CLASSIFICATION OF TALENT AND KEYHOLE INFORMATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP67R00587A000100140024-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 23, 1998
• Sequence Number: 24
• Publication Date: January 16, 1964
• Content Type: REGULATION

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RUFF
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SPECIAL CENTER. NOTICE SECURITY
NO. 6-64 16 January 1964
CLASSIFICATION OF TALENT AND KEYHOLE INFORMATION
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GENERAL
1. The purpose of this notice is to provide guidance for the
classification in the Special Center of documents containing photographic
and SIGINT products from sensitive manned overflight reconnaissance and
from satellite reconnaissance. (The classification of information concern-
ing collection operations is a separate matter not covered by this instruction. )
2. TALENT material is the product obtained from U. S. reconnais-
sance operations from sensitive manned aircraft overflights.
3. KEYHOLE material is the product obtained from U. S. reconnais-
sance operations from satellites.
CODEWORDS
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4. Code Words currently in use include-for TALENT
material, RUFF for KEYHOLE photographic interpretation material and
for KEYHOLE SIGINT material.
HOW TO CLASSIFY
5. KEYHOLE associated material may vary in classification from
TOP SECRET Codeword to SECRET. To assist in such determination,
classification guidance is provided below:
a. TOP SECRET RUFF-HANDLE VIA TALENT-KEYHOLE
CONTROL CHANNELS - is the classification given to KEYHOLE
photographs intended for interpretation and to intelligence derived
from, or based on, those photographs. Examples are:
(1) KEYHOLE photographs and analyses of the photographs.
(2) KEYHOLE Target Lists and KEYHOLE Requirements
Lists.
TCS-3154-64-KH
LS Copy1 -Oof ioa Copies
gEY~OL 25X1A2g
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 25X1A2g 25X1A2a
RUFF
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SPECIAL CENTER. NOTICE SECURITY
NO. 6-64 16 January 1964
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(3) Listings of KEYHOLE documents which include full
titles (e. g. ,
TCS 0000-64-KH),
(4) Mention of the value of KEYHOLE material in any
intelligence field or concerning a specific country in tern-.s
whereby the resolution of the photography may be estimated
b. TOP SECRET~HANDLE VIA TALENT-KEYHOLE
CONTROL CHANNELS - is the classification given to KEYHOLE
SIGINT material (COMINT Codeworlds and the control channel
caveat HANDLE VIA COMINT-TALENT-KEYHOLE CONTROL
CHANNELS JOINTLY" are included when appropriate). Examples
are:
(1) KEYHOLE SIGINT intercept material.
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(2) KEYHOLE SIGINT Target Lists and KEYHOLE SIGINT
Requirements Lists.
(3) Listing of KEYHOLE SIGINT documents which include
full titles.
(4) Mention of the value of KEYHOLE SIGINT material,
in any intelligence field or concerning a specific country,
in terms whereby the usefulness of the material is revealed.
c. TOP SECRET-HANDLE VIA TALENT-KEYHOLE CONTROL
CHANNELS - is the classification given to documents which refer
in some detail to KEYHOLE materials, but include no substantive
information from KEYHOLE. An example is:
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25X1A2g TCS-3154-64-KH
- RUFF 25X1 A2a
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RUFF
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SPECIAL CENTER NOTICE SECURITY
NO. 6-64 16 January 1964
d. SECRET-HANDLE VIA TALENT-KEYHOLE CONTROL
CHANNELS - is the classification given to administrative papers
which refer to KEYHOLE materials, but do not reveal the nature
of the intelligence source or the geographic area from which the
material was obtained. Examples are:
(1) A request for a KEYHOLE clearance.
(2) A listing of KEYHOLE document control numbers.
e. SECRET-HANDLE VIA SPECIAL CENTER CHANNELS -
is the classification given to internal DDI Special Center admin-
istrative documents which pertain to KEYHOLE intelligence, but
do not reveal the nature of the intelligence source or the geographic
area from which the material was obtained. The term ,"KH
Material" will be used in place of the word "KEYHOLE. "
f. Receipts for KEYHOLE materials must be returned via
TALENT-KEYHOLE channels, but may be unclassified if no
descriptive information is included other than the TCS-KH
control number.
HOW TO CLASSIFY TALENT MATERIAL
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6. Paragraph 4. a. - e. apply generally to TALENT material
when "TALENT" is substituted for "KEYHOLE" and - is sub-
stituted for "RUFF, ~`or-. it 25X1 A2a
7. CAUTION - This notice is intended to serve only as a
general guide. Assistance in classifying a document may be obtained
from Office TALENT Control Officers and from the Special Center
TALENT Control Officer. It is suggested that individuals engaged in
classifying documents err on the side of caution and check on a case-
by-case basis until experience has been gained.
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Chief, Special Intelligence Staff, DD/I
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TCS-3154-64-KH
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