CLASSIFICATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP05T00644R000601680013-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 9, 2009
• Sequence Number: 13
• Publication Date: May 4, 1977
• Content Type: MEMO

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MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
FROM: John F. Blake
Deputy Director for Administration
SUBJECT: Classification
7
4 MAY 1971
REFERENCE: Memorandum from DCI dated 25 April 1977, same
subject (ER 77-7344)
1. Action Requested: None. This memorandum is submitted in
response to your request for comments on the handling of Top Secret
material.
2. Background: Agency procedures for handling noncompartmented
Top Secret material are consistent with the requirements established
by Executive Order 11652 and its implementing National Security
Council Directive. It is true that the procedures for handling
CODEVORD material, i.e., sensitive compartmented information, are
less complex in terms of transmittal and receipting than those for
Top Secret documents without compartmented controls.
In CIA the volume of noncompartmented Top Secret material
represents a relatively small percentage of the total volume of
classified material, therefore, no significant problems exist in
adhering to the letter of Executive Order 11652 requirements.
On the other hand, CODEWORD material i.e., sensitive compart-
mented information, represents a large percentage of the total volume
of Agency material and generally requires rapid dissemination to a
large audience. Imposition of receipting requirements as strict as
those that apply for noncompartmented Top Secret material would.
seriously inhibit such rapid dissemination.
The Office of Security has no evidence that CODEWVORD designations,
i.e., compartmented channels, are being used to avoid the stricter
dissemination and receipting procedures of the Top Secret control
system. Further, it would not appear to be a logical alternative,
011
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since fraudulent and unnecefsary application of CODEWORD control
on a document would limit its dissemination within the Agency, where
all staff employees hold Top Secret clearances but not all are approved
for compartmented access.
The appropriate regulations governing the handling of both
noncompartmented Top'Secret material and CODEWORD material, i.e.,
sensitive compartmented information, are regularly under review.
The current requirement that every reader of a Top Secret document
acknowledge access by his signature is currently under review by the
Agency.
We do not feel that a change in Agency or community compartmentation
procedures in this area is necessary or desirable at this time.
/a/ John F. Blake'
John F. Blake
Distribution:
1 - DCI
1 - DDCI
L- -I---
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2 5 APP, 1977
MEMORANDUM FOR: DDA
FROM: Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT: Classification
I understand that the procedures for handling CODEWORD
material with regard to signatures, etc., are less complex than
for handling TOP SECRET. Thus, many of our people use CODEWORD
classification where it is not needed in order to take the easy
route. Would you check on this and let me know if we should
change our regulations. If so, should such a change apply to
the Community as well.
STANSFIELD TURNER
Admiral, U.S. Navy
cc D/DCI/IC
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7
14 APR ?377
DCI/IC 77-1909
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
Deputy to the DCI for the Intelligence
Community
SUBJECT . Compartmentation and Security Classification
REFERENCE Your Memo to me dated 5 April 1977, Same
Subj ect
1. Action Requested: None, for information only.
2. Background: This memorandum responds to referenced
request for additional information in preparing for the next meeting
with the Vice President on this subject.
3. Attached is the requested list of the basic compartmentation
divisions and the number of people cleared in each category.
4. Also attached are the ten copies of the Inventory of
Intelligence Community Periodicals you requested for the next
meeting with the Vice President. Table I has been modified as
you requested. It now shows the highest level of security classifi-
cation, the number of copies delivered to "External National Level
Customers" and a rough idea of where they go.
UNCLASSIFIED When Removed
From Attachments
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5 APR 1977
MEMORANDUM FOR:
FROM:
D/DCI/IC
DCI
- ---~--
SUBJECT:
Compartmentation & Security Classification
1. Your memorandum of 29 March and your notebook on
security classification and compartmentation are both extremely
valuable. I'd like to ask a slight bit of additional help in
preparing for the next meeting with the Vice President on this
subject. Would you take Table I of the Annex - Inventory of
Intelligence Community Periodicals - and expand it in three
dimensions:
a. For each of the 29 publications,
indicate in another column the highest
level of security classification ever
included in the publication.
b. Under the columns for "External
-National Level Customers," list the number -
of copies delivered by sum X.
c. In addition to total addressees,
indicate as best as one can succinctly a
rough idea of where they go. Attach then
all the other sections of the Annex without
necessary modification, and reproduce in
ten copies for me to take to the next
meeting with the Vice President.
2. Could you also take the various appendices on compart-
mentation and brief it down markedly just to indicate the basic
divisions and the number of people cleared in each category. I
simply want to give an idea of the magnitude of the task of bringing
this under any tighter control.
STANSFIELD TURNER
Admiral, U.S. Navy
1'E RE
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rxecuuve registry
P7 S
2 9 MAR 1977
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
Deputy to the DCI for the Intelligence
Community
SUBJECT: Compartmentation
1. Action Requested: None; for information only.
2. Background: This memorandum responds to your
22 Mar4h request for a review of the most sensitive compartmented
programs.
3. A description of the formal compartmented programs
has been provided to you under separate cover. There are some
specific actions that can be taken to improve this facet of the
security system. I intend to task each collection manager to
review the formal compartmentation systems under his control,
assess their effectiveness in protecting material, and suggest
any steps that might be taken to improve security and to protect
truly sensitive information. In addition, I will ask each collection
manager to review on a semiannual basis the compartments under
his control to insure that clearances are given only to those who
require access to sensitive information. Institution of a single
administrative system for all formal compartments would be a
major step forward; the IC Staff currently has -work under way
toward this end.
4. In addition to the formal compartmented programs
which have been summarized for you in response to an earlier
request, there are a number of subcompartments or specially
controlled projects with highly restricted access. These projects
are established by collection managers when broad dissemination
of the information produced by a particularly sensitive source or
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method may jeopardize the collection activity. Dissemination
of such information usually is on a designated-name basis to
only a few senior level officials. There is no common criteria
for establishing such informal compartments, but individual
collection managers are in a position to assess the trade-off
between source protection and the need to disseminate information.
5. The category of specially controlled projects includes
artivitites under the dirc~cfin of th
7programs,
and a number of special
DDO provides special
protection to the intelligence o aine rom about
any given time only 10 to 12 people, znc u ng
case officers, communicators, and seni officials have
access to this reporting. NSA has about rojects
that are given special protection including on which
you were recently briefed. The product of all these special
collection programs is blended with other intelligence reports
to the fullest extent possible.
6. I believe that the sensitive, special projects are
essential to the protection of particularly vulnerable sources
and methods and that they can best be administered by program
managers. I will ask collection managers to.. review. these
special projects and eliminate access of those who do not have
a demonstrable need for the information. Although it is possible
to establish a central register and provide some periodic reporting
on the personnel who are authorized access, such formal arrange-
ments might increase the risk of compromise. Consolidated
lists and a mechanism to maintain them will bring together in one
place a considerable amount of sensitive information and will
necessarily involve clearances for personnel involved inpurely
administrative activities. I am reluctant to initiate action in
this area without further discussion with you and the various
program managers involved.
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Memo for DCI from D/DCI/IC,
Subject: Compartmentation
Distribution:
Orig - Addee
1 - D/DCI/IC
~- ER
1 - ICS Registry
1 - EO/ICS
1 - Chron
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DCI/IC 77-0408
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CONFIDENTIAL
MEMORANDUM FOR: D/DCI/IC
FROM: Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT: Compartmentation
# 2 MAR 1977
1. After the briefing I had from NSA on Monday morning,
I am increasingly concerned about the importance of controlling
our highly compartmented programs. I know that I have already
asked for a major review of compartmentation in response to the
Vice President's request. In anticipation of it, however, I
would like to look urgently at what you consider to be the ten
most sensitive compartmented programs that we have. I would
appreciate receiving a list of those programs with a brief
description of their content and a list of all the individuals
who are cleared for each.
2. I would also like to know who is authorized to add to
or subtract from these access lists.
3. What I have in mind is the possibility of issuing an
immediate directive requiring your personal approval of any
additions to these lists and directing you to pare them down
if you think it appropriate.
STANSFIELD TURNER
Admiral, U.S. Navy
C O N F I D E N T I A L
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