STATUS OF STAR GATE PROGRAM

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP96-00789R002900010002-8
Release Decision: 
RIFPUB
Original Classification: 
S
Document Page Count: 
3
Document Creation Date: 
November 4, 2016
Document Release Date: 
October 20, 1998
Sequence Number: 
2
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
April 4, 1995
Content Type: 
REPORT
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PDF icon CIA-RDP96-00789R002900010002-8.pdf135.62 KB
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Approved For Release 2001/04/02 : CIA-RDP96-00789R0029000100 Status of STARGATE Program - In response to Congressional direction, we are working with the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) to transfer the STARGATE program to CIA. We also have initiated a number of actions to comply with the Congressional request that we-:. perform a retrospective review and technical analysis of the program's activities, as well as survey the program for declassification purposes. We have reviewed and coordinated with DIA its report on STARGATE; the information provided in the DIA retrospective review and technical analysis is part of the ongoing data transfer between the two agencies and will be used in the independent CIA review of the program. (S) Retrospective Review To perform the retrospective review of STARGATE's 20-year history and a technical analysis of the program's results, we will work closely with the National Research Council (NRC), which has ready access to a number of experts in the scientific fields related to the program. We have exchanged draft tasking statements with the NRC to establish a Blue Ribbon Panel of experts on parapsychological phenomena to ensure a comprehensive and unbiased technical review of the program. In addition, CIA will request the NRC to: ? Review research and development studies related to this program--less than 50 studies--for which unclassified reports are available. ? Meet with program officials to develop a comprehensive understanding of STARGATE's current direction. ? Perform technical evaluation of all the data related to the program, including experimental designs and their results, and proposed future research. This evaluation will contain recommendations on which technical areas have the potential for fruitful research and will identify areas that should not be pursued further. ? Draft the final report, which will incorporate the findings of the Blue Ribbon Panel; the NRC also will participate, as appropriate, in briefing these findings to the Congress. (S) CL BY 2042955 DECL OADR DRV HUM 4-82 Approved For Release 200 CIA-RDP96-00789R002900010002-8 Approved For Release 2001/04/02 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002900010002-8 The review and analysis of the Blue Ribbon Panel will be unclassified,but we. will not release its findings until the Congress and the agencies involved have been briefed. We are working with the NRC to determine the appropriate amount of time for the study, which could require up to six months. (S) In other actions, we are requesting the cooperation of the US Army Research Institute, which holds a contract related to behavioral sciences with the NRC. We also are preparing to transfer resources to the Institute to cover the costs associated with supporting the NRC during the technical review. In addition, we are contacting several other organizations involved in the program as part of our review of STARGATE's operations. (S) We will declassify immediately certain aspects of the CIA program, including the Agency's past sponsorship of activities related to the investigation of paranormal phenomena for intelligence purposes and the results of this research. In order to determine what additional information related to the STARGATE program can be declassified, we will convene a DCI classification review committee. This committee will review all CIA and DIA program documents and other information--including actual targets against which operations were conducted and their nature, the customers for these operations, and resources allocated to this effort. (S) To facilitate the declassification effort and the Blue Ribbon Panel review, we will request that DIA: ? Declassify its sponsorship of STARGATE and continue downgrading and declassifying the technical reports associated with the program. ? Eliminate the program's compartmentation, and remove from limited distribution status all other classified documentation related to STARGATE and consider declassifying these documents further. ? Transfer to CIA all DIA documents associated with'STARGATE for archival purposes and review by the DCI declassification committee. ? Assist the Agency in executing the Blue Ribbon Panel review by providing unclassified information relating to the program when requested by the Panel. (S) G Approved For Release 2001/04/Otm@P96-00789R002900010002-8 Approved For Release 2001/04/02 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002900010002-8 Following the completion of these declassification and review efforts, we will. develop a comprehensive management strategy for the program, including the transfer of positions and funding from DIA and their proper disposition within CIA. (S) 3 Approved For Release 2001/04/0 P96-00789R002900010002-8