QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON APEX

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85T00788R000100090005-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 34
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 31, 2005
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: April 4, 1980
• Content Type: STUDY

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4 April 1980
These Questions and Answers set forth the US
Government's procedures for safeguarding extra
sensitive materials. As such, it merits and warrants
the overall classifications of CONFIDENTIAL in its
totality. Individual questions and answers may be
excised for use at the unclassified level.
2$X1
D DECLE REVW ON 44 Apr 20aU
EXT BYND 6 YRS BY Same
REASON 3.d. (3)
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4 April 1980
Questions and Answers on APEX
The following questions and answers should assist in the orienta-
tion and understanding of the APEX Special Access Control System.
Answers to the questions are not (in all cases) set in concrete, and
the passage of time with its inherent resolution of problems may alter
some of the responses. With this in mind, use these questions and
answers as a guide and learning device.
Question
1. How many level of APEX access approvals are there?
Answer
There will be operational access approvals, which will be for
individual collection projects. There will be operational subcompart-
ment access approvals (designated "ALPHA") which will also be, in most
cases, based upon individual collection systems. There will be product
access approvals which will be divided into COMINT, IMAGERY, HUMINT and
TECHNICAL. Finally, there will be APEX General Phase I or Phase II.
Phase I will be for persons who will have physical proximity to APEX
material but who will not normally have access to the information.
Phase II will be for administrative and clerical personnel who must
actually handle APEX material in performing such functions as typing,
filing, etc.. One of the objectives of APEX is to provide as much
separation as possible between the information about how the collection
systems operate and the product which results from the operation.
Question
2. What will be done about APEX access approvals for people who
will be handling the material (such as registries, secretaries, etc.)
but who will not require a real knowledge of the workings of the
system?
Answer
APEX General Phase II approvals will be appropriate for people in
these categories.
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Question
3. Will everyone who has the product compartment approval have
access to all 4 types of product?
Answer
No. Within the product compartment, people will have access to
the specific kind or kinds of product which they require to perform
their duties as certified by their SIO.
Question
4. What's outside of the APEX system?
Answer
Material classified at standard classification levels including
intelligence information. APEX material will be marked as such. Much
of what is currently compartmented will become APEX. Eventually,
however, the APEX system should result in less, rather than more,
compartmented material.
Question
5. Will we have to determine access approvals of individuals
requiring APEX materials?
Answer
Yes. Just as is done now for compartmented materials.
estion
6. Will debriefing be required each time access to a particular
category of material is terminated?
Answer
Yes. This procedure will be very similar to those currently in
effect.
Question
7. How do we find out who holds APEX access approvals?
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Answer
In the same way that you now find out who holds access to SCI
materials by checking with your control or security officer.
Question
8. Within the "product" category, will access to all subcategories
(HUMINT, COMINT, TECHNICAL, IMMGERY) be permitted for anyone being
permitted access under one?
Answer
No. Specific accesses will be approved and granted for each
category or product by the appropriate SIO.
Question
9. Will APEX documents be controlled by paragraph and page markings?
Answer
Yes. There will be very little change in this procedure except
that APEX markings will be substituted for the various systems now in
use.
Question
10. How can there be one manual for all levels of APEX approvals
when not all people will have the same approvals?
The APEX manual covers the administrative handling of material of
all categories. It is intended that all types of APEX materials will
be handled in a uniform manner.
Question
11. Will APEX material be filed separately or integrated with
other material?
Answer
It will be handled as SCI material is now, and stored so that it
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is accessible only to people who are approved for access to it.
Question
12. Will a signature be required for all APEX material?
Answer
No. All hard-copy APEX material (not including electrical messages)
will be signed for.
estion
13. How many people in any one office will have a copy of the APEX
manual?
Answer
It is intended that enough APEX manuals will be issued to provide
ready access to every person who has an APEX approval.
estion
14. When multiple copies are sent to an office for distribution,
will the secretary for that office be responsible and sign for all
copies, or will that responsibility lie with each recipient of the
document?
Answer
It is intended that the recipient of the document will be account-
able for it. Under normal circumstances, the secretary will sign only
the package receipt and will not be responsible for individual copies
contained therein.
Question
15. How will working papers such as drafts be handled? Will they
have to be controlled and issued APEX numbers?
Answer
Such material will be handled as working papers. They should have
all of the proper control markings affixed, but need not be issued APEX
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numbers until they are in final form for dissemination. Nevertheless,
the content of the draft will dictate how it should be stored and who
may see it. As a reminder, all hard-copy APEX documents leaving an
ACF must be controlled.
Question
16. What controls are required for working papers and for how long?
Answer
A time limit is not prescribed for working papers. The limitations
basically are organizational. That is, working papers may not be
disseminated outside the basic unit which created them. They are not
given control numbers and are, therefore, not transmittable. Working
papers should not last longer than the 6-year classification limit,
however.
Question
17. What will happen to portion markings, paragraph markings, etc.?
Answer
Portion markings will be used in the APEX system much as they are
today. The primary modification will be the use of APEX markings instead
of those for separate compartmentation systems.
Question
18. Will classification and document numbers be required on all
pages of all documents?
Classification, yes; document numbers, no.
Question
19. Will the stamping of APEX material be uniform (location of
various markings, placement within paragraphs of text, identification
of all controls)?
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Answer
Yes, specific instructions and illustrations describing the uniform
markings will be provided.
Question
20. Who assigns APEX controls to documents?
Answer
The originator.
Question
21. Are Restricted Data and non-compartmented TS material to be a
part of APEX?
Answer
estion
22. Will a document need more than one cover sheet if it fits into
more than one category?
Answer
Question
23. Will all controls be indicated on one cover sheet?
Answer
Yes.
estion
24. Is there a reason why SECRET and CONFIDENTIAL material will use
Gray cover sheets and the others are colored?
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Answer
One of the primary objectives of the APEX system is to ensure that
TOP SECRET compartmented material is strongly controlled. The brightly
colored cover sheets will highlight TOP SECRET material as a reminder
of its sensitivity and need for protection.
Question
25. Can you still print hard-copy documents (NIE's, IIM's, etc.)
and not use cover sheets?
Answer
No. (See question 26)
Question
26. Will there be a cover sheet on top of a publications cover?
Answer
Yes, unless the publication's cover contains all of the information
and markings required by the APEX system.
Question
27. Where will we get APEX cover sheets?
Answer
The same place you now get cover sheets for the existing SCI
systems. Original printing of stocks will be accomplished by the CIA.
Question
28. Do we add the various operational and product codewords, or
do the cover sheets include them?
Answer
You will add whatever markings are required by the document upon
which you place the cover sheet.
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Question
29. Some documents will contain several categories of information
(operational, product, etc.). Address the precedence of the categories
and the cover sheet to be used.
Answer
Precedence:
a. ROYAL (Blue)
b. Operations (Yellow)
c. Ops Subcompartment (Brown)
d. Product (Red)
e. Non-TOP SECRET APEX (Gray)
The cover sheet reflecting the highest precedence of the material in the
document should be used. Markings on that cover sheet should include
all the markings required by the material in the document.
Question
30. Can cover sheets be xeroxed or computer-generated (black and
white) ?
Answer
Cover sheets will not be xeroxed, as xerox copies will not clearly
show the level of compartmentation. In certain special computer appli-
cations, it may be possible, with coordination of the Security Committee,
to formulate special computer-generated cover sheets. In the transition
period, computer generated cover sheets may follow present authorized
practice provided appropriate markings are included.
Question
31. Will all registries have a standard way of operating with
APEX material?
Yes. There will be standard operating procedures established,
however, local requirements may dictate variations.
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Question
32. Will APEX documents be allowed to be delivered directly to
requesters?
Answer
Under current SCI systems, compartmented material is transmitted
from control point to control point to be delivered to the requester
by his control facility. This system provides for appropriate receipting
and record keeping. The APEX control system will operate in the same
manner.
Question
33. Who will be assigning APEX numbers, the component or offices,
or what?
Answer
Control numbers will be issued in virtually the same way as at
present.
Question
34. How will APEX material be controlled in components where there
are only one or two cleared individuals?
Answer
It will be controlled just as it is now for the other SCI systems,
through the control facility, issued on a by name basis, and stored so
that it is accessible only to those persons having the appropriate access
approvals.
Question
35. Within the APEX product category, will access to all sub-
categories (HUMINT, COMINT, TECHNICAL, and IMAGERY) be permitted for
everyone who has access to one?
Answer
No. Specific access for each of the product subcategories is
required.
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Question
36. How will we know a person is approved to receive APEX material?
By checking with your APEX Control or Security Officer who will
check the person's approvals and arrange to have them certified.
Question
37. Will existing SCI facilities automatically convert to APEX
Control Facilities?
If determined by the responsible SIO or program manager to merit
continuation, yes.
Question
38. How will categories of APEX held by any given facility be made
known to other like facilities?
APEX Control Facilities will be certified for the specific cate-
gories of APEX material they may receive, handle, and store. Certifi-
cation by program managers of ACF's for specific projects, will be
required for ACF's which handle operational project materials. ACF's
handling operational subcompartment data will be nominated by SIO's
and certified by program managers. SIO's will certify ACF's for APEX
product. The APEX Central Register of Facilities will maintain lists
of ACF's and will disseminate them to facilities with compatible access
certifications.
Question
39. How frequently and to whom will listings of APEX Control
Facilities be provided?
Frequency to be determined, but should be approximately quarterly.
As indicated above, lists will be provided to compatible groups.
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Question
40. How will changes in "certification", i.e., in categories of
material held, be verified pending receipt of the latest APEX Control
Facility listing?
Answer
Accreditation need only be accomplished once, i.e., the examination
of the physical facility to meet storage/handling requirements. Certi-
fication for various accesses will be through the APEX Control Access
Registry. At the outset the process will probably be slow and somewhat
painful until the IOC of the 4C system.
Question
41. Must APEX material be used only within an APEX Control Facility?
Answer
Yes, any exceptions would require approval of the SIO.
Question
42. Within an APEX Control Facility, will compartmented material
have to be further controlled because not all personnel have the same
access approvals?
Answer
Yes, just as the current SCI systems are controlled to ensure
access only by those with appropriate approvals.
Question
43. Will an APEX Control Facility have to be individually certified
for each APEX product and Operational compartment/subcompartment that it
is eligible to receive?
Yes. Otherwise, each ACF could receive anything or everything,
which is not the intent. The Central Access Registry will provide ACF
listings of facilities accredited and certified for compatible levels
of APEX materials. However, once the ACF meets the physical security
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criteria for APEX control, submission of a complete additional accredi-
tation package will not be necessary within a reasonable period of time.
It is not necessary to reinspect the facility in conjunction with
additional certifications, unless reinspection is due in accordance
with paragraph 52 of the APEX Government Security Manual.
Question
44. Should the term "Special Security Office(s)" (e.g., SSO SAC)
be continued or be replaced by the terms "APEX Control Facility" (e.g.,
ACF SAC) and APEX Control Officer/APEX Security Officer (e.g., ACO SAC)?
Answer
The term Special Security Office (SSO) will be replaced by the term
APEX Control Facility (ACF).
Question
45. Where will the APEX Control Facilities be located?
Answer
It is unlikely that there will be any drastic change in the number
or location of Control Facilities under APEX. They will probably be the
same as they are now.
Question
46. For inter-agency meetings, are the hosts of the meeting to
assume that participants from other agencies have the appropriate APEX
access approvals. How will this be controlled and where?
Security clearances or approvals should never be assumed but should
always be verified. The host of a meeting is responsible for insuring
that the access approvals of all participants have been certified to him.
The channels for performing certifications will be the same as they are
now.
Question
47. Will there be a list of APEX Control Facilities throughout the
Community and the industrial area?
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Answer
Yes. These will be made available on a need-to-know basis.
Question
48. Will there be control officers in each registry for better
accessibility?
Whether the control officer is actually in the registry or not,
every registry must have access to a control officer in order for the
system to work. This applies to the current system as well as to the
APEX system.
Question
49. Will there be separate control officers for CONIINT, INMINT,
etc., or will one person have all the clearance controls?
Answer
Generally, APEX control officers will be responsible for all
APEX product in their organizations. It may be necessary, in some
cases, to have separate control officers for different collection
projects. This will be more a reflection of the needs of the receiving
organization than of the requirements of the producer.
Question
50. Once the APEX system becomes more operational, how does one
advise users concerning the fusing or sanitization or decompartmentation
of the "old" SCI materials until definitive guidelines are published?
Answer
New documents will be controlled under APEX rules. Conversion/
equivalency formulas will be created to assist users in marking new
documents containing old SCI information in accordance with APEX guide-
lines.
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Question
51. How will routine COMINT sanitization be handled under APEX?
Paragraph 7 of the draft APEX Government Manual addresses only emergency
actions.
Answer
The SIGINT Committee, NSA, and user SIO's will have to formulate
rules for routine sanitization of COMINT. Meantime, follow the exist-
ing manuals.
Question
52. To what level will routine COMINT sanitization authority be
allowed?
Answer
COMINT sanitization authority will be allocated in the APEX COMINT
manual to be prepared and coordinated by a collaboration of the SIGINT
Committee, NSA, and user SIO's. It is an APEX objective that more
sanitized COMINT will be produced in the future.
Question
53. How will the DCI enforce the proscription concerning the fusion
of product and operational and/or operational subcompartment data? Will
such fusion be a security violation punishable by fine or imprisonment?
Is such fusion, in fact, acceptable under certain circumstances?
Fusion is a "bad thing" under APEX concepts. It should be avoided
whenever possible within the limits of good sense.
Question
54. Will detailed sanitization and/or decompartmentation instruc-
tions be published for all APEX categories or just for COMINT?
Definitely for COMINT, IMAGERY, and TECHNICAL. Instructions for
HUMINT will be published if required.
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Question
55. Will detailed classification guides be published to assist
in classification of sanitized and decompartmented materials?
Yes. Executive Orders and ISOO Directives so specify.
Question
56. Will such a guide (i.e. detailed threshold criteria) be
published to assist in determining both compartmentation and classi-
fication of materials to be protected within the APEX System?
Yes. Threshold criteria have been established in the APEX Final
Report. More specific data will be developed if required.
Question
57. Will the term "Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI)"
become passe?
There is no intention at this time to delete this term. It is
generic in nature in that it explains a broad range of data and is
apropos under APEX as well as past compartmented systems.
Question
58. Will APEX material, at all levels of classification, auto-
matically be extended beyond the 6-year period for declassification?
Answer
Yes, as provided in the APEX manuals except for working papers as
explained in question 16.
Question
59. What markings will be used if a document contains old codeword
material and new APEX material? Or is it not possible for such a
document to exist?
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Answer
If you are speaking of a new document, such a document should not
exist. It should be marked initially with the proper APEX system
markings. A conversion table will be produced as a guide to assist in
properly compartmenting material which has been taken from an older
document and included in a new APEX document.
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Question
68. Will APEX include material that is solely "HANDLE VIA APEX
CHANNELS ONLY" with no product, compartment or subcompartment indicator?
If so, what APEX access will be required to review such material?
Answer
An objective of APEX is to eliminate the use of compartmented
channels for information which does not clearly warrant special protec-
tion. As a rule, information not falling into a specific APEX compart-
ment will not be afforded APEX protection. If the information requires
compartmentation, it must have some relationship to an APEX project,
program, or product, and should be marked accordingly. There will be
exceptions to any rule and APEX is subject to these exceptions. In
specific cases, the notation "HANDLE VIA APEX CONTROL SYSTEM' may be
used without project names, codewords, or product indicators. This
usage should be held to a minimum.
Question
69. What APEX accesses are required to handle and use pre-APEX
SI5TK, material that has no product or compartment
codewor .
Answer
Use of equivalency tables will be required which will be provided
in the near future. For example, TK-R will equal APEX IMAGERY and
will be any of the operational accesses for the type of system under
question.
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Question
70. Will there be a simple classification of "HANDLE VIA APEX
CONTROL SYSTEM' for such administrative matters as access certifications
and those items formerly protected as "HVCCO", etc.?
Answer
This term could be used in this way. Care should be taken, however,
to be certain that the material cannot be handled under collateral
classification, outside of APEX controls.
Question
71. When will classification guides on the various product or
compartments and operational compartments/subcompartments be issued?
As soon as they can be formulated. This will probably be around
the end of 1980.
estion
_Qu 72. Who will determine initial distribution of APEX TECHNICAL data
to users? Wiat will be the basis of such a determination?
Answer
When the manual for the TECHNICAL compartment has been written by
users, collectors and committess, SIOs will designate their personnel
who require access to this product compartment, and they will be approved
for APEX TECHNICAL access. The judgment by the SIO of the individual's
need-to-know will be the basis for such determinations.
Question
73. If the APEX Government Manual is in opposition to, or provides
more current guidance on a subject than, DCIDs, what takes precedence?
Answer
The APEX manual is not believed to be in conflict with any DCID.
In future revisions of either DCID's or the manual, careful
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coordination by the APEX Control Staff will be required to avoid conflict
or contradiction.
Question
74. Where does the Community obtain its supplies of the Nondis-
closure Agreement required in paragraph 16C of the APEX Government
Manual?
Supplies of Nondisclosure Agreements will come from the CIA when
the agreement has been formulated. Questions or problems regarding
this form should be addressed, through channels, to the APEX Control
Staff.
Question
75. When does the Community have to start using the Nondisclosure
Agreement?
All personnel will sign the Nondisclosure Agreement as part of the
orientation process.
Question
76. Who will maintain APEX indoctrination and debriefing agree-
ments? How long must they be maintained?
Parent organization (SIOs) will maintain the Nondisclosure Agree-
ments as an integral part of the subject's security file.
Question
77. Who will be responsible for giving indoctrination briefings
on the APEX system?
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Answer
This responsibility will be carried out by APEX Control Officers
and APEX Security Officers just as officials designated within the
current compartmented systems perform this function.
Question
78. Will the annual revalidation of the need-to-know for APEX
billets/positions in DoD require a lot of burdensome, and largely
unnecessary, paperwork?
Answer
It will require an effort on the part of the SIO and his people,
but not an unnecessary effort. If the number of accesses remains
static or continues to increase every year, it will not reflect a
serious review of need-to-know validations. APEX is intended to bring
about a decrease in SCI access requirements by making intelligence
available outside compartmented channels.
uestion
79. Does paragraph 20, APEX Government Manual, on re-entry to the
APEX system pertain to DoD personnel who are debriefed from access when
moving from one command or agency to another?
Answer
Yes. If a person has been debriefed and is therefore no longer
part of the system, then the only way to come back in is by recertify-
ing the need-to-know, adjudication of security eligibility, and execu-
tion of a Nondisclosure Agreement. This will also revalidate the need
for access to compartmented data.
Question
80. Will there be special indicators on badges to identify individ-
uals who are approved for access for APEX, and will there be different
symbols for different APEX categories?
Answer
The use of a badge system to reflect APEX access approvals is a
matter to be explored at a later date.
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Question
81. Why should the APEX codewords be CONFIDENTIAL or SECRET?
What "identifiable" or "serious" damage is done to the national security
if an APEX codeword is compromised? How does their being classified
meet the test of E.O. 12065?
Answer
The APEX Final Report provides that codewords may be classified.
Owners of codewords should be prepared to justify th classification if
they claim it.
Question
82. What assurances are there that there will be a sharp reduction
in production of hard-copy APEX TOP SECRET?
Answer
There are no assurances. But if everyone acts in good faith to
implement APEX, it is difficult to visualize how levels of TS SCI can
remain as high as today.
Question
83. What assurances are there that the criteria for classifying
material TOP SECRET will be stringently and legitimately applied?
Answer
There are no assurances. Everyone is expected to follow the
President's instruction. APEX administrative procedures will make the
reduction of APEX hard-copy material a bureaucratic necessity.
Question
84. Who on the DCI Staff or within the Intelligence Community will
monitor and enforce a sharp reduction in the marking of APEX material
TOP SECRET by collectors and production elements?
Answer
No specific person on the DCI Staff or within the Intelligence
Community (due to the need-to-know) can do this. EO 12065 specifies
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every person, through channels, is responsible for proper classification
at all levels.
Question
85. Is all APEX COMINT looked upon as being foreign government
information and thus classified for 30 years?
Answer
Under present rules, the answer is yes.
Question
86. What happens when the access list inside a hard-copy APEX TOP
SECRET publication is filled? Is a document cover sheet then affixed
to record access to the publication?
Answer
A simple lined sheet of paper, appropriately identified, may be
placed under the cover sheet to record additional names. A document
cover sheet should not be used in this example.
Question
87. How long must dissemination lists be maintained?
Answer
In the case of ROYAL it becomes part of the document and is handled
accordingly. The logs on the cover sheets which become a record of
dissemination will remain as part of the document. These cover sheets
also are utilized as a certificate of destruction which will maintain
the dissemination log for an extended period of time after destruction.
Question
88. Are NSA printed SIGINT reports and the NSA Daily SIGINT
Summary considered hard-copy documents subject to the accountability
and control procedures prescribed for APEX hard-copy TOP SECRET
documents?
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Answer
A simple rule of thumb is that hard-copy material is controlled
and electrical messages are not.
estion
89. It would appear less unwieldy, and more conducive to opera-
tions, if APEX hard-copy TOP SECRET documents were considered
"reproducible" unless such reproduction was specifically proscribed.
Is this possible?
Answer
No. In accordance with the security manual (Para. 89), reproduc-
tion must be authorized by the originator. An earlier question asked
how the amount of TS APEX can be reduced. One way is to make it less
convenient to duplicate.
21e~stion
90. What constitutes "reproduction"? Is a voluminous extract
reproduction? Is a single page extract reproduction? Is the extrac-
tion of a single paragraph reproduction? Is putting a document into
a computer data bank and then printing it (or portions of it) repro-
duction?
Answer
All of the above is reproduction with the exception that computer
stored and produced material is not subject to hard-copy accountability.
In regard to small reproductions such as being incorporated into
working papers, then the answer is no.
Question
91. Is APEX material in a computer considered "raw intelligence"
under paragraph 97 and 98 of the APEX Government Manual? If not, how
is such material inventoried?
Answer
APEX material in a computer cannot be inventoried by conventional
security practices and therefore the APEX manual excludes it from such
accountability.
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Question
92.. How will personnel currently having SI only and SI and TK
access be "converted" to the APEX product compartments?
Answer
At the beginning it is presumed that the SIO will grant a
one-for-one conversion which will be SI to APEX COMINT and TK-R to
APEX IMAGERY. The APEX TECHNICAL caveat still requires work in
determining what will reside in this category.
Question
93. Why will the current SI and TK codewords be continued versus
simply calling such material as APEX COMINT, APEX IMAGERY, with appro-
priate classification?
Answer
Because immediate elimination of current SI f TK codewords is
not cost effective. The new APEX generic terms will be utilized.
Some SI codewords will continue in use for sometime until software
can be modified in the normal course of maintenance and updates.
Codewords on old system compartmented documents will also remain
because there is no intent to retrofit older documents with new caveats.
Question
94. Will the number of APEX billets be restricted?
Answer
It is not anticipated that there will be numerical billets for
APEX approvals, but senior intelligence officers and project managers
will be expected to exercise a high degree of control over the number
of approvals granted.
Question
95. If there are no billets, per se, how can accountability be
maintained?
Accountability should not be confused with the need-to-know by
position. The SIO grants access based upon the individual's need-to-know
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because of his job, after establishing that the individual meets the
security criteria. Accountability in APEX is therefore accomplished
by people, not positions. Individual ASOs may use whatever technique
they desire to achieve the objective.
Question
96. Is there any objection to DoD using billet numbers and billet
titles to identify positions/incumbents requiring APEX access? Many
commands/agencies/departments currently use some sort of computerized
data base to manage and identify "cleared" personnel. As people are
eventually briefed for various APEX accesses, many of the current
systems will run out of space to indicate each access involved. Is
this problem being considered?
Answer
There is no objection to DoD using billet numbers. 4C will accept
billet numbers and will not run out of space, nor will SPECLE run out of
space. The 4C working group is considering all such problems.
Question
97. Since APEX precludes compartmentation of codewords, will the
current COMINT codewords, TK source indicators, and indica- 25X1
tors become merely CONFIDENTIAL?
Project names and codewords will not be compartmented. They may be
CONFIDENTIAL or SECRET, but the proprietor must justify their classifi-
cation.
Question
98. Will APEX supersede the codewords that are used today?
Answer
Most codewords will remain the same, as will project names. The
principal changes will be in the abolition of the "channels" caveats,
such as HANDLE VIA COMINT CHA:,NELS, and in the product designator
stamps: COMINT, IMAGERY, HUMINT, and TECHNICAL.
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Question
99. Will the APEX Steering Group, the APEX Control Staff or CIA
provide the Community with the rubber stamps used in the APEX system?
Answer
CIA will provide an initial supply of the new stamps. Many of the
old stamps will continue to be used for sometime, so caution must be
exercised in their disposal.
estion
_Qu 100. What will happen to GAMMA material?
Answer
In most cases, it is likely to become "TOP SECRET APEX COMINT GAMMA".
In some highly sensitive cases, it may become APEX ROYAL. It should be
noted that normally ROYAL material may not be transmitted electrically.
Question
101. Won't the incorporation of some GAMMA into the ROYAL category
either unnecessarily proliferate ROYAL or unduly restrict GAMMA?
Answer
ROYAL has stringent restraints. Some GAMMA will convert to ROYAL,
but only with NFIB/DCI approval. All GAMMA does not appear to meet the
criteria for ROYAL protection.
uestion
102. When the 4C system is fully operational, certain agencies in
the Washington, D.C. area will be able to immediately update the APEX
Central Access Registry. What is the current thinking concerning
agencies/commands not initially tied into the 4C system? How do they
update the Central Access Registry?
Answer
By advising their parent organization by the most expeditious means,
of changes in their access approvals.
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Question
103. Will there be a computerized access/billet roster to bridge
the gap between the existing systems and the 4C System?
No. SPECLE will do what it can, but not much more is expected than
is presently being provided.
Question
104. How will the 4C System deal with and record one-time accesses?
Short-term (e.g., for exercises, schooling, etc.) accesses?
Answer
In the same manner as any other access.
Question
105. How will transfers-in-status be handled under APEX?
Answer
When 4C is operational, in-status transfers can be handled within
the system. Prior to 4C these transfers should be accomplished using
current procedures.
Question
106. How will National Guard/Reserve personnel be granted access
to APEX? How will this be done when they are contractors when not act-
ing as Reservists?
National Guard/Reserve personnel will be granted access in an
identical manner as anyone else. In the case of contractors, they will
be handled in the same manner as other contractors.
Question
107. How will exercise use of APEX materials be treated?
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Answer
By existing rules until such rules are replaced or updated.
Question
108. In Phase I of APEX when the "HANDLE VIA APEX CHANNELS ONLY"
stamp is authorized for use, how will material that is SI, TK,
be distinguished?
25X1
Answer
It will be caveated as APEX COMINT APEX IMAGERY, APEX TECHNICAL
or one which is equivalent to the presently in being. Use of 25X1
equivalency tables will aid in this process.
Question
109. Will it be necessary to use APEX Control Numbers when the
"HANDLE VIA APEX CHANNELS ONLY"stamp is first used? If so, when will
such numbers be issued?
Answer
Yes. Numbers will be issued prior to the implementation date.
Question
110. If message traffic, raw intelligence or intelligence informa-
tion containing APEX and/or SCI material with previously prescribed
markings is transferred from one APEX Control Facility to another, how
is the material to be receipted for since there will be no APEX Control
Numbers involved?
Answer
By pouch receipt, with description of material covered.
Question
111. What volume of compartmented material will be controlled,
all or part of it?
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Answer
In the early stages of the APEX system the volume of material
under control will probably be similar to what is controlled at the
present time. It is planned that decompartmentation and sanitization
will permit a drastic reduction in the amount of material requiring
compartmentation.
Question
112. Will APEX control numbers be limited to eight digits, and
will there be any systematic breakdown such as now exists within the
various categories (SI, TK,
Answer
Yes, control numbers will consist of eight digits and, no, there
will not be a division such as you describe because there will be only
one control system, APEX.
Question
113. Will there be a numbering system for each APEX compartment?
Answer
There will be one APEX numbering system for Government and one
numbering system for material generated in the industrial area.
Question
114. Will control personnel require APEX clearances to issue
control numbers since they will be required to know the titles of the
documents?
Answer
Yes. Normally personnel performing such functions will have APEX
General Phase II access.
Question
115. How will we know that a person has a certain clearance if he
requests an APEX document if the numbering system does not indicate how
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the system is broken down into the various compartments?
The numbering system will not perform this function. The access
approvals required by the recipient of a document will be indicated
by the project names, codewords, and/or product indicators on the
document itself or the cover sheet.
Question
116. Will the APEX Control Group develop a standard, uniform log
to be used for audit of1APEX hard-copy TOP SECRET, SECRET and CONFIDEN-
TIAL material throughout the APEX Community?
It is an excellent idea and the Control Staff is pursuing this
approach. No specific deadline dates have been established and any
recommendations would be appreciated.
Question
117. Must there be a continuous receipt system for TOP SECRET
material down to the individual personally accountable for the document?
Yes - for hard-copy material. A receipt is required also for
SECRET and CONFIDENTIAL hard-copy material that leaves an ACF.
Question
118. Will there be a simple, uniform receipt for both documents
and envelopes? Will the system of receipts be uniform throughout
Government and industry? Will there be uniform logging and audit
procedures throughout the system?
Answer
While it may not be achieved immediately, uniformity will be sought
wherever possible in the operation of the APEX system.
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Question
119. Why doesn't the APEX program mandate a simple, uniform
receipt to be used by all in the APEX Community?
Answer
The Control Staff is working on single receipt system. There are
as many types of receipts as there are departments/agencies. Any
suggestions toward the accomplishment of a single receipt system are
most welcome.
Question
120. How can a random audit, in the spirit of the APEX Government
Manual, be conducted of APEX materials which are less than TOP SECRET
unless the same restrictive and burdensome controls are maintained for
all APEX materials as are currently required only for APEX TOP SECRET?
Answer
Same controls govern hard-copy CONFIDENTIAL and SECRET APEX
materials. These controls should have the effect of lessening compart-
mented APEX hard-copy materials.
Question
121. Will there be an audit every year for controlled APEX
documents?
Answer
Yes. Such audits are required by Executive Order 12065 and ISOO
Directive No. 1.
Question
122. What record keeping is required for APEX document inventory
and destruction?
APEX record keeping and requirements are outlined in the manual
and are similar to old requirements. It is anticipated, however, that
the APEX instructions will be observed.
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Question
123. Will COMINT still be divided into the three categories and
one subcategory (e.g., category III, Category II, etc.) or will these
terms become passe?
Answer
COMINT will obviously require subdivision into categories. The
SIGINT Committee and NSA must address changes in this area. For the
time being, the present system will continue.
Question
124. Can a person be authorized access to "APEX GENERAL PHASE II"
and one or more of the APEX product and operational compartments/
subcompartments, as required by need-to-know?
Answer
This possibility does exist, but would constitute an abnormal
condition. Persons who have a legitimate requirement for operational,
subcompartment, or product access would not normally require or be
eligible for APEX GENERAL PHASE II. APEX General Phase II is severly
limited in its intended application.
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