REPORT OF THE NSAM 156 COMMITTEE ON 'POLITICAL AND SECURITY ASPECTS OF NON-MILITARY APPLICATIONS OF SATELLITE EARTH-SENSING'

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79B01709A002300010032-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 20, 2004
• Sequence Number: 32
• Publication Date: July 29, 1966
• Content Type: MF

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USIB-D-41. 12/22
(COMDR-D- 7/49)
29 July 1966
Limited Distribution
UNITED STATES INTELLIGENCE BOAR D
MEIvIOR.A,N:DUM FOR THE UNITED STATES INTELLIGENCE BOARD
SUBJECT : Report of the NSAM 156 Committee on "Political
and Security Aspects of Non-Military Applications
of Satellite Earth-Sensing"
REFERENCES a. USIB-D-41. 12/ 19 (COMDR-D-7/47)
11 July 1966, Limited Distribution
b, USIB-D-41. 12/21 (COMDR-D-7/48)
14 July 1966, Limited Distribution
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1. In restricted session at the USIB meeting on 28 July 1966
with the Director, National Reconnaissance Office (D/NRO) present,
briefly explained the background of the subject report
attachment to reference b. ), and noted that it was now appropriate
for the United States Intelligence Board (USIB) to address the
recommendi:itions in subparagraphs ba. and b. on page 10 which the
Board was asked to review. He noted that the immediate question
was a method of conducting such a review. suggested 25X1
that the Board consider assigning these recommendations for study
and report to either the Committee on .Overhead Reconnaissance (COMDR)
or the group recently formed under ursuant to paragraph 7b. 25X1
of reference a.
2. Chairman Helms announced that this group, which had been
formed for t;he purpose of analyzing the problem of removing KH-4
products from the T-KH control system and downgrading the m~a.terial
to the Secret classification, was composed of:
Chairman
State
D IA
NPIC
CIA
NRO review(s) completed.
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29 July 1966
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Mr. Helms thought that the recommendations could be referred to this
group since it will be dealing with a similar problem. He would propose
that a report be submitted to the Board in three weeks,
3. Admiral Taylor said that he would refer to send the
recorrzmc~xia,tions to COMDR. He noted that the group already 25X1
has a lot to do to complete its assignment. Moreover, the recommen-
dations in 6a. and b. are closely related to the sanitization and
downgrading function of COMDR, and COMDR would have the benefit
of full participation by the military services. General Davis concurred
with Admiral Taylor and noted the interests of the Army planners
involved in this matter.
4. Admiral Taylor suggested, and Chairman Helms agreed
that concurrently the D/NRO could consult with the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA) on the nature of the problems involved.
Dr. Flax said that he had been in consultation with NASA on these matters
for about six months. He noted that recommendation 6a. poses many
problems tkiat are not obvious on the surface. For example, the D/NRO
noted the importance of drawing a very fine distinction in choosing
between a Secret or Top Secret classification, since most contractors
have a Secret clearance but very few have a Top Secret clearance.
5. The Acting State Member did not believe that recommendation
6 was the kind of question with which COMDR was used to dealing since
it is basically a requirements committee, noted that, as 25X1
the D/NRO pointed out, recommendation 6a. raises problems which are
basically policy questions or which positions have now been agreed
upon by the high level NSAM 156 committee, which included represen-
tatives of most USIB agencies. He would support assigning the recommen-
dations to the ~ad hoc group to study the question of whether,
given the agree po icy needs, there are serious security or practical
obstacles to relaxing the control system somewhat.
6. .Admiral Taylor pointed out that COMDR is charged with
security as well as requirements.
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(COMDR-D-7/49)
29 July 1966
Limited Distribution
7. Dr. Flax doubted whether recommendation 6a. would help
NASA much since their need is for carnpletely unclassified treatment.
He suggested that NASA be asked what use and contribution would be
made if a Secret or Top Secret classification were retained. The
D/NRO thought that the last sentence of 6a. reflected the real reasoning
behind this recommendation, and Mr, Helms agreed.
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8. After askin each USIB Principal for his views on the choice
of COMDR or the group, Chairman Helms determined that the
consensus of the Board would best be met by constituting COMDR as an
ad hoc group to study and report to USIB in three weeks on recommends-
tions 6a. a:nd b, of the subject report, with due consideration to the
broad implications of this report from the intelligence viewpoint. He
also determined that the consensus of the Board wa.s that the DCI and
the D/NRO should give appropriate consideration to recommendation
7 of the subject report, which was, over the objection o:E the Acting
State Memk~er, excluded from the work of the COMDR group.
xecut~ve ecret y
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