COLLECTION ON CHERNOBYL DISASTER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90G01359R000300050004-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 29, 2011
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: July 31, 1986
• Content Type: MEMO

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Central Intelligence Agency
Office of the Deputy Director for Intelligence
3 1 JUL. 19P
NOTE TO: Director of Central Intelligence
This is an assessment I requested
shortly after the crisis at Chernobyl.
I believe our sensor performed pretty
well considering the national priority
afforded targets of this type. For your
information FFIAB has expressed an
interest in any collection critique done
on Chernobyl.
Richard J. Kerr
Deputy Director for Intelligence
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 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/29: CIA-RDP90G01359R000300050004-8
OFFICE OF SCIENTIFIC AND WEAPONS RESEARCH
Directorate of Intelligence
Central Intelligence Agency
29 July 1986
This is the evaluation of Chernobyl
collection you requested. I prepared this
memo with many crucial inputs from CRES.
Although the memo has taken longer than
anticipated, I literally let the smoke clear
a little before drafting it. From my
standpoint this was the right decision. I
think all of us now feel better about the
adequacy of our collection than we did
immediately after the crises.
DD/SWR
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Iq
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Cy of 1
31 July 1986
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
VIA: Deputy Director for Intelligence
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Deputy Director of Scientific and Weapons Research
Collection on Chernobyl Disaster
1. Action Requested: For your information only. We are taking
action to implement the recommendations to improve
Intelligence Community responsiveness in future crises like the
Chernobyl event, which we believe by and large was effective:
Nevertheless, we need to pursue the possibility of enhanced IR tipoff,
manage our collection requirements better, and improve our
communications with US Government agencies outside the Community on
this type of catastrophe.
2. Background: The characteristics of the Chernobyl reactor were
well known before the incident. The Soviets have published
extensively on the RBMK, and we have followed the construction of all
such reactors in the Soviet Union. Ironically, in February the
Soviets published a slick public relations article on the Chernobyl
reactor complex in SOVIET LIFE touting the reactors' design safety
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SUBJECT: Collection on Chernobyl Disaster
4. Event Reporting: Our first indication of the disaster came
on Monday, 28 April, which indicated a possible
leak of radioactive material at a Swedish facility. Later Swedish
authorities determined that the radioactivity was coming from the
east. Based on these reports, the Air Force was asked to use weather
data to attempt to determine the source of the radioactivity. Spurred
by the Swedish announcement and international concern the Soviets
announced there had been an accident at the Chernobyl reactor. This
announcement was monitored by FBIS at about 1200 EDT on 28 April and
promptly reported. This was the first report giving the location of
the event.
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Central Intelligence Agency
Office of the Deputy Director for Intelligence
30 July 1986
NOTE TO: DD/OSWR
we will implement the actions outlined
This is a good job. I hate to make you
redo the piece, but I don't think it is
necessary for the Director to approve the 25X1
actions you have recommended. I would rather
say that this memo is for his information and
I would also 25X1
lead off by saying that we will take the
necessary actions to implement the following
and then list the three tics.
Richard J. Kerr'
Deputy Director for Intelligence
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~:r ~~/`r~~rl']I'' ?v t?. / ..~.. .~.. :~. r.... r.. ..ter..
Directorate of Intelligence
i Central Intelligence Agency
29 July 1986
This is the evaluation of Chernobyl
collection you requested. I prepared this
memo with many crucial inputs from CRES.
Although the memo has taken longer than
anticipated, I literally let the smoke clear
a little before drafting it. From my
standpoint this was the right decision. I
think all of us now feel better about the
adequacy of our collection than we did
immediately after the crises.
DD/SWR
25X1
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/29: CIA-RDP90GO1359R000300050004-8
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/29: CIA-RDP90GO1359R000300050004-8
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/29: CIA-RDP90GO1359R000300050004-8