LETTER TO MICHAEL KURTZ FROM RICHARD J. WARSHAW RE MATERIAL REVIEW CREATED OF STAR GATE MATERIAL

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005284227
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: June 24, 2015
• Document Release Date: December 21, 2011
• Case Number: F-2008-01459
• Publication Date: October 7, 2002

APPROVED FOR RELEASE[]
DATE: 25-Oct-2011
UrrTUT'RIJ USE==
Central Intelligence Agency
WashingtonD.C.20505
7 October 2002
Dr. Michael Kurtz
Assistant Archivist for Records Services,
Washington, D.C. - Room 3400
National Archives and Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, MD 20740-6001
Dear Dr. Kurtz:
MI'Wp~ Pursuant to a 1995 Congressionally Directed Action (CDA),
the Central Intelligence Agency Declassification Center (CDC)
performed a declassification review of material created by the
STAR GATE program. The enclosure provides information on STAR
GATE, the CDA, and the information to be released.
As a result of this review, we declassified or sanitized
9,861 documents (73,536 pages). On or about 1 November 2002, we
will place images of these documents on the CIA Records Search
Tool (CREST) at National Archives and Records Administration
(NARA) II. These records constitute the first tranche of this
collection. We do not plan on publicizing this release.
At a later date, we will place additional records on CREST.
We plan to finish the release of records from this collection by
the summer of 2003. In addition to paper records, the collection
consists of video and audio tapes and 35mm slides. Mr. David
Langbart of your staff has recently completed a review of the
original records. Once he completes his appraisal, he will
prepare an SF-115 identifying the records that warrant permanent
preservation in order for them to be accessioned to NARA.
We believe that this release will generate significant media
attention and researcher interest. In the past STAR GATE has
been the subject of at least three television network programs.
If you have any questions, please call me at (703) 613-1390
or my point of contact, Harry Cooper, at (703) 613-1776.
 STAR GATE was a 25-year intelligence Community program
focusing on the use of paranormal phenomena (i.e., the use of
psychics and remote viewing). STAR GATE supplemented US
intelligence collection efforts. Program records span the period
from 1972-1996 and consist of approximately 45 boxes of material
relating to at least five past programs under such names as
SCANATE, SUN STREAK, CENTER LANE, GRILL FLAME, and STAR GATE.
They include documentation of remote viewing sessions, training,
internal memoranda, assessments, and program reviews. The
records are principally from DIA, Army/INSCOM (1976-1985), and
CIA (1972-1976). A small number of records also cover the
program termination under CIA in 1995 and early 1996.
On 1 July 1995, the STAR GATE program was officially
transferred from DIA to CIA, completing the first step of a
Congressionally Directed Action (CDA). The CDA stated in part:
"In the post-cold war era, the nature and
activities of the STAR GATE Program are more
relevant to the mission of the CIA (CLAP) than the
military intelligence services. The transfer of
STAR GATE resources and management to the CLAP
should be completed by July 1, 1995."
Further, the Senate Appropriations Committee report stated:
"The Committee also believes that the time has
come for the re-evaluation of the classification
of the existence of this effort as well as the
results that have been obtained over time ... [and
that] (t]he DCI's declassification committee
should review the history and nature of this
program to determine what parts of it may be
declassified and be converted into an open world
activity."
Pursuant to the CDA, the DCI directed a review of material
created by the program for its declassification and release to
the public. The CIA Declassification Center (DC) reviewed STAR
GATE holdings and is now preparing to release STAR GATE records
to the public by placing electronic images of declassified and
sanitized documents on a computer at the National Archives and
Records Administration at College Park, MI.).
 A broad description of the material the CIA plans to
release or protect from release is summarized below:
? Remote viewing sessions: For all remote viewing
sessions, the tasking summary and the product of the
session, or what the viewer "saw," were released. These
often included descriptions of individuals and/or
locations, as well as drawings or sketches. Sensitive
operational facts, such as classified photos, target
names, and names of agents or law enforcement personnel
were redacted. Assessments of the accuracy of the
product, as compared to classified intelligence, were
also redacted.
? Paranormal Research: Some documents describe the
potential use of paranormal activity in the conduct of
intelligence activities. Many are CIA memos assessing the
credibility of various practitioners of remote viewing.
Also included is a progress report prepared by a contract
consulting firm assessing the status of anomalous mental
phenomena. These documents were either released in their
entirety or in a sanitized version.
? Assessments of Foreign Parapsychology: These documents
summarize psychoenergetics research in the USSR and
China. Many of the early reports were based on open-
source material. Classified reports, in most cases, were
withheld, especially when created after 1990.
The following chart gives statistics concerning the STAR
GATE paper records as of 30 September 2002.
Tranche 1 RIF'
4,672 RIF documents
29,772 pages
Tranche 1 RIP'
5,189 RIP documents
43,764 pages
Total Tranche 1 Release
9,861 released documents
_
73,536 pages
Tranche 1 DIF'
3,170 documents
17,699 pages
Total Tranche 1
13,031 documents
91,235 pages
Remaining to be Reviewed
2,877 documents
20,800 pages
Total SG Collection
15,908 documents
112,035 pages
' RIF = Released in Full
2 RIP = Released in Part
3 DIF = Denied in Full