COMMENT ON THE DRAFT SECURITY CLASSIFICATION ACT OF 1975

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01495R000500060007-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 16, 2005
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: June 3, 1975
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release 2005/08/22 : CIA-RDP80BO1495R000500060007-7
SUBJECT Comment on the Draft Security
Classification Act of 1975
1. I have reviewed the summary and draft bill
concerning the classification of documents dealing with
intelligence, national defense and foreign policy. In
general, there is little we can say at present about the
proposed organization, manning and mechanics described
in the bill beyond the observation that as written they
will be cumbersome and expensive.
2. However, we are concerned that the bill provide
adequate protection for elements of the intelligence
process which we consider vital and potentially vulnerable.
As presently written, the bill does not do this. I call
your attention to a serious error in the wording of the
bill which we believe requires correction.
3. Specifically, the.-terpp "intelligence gathering"
or "intelligence gathering operations s _U --be-de
These terms are inaccurate and objectively meaningless.
If retained and used in the manner they are generally
used by the news media, members of Congress, and others,
this bill would literally_provide protection only for
some US intellige~-e_ souroes but_ notfor US intelligence
methods. As pointed out in our earlier discussions;
"Intellige_ee" is the product which results from the.
ore-ration of the intelli 9ence " rocess" or "cycle".
This "process" or "cycle" includes both the collection
or "cratherina" of information the raw-material of
intelligence) and_.the _ubeuentl processi.ng, collection,
and analysis of this information.
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 Approved For Release 2005/08/22 : CIA-RDP80B01495R000500060007-7
4. To best protect that which is sensitive and
vulnerable in the intelligence process, I recommend
that the above terms be replaced and the relevant para-
graphs be reworded in a manner similar to the following:
Paragraph (d) "CRITERIA FOR CLASSIFICATION MARKINGS",
(1), (D) "it contains information on the operation
and capabilities of sensitive sources and methods
employed in the production of foreign intelligence
by the United States, or"
Paragraph (d), (4), "Official information furnished--
to the United States by a foreign government, by an
international organization, or information received
by an agency as part of its intelligence production
process may be marked....or in the case of information
obtain by an agency as a result of its intelligence
activities, depending..."
Paragraph GRADING AND DECLASSIFICATION OF
OFFICIAL INFORMATION," (8), (B), it contains infor-
mation the unauthorized disclosure of w ic1i-..--.vital
to our national welfare; or - -
(C) it contains information the unauthorized dis-
closure of which would compromise an intelligence
production capability or jeopardize the life or
effectiveness of an agent, source, or collection
means engaged in covert activities vital to our
national welfare; or
STAT
Chief, Requirements and
Production Staff, OSR
Approved For Release 2005/08/22 : CIA-RDP80B01495R000500060007-7