LETTER TO MR. MICHAEL T. BLOUIN FROM STANSFIELD TURNER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85B00236R000200130009-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 18, 2001
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: June 5, 1979
• Content Type: LETTER

Cents! Intell,gence Agency
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Juii
Mr. Michael T. Blo
uin
Director, Informat
ion Security Oversight Office
General Services A
dministration
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. Blouin:
20405
Enclosed for your review are guidelines issued pursuant
to Executive Order 12065 for the systematic review of United
States originated classified information over twenty years old
and under Central Intelligence Agency classification jurisdic-
tion. Also enclosed is a copy of trty letter to the Archivist
of the United States -Forwarding these guidelines for his use.
Yours sincerely,
STANSFffL[I TURNER
Enclosures
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 Central Intcliigence /Ag~nq
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i`3
Dr. James B. Rhoads
Archivist of the United States
National Archives and Records Service
Eighth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20408
Dear Dr. Rhoads:
Pursuant to Section 3-402 of Executive Order 12065, I hereby issue
and enclose for your use the required systematic review guidelines cover-
ing classified information of United States origin and more than twenty
years old over which the Central Intelligence Agency has classification
jurisdiction. These guidelines were prepared in consultation with your
designated representative Mr. Edwin A. Thompson, Director of the Records
Declassification Division, National Archives and Records Service.
Copies of this letter and of the enclosed guidelines have been for-
warded to the Director of the Information Security Oversight Office (IS00)
for his review,_as provided by the Order. Systematic review guidelines
for "foreign government information" as defined in Section 6-103 of the
Order and in Section I/F of ISOO Directive No. 1 will be provided at a
later date, in compliance with the provisions of the Order and Directive
concerning such information.
Yours sincerely,
`;TANSPI1 LD TURNER
Enclosure
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A. Authorization. The following guidelines apply- to information of United
States origin wMich is more than 20 years old and over which the Central
Intelligence Agency has classification jurisdiction. Under the provisions
of Section 3-402 of Executive Order 12065, the CIA authorizes the Archivist
of the United States to use these guidelines in the review of such informa-
tion upon its transfer to the General Services ,\ln inistration and accession
into the National Archives.
B. Categories of Information. Excepted from Automatic Declassification.
Except for foreign government is exempt from automatic
declassification under Section 3-404 of the Order, all classified informa-
tion over 20 years old which is under the classification jurisdiction of
this agency is automatically declassified unless it falls within one or
more of the categories described below. Information in these categories
shall not be declassified until reviewed for declassification by designated
CIA personnel, and must be referred to CIA for such review by all other
agencies having custody thereof. Waiver of the Order's 10-year review
interval requirevient having been granted pursuant to Section 3-401 by the
Director of the Information Security Oversight Office, information in
Categories 1 through 5 below is to be systematically reviewed again 30
years following its initial review. Information in all other categories
listed below shall be re-reviewed at 10-year intervals, as necessary, until
it can be declassified or assigned a date or event for automatic declassifi-
cation. Category 29 is a new category under Section 1-301(g) of the Order.
CATEGORY 1
Information constituting or concerning cryptologic, cryptographic or
signals intelligence including information on the development and/or use
of any method, means, system, device, installation or activity for the
production, acquisition or transmission of such intelligence or for the
protection of cryptographically processed data, including cryptographic,
corimmications and emanations security procedures, techniques, materials
and equipment.
(Next Review Date: 30 years following initial review.)
CATEGORY 2
Information constituting or concerning counterintelligence, defined by
Executive Order 12036 of 24 January 1978 (Section 4-202) as "...information
gathered and activities conducted to protect against espionage and other
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clandestine intelligence activities, sabotage, international terrorist
activities or assassinations conducted for or on behalf of foreign powers,
organizations or persons, but not including personnel, physical, document
or communications security programs."
(Next Review Date: 30 years following initial review.)
CATEGORY 3
Information concerning or covered by special access, distribution
and protection programs continued or established pursuant to Section 4-2
of Executive Order 12065.
(Next Review Date: 30 years following initial review.)
Information which identifies any undercover personnel or unit(s),
or clandestine human agent(s), of the Central Intelligence Agency or of
a predecessor agency; or which otherwise reveals information classifiable
under the provisions of Executive Order 12065 concerning intelligence
sources, methods or activities including intelligence plans, policies,
or operations of the Central Intelligence Agency, a predecessor agency,
or any element of either.
(Next Review Date: 30 years follow?iiim; initial review.)
CATEGORY 5
Information covertly acquired which is contained in intelligence
reports and other documents that bear the legend "niIS IS UNEVALUATED
INFORMATION" or, lacking this or an equivalent narking, are similar in
format or content to items so marked; and in which the formats used,
subject matter, source descriptions or other content would, in collec-
tions or aggregates of such reports and/or other documents, reveal the
nature, scope or extent of United States intelligence activities in,
or in relation to, particular foreign countries or areas or would
identify intelligence sources or methods.
(Next Review Date: 30 Years following initial review.)
CATEGORY 6
Information which reveals or identifies a present, past, or prospec-
tive intelligence source, whether a per~=en, organization, group, technical
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system, mechanism, device, or any other means or instrument that provides,
has provided, or is being developed to provide intelligence.
(A'IT;Gf)RY 7
Information which reveals or identifies a present, past, or prospective
intelligence method, procedure, mode, technique, or requirement used or
being developed to acquire, transmit, analyze, correlate, evaluate, or
process intelligence or to support an intelligence source, operation, or
activity.
CATLGORY 8
Information that discloses the organizational structure of the Central
Intelligence Agency; the numbers and assignments of CIA personnel; the size
and composition of the CIA budget, including internal and external funding;
logistical and associated support activities and services; security procedures,
techniques, and activities including those applicable to the fields of
communications and data processing; or other quantitative or qualitative
data revealing or indicating the nature, objectives, requirements, priorities,
scope or thrust of CIA activities, inclLuiing the missions, functions, and
locations of certain CIA components or installations.
CATEGORY 9
Information pertaining to intelligence-related methodologies, techniques,
formulae, equipment, programs or models, including computer simulations,
ranging from initial requirements through planning, source acquisition,
contract initiation, research, design, and testing to production, personnel
training, and operational use.
Information which identifies research, procedures, or data used by CIA
in the acquisition and processing of intelligence or the production of
finished intelligence, when such identification could reveal the particular
intelligence interest of the CIA, the value of the intelligence, or the
extent of the CIA's knowledge of a particular subject of intelligence interest.
L,MI;GORY 11
Information pertaining to training in intelligence sources, methods,
and activities provided under the auspices of CIA to individuals, organi-
zations, or groups that could reveal or identify equipment, materials,
training sites, methods and techniques of instruction, or the identities
of students and instructors.
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CATEGORY 12
Information that could disclose CIA policies and procedures used for
personnel recruitment, assessment, selection, training, assignment, and
evaluation.
CATEGORY 13
Information that could lead to foreign political, economic, or military
action against the United States or other friendly nations.
CATEGORY 14
Information that could create, stimulate, or increase international
tensions in such manner as to :impair the conduct of United States foreign
policies.
CATEGORY 15
Information that could deprive the United States of a diplomatic or
economic advantage related to the national security, or that could weaken
the position of the United States or its allies in international negotia-
tions, or adversely affect other activities pertinent to the resolution
or avoidance of international conflicts or differences having national
security significance.
CATEGORY 16
Information concerning plans prepared, under preparation, or contem-
plated by officials of the United States to meet diplomatic or other
contingencies affecting the national security.
CAIT GORY 17
Information that identifies or otherwise reveals activities conducted
abroad in support of national foreign policy objectives, and planned and
executed so that the role of the United States Government is not apparent
or acknowledged publicly; or information that discloses support provided
to such activities.
Information revealing that the United States has obtained, or seeks to
obtain, certain data or materials from or concerning a foreign nation,
organization, or group; the disclosure of which information could adversely
affect United States relations with or activities in a foreign country.
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CATEGORY 19
Information that could lead to political or economic instability, or
to civil disorder or unrest, in a foreign country or jeopardize the lives,
liberty, or property of United States persons in such a country or could.
endanger United States Government personnel or installations there.
CATEGOIhY 20
Information concerning foreign intentions, capabilities, or activities
which could pose a potential threat to United States national security
interests or to those of allied or other friendly governments.
Information indicating the extent of, or degree of success achieved
by, United States collection of intelligence on and assessment of foreign
military plans, weapons, capabilities, or operations.
CATEGORY 22
Information revealing defense plans or posture of the United States,
its allies, or other friendly countries or enabling a foreign nation or
entity to develop countermeasures to such plans or posture.
CATEGORY 23
Information-disclosing the capabilities, vulnerabilities, or deployment
of United States weapons or weapons systems.
CATEGORY 24
Information that continues to provide the United States with a scientific,
technical, engineering, economic, or intelligence advantage of value to the
national security.
CATEGORY 25
Information concerning research of a scientific or technical nature
leading to the development of special techniques, procedures, equipment
and equipment configurations, systems, or devices for collection or
production of foreign intelligence; or the operational planning for,
deployment or use thereof in such collection or production, or for other
national security purposes.
CATEGORY 26
Information concerning United States Government programs to safeguard
nuclear materials, techniques, capabilities, or facilities that could com-
promise, jeopardize or reduce the effectiveness of such programs.
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Information on foreign nuclear programs, activities, capabilities,
technologies, facilities, plans and intentions, weapons and their deployment
that could disclose the nature, scope, or effectiveness of United States
intelligence efforts to monitor nuclear develojvnents abroad or could cause
such efforts to fail or be restricted in a manner detrimental to national
security.
( 'VIE( ORY 28
Information pertaining to contractual relationships or joint arrange-
merits with individuals, commercial concerns or other entities when such a
relationship or arrangement involves a specific intelligence interest, or
reveals the extent or depth of knowledge or technical expertise possessed
by CIA, or when disclosure of the relationship or arrangements could.
jeopardize the other party's willingness or ability to provide services
to CIA.
CATEGORY 29
Information that could result in or lead to action(s) placing an
individual in jeopardy.
C. renc Assistance to the National .Archives. This agency has designated
experienc personnel to gu cue anccFissist NatT-onal Archives personnel in
identifying and separating documents and specific elements of information
within documents under these categories that are deemed to require continued
protection. These CIA-designated personnel are authorized to declassify
categories of information exempted from automatic declassification (listed
in the preceding section) if it is determined that they no longer require
protection. These CIA personnel will make recommendations for continued
classification of the documents or categories of information requiring
continued protection.
D. Continuin ,~pA lication of Earlier Guidelines. The systematic review
guide Ines an instructions -dent iedae o-w shall remain in effect until
canceled or superseded:
1. Downgrading instructions provided in the letter of 16 April 1973
from Lawrence R. Houston, Central Intelligence Agency General Counsel, to
Dr. James B. Rhoads, Archivist, of the United States.
2. Instructions concerning information on Secret Writing (S/W), cited
STATINTL in the letter of 8 June 1973 from Central Intelligence
Agency Archivist, to Mr. Edwin A. Thompson, Director of the Records Declas-
sification Division, National Archives and Records Service.
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STATSPEC 3. Guidelines concerning
material, cited in the letter of L August 1977 to Mr. cwin Thompson,
Director of the Records Declassification Service, National Archives and
STATINTL Records Service, from Central Intelligence Agency Senior
Review Officer.
4. Central. Intelligence Agency issuance dated 11 December 1978 and
entitled "GUIDELINES FOR CIASSIFICATION REVIEW OF CIA PREDECESSOR RECORDS
STATINTL AND INFORMATION BETWEEN 1941-1946", signed by Chief of the
Classification Review Group, Information Systems 1 la vsi s , aff, Direc-
torate of Administration.
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