PUBLIC ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE 'FACT OF' PHOTORECONNAISSANCE SATELLITES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83M00171R000500070003-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 20, 2005
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: September 27, 1978
• Content Type: MF

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2 7 SEP 1978
MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy to the DCI for Resource Management
FROM:
ram ssessment Office
SUBJECT: Public Acknowledgment of the "Fact of"
Photoreconnaissance Satellites
REFERENCE: 22 September 1978 Memorandum, Same Subject
1. In accordance with the instructions in the reference, the DCI
is developing and implementing a security plan to protect technology,
operations, and products within the context of the Presidential decision
to declassify the fact that the US conducts satellite photoreconnaissance.
2. The development and implementation of the security plan is being
directed by the Deputy Director for Administration. A special inter-
agency group, under the direction of the DCI's Security Committee, has
been formed to coordinate all actions. The following implementation
steps are in progress:
a. A basic message outlining the Presidential decision
and security concerns to be addressec' in briefing all cleared
personnel of the Community has been prepared and coordinated,
and is being forwarded to the DCI for release (Attachment 1).
b. Upon receipt of this message, addressees will notify
subordinate commands and contractors, as appropriate.
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of non-NFIB agencies and cleared g Personnel, members
Branch. parties of the Legislative
/CIA will ensure briefin of CIA
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NRO review(s) completed.
Approved F
o py s
SECRET
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 Approved For Release 2005/11/28 : CIA-RDP83M00171R000500070003-3
SUBJECT: Public Acknowledgment of the "Fact of" Photoreconnaissance
Satellites
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f. A detailed Guidance and Implementation Plan is being
prepared by COMIREX (draft copy at Attachment 2). This plan
establishes criteria which characterizes what can be inferred
from the open acknowledgment of the "fact of" and defines what
must be carefully avoided in terms of public disclosure. The
plan directs preparation of supplemental guidance for circu-
lation on behalf of the DCI to be used by key Administration
officials and public affairs officers in fielding questions.
This guidance is expected to be in the form of matrices.
3. Comments on Attachment 2 should be sent to the IC Staff,
attention by noon on 28 September.
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Attachments:
As Stated
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GUIDANCE AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
FOR
DECLASSIFYING THE "FACT OF" PHOTOGRAPHIC SATELLITE RECONNAISSANCE
PART I- GENERAL
1. The Decision. The President has directed declassification of
the fact that the U.S. conducts satellite photoreconnaissance including
acknowledgment that photoreconnaissance is one of the national technical
means used by the U.S. for verification of compliance with SALT and
other arms control agreements.
2. Implementation
a. This decision on declassification of the "fact of" is consistent
and supportive of Administration policy for greater openness
within the intelligence community. While this clearly represents
a move to reduce overclassification and officially acknowledges
a fact. that already is widely known, the preservation of the integrity
of' U.S. intelligence-gathering satellite operations continues to
,be a matter of overriding national importance. Until now, our
disclosure policies, as adjusted over the years, have served
this end. It is in support of this continuing requirement that
this guidance has been developed.
b. This guidance is divided into three parts:
Part I; General
Part Il: Criteria for Disclosing the "Fact of"
Part III; Implementation Tasks
3. Timing
a. AlI `implementation tasks are being planned for
completion in time for an anticipated Presidential acknowledgment
during a 1 October 1978 speech on space policy'.
b. Until the President makes such an announcement, the
"fact of" shall remain classified confidential
This contingency will be made clear as a part of
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PART III - IMPLEMENTATION TASKS ASSOCIATED WITH DECLASSIFICATION
OF THE "FACT'OF"
1. The declassification of the mere "fact of" the U.S. photographic
satellite reconnaissance program is meaningful in the purest sense only on
a conceptual level. In a practical sense, this simple "fact" will always be
used within some context related to national security. In other words,
discussions of the "fact of" photographic satellite reconnaissance inherently
will reveal some "facts about" this program. The challenge to implementing
the decision to declassify the "fact of" is a challenge to define clearly the
limited "facts about" photographic satellite reconnaissance that are implied
in. declassification of the "fact of."
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SECRET
 officials in dealing with this problem, specific guidance is being
developed and will be circulated at the earliest opportunity. It
is envisioned that this guidance will amplify and clarify the guidance
provided by the initial public affairs questions and answers developed
by ACDA.
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Currently indoctrinated personnel have been advised
through the security plan notification cable that any declassified
discussion of photographic satellite reconnaissance must be
limited to the acknowledgment of the mere "fact of" this program.
So that these individuals can more realistically deal with the
declassified "fact of" within the context of their normal activities,
supplemental guidance is being prepared. This guidance will
address the finer points of how to deal with the paradox of
declassifying the "fact of" while continuing to classify a wide
range of "facts about."
c. Modification of present decompartmentation instructions
,so as to include guidance to those individuals normally receiving
decompartmented satellite PHOTINT products.
Such guidance would make it clear to these individuals
that while the "fact of" is unclassified, the products and the wide
range of "facts about" remain classified.
4. Additional topics which should be placed under review include
the following:
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