must be specifically listed on the controlling access register. Certain Trinity executives, security officers, and facility administrators may therefore be denied access.
Records may use substitute project names, compartment numbers, or intentionally incomplete descriptions.
Document marking: ISOLATED — TL-6 — NAMED ACCESS ONLY — DO NOT DUPLICATE
TL-7 — Null Record
Section titled “TL-7 — Null Record”- Access: Explicit executive authorization
- Authorization: Individual
- Need-to-know: Absolute
- Acknowledgment of existence: Prohibited
The highest standard Trinity Laboratories classification. TL-7 applies when the existence of the information itself is classified.
Associated programs may be intentionally excluded from:
- Research indexes
- Personnel directories
- Project catalogs
- Budget descriptions
- Facility records
- Archives
- Standard computer systems
Unauthorized personnel are not to be informed that the associated project, specimen, facility, incident, or record exists. Discovery of TL-7 references outside an authorized environment must be reported immediately.
Document marking: NULL RECORD — TL-7 — EXISTENCE NOT ACKNOWLEDGED — NO UNAUTHORIZED RETENTION
TL/Ø — Null Access
Section titled “TL/Ø — Null Access”- Status: Special designation
- Standard clearance: None
- Access: Individually designated personnel only
- Override authority: None
TL/Ø is not a standard clearance level. It is an exceptional information-control designation reserved for material placed under direct Executive containment.
There is no standing TL/Ø clearance. There is no departmental TL/Ø clearance. There is no automatic Executive TL/Ø clearance. Security rank does not supersede TL/Ø.
The individual’s name must appear on the controlling authorization record. If it does not, access is denied. When required, Trinity records may omit all references to the existence of TL/Ø material.
Document marking: TRINITY LABORATORIES — TL/Ø — NULL ACCESS — EYES ONLY BY INDIVIDUAL DESIGNATION — DO NOT INDEX — DO NOT REFERENCE — DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE
Document marking format
Section titled “Document marking format”Classified Trinity records should display the applicable security designation on the document header, cover, container, or evidence label.
Standard format: [CLEARANCE] / [PROGRAM] / [COMPARTMENT]
Source example: TL-4 / BAXTINITE / SA-12
- TL-4: Special Access clearance
- BAXTINITE: Program or subject designation
- SA-12: Specific compartment authorization
Possession of the appropriate TL clearance does not automatically authorize access to the associated program or compartment.
Access principle
Section titled “Access principle”CLEARANCE ESTABLISHES ELIGIBILITY. COMPARTMENT AUTHORIZATION ESTABLISHES ACCESS. NEED-TO-KNOW ESTABLISHES PERMISSION.
No Trinity employee is entitled to information solely because of rank, position, department, or security clearance.