INFORMATION REVIEW & RELEASE (IRR) NEWS FOR 7 - 11 APRIL 2003 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 05578143
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: March 8, 2023
• Document Release Date: April 2, 2019
• Case Number: F-2010-01471
• Publication Date: April 11, 2003

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Information Review & Release (IRR) News for 7- 11 April 2003
Executive Summary
Immediate Calendar:
(U#241.(40) 14 May 2003: Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel (ISCAP): Next Liaisons' meeting
at Crystal City.
Future Planninz Calendar:
(utairrim 20 May 2003: Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel (ISCAP): Next Principals'
meeting at EEOB in Washington, DC.
(UHAltifrf 4-5 June 2003: Historical Review Panel: Next meeting at State Department and CIA Headquarters.
(UHATInn() 31 December 2006: The Automatic Declassification Date per Executive Order 12958, as amended, for
unreviewed intelligence-related or multi-agency records.
Overview of IRR Activities Last Week:
(11//A�1430) FOIA Requests
(U/hart7) Requester's Inquiry Nets an Eclectic Collection
(1111,0771) A requester from Detroit recently submitted a FOIA request for records "pertaining to
electronic/electrical devices capable of receiving and interpreting information contained in electric fields."
� The FOIA case manager found six documents in the CIA database of previously released material that met
the requester's parameters:
I. A 1977 intelligence report about Soviet studies on the "hygienic evaluation of electromagnetic fields
generated by high-voltage power lines."
2. A 1974 intelligence report about Soviet academic investigation into the "effects of electric fields upon
human beings."
3. A 1976 intelligence report about Swedish studies on "exposure of human volunteers to 50 Hz fields."
4. A 1976 intelligence report about Soviet "research relating to the measurement of electrical fields to
determine the safety of industrial settings..."
5. A four-page proposal written in 1970 to study the "bioeletrogenesis" of certain fish that emit a weak
electric charge (data on proposed funding needs was redacted), and
6. The resulting 36-page scientific paper on the effects on "electric fish to static and pulsed magnetic
fields."
� CIA assesses a fee of ten cents per page for copying materials in response to a FOIA request, but provides
the first 100 pages free of charge. Because the documents in this case totaled 66 pages, no FOIA fees
were assessed.
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(U/hafftiV) Requester Seeks Information On Father
(UHATMT A staffer for Congressman David Vitter of Louisiana wrote to CIA explaining a constituent was having a
problem obtaining copies of his deceased father's military records. The constituent believes his father may have
served with the OSS.
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(UHA/17171) Utah Requester Wants Information on Half-sister's KGB Connection
(UHAT1770) A Provo, Utah requester asked for information pertaining to a "family rumor that (my half-sister) was
possibly involved with KGB." She goes on to say she is only interested in her family life but welcomes any
information we are legally capable of giving her.
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(U//ArHnif3) Requester in Search of MIA Son
(U//A1170) A Laurel, Nebraska requester is searching for any information on her son who has been missing in action
in Vietnam since 1965. She states her son was in a helicopter crash near the An Khe Pass and that the crew and
aircraft have never been found.
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(UHALLICI) CIA Declassification Center
(U//A413(4)�CDC Briefs Chairman, FDDC
(U//g11/19)- Dr. Lawrence Gershwin, Chairman of the Foreign Denial and Deception Committee (FDDC), was given an
overall briefing on CIA's declassification program by Chief of the CIA Declassification Center (CDC), and
other senior IMS managers at OHB on 7 April. Dr. Gershwin indicated he was satisfied that CDC's emphasis on quality
would help ensure the appropriate protection of sources and methods, and that the age of the documents that are processed at
CDC probably mitigates many of the denial and deception concerns. Dr. Gershwin offered CDC reviewers denial and
deception training, an offer that will be actively pursued by CDC management.
� Dr. Gershwin, in addition to being chairman of the FDDC, is the National Intelligence Officer for Science and
Technology at the National Intelligence Council (NIC).
(U014.154;1) From the Archives: Soviet Military Manpower Circa January 1950
(UHATT77) Men would take extreme measures to avoid military duty in the USSR in the 1950s, according to
documents that were recently reviewed at the CIA Declassification Center. According to the report, one candidate
heard of several methods from friends and saw some of them used when he took his physical examination before he
began his basic training:
a. Breathe powdered sugar before an X-ray to scar the lungs to indicate tuberculosis. After the X-ray, the
individual had to force fats or butter into his lungs in small quantities to prevent the the sugar from doing permanent
damage.
b. Put tobacco into boiling water and drink the mixture. This caused a very high pulse beat and indicated a
weak heart.
c. Smoke tea to quicken the pulse beat, which would indicate a weak heart.
(Whirlile) From the Archives: When Is It Safe to Make Remarks "Off the Record"?
(U//ATIMI�DCI Walter Bedell Smith explained when it is proper to make remarks "off the record," which were
recorded in the minutes of his 27 October 1952 staff meeting. The meeting minutes were recently reviewed for
declassification at the CIA Declassification Center. According to the minutes, "....the Director stated that it is safe to
make remarks 'off-the-record' only when there is complete censorship," then added, "... which we do not have in this
country."
This is a record.
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CC:
Sent on 17 April 2003 at 03:30:34 PM
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