LARGE-SCALE SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNOLOGICAL EXPERIMENTS WITH POSSIBLE ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01676R000100120016-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 3, 2002
• Sequence Number: 16
• Publication Date: April 17, 1963
• Content Type: MEMO

>t I~mre~. 676R0001 20016-3
Approved For Release? 03/02L9 2 ,J"
THE WHITE HOUSE`
WASHINGTON
NSC REFERRAL NOT REQUIRED
April 17, 1963
TO: The Secretary of State
The Secretary of Defense
The Secretary of the Interior
The Secretary of Commerce
The Secretary of Agriculture
The Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare
The Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission
The Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
The Director, National Science Foundation
The Special Assistant to the President for
National Security Affairs
The Special Assistant to the President for
Science and Technology
SUBJECT: Large-Scale Scientific or Technological Experiments with
Possible Adverse Environmental Effects
I have approved the following policy guides governing the conduct
of large-scale scientific or technological experiments that might have
significant or protracted effects-on the physical or biological environment.
Experiments which by their nature could result in domestic or foreign
allegations that they might have such effects will be included in this
category even though the sponsoring agency feels confident that such
allegations would in fact prove to be unfounded.
1. The head of any agency that proposes to undertake a large-
scale scientific or technological experiment that might have significant
or protracted effects on the physical or biological environment will
call such proposals to the attention of the Special Assistant to the
President for Science and Technology. Notification of such experiments
will be given sufficiently in advance that they may be modified, postponed,
or cancelled, if such action is judged necessary in the national interest.
2. In support of proposals for such experiments, the sponsoring
agency will prepare for the Special Assistant for Science and Technology
a detailed evaluation of the importance of the particular experiment and
the possible direct or indirect effects that might be associated with it.
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3. The SpeciarAssistant for Science and Technology will review
the proposals and supporting materials presented by the sponsoring agency
in order to assure that the need for the experiment has been properly
weighed against possible adverse environmental effects.
4. ' On the basis of this review, the Special Assistant for Science
and Technology will recommend to me what action should be taken on
the proposed experiment. If the Special Assistant judges that inadequate'
information is available on which to make a judgment, he may request
that additional studies be undertaken by the sponsoring agency or he
may undertake an independent study of the problem.
5. Any experiment that may involve significant or protracted adverse
effects will not be conducted without my prior approval.
S. In the case of experiments (such as atmospheric nuclez tests)
that have major national security implications, the head of the sponsoring
agency will notify the Special Assistant for National Security Affairs as
well as the Special Assistant for Science and Technology and will supply
both with an evaluation of the importance of the particular experiment
and the possible direct or indirect effects that might be associated with it.
The Special Assistant for National Security Affairs will determine on an
individual case basis the procedure to be followed in reviewing these
experiments in order to assure that the need for the experiment has
been properly weighed against possible adverse environmental effects.
7. To the extent that it is consistent with national security and
subsequent to approval, there should be early and widespread dissemi-
nation of public information explaining experiments of this type.
8. While the final decision to conduct such experiments must
continue to reside with the government, the National Academy of Sciences.
and where appropriate international scientific bodies or intergovernmental
organizations may be consulted in the case of those experiments that
might have adverse environmental effects beyond the U. S. Recom-
mendation on the advisability of this course of action will be made by
the Special Assistant for Science and Technology in consultation with
the sponsoring agency and the State Department.
Info Copies to: The Director of Central Intelligence v
The Director, Bureau of the Budget " -. 11` `
The Director, United States Information Agency
Approved For Release 20b3/02 :~TA.l D 0B01676R000100120016-3
 AppfierCied For Release 2Q ~(a :ti?,' CAA CF3P 0~11676R0001 120016-3
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
EXECUTIVE MEMORANDUM
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
DEPUTY DIRECTOR (PLANS)
DEPUTY DIRECTOR (INTELLIGENCE)
DEPUTY DIRECTOR (RESEARCH)
DEPUTY DIRECTOR (SUPPORT)
COMPTROLLER
INSPECTOR GENERAL
GENERAL COUNSEL
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
FOR NATIONAL ESTIMATES
O/ExDir:drm
Distribution:
As noted above
I -DCI
I - DDCI
4 t 1161
This memorandum contains information for the addressees. Ad-
dressees may give this memorandum additional circulation within
their components as required. All copies should be destroyed not
filed, upon completion of circulation. A master file will be kept in
the Executive Director's Office and will be available upon request.
CIA lea t4: ~j y~. 0,`11Y
Approved For Release 2003/02/27 : CIA-RDP80B01676R000100120016-3