ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL APPLICATIONS OF CLASSIFIED OVERHEAD PHOTOGRAPHY OF THE UNITED STATES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-84-3-6-9
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: August 18, 2010
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: September 29, 1975
• Content Type: MEMO

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~vIEMORANDUM ~ ~"~ ~'lw,~l~ -
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL..
(XGDS)
., SEN5ITNE ATTACHMENT September 29, 1975
MEMORANDUM FOR: SECRETARY KISSINGER
FROM:
SUBJECT:'
. That you approve its classification at the SECRET level.
~.~.
DAVID ELLIOTT/RICHARD OBER
Establishment of the Committee far
Civil Applications of Classified Overhead
Photography of the United States
.The. President directed that certain of the recomxrxendatians of the
Rockefeller Commission Report on CIA Activities be implemented
(Tab B), and specifically requested that the. Director of OMB, the
Director of Central Intelligence, and you to prepare a directive
establishing an interagency committee to oversee the domestic uses
of aerial [space] intelligence photography.
Such a directive has been developed and coordinated vrith DOD, CIA,
NASA, ,Interior, State, and OMB, and has been signed by Colby and
Lynn (Tab A), With your signature it can be issued and the comxxzittee
vrdll came into being.
A xr,.exnoranduxn to the President at Tab, ~ d? a his memorandum., (TabeB).
directive for his information, as reques
The appropriate classification of the directive is at issue. OMB and the
CIA staffs feel the directive can be uxiclassified. It seems to us that since
the directive makes direct and specific reference to "classified overhead
photography" and "foreign intelligence collection,." it should be protected
under the November 23, 1973, decision (Tab C) stating that "the fact that
the United States Government conducts a photographic satellite reconnais-
sance program for foxeign intelligence collection be classified SECRET. "
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. That you sign the directive at Tab A.
APPROVE
DISAPPROVE
That you initial the memorandum. to the President at Tab I and transmit
~~ ~
a coPY of the signed directive. ~
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SENSLT :E ATTACHMENT ~` ~ ~
'"^^~"^"" (Upon Rezr'aoval pf Attachment) XGDS
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2013/03/26 : LOC-HAK-84-3-6-9
 No Objection to Declassification in Full 2013/03/26 : LOC-HAK-84-3-6-9
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MEMORANDUM
TH'E WHITE HOUSE
WASFI1NGTdN
SEA gET
THE PRESIDENT
MEMOgp,NDUM FOR:
-FROM:
SUB,TECT:
You requested (Tab B) that as a folio
r
HENRY A. KISS GER ~~
Establishment of the Committee
fox Civil App ications of Classified
Overhead. P otography of the United States
Rockefeller Commis sion Repaxt on
mi,ttee be established to oversee th
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the classified overhead photograp
,_
satellites and aircraft. Bill Col
-.
directive ,fax such a committee
?issued in your name.
ixp to the recommendations of the
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-
,JJ
an interagency com-.
tivities
A
,
c
rIA
domestic use, for civil purposes, of
of the U. S. taken by intelligence
r
Jinn Lynn, and I coordinated a
,y,
ith the interested agencies, and it was
you asked to receive copies fall directiveations~x The dhrectiveeonecivilon
of the Rockefeller Commiss'on ~ CO hmx not Tab A.
use of classified overhead ~hoto rap Y
SECRET/GDS
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2013/03/26 : LOC-HAK-84-3-6-9
 No Objection to Declassification in Full 2013/03/26 : LOC-HAK-84-3-6-9
MEMORANDUM FOR
The Secretary of Defense
.The Secxetar.y of Interior
The Secretary of Agriculture
The Secretary of Commerce
The Ad:rrsinistrator, National Aeronautics
and Space Administration '
The Administrator, Environmental Protection
Agency
The Chief of Engineers, United States Army
b537
SUB.7ECT: Establishment of the Committee for Civil Applications
of Classified Overhead Photography of the United States
The President has noted that the Commission on CIA Activities Within the
United States in discussing classified overhead photography of the United
"'States `c'o3~C'1ud.ed t'h:at `it can find no im?-ropriet}* in permitting continued
civilian use of such photography and that economy dictates 'the use of the
photographs for appropriate civilian purposes. Accordingly, the President
has directed the establishment of a civilian agency committee to oversee
civilian uses of classified overhead photography taken over the, United States.
To implement the President's decision, the following actions are to be
taken:
The Secretary of Interior will form a Committee for Civil Applications
of Classified Overhead Photography of the United States which will:
receive, evaluate, consolidate, standardize, establish
priorities and transmit to the. Director of Central Intelligence
(DCI~ all. requests for such phatog,raphy from domestic civilian
agencies;
facilitate civilian agencies' use of classified systems and coordinate
the incorporation of photography, derived data, and technology in
performance of domestic civilian functions;
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2013/03/26 : LOC-HAK-84-3-6-9
 No Objection to Declassification in Full 2013/03/26 : LOC-HAK-84-3-6-9
supply information to civilian agencies so that they .may
..knowledgeably formulate requests and reach compromises
between requests and capabilities;
act as the interface between civilian agencies and intelligence
collectors,. recognizing that the Director of Central Tntelligence
will net be involved in judgements concerning civil agency needs
ar priorities and that collection for this purpose will remain
incidental to foreign intelligence collection;
- avexsee civilian agency uses of classified photography in a
manner designed to avoid any concerns that domestic photographic
coverage is being used improperly.
In performing all of the above activities, the Committee will be subject
to guidelines established. by the President.
2. The committee will be chaired by the representative of the Department
of Interior and will consist of representatives of the Departments of
Agriculture and Commerce, the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, the Corps of Engineers and the Environmental
,Protection Agency.. Membership may be expanded at the discretion
of the Committee.
3. The Director of Central Intelligence will designate a representative
to serve ex officio an the Committee for the purpose of liaison with
the intelligence community, to assist in obtaining domestic photographic
coverage, to address issues concerned with the use of classified
products., and to facilitate the acquisition of security clearances for'
users. Since ,civil usage of data is enhanced if unclassified, the DCI's
representative will be an intermediary on questions concerning release
of classified information from security controls, as appropriate.
Henry A. ,Kissinger Wi~liam~E. Colb
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2013/03/26 : LOC-HAK-84-3-6-9