National Intelligence Survey Program - Assessment and Plans.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-05597A000100030023-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 13, 2000
• Sequence Number: 23
• Publication Date: February 8, 1972
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2001/'07/30 :CIA-RDP78-05597A000100030023-8
RESPONSES FROM NIS COMMITTEE MEMBE$S
t,f~ ~
E~::~9t~ ,.. t:;:a:1lc
ttC13S;i::1i!Ja
State Dept. declassification instructions on file .
Approved For Release 2001/07/30 :CIA-RDP78-05~97A000100030023-8
 Approved. For Release 2001/07/30 :CIA-RDP78-05597A000100.030023-8
DEPARTMENT C3F STATE `
a
GCINFIDENTIAL 8 February 1972
MEMORANDUM.F4R THE CHAIRMAtd, NIS COMMITTEE
SUBJECT: National Intelligence?Survey Program
Assessment and Plans.
I refer to your memorandum of 10 September 1971 to the
Director of Central Intelligence. We have reviewed the
changes and recommendations therein and are confident that
the resulting General Surveys will contain sufficient detail
to satisfy the needs of almost every conceivable State reader.
Should some specialist happen to require yet more basic facts
on some narrow ?tapic, we are ,also sure that such material will
be available either elsewhere in the intelligence community ar
in public print.
This memorandum thus is designed to express the Depart-
ment's concurrence in the revised program and to reconfirm our
continuing desire to maintain the support role that we play
at present;
A. Sidney' Buford III
State Member
NTS Committee
~ooumrnt N*.
IhriMw H tMi~, ~ocamept by 81A 4aa
retpraslaa - at
A ias ao ott~aattaa to dealaes
p 1f eontatns Inlor?natloa of B111
1MeroN that mast rernata
ela=sltiad at Z8 S 0
a ?Authorlty: NR 702
Data Bsrlowar r-~-%~~
o ~ DEC ~sso
CONFIDENTIAL
Approved For Release 2001/07/30 :CIA-RDP78-05597A000100030023-8
 oved For Releas~0~0~/~~/~30J:~4~F~[~P7~~9~'~0~030023-8
WASI-iZNGTON, D.C. 2Q301
C-0066/DI-lA
Subject: "Proposed Changes in National Intelligence Survey (NIS)
Program (U)
To: Chairman, National Intelligence Survey Committee
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D,C, 20505
1. (U) Reference your memorandum for the Director of Central
Intelligence, 10 September 1971, subject: National Intelligence
Survey Program--Assessment and Plans.
2. (C) This Agency agrees to your proposal to eliminate the detailed
supplements of the NIS, program at the end of FY 72 and to
incorporate selected data from these sections in the General Survey.
Expansion of the General Survey should be pursued on a selective
basis, by country and subject, as the need arises.
3. (C) Review of the detailed supplements currently .in work
reveals several that are scheduled for delivery during the first
half of FY 1973 and should be considered for publication by CIA,
a. The section 23, Weather and Climate, on NIS 55/86/95,
scheduled for delivery in July 1972, is now approximately 50 percent
comp.le ted .
b. The fallowing units, scheduled for delivery as~indicated,
would complete coverage for the respective areas:
(1) NIS 13A, Section 25, Urban Areas, Ha11e. This unit
has been completed through CIA edit; however, further production has
been suspended pending receipt of new source materials needed to resolve
reference material differences.
(2) NIS 20, Section 2S, Vlore and General Urban Map, July
and September 1972, respectively.
(3) NIS 26I, Section 25, Voronezh, November 1972.
~evtew of skis dmcumQnt by QiA has
dcin~e.: .~ .,._.
ataxsitr'sd at TS - F... g? ~ 0
A..aL __..,.
--~-...~. nn ~u?4
~ ~i ti. contains nothinC c( C1A tnfaroq
p1~
Revie
Approv Fo ReTease'~
~1 floc ~seo
DO~GUM'ENT N0.
CHANGE I~N CLASS.
DE AvS ''u
C ASS. HA Ct TO O
tG XT f1 V I W !4T t
TH s tt8
nvti ~,~vt~w~..p'S9,~85~
QFt4
01 DEC 19' ~~
~~ ~~
~U
ltP ~
Q0001000~~~~Pp"~ a?tomatbc
~~`` downgra mg asst d~d~ssif4cstiua
 Approved For Release 2001/07/30 :CIA-RDP78-05597A000100030023-8
s
(4) NIS 43C, Section 35, Ports and Naval Facilities,
Minor Parts, July 1972.
:~< <
Mai4~si~,~,riL'~ ~i'lG,,'aCi:....;ral liti'',IliaBiS~`E'~
2
Approved For Release 2001/07/30 :CIA-RDP78=05597A000100030023-8
~~ W~~~ 51i~1~(~ d~
 ~~f~ a ~~
Approved For Release 2001/07/30: CIA-RDP78-05597A000100030023-8
~" ~ " DEPARTMENT QF THE AF2MY
\`~~I //~~~; OFFICc. OF THE ASSISTANT CHIEF OF STAFF FOR INTELLIGENCE
MEMORANDUM FOR: CHA.TRMAN, NIS COMMITTEE
SUBJECT: Discontinuation of Production of~Detailed Sections of
National Intelligence Survey (NIS) (C)
1. (C) At the 12 January 1972 meeting of the NIS Committee, you requested.
that far the? next meeting each Member have prepared a?memorandum indicat'zng
his Department's position on the subject stated above. This memorandum
is submitted in response to your request.
2. (C) The Army Staff and commands -- other than those which are com-
ponents of Unified Commands -- were informed of the proposed discontinua-
tion of production of detailed sections of-the NIS. This was accomplished
by forwarding as an enclosure a copy of DIA~message, Number b3b3 dated
.0122597 October 1971. The Army addressees c?*ere requested torevieca the
message and advise the OACST, Directorate of Foreign Intelligence if the
proposed changes were acceptable. If the changes were not acceptable, the
addressees were requested to submit a statement indicating the adverse
impact that the changes would have on their operations.
3. (C) In general, the proposed changes were acceptable to the Army
Staff and commands. There were, however, several notable exceptions.
a. The US Army Intelligence Command's US Army Imagery Interpretation
Center wants. Section 24 continued in its present format.
b. The Directorate of Military Engineering, Office of the"Chief of
Engineers indicated that Sections 24, 25, 31, 32, and 33 are of particular
value as detailed supplemental sources for are"a analysis research in sup-
port of military topographic mapping.
c. The US Army Foreign Science and Technology Center (FSTC) strongly
objected to discontinuation of the Armed Forces detailed sections for
NIS 26 and NIS 39A, 'and furth er questioned the advisability of dropping
the detailed sections .in the Geography and Transportation and Telecommun-
ications subject areas for NIS 26 and 39A and other high priority areas.
Dacgmant Ma.
sexiew of thls dooum?nt by OIA has
date d that
C1A has no obJectton to darlass
^ It contains infQrnoatian of CiA
Interest that must remain
classified at TS S Q
Autborityl ~ HR iO~S
'
^ tt contains notbing of CIA IatiN~t
Approved For Rel~iae
~
A001~
?..F
~~~0~~-~J1p~y~1Jc_ RESBApIM~
~ DEC i9~ ~
DOU D1k 52fl0,1U gG?t5 J19T A?PtY
 Approved For Release 2001/07/30: CIA-RDP78-05597A000100030023-8
DAMI -F I `r""'
~' FEB ~:~
SUBJECT: Discontinuation of Production of Detailed Sections of
National Intelligence Survey (NIS) (C}
d. Of the continental armies, schools, and centers of the U.S.~Army
Continental Army Command (CONARC), only two objected L-o the proposed
changes. The J. F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center expressed continuing
need for in-depth coverage of all aspects of targeted countries in sup-
port of deployment and predeployment planning and contingency planning.
In the past, the NIS has been used as the basic source document and the
reduction would hinder acquisition of the required in-depth knowledge.
The Center also recommended that Section 57 (Subversion and Insurgency)
be restored to the program since the treatment in the General Survey does
not provide adequate in-depth coverage. CpNARC's Continental Tactical
Intelligence Center (CONTIC) stressed its interest in subjects falling
within the Geography, Transportation and T^lecominunic'ati.ons, and Economy
chapters and the sections on Armed Forces and Intelligence and Security:
However, CONTIC's concern appeared to'stem from the belief that reduction
of NIS production meant also that the data base on these subjects would
no longer be maintained.
4. (C) a. Apart from the specifics discussed in paragraph 3, above, the
undersigned is concerned over a less obvious problem -- that of reducing
NIS production at the very time that there is a concurrent reduction of
departmental hard.-cover production. '`
b. CIA. and DIA are~the principal producers of intelligence~i.e., that
which is produced as har~,,~published intelligence for general distribution
to all agencies which have expressed a need for intelligence on the sub-
ject or geographic area. DIA has already purged its programmed production
of a wide variety o.f.hard-cover products such as the logistical studies,
LOC studies, health and sanitation studies,, and the like. This action
was predicated upon priorities, duplication of other products, and con-
tinued. coverage in other publications -- the ?latter two justifications
may~have referred to NIS coverage which was expected to .continue-- e.g.,
Health. and Sanitation Studies vis-a-vis NIS Section 45.
c. It appears that production of programmed hard-cover publications
is being phased-out by the producers unilaterally whereas the net total
loss in nn-the-shelf, hard-cover, published intelligence should first be
determined. A cessation of programmed production of a given product may
be acceptable so long as there are other publications/products available
,and programmed for continued production. Conversely, subsequent discon-
tinuation of the latter may create a void so that the user who has come
to depend upon published intelligence will find that none is available at
the very time he needs it. A11 too frequently a need arises suddenly,
and there is insufficient time to produce, publish, and distribute the
intelligence product.
2
Approved For Release 2001/07/3~~ 597A000100030023-8
 Appxoved For Release 2001/07/30: C ~~~~ 7 000100030023-8
~'~~. ~.
DAMI-FI ~' ~'~~ ~~~
SUBJECT: Discontinuation of Production of Detailed Sections of
? National Intelligence Survey (NIS) (C)
d. It is the belief of the undersigned that product elimination must
be based can, a plan coordinated by the producers rather than .by unilateral.
action taken in t11e name of economy. The net loss of reduced production
by the several agencies should be assessed somewhere at the national leT~e1
to determine the total cumulative loss in the published intelligence in-
ventory. Otherwise, the program runs the risk of creating voids that
could be critical in times of crisis or emergency. It is a basic truism
that intelligence should be produced before rather than after it is needed.
This was the concept that underlay the establishment of the NIS Program.
BRUCE R. GRANT
Army Member
NTS Committee
Approved For Release 2001/07/30 ~~~~7A000100030023-8
 Approved For Release 2001/07/30: CIA-RDP78-05597A000100030023-8
3 r
C~(~n!'=t~~' ?~'TI ~ i
Ser C150/i~IC-34
` ~ Date 7 February 197
:.
grave affects on the responsiveness and success of fleet otJ,era-
ting forces in contingency situations. Despite the advent of
automat?d intelligence systems, the ~IIS remains the only ezlcy~
clopedic compendium of world-wide data on the aforementioned
subjects of naval interest. It appears that changes to the
- program outlined in references (a).and (b) might result in
cursory treatment of these subjects of'naval interest and
would completely eliminate other information which could be
vital to, the success of combat operations.
Copy
to:
NIS
Committee
Member
NIS
Committee
AZember
NTS
Committee
Member
NIS
Committee
Men~iaer
CAPT ~- USN L- i
Deputy Commander, Naval
Dept of State Intelligence Command
DIA
Army'
Air Force
co,~FlD~~vTIAL
Approved For Release-2b01%07%30: CIA-RDP7$-05597AOd01000~0023-8
 Approved por Release 2001/07/30: CIA-RDP78-05597A000100030023-8
DEPAFZTi+~dENT gF 7 HE NAVY
NAVAt_ INTELLIGENCE COh9tv1AND
2461 EISENHOWER AVENl1E~
ALEXANC7RIA. VA. 22314
-~,~_
~'~ee :Reverse for Review Action
CONFIDENTIAL ~~__ __.. _.
CO~C~~(C~ENT~~,I
IN F. EF'LY rEc-c c, T..
Ser 0150/idlC-34
Date 7 February 1972
MEMORANDUM FOTt CHAIRMAi'~T NATIONAL .INTELLIGENCE SURVEY COl12ITTEE '
Subj. Proposed Reformatting of National Intelligence Survey (U)
Ref; (a) Dir OBGI memo to Dir Central Intelligence of 10 :Sept 71
(b) DIA msg 0122592 OCT. 1971
1. (C) The Navy position to the proposed reformatting of ,
the National Intelligence Survey (NIS) is one of strong
opposition unless it will accommodate the comprehensive ~ ,
coverage?of naval subjects now included.
2. (C) References (a) and (b) indicate that separate sections
containing detailed data will no Langer be produced on such
subjects as merchant marine, naval ports and facilities, coasts
and landing beaches, oceanography and climatology. Besides
immediately depriving Navy planners and operational commanders
of the most re~.dy source of such information, eliminating the.
requirement to publish it in the NIS could lead in the long
term to atrophy of the whole world.-wide maritime data base
through lack of emphasis at the national level on collecting
and maintaining such information. If anything, we will need
greater efforts in this area as the tempo of operations slows
and ship visits to many areas of the world become less fre-
quent. - -
3. (U) The proposals of reference (a) and (b} appear to
eliminate that production on the ocean areas of the world.
.The Naval Oceanographic Office currently compiles and produces
Section 2 (Ocean Areas) and Section 7 (Evaluation) of the NIS.
These Sections, in addition to being utilized as an input to
the NIS, .provide information in satisfying other validated
requirements assigned to that office. The current format of
Section 2 satisfies not only the NIS requirements, but also
the requirement far Oceangraphic Atlases. Although a part of
the~NlS, the oceanographic sections, are utilized by many
naval interests outside the intelligence community. The Sec-
tions provide the only source in this format of environmentaY
information to operational and planning personnel. They serve
in lieu of the Oceanographic Atlas Series, discontinued 'in
1967 as an economy measure.
4. (C) The proposed reduction in scope of the NIS could have
,~ ~ .,~ ,> , -, ,.- l ;.r ~ ?:, ,~,;~ ~- CONFIDENTIAL
A~~dv~d`~bi~ R~le~S~' ~200'1/U7`/30 : CIA-RDP78-05597A000100030023-8
 Approved'For Release 2001/07/30: CIA-RDP78-05597A000100030023-8
~Q~i~~~ `~~~r,~~'i!~
Ser C15Q/NIC-34
Date 7 February 1972
grave affects on the responsiveness and success of fleet ap,era-
t:ing forces in contingency situations. Despite the advent of
~automatQd intelligence systems, the NIS remains the only erZCy-
clopedic compendium of world--wide data on the aforementioned
subjects of naval interest. Tt appears that changes to the
program outlined in references (a}.and (b} might result in
cursory treatment of these subjects of~naval interest and
would completely elizriinate other information which could be
vital to. -the success of combat operations.
Copy to:
NIS Committee Member. Dept of State
NIS Gonunittee Member DIA
NIS Committee Member Army'
NIS Conunittee Member Air Force
~J . ~~~ c~RYAN!`
RAPT USN`--
Deputy Commander, Naval
Intelligence Command
Approved For Release 2001/07/30: CIA-RDP78-05597A000100030023-8
~~i~dE-jt-JrIV~~~.~_
CONFIDEN`T'IAL ,
 ,~ ?Approved~For Release 2001/0~`.;~l~~F8~(~~7A000100030023-8
QEPARTNlENT ?F' THE AfR Ft?RCE
HEAI3QUARTF=RS UNITED STATtS AtR FORCE
WASHINGTON, D.G.
RF PLY TO
ATTh! ~F: INAKB
8 February 1972
s~~,~E~T: Proposed Reductions in NIS Program (C)
To: Chairman, NIS Committee ~ "`"??''
~~8'VtB~'~1
1. (C) This letter is submitted -pursuant to your request
of 12 January for a letter Pram each NIS Committee Member
on his organization's position in regard to subject
praposalp
2, (C) Air Force users of NIS products were queried as to
the acceptability, from their viewpoint, of the proposed ?
reductions as outlined in DIA message ~~6363 dated 0122592
October 1971. In general, the responses were that the
proposed changes were acceptable. Several users had
specific reservations as to the proposal, including;
a. The Electr-onic Systems Division of.the Air Force?
Systems Command wants. Section 23 continued in its present
format even if consolidated into the General Survey.
b. The Air Force Communications Service wants the
substance of Section 36 incorporated into the GAS. or
Section 36 continued.
3. (C) In addition to the objections raised in paragraph
2, above, the general position of acceptance of the proposal
by the. Air Force must be tempered by overall Air Force
intelligence requirements. There 'is a need for assurance
that any reduction of hard cover production by any one of
the intelligence producing agencies be assessed at the
national level. Only by so doing can"tlie community as a
whole, and Air Force as a member of that community, avoid
the risk of creating gaps in the published intelligence
inventory which could be critical to mission requirements
in time of crisis. -
~`~~~ -`'
EVERET~T J , BURLANDO
Air Force Member
NIS Committee
EXCLUDED F"tiC?.'i l~li i ~J~:I1i i:ICti1~GRADIi?V'G~~
L?OD DI.R 52GQ.1~ DQES r10T APPLY
? PR1L~E IP1 THE PAST p~?"` ~- ~s FAITH PfV THE FUTURE
Approved For Release 2001/07/3~fQI~~~~q~000100030023-8