HANDLING OF CRITICAL (CRITIC) INFORMATION (U)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00156R000200040001-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 27, 2007
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: July 18, 1979
• Content Type: REQ

Approved For Release 2007/11/27: CIA-RDP83-00156R000200040001-1
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18 JUL 1979
HANDLING OF CRITICAL (CRITIC) INFORMATION (U)
1. Pursuant to NSCID No. 1, which describes the basic
functions and objectives of United States intelligence,
and NSCID No. 7, which authorizes the establishment of
communications for the rapid transmission of critical
information, the Director of Central Intelligence issued
DCID 7/1 which establishes the policies and general
procedures for the handling of such information. NSCID
No. 7 also designates the Secretary of Defense as
Executive Agent for the CRITIC Communications System.
DoD directive 5100.19, of 19 March 1959, assigned
responsibility for operational control of the system
to the Director, National Security Agency. The informa-
tion provided below is consistent with, and derived from,
those documents. (C)
2. CRITIC information is defined as information
concerning foreign situations or developments which
affect the security or national interests of the United
States to such an extent that it may require the immediate
attention of the President or other members of the
National Security Counsel. CRITIC information is sent
at the highest precedence and by the most rapid means
available. Specific formats and procedures are used in
an effort to assure delivery within ten minutes to those
Intelligence Community organizations and other appropriate
Washington agencies and such other recipients as the DCI
may designate. (C)
3. The National Security Agency exercises operational
and technical control over the communications facilities
specifically allocated for the timely handling of critical
information. The Director, NSA sets the prescribed format P.L. 86-36
which provides for the automatic override of all other high
precedence messages and automatic delivery to the
designated recipients. This delivery is accomplished
by means of automatic system procedure at NSA Headquarters
at Fort Meade which responds to an incoming CRITIC message 25X9
bearing the appropriate address line (DIRNSA), the
CRITIC pre edenc- rosign (WW) and the DIRNSA routing
indicator, The NSA CRITIC communications system
accomplishes immediate and virtually simultaneous trans-
mission of the CRITIC message to all intended recipients
when the CRITIC message has been prepared, and received at
NSA review completed
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NSA Headquarters, with the appropriate message elements
as described above.
4. Any official of the United States government may
initiate a CRITIC message, and any appropriately secure
means may be employed for its transmission to NSA. NSA, however,
is the only element of government with the authority and
the capability for the rapid, automatic and simultaneous
dissemination of CRITIC messages to all intended recipients.
(C)
5. Broad guidance relative to the CRITIC program
within the Intelligence Community is contained in the
"Handbook of Standard Operating Procedures for the Reporting
of Critical Information", which was approved by the DCI on
15 April 1976. (C)
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Approved For Release 2007/11/27: CIA-RDP83-00156R000200040001-1
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Approved For Release 2007/11/27: CIA-RDP83-00156R000200040001-1
Approved For Release 2007/11/27: CIA-RDP83-00156R000200040001-1
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