PROCEDURES FOR DECLASSIFICATION AND RELEASE OF OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01495R000500010010-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 12, 2005
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: January 15, 1971
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Rels~e 2005/11/23 :CIA-RDP80B01495R000500010010-8
NATIONAL SECURITY?CUUNCiL
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20506
srcr,.~T
January 15, 19 i
l~rational Security Study Memorandum II3
TO: The Secretary of State
The Secretary of Defense
The Attorney General
The Director of Central intelligence
The Chairman of the Atomic Dnergy Commission
SIJBJDCT: procedures for Declassification and l~.elease of
Official Documents
2'hc president has directed that a review be made of current security.
classification procedures set forth in Dxecutive Order 10501, as
amended. The study should include an examination of:
-- presenL? actions being taken and procedures being followed by
the heads of departments and agencies pursuant to Sec. 7 (b}
of .~. O. 10501, as amended;
~:. present implementation by the various departments and agencies
of Sec. 1$ of ~.0. 10501, as amended, and of that portion of
Sec. 4 which directs department and agency heads to designate
persons to be responsible for continuing review of classified
material for L?he purpose of declassifying it;' ?
-- whether or not the material currently placed in Group 1 as
defined in Sec. 4 of E. O. 10501, as amended, ? is being reviewed.
on a regular basis far declassification; and
-~ existing criteria and guidelines, for release of National Security
Council papers produced both by previous Administrations and
by the present Administration.
Lased upon the foregoing reviews, the study should recommend:
-- changes in Sec. ? (b} of ~. O. 10501., as amended, to provide
specific criteria under which, the heads of departments and
agencies can disseminate classified material outside the
executive Branch;
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 Approved For Rele~ 2005/11/23 :CIA-RDP80B01495R000500010010-8
~- .]'l~if~.l+3u7~c:.~, if; >occ]ccl, i:o assuro coi~plianca with Soc. 4 and
.~.;cc. 1.3 of 1~~. O. 11)501, cis anY~ndc:d;
-- changes in E. O. 10501, as amended, to provide more specific ,
guidelines as to what material should be placed in Groups 2, 3
and 4, respectively, as defined in Sec. 4; ' .
-- guidelines under which,' if possible, material now placed in
Group 1 could be declassified, with particular attention to the
question of whether legislation would be required if it is deemed
practical to release any information now classified under the
Atomic Energy Act;
-- criteria for. the release of National Security Council papers from!
previous Administrations. (The wishes of former Presidents
Truman and Johnson regarding NSG papers produced during
r their Administrations should be ascertained. );
-- guidelines for the future release of NSG papers produced during
this and future Administrations, including a recommendation for
or against the establishment of a pcrmanen~ NSC review group to
determine whether or not the release of any particular NSC
document: would be injurious to the national security;
-- ~Lypes of classified information to which public access should
be granted, conditions under which, 'and specific groups to
' whom, such access should be granted, and criteria and proee-
dares for grazzting such access;
-- specific steps which can be taken, both administrative and legal,
in cases of release or disclosure of classified information or
:material except in the manner authorized in E. O. 10501, as
amended; and
-- changes which ought to be made in that Executive Order to
strengthen both the controls over and penalties for the release
of classified materi
l
a
except in the manner authorized in '
Sl'y'. C;1~.1 ~.' ,, , :. .
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S~C1~.~,T
This study will Ue prepared by an Ad Hoc Group comprising representa-
tives of the addressees and chaired Uy the. representative of The Attorne
General. A representative. of the National Security Council staff will y
be included or.'th~ ~,.~?,.,
cc; Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
r7ir ector, Office of Managemcut and Budget
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