ZERO BASE REVIEW OF COMPARTMENTED CLEARANCES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82M00591R000100030120-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 25, 2005
• Sequence Number: 120
• Publication Date: January 2, 1979
• Content Type: MF

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2 January 1979
MEMORANDUM FOR:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Zero Base Review of Compartmented
Clearances
STAT
REFERENCE: Memo to DCI from dtd 20 December STAT
1978; same subjec
1. In referenced memorandum the DCI approved a recom-
mendation authorizing the Director of Security to defer the
zero base review product (SI and TK) clearances until the
implementation phase of the APEX program, but instructing
him to complete the zero base review for holders of opera-
2. This calls for actions on our part among which are:
a. Preparation of a new memorandum for
signature of the D/Security revising previous
instructions per the above recommendation.
b. Assisting the individuals tasked with the
review to gain an appreciation of what the new
APEX system will accomplish. (Without this
appreciation, the review could be premised on
current procedures and regulations ending up with
a :Less drastic reduction in numbers of these
special access approvals than might be otherwise
accomplished).
on Friday, 29 December and shared this position with him. He
informed that there has been no action within CIA to date to
3. In connection with the above, I met with
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STAT
STAT
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implement the zero base review. He noted that there was
an MBO objective for SSC to do some contractors but not
all of them. He concurred in my observation and proposed
a meeting be scheduled on Thursday in the D/Security Con-
ference Room of principals that will be involved in the
review of operational access approvals. Ainong these in-
dividuals he mentioned F_ I I
would add F ____]and anyone else you can think of. To
try to get 'the spirit of APEX across, I suggested that
I try to get to address the group.
concurred. Would you call individuals. I'll contact Mr.
4. Attached are some thoughts that may be of interest
as we discuss APEX and the required zero base review.
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 Approved For FR ase 2005/08/08 : CIA-RDP82M00591 R0001 00030120-6
2 January 1979
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
Chief, Community Security Group
The following ideas are listed as interpretations and
ramifications of effort to revise our compart-
mentation program. They are subject to revision following
subsequent discussions. They appear worthy of consideration
now in that they may effect the development of procedures for
implementing the revision of our compartmentation program.
1. Compartmentation Control System for_Operational
Activities:
It is acknowledged that operational, RFD and
programming activities of technical system used to collect
intelligence should be compartmented as necessary to protect
them from inadvertant negative impact through loss of infor-
mation control about them. However, the present names of
systems of protection, e.g., COMINT-HVCCO, ystems and STAT
Channels, and its channels will be replaced. They will
no longer exist as we know them now. There will be just one
compartmentation system and one compartmented channel. It is
currently called APEX although that name may be changed later.
Thresholds are being developed to determine what
will be placed in the 0 operational category. It is believed
that there will be a category of operational material called
They will require
approval for access.
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With little exception for those in direct support
or assigned to these projects there should be no reason
for anyone within government circles to have access to
these ;projects.
The names will be unclassified and use in a
memorandum will not serve as grounds for placing this
memorandum in compartmented channels.
Holders of(this)access approvals will be nominated
by SIO's. Approval //access will be the responsibility
of the national office or program director. In the event of
disagreement, a third element will resolve the conflict.
Operational projects, R&D, will be primarily in
industrial areas. Contracts will include statements about
numbers of personnel who require access to do the job.
In view of these concepts, it should be ossible to STAT
eliminate the need for almost all holders of~ clearances
in government from the list of candidates.
Those individuals in government who require access to
some operational data such as photo interpreters, cryptographers,
analysts will be provided information about operational projects
in the form of material prepared by the program manager which
program managers will release from their operational control.
If this is not feasible then it will be necessary to make sub-
compartments of operational data a la Holders of such
subcompartmented information will be nominated and approved STAT
by the SIO. Information in the subcompartments will be prepared
by the project officers in sufficient detail. to satisfy needs
of the interpreter, cryptographer and analysts. Subcompart-
ments will be identified with a suffice word or letter, e.g.,
A criteria for access approvals in the APEX system
will be a requirement to receive APEX material.
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