LAILL /
CIA5 Declassification Plan Required Under Executive, "Classified National Securitys Amended
Submitted to the Information Security Oversight Office4
UNCLASSIFIED//
Table of Contents
Executive
1.0 Introduction
Purpose of the
Provisions of Executive, as Amended, Section1
2.0 Responsible Agency Officials and Process and Production
Responsible Agency
Responsible
CIA Line Responsibility
Location of Relevant Records
Survey Methods
2.6 Estimate of Aggregate Subject Records.
Completed. Remaining, and
Total Number of Pages That Have Been Reviewed From5 Through44 Through September
Inork Completed Subject to this
Inhe Estimate of the Aggregate Quantity of Records that are Expected to be
Aggregate of Records Reported in last Year's Plan that Were Expected to be Reviewed byr Special Media thai can be Delayed until December
Inhe Estimate of Ihe Aggregate Quantity of Records that arc Expected lobe
Application of Integral File Block
The
Cost Estimates lo Implement the
3.0 Declassification Guide and File Serin
CIA Declassification
File Series
4.0 Other21
Interagency Cooperative and Innovative
Delegation of Declassification
Equity-Identification
Exlernal Factors Affecting Ability to Comply with the
Re-Review of
The "Rolling
5.0 27
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Table of Contents (Continued) This report has two figures:
FigureYear Program Legacy Agency and External
FigureIA ReviewYear Equities by Fiscal
This report also has four annexes:
re classified SECRET and are provided separately:
Annex A:FOUO) CIA Resources far Automatic Declassification.6 Annex B:FOUO) Agency Officials Referenced in Plan who are Under Cover
FOUO:
Annex C: Explanation of Variances from the CIA Workload and Production Estimates Provided in the4 CIA Declassification Plan
Annex D: Description of the CIA Multi-Level Automated Declassification Review Process
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Executive Summary
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) estimates that thereotal ofillion pages of permanent records1 that require review under the Automatic Declassification provisions of Executive Order, as amended. This estimate7 million pages from CIA holdings. These CIA holdings are divided4 million pages of textual records3 million pages of special media. In addition there are5 million pages in external records from other agencies that contain CIA equities.
Through the end ofIA has completed the review8 million pages, of which3 million pages have been declassified and released in whole or inaercent release rale. The CIA review2 mrilion pages of textual records0 million pages of special media,illion pages of external records.
DuringIA will complete the review of lheillion pages of textual records dueuring the period5 throughIA will complete the review of theillion pages of external textual recordsillion pages of CIA special media. This will fully meet ihe initial requirementss amended. During this period CIA will declassify and release from this legacy workload anelease rate. The declining release rate is primarily because of resource limitations, the higher sensitivity of the remaining more recent records, and the increasing complexity of review. These factors impose limitations on the amount of redaction that is feasible and thereby reduee the release rate. In addition to its efforts to meet yearly production goals. CIA haseader in the establishment of innovative efforts to facilitate: compliance with the Executive Order's requirements. These efforts include leadership of the External Referral Working Groupctive participation in equities identification training for the declassification community; the establishmentoini review program with the National Gcospatial-Intelligence Agencynd the deplovment of the highly popular CIA Research Search Tool (CREST) at NARA II in College Park, Maryland, which now contains just over nine million pages of declassified records. In addition, last year CIA participated with the State Department and several other agencies in an innovative effort lo assist in lhe quality assurance review of Stale electronic cables
CIA's commitment to the spirit of the Executive Order is further demonstrated in its emphasis on the review of Presidential Library records. Both the Remoteapture (RAC) program and the assignment of additional reviewers to Presidential Librarya period of decliningthe CIA commitment Co provide maximum support to this important clement of the Executive Order. CIA also continues to examine the feasibility of deploying the CREST system to Presidential Libraries and other archives.
Importantly, CIA's efforts lo improve processes for equities notification throughout the Executive Branch were recognized and endorsed by Congress wilh funding for the developmentatabase for community equities' notification. During Ihe post year, CIA led the development of user requirements andompetitive procurement and selectionontractor for development of tlie Document Declassification Support Syslenihich will support the equity referral process for the overall declassification community.
Though we can meet our production goals within planned resources, increasing the amount of released material and sustaining innovative efforts will require the funding levels discussed in classified Annexhis annex is being submitted separately.
orr v
1
I
of the Report
In ihis report lhe Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) provides its updated plan for compliance with Executive. as amended, andFR1l is responsiveequirement from the Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO) daledhai calls for each agency either to prepare an original plan or submit an updated plan.
The ISOO requirement callsescription of how each agency's plan will ensure implementation of automatic declassification in its organization and how agencies will complete appropriate reviews of the backlog of classified permanent records that areears or older by
In line with the guidance, the updated CIA plan identifies: I) the responsible CIA officials;he estimated aggregate quantity of records and estimated breakdown of each category as defined by ISOO, the location of records subject to the amended EO, and the CIA survey methodology;lie status of records affected by file series exemption;he Agency's review process and how the plan will ensure compliance with the EO toescription of how the Agency will declassify, exempt, refer, or delay as appropriate,year-old or older classified pennanent records prior lo the full implementation of the automatic declassification provisions onnd the plan for) the application of the integral file blocking concept;IA's interagency cooperative and innovative efforts to facilitate compliance;evelopment and approval of its declassification guidelines;quity idenlification training;lans to re-review recordshe "rolling period."
The plan will also discuss factors that might impact CIA's ability to comply with Ihe6 deadline for the declassification, exemption, referral, or appropriate delay ofyear old material.eparate classified annex (Annexhe plan further describes the funding requirements and available funding to implement the above Agency plan, to include costs for security clearances, physical security, training, contracts, and the number and costs of full timeecond classified annex (Annexrovides the identity of senior officers involved in the process who are under cover. Finally, two additional unclassified annexes, Annex "C" and "D" provide,escription of variances from last year's plan,ore detailed description of CIA's declassification review process.
of Executives Amended, Section 33
f the amended executive order extends to6 the automatic declassification date. On that date, all nonexempl classified records that arc more thanears old and are determined to have permanent historical valueS Code) arc
CNCLASSI Ft1
to be automatically declassified. Automatic declassification is to take place even if the records have nol been reviewed for declassification. The deadline originally established by the EO was
In, the EO also permits an agency head to appropriately delay the onset of automatic declassification for up to three years, initiallyor classified information that has been referred, transferred or recently discovered; and up to five years, initiallyor classified information contained in special media. The identification ami inclusion of such delays in the declassification plan satisfies the requirement to notify the Director of ISOO of anecision to delay.
The EO also states that, subsequently, all nonexempt classified records shall be automatically declassified onecember of the year that is IS years from the date of original classification, except as provided for byaragraphs (b) through
As concerns exemptions,b) lists nine categories under which an agency head, in fulfilling responsibilities for safeguarding information, may exempt specific information from automatic declassification. Moreover, in addition to setting the foundation of individual agency declassification guides, the listed categories arc the basis for exemption under the file series provision inile series exemptions approved by the President remain valid without any additional agency action, as stated inc) of the EO.
d) also permits an agency head or senior agency official to notifySOO, serving as the Executive Secretary of the Information Security Classification Appeals Panel (ISCAP) of any information beyond thai included in the file series exemption that the agency proposes to exempt from automatic declassification. The agency head or senior official must makeequest to the Director of ISOO atays before the information is subjectyear automatic declassification. This notification typically takes the formeclassification guide (Implementing Directive,
Finally,rovides for the creation of integral file blocks of classified information that apply to Ihe onset of automatic declassification. This section defines records covered by integral file blocking as records that are subject lo automatic declassification but which will not be automatically declassified untilecember of the year that isears from the date of the most recent record within the file block.
Responsible Agency Officials, Presentation of the Production Plan and Description of the Review Process
Responsible Agency Officials
The Director of Central Intelligencender the authority ofd) of tho EO, as amended, has designated Mr. Alan C. Wade, the Chief Infonnation Officers the senior'agency official under the EO with corporate authority responsible for directing and administering the Agency Information Management Program -jntler which
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inlbnnation is classified, safeguarded, and declassified. Mr. Wade has appointed Mr. Edmund Cohen lo conduct the oversight and coordination of functions lo comply with the provisions of the EO as amended and, in particular, as they pertainyear automatic declassification. Mr. Cohenenior manager in the office of the CIO, where he is the Director of Information Management Servicess Ihe Director of IMS, Mr. Cohen reports to Mr. Wade.
IA established the Records Declassification Program (RDP) to provide planning, management, and oversightyear declassification activities. The RDP lias been renamed the CIA Declassification Centerr. Richard Warshaw is the Chief of the CDC. Mr. Warshaw reports to Mr. Herbert Briick, Chief of the Information Review and Release Group in IMS, through whom he coordinatesyear declassification responsibilities and activities with Mr. Cohen.
CIA's Deputy Executive Director (DEXDIR) is the Agency's corporate authority for adjudicating declassification policy relating to the Agency's declassification and release programs.
In addition to the senior CIA officials listed above with various declassification responsibilities and authorities, CIA maintains] ositions in the CDC thai are staffed with certifying officers supporting the automatic declassification provisions of the EO. All certifying officers either have been granted declassification authority or are in the process of being granted such authority and are directly involved in declassification review. Certifying officials arc the final arbiters in the CDC multi-level review process and bear full responsibility for declassification decisions under rhe automatic declassification provisions of the EO-
Addresses/Telephone Numbers:
|See classified Annex "B" for die Deputy Executive Director's Name] Deputy Executive Director Central Intelligence Agency Washington,
Alan C. Wade (Senior Agency Official) Chief Information Officer Central Intelligence Agency Washington,
Edmund Cohen
Director, Information Management Services Central Intelligence Agency Washington,
Herbert Briick
Chief, Information Review and Release Group Central Intelligence Agency Washington,
Richard Warshaw Chief, CIA Declassification Center Central Intelligence Agency Washington.
CIA Line Responsibility
Director of Central Intelligence (DC)
Porter J. Goss
Executive Director. Central Intelligence Agency 1EXD1R1
See Classified Annex "B"
Deputy Executive Director, Central Intelligence Agency (DEXD1R)
Director. Information Management ServicesMS)
Edmund Cohen
Chief, Infonnalionelease
Herbert Briick
Richard Warshnw
* Senior Agency Official under the EO.
l ED/o
Chief, CIA Declassification Center (O'CDC/IRRG/IMS)
of Relevant Records
CIA records management officers, in compliance with the EO, and in preparation for the original0 deadline for declassification of recordsears and older, conducted searches5 for permanent records datedearimilar search was conducted to support the development of Ihe EO.
esult of both surveys it was determined at the time that the vast majority of CIA's classified files are located at the Agency Archives and Records Centern addition to those files at the AARC, the Directorate of Operations (DO)arge operational file series al CIA Headquarters.IAemorandum to all operating components of the Agency requesting that historically valuable recordsears Or older under component control be archived and identified lo CDC for processing under the EO. The responses of the Mission Support Officeshe Directorate of Operations (DO) and Ihe Directorate of Science and Technology (DS&T) have indicted relevant materials have already been sent to the AARC. With respect to the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) area, Ihe records review is incomplete due to Ihe urgent demands of competing requirements. Based on the survey, the Directorate of Intelligence (DI)ignificant file scries still in use (and therefore unretired) containingecords that according to the records control schedule are nolermanent/Iemporary disposition until retirement and arc thereforehen and if any or all of these records arc retired as permanent, CIA will use the scheduling date to determine the automatic declassification date as cited ing) of the EO Implementing Directive. Automatic declassification will occur, per the referenced section,ears from the date the records arcimilar procedure will be used for all "newly discoveredear deferral of the automatic declassification date from the "date ofn addition to records it has surveyed within its facilities, CIA hasontinuing program under which searches arc conducted for locations and institutions throughout the US that might archive CIA records or records that contain CIA equities. We also expect that the planned Document Declassification Support System will provide locational information for external records. (Sec "CIA's Remote Equities Program" and "Document Declassification Support System" inf this plan.)
Methods
CIA's estimates of the volume of its internal classified records are based on detailed surveys of records, the first of which was completednd the review and analysis of internal finding aids. CIA continues to perform in-depth analyses of existing internal finding aids to reassess and determine the size of its growing workload. These finding aids, though often imperfect, describe by job (tlie basic unit for retiring records from one component at one point in time) all Agency archived records, and provide records control schedule infonnation. box size, media type and date ranges by folder. These data were used to distinguish permanent from temporary records and describe by job both file series exempt and nonexempt records. (The file series exempt jobs were described in our file series exemption request approved in. Dala onillion folders were used in order toetermination of boxes within the EO date range. These
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analyses have been continually updated as the EO has been amended and Ihe automatic declassification date extended.
IAurvey Team al its AARC that was tasked to conductsurveys of the various collections in its holdings. In order tomooth workflow, the team reviews the finding and search aids for materials affected by the tolal six years of extension and in preparation for the "rollinghe team physically checks the contents of each nonexempt box and folder to estimate volume, determine and confirm content, and determine the date range of the materials. The team alsoediod of review and declassification within the framework of the EO.
The estimated quantities of records arc listed as page counts in accordance with ISOO guidelines. The termor practical reasons, refers not only to paper records but also to records on other media such as motion picture film and microform.elatively small number of AARC boxes contain microfomi, such media because of their nature have yielded disproportionately higher page counls.
Space-based imagery canisters located at tlie AARC are excluded from the EO beeause they fall exclusively under the purview ol". Release of Imagery Acquired By Space-Based National Intelligence Reconnaissance Systems.
CIA, in order lo delennine the full extent of its external equities, continues to conduct surveys of other government agencies. The estimates, in this case, however, arc far less certain than those for internal holdings. In addition lo these surveys. CIA has relied on the External Referral Working Group (ERWG)4 Survey to aid in estimating external workload. This survey went out to all participating agencies in the ERWG and asked them to estimate outgoing referrals (using page count) to all other agencies by location. The CIA results of the ERWG survey (incoming estimates) are not necessarily consistent with our independent estimates. We await the implementation of the Document Declassification Support System (DDSS) which will contain information on anf referrals by5 to develop definitive external estimates.
2.6 Estimate of Aggregate Records Subject to ihe EO
CIA estimates thatillion pages of CIA permanent records, originatingall under lhe automatic declassification provisions of Ihehis figure includes7 million pages requiring review, andillion pages of records that ISOO has approved for file scries exemption.
CIA also estimates that it has external equities5 millionhe estimated distnbulion of this material is as follows-
illion pages at NARAollege Park. MD.
5 million pages at the archives of other government agencies,
illion pages at the Presidential Libraries, and
1 million pages at NARA Regional Archives and NARA Federal Records Centers.
The total number afpages from CIA holdings and external equities requiring review is.illion pages (see Annex "C" of this plan for an explanation of variances from last year's plan).
' Thiiillion pages for which CIA intend* to use Integral File Blocking (see Scit.on2.IJ of lhe plan) Wilh integral file blocking, the automatic declassification dale for these records will mow oui past
1 With regard lo external equities, CIA is working to reconcile lhe page count ofxternal equity from lhe4 survey of the External Referral Working Grouphichillion, with the page count of CIA's earlier independent estimate ofillion pages, excluding (hose at the Presidential Libraries. CIA believes tbe ERWG Survey may be incomplete. The planned impktnemnon of ihe Document Declassification Support System (DDSSt promises lo provideore robust accounting of external equioes (See DDSS under
' CIA is awareignificant collection of Stale Department index cards that describe cable holdings located at NARA. which il did not include in it* plan. This collection of an estimatedillion record* was not included by Stale or NARA in ibc ERWG Survey. CIA avuincs that cither Stile or NARA willile scries exemption for these recoids
A CIA is lino awwc of significani microfilm collections .it NARA and Hiebraiics CIA is unable to obtain detailed information cm the proposed handling of ihcse and to its knowledge the records have not been included in cither the Remote Archives Capture Program or the4 fcRWG Survey of referral* CIA has. therefore, excluded these records from us plan until more infcemntiori is made available by NARA and the Presidential Libraries.
FigureYear Program Legacy*xternal Workload
file series exempt
* Legacy records ate defined as nwvexemw permanent records1 or earlierxcludesWhere Integral File Blocking Has Been Applied
Due for Declassification byecembermillion
Completed bymillion
Amount Remaining tomillion
Referredue byecembermillion
Completed bymillion
Amount Remaining tomillion
Special Media Due byecembermillion
Completed bymillion
Amount Remaining tomillion
Referred (Specialue byecemberthousand
Completed byRemaining tothousand
CIA plans to emphasize the review of Presidential Library material throughecember
hrough our(see. Our emphasis on Library
material is driven by the high historical value of these recordspecific recommendation from the DCI's Historical Review Panelanel of distinguished academics and public officials that advises the DCI on declassification issues. Among CIA internal records we will emphasize, again through redaciion, material from the DCI Area and the Directorate of Intelligencehe former material documents decisions at the highest level of the Agency, and review of the latter material will focus on finishedremier product of tlie Agency. These two categories, as with Presidential Library material, were recommended to us by the HRP as having the highest historical value among other categories of Agency internal records. This emphasis on redaction will also help us to achieve release rates (see below)or the Presidential Library and for selected records from Ihe DCI Area and DI. Selection will be necessary because of the high cost of redaction and resource constraints.
The overall "release rate"ages declassified in full or in part divided by pages reviewed) is declining because of several factors. First, the documents that contained information that could easily be declassified have already been reviewed and the remaining documents, typically more recent, contain more sensitive sources and methods information. Second, many of the remaining documents are referrals that are more difficult to locate and process. Finally, and most importantly, resource constraints limit our ability to implement theinherentedaction strategy and drive us in the directionocument-level pass-fail system, which reduces the number of'documcnts that can be released. Ihe plan allows for completion of the estimated total review necessary to satisfy the requirements of the automatic declassification provisions of, as amended. However,igher release rate will require an augmentation to currently budgeted funds, as more fully described in Annex
U NCL ASl
CIA nolcs that the review described above focuses on the material dated prior2 In addition to this legacy material, in the period aftere will have to review new material reachingears old (in the "rollingortion of the previously exempted material, including file scries exempt material, must bc re-reviewed prior to its newly assigned automatic declassification date (See) Wc estimate that the additional review workload may be as high as nine millionear. This additional workload further exacerbates potential resource issues.
2.8 Total Number of Pages Thai Have Been Reviewed From5 Thrtiugli44 Through
The following breakdown of totals by category complies with Itemagef the ISOO declassification plan guidance, dated
number of textual records reviewed for declassification.
ages
number of textual records declassified.
ages
number of textual records exempted from declassification.
ages
number of textual records excluded from automatic declassification.
ages
number of textual records referred for review to other agencies by
ages
number of textual records referred to your agency for review".
ages
number of textual records file series thai were file series exempted.
ages
number of special media records reviewed for declassification
ages
' Tins number represents lhe total ofmultiple refcnalt of single documents Includes only rfAml Of CIAnages of Presidenuil Ubiary documents were referred
The amount thai OA actually reviewed. CIA docs aot have reliable referral notification information
t. Total number of special media records0 pages
j. Total number of special media records exempted from0 pages
k. Total number of special media records excluded from automaticages
I. Total number of special media records referred to oilier agencies for review for declassification.
ages
in. Total number of special media records referred to your agency forages
n. Total number of special media records file series that were file scries0 pages
2.9 Inork Completed Subject to this Provision.
The following breakdown of the quantity of records by category complies with Item, of ihe ISOO declassification plan guidance, dated
quantity of textual records that were reviewed.
ages
quantity of textual records declassified.
ages
quantity of textual records exempted.
ages
quantity of textual records referred to other agencies .
ages
quantity of textual records referred to your agency .
ages
This numberhe total of multiple referral* of single documents Include* nnly referral of ClA records. AnCO pages of rVsioViUial Library documenrs were referred.
The- amoml Ihal CIA actually reviewed: CIA does no! have reliable referral noulication inJoimniiw.
13
i". Total quantity of textual documents excluded from automaticages
quantity of special media that were reviewed.
ages
quantity of special media declassified.
ages
t. Total quantity of special mediaages
j. Total quantity of special media referred to otherages
k. Total quantity of special media referred to yourages
I. Total quantity of special media excluded from automaticages
In last year's plan, CIA estimated that int would review forillion pages and release one million pages. In fact, CIA reviewedillion pages and releasedillion pages, thereby exceeding its goals byuges respectively.
Inhe Estimate of the Aggregate Quantity of Records that are Expected to be Reviewed.
The following breakdown of quantities by category complies with Item, of the ISOO declassification plan guidance, dated
quantity of textual records expected to be reviewed.
ages
quantity of textual records expected to be declassified.
ages
quantity of textual records expected to be exempted.
ages
quantity of textual records expected to be referred to other agencies'.
ages
This number represents lie loial of multiple referrals of single documents. Includes only refenal of CIA records. Anages of Presidential Library docuinents are projected lobe referred.
UNCLASSIFIED/ 14
unclass!
quantity of textual records expected to be referred to your agency".
ages.
quantity of textual documents expected to bc excluded from
0 pages.
quantity of special media expected to be reviewed.
ages.
quantity of special media expected to be declassified.
ages.
quantity of special media expected to be exempted.
ages.
j. Total quantity of special media expected to be referred to yourages.
k. Total quantity of special media expected to bc excluded from automatic declassification.
0 pages.
AggregateYear Legacy Textual Records Expected to be Reviewed by6 oregacy Special Media that can be Delayed until1 or Referred through6
The following breakdown of quantities, by category, complies with Itemagef the ISOO declassification plan guidance, dated
quantity of textual records that will be reviewed by
ages
quantity of textual records that will be declassified by
ages
quantity of textual records that will be exempted from
ages
quantity of textual records that are expected to bc referred to ether agencies
ajres
" Tbe amount that CIA actually ieviewed: CIA docs not have reliable referral notification information.
Thi- number repieseitls (lie lola! of multiple rcfciralss uf single documents. Includes only referral of CIA records. Anages cfilirary documents arc expected hi b; rpfened
unclass: fi sn//smT
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e. Estimated quantity of textual records that are expected to be referred to your agency for declassification or exemption by0 pages
f Esiimsled quantity of textual records that are expected lo be excluded by0 pages
B, Estimated quantity of special media that can be delayed until0 pages"
Ii. Expected quantity of:ipccinl mcdm your agency cxpccls ioby0 pages
l Estimated quantity of special media your agency expecis to exempt by SIages
j Estimated quantity of special media that your agency expects to refer to other agencies by
ages
It. Estimated quantity of special media that you expect to be referred to your agency for declassification or exemption byages
Last year, CIA estimated it would review Ihroughn aggregated totalillion pages, of which il would5 million pages and exemptillion pages Last year's numbers included additional workload and production ihal either derived from NGA review or were outside the scope ofYear Program The CIAyear legacyorkload numbers are detailed above and they aggregateillion pages reviewed1 million pages released andillion pages exempted throughhese variances are explained in more detail in Annex
Inhe Estimate of the Aggregate Quantity of Records that arc Expected to be Reviewed
The following breakdown of quantities, by category, complies with Item, of the ISOO declassification plan guidance, datedYear Program legacy recordsre processed in the referral and special media categories; textual records arc from the "Rolling Period"r early file series exempt re-revicw (CIA file series exempt review are first due. "Rolling Period" and file series exempt re-rcview will also generate outgoing referrals and possibly some incoming, but these figures have not been included in the above estimates.
quantity of textual records expected to be reviewed.
ages
quantity of textual records expected lo be declassified.
ages
" Uciudr* figures reported lo* prior years
quantity of textual records expected to bc exempted
ages
quantity of textual records expected to be refened to other agencies*.
ages
c. Total quantity of textual documents expected to bc referred to yourages
quantity of textual documents expected to bc excluded from
0 pages
quantity of special media that are expected to be reviewed.
ages
quantity of special media that are expected to be declassified.
ages
quantity of special media expected to be exempted.
ages
j. Total quantity of special media expected to be referred lo otherages
k. Total quantity of special media expected lo be referred to yourages
1. Total quantity of special media expected lo be excluded from automatic declassification.
0 pages
Application of Integral File Block Concept
Integral File Blocking (IFB) will now allow CIA loingle daleox for those boxes thai contain documents straddling the cut-off dater the single year of the "rolling period" in the future. Because the amended EO with the IFB language was promulgated inost of the workload due6 has already been processed without making use of IFB.
' This nutnbei represents the total of multiple referrals of single documents. Anages of Presidential Library documents are expected to be referred.
" The anount tliat CIA actually expects to review; ClA dees not have reliable rclcrral notification in forma lion
TFD//FjJfJO*
Therefore. CIA will apply integral file blocking only lo unprocessed hoxes wilh material straddling1 cut-off date. This approach results in six million pages subject to integral file blocking. For material file blocked, the new declassification date and the corresponding job and box numbers will be appropriately documented in CIA's detailed inventory and tracking database.
The detailed application of IFB to the first year of the "rolling period" will be provided in next year's plaa
The Process
Because of its enormous holdings of classified historically significant matenal spanning almostentury and yearly growth in archived materials, CIAarge-scale centralized declassification service in order lo comply fully with the provisions of the EO. In its effort toigh volume of materialimely fashion, CIA conducts manual and automated declassification reviews that are based on the results of careful physical box and file surveys.
Manual Review: One manual hardcopy review process exploits Ihe nature of structured unifonn records originally prepared wilh formats that indicate information of low sensitivity. While attempts arc made to declassify these documents in full, the documents generally undergo page-level pass/fail decisions.
In addition. CIA employs iwo other manual review systems that target classified materials based on information and analysis in the surveys that determined specific material is of either uniform moderate or high sensitivity and will be difficult to redact In these cases, redaction is impractical because of resource constraints and/or the judgment that very little rclcasablc information would remain after redaction, or ihe substantive content would be significantly degraded by redaction. These iwo manual review systems are named Special Processing Review for Expedited Exemption (SPREE) and TRIAGE.
Under tlie SPREE process records are judged exempt at (he folder level based on the general analysis of box contents. Under the TRIAGE manual process, which is applied at the folder level to collections with less homogeneity, folders are failed at the first instance of exempted material if the contents are judged to be of low historical value and either too complex lo review or will require redaction that will result in little releasable information or substantive content would he significantly degraded by redaction. Any folders judged to require straightforward review and possessing at least moderate historical value are manually processedocument -by-document basis or. as appropriate, submitted for automated declassification review.
Auto-muled Review: In addition to conducting traditional manual reviews, which under certain conditions provide greater efficiency. CIA has established and maintains an automated review "factory" based capability Thej
is the current workhorse of CIA's automated declassification effort. Another
system, called QUIRT, is used to conduct pass-Tail review uf lower sensitivity collections.
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(MA automated review entails conversion of hardcopy and microform records to digital form; online indexing; online declassification review, typically involving redaction; and automated workllowulti-level review and production process. The concept, along with supporting standardized operating procedures and guidelines and production metrics, has provided efficiency, control, search capabilities and quality assurance. See Annex "D"ore detailed discussion of the current automated review process.
Using its automated online capability, CIA has through4 reviewed5 million pages of records, of which it releasedillion pages.
has
|by summer ofork is
currently inew automated reviewto replace the
and the simpler QUIRT pass/fail automated system. CIA is
pressing forward with its plans lo implement
currently under way to transitionvarious CIA units are involved in
preparations for the associated data migration and functional testing.
a significant and major undertaking. In one continuous
further integrate the various functions and activities from document preparation, through
review, on to final release. In addition to providing greater on-lineromises tighter workflow management and improved search capability, lt will also replace and consolidate the records processed under all other CIA release programs.
Duplicate Detection and ResolutionnIA implemented Duplicate Detection and Resolution technology by placing this software subsystem directly into and
at the front end of itsreview process. Afler scanning and
indexing, all documents arc processed through DDR in order to identify any duplicates
that have been previously reviewed. Upon implementationany documents
identified with duplicates that were previously reviewed or releasede reconciled with documents identified as duplicates prior to release to ensure review consistency. Byocuments containing) pages will have been processed for duplicates via DDR. Aboutercent of the documents passing through Ihe DDR process are duplicates of previously reviewed documents.
CIA Records Search Toolnn an effort to make CIA declassified documents readily accessible to researchers. CIA installed the CREST search system at NARA II in College Park, MD.
The standalone system, which consolidates CIA's declassified materials, was upgraded in time for the start oflie system now consists of four CIA-funded workstations and associated printers. The system also contains the declassified records of the National Gcospalial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) reviewed at the CIA Declassification Center.
CREST maintains the archival integrity of the released records. It contains images of declassified documents, and is searchable by full-text and index information. Researchers can also search by the original CIA finding aid listing of job, box. and folder
The system contains just over nine million pages of declassified information from all CIA releasesuring4 alone, researchers printedages, primarily declassified documents, from the CREST system.
During Ihe past year, an upgraded and classified version of lhe CREST has been deployed to four of tlie Presidential Libraries to aid in the archival processing of records returned under Ihe Remote Archive Capture Program (seelso continues to examine the feasibilily of deploying additional unclassified CREST systems to Presidential Libraries and other archives.
Cost Estimates to Implement the Plan
Please sec. in the attached classified annex (AnnexIA's Cost Estimates.
Declassification Guide and File Scries Exemptions
CIA Declassification Guide
CIA prepared and submitted its first declassification guide lo the Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO) and the Infonnation Security Classification Appeals Panel (ISCAP) approval inollowing preparationevised version of the guide that incorporated ISOO recommendations, the guide was again submitted to ISOO/ISCAP inSCAP unanimously approved the guide inhe guide is dated1 and requires five-year updating6 under ISOO implementing directiveIA plans to submit an updated guide for ISCAP approval in
Series Exemptions
he National Security Council approved CIA's request to the President for file series exemption. Please seceport, (U) Revised Request for File Series Exemptions, datedhe request for exemption also included die records of the NGA that belonged to components inherited from CIA (such as the former National Photographic Interpretationbecause of ambiguity at the time regarding ownership of certain file series records.
CIA determined, and the NSC agreed, that the records identified in the exemption request were replete with information protected from automatic declassification because they "almost invariably" fell into one of the nine exemption categories described inb) of the original EO (currentlyb) of the amendedIA's classified file series exemption covers records that would be redacted extensively under many of the categories and redaction would result in very little releasable information and/or the significant degrading of the substantive content of the records in question.
The EO implicitly acknowledges through the file scries exemptionost effective balance must exist between review and the usefulness of the released material. Importantly, the approval of CIA's request has allowed it to apply its resources to other high-value records that can be effectively redacted and largely retain their clarity and meaning after redaction.
Because of Ihe high sensitivity of CIA'significant portion of its permanent records contains exempt information. In the approved request which included NGA
UNCLASSI FIEDZ/gortJ 20
UNCLASS I
records, CIA reported that the EOillion pages of CIA permanent records. CIA requested and received approval for exemption5 million pages. The7 million pages ofillion pages total required declassification review.
Since the approval for exemption was granted inhe estimated number of file series exempted pages and pages subject to declassification review has grownotal ofillion pages3 million pages of NGA records)esult of our improved understanding of our record holdings and the six-year extension provided under the two amendments to the EO. (This figure also excludes approximatelyillion pages included in the original estimate which were subsequently declared unclassified.)
Six additional years of records, either now in-scope or recently retired, have become eligible for file series exemption. The file series exempt total is estimated to have grownillion pagesillion pages of NGAhe remaining nonexempt CIA records now total7 million pagesillion pages of NGAhese nonexempt internal CIA records continue to undergo declassification review.
Unless world events or operational circumstances dictate, the CIA currently has no plans lo seek approval to broaden its file series exemptions. Clearly, however, the volume of records subject to the approved file scries exemption will increase because of new retirements or, afterhen more records become in-scope because of iheir creation dale. CIA will extend the file series exemption to these additional records.
Other Factors
Interagency Cooperative and Innovative Approaches
CIA actively continues to reach out lo the declassification community to ensure that all agenciesommon understanding of their sensitive equities and dial the necessary communications channels exist to support the complex challenges of addressing matters that touch on multiple agencies. CIA strongly believes such efforts improve efficiency and timeliness, provide for quality assurance, and diminish the risk of inadvertent releases.
In this section CIA updates many of the on-going cooperative and innovative programs it cited in last year's report to ISOO.
Participation in ERWG. CIA has been an active and strong participant in the External Referral Working Group (ERWG) and believes the group continues to fulfill its primary mission to facilitate Ihe interagency flow of referred classified documents that are subject to the EO. The Chief of the CDC serves as chair of the working group, and in this capacity coordinates the development of policy and procedures in support of interagency referrals. CDC also provides administrative support to this very active working group that lias overarticipating agencies.
The Interagency Referral CenterIA will bc an active participant in the newly creaicd Interagency Referral Centerhe purpose of Ihe IRC is to facilitate the review of classified materials which have been accessioned to NARA that contain multiple equities. At the new "online"ecure vault seatingndividuals, such referred materials will be available lo all affected agencies for review. The ccntcrbegan limited operations in
Although the method of review will remain manual hardcopy, reviewers will input their page pass'fail release decisions into NARA's updated Archives Document Review and Redaction SystemIA is negotiating with NARA to ensure ADRRES will also be able to reflect sanilizat-.on inslructions, thus capturing our previous release-in-part declassification decisions, and allowing for increased flexibility in the future.
In lhe nearomputer program will be installed that will allow information contained in the CDC-NARA database, which contains projects CIA has completed during the past six years, to be imported into ADRRES to reduce requirements for dataecord of CIA work recorded in ADRRES will also co-exisl on the CDC-NARA database.
NARA On-Slte Team.n close partnership with NARA, CIAeclassification review team al NARA II, College Park, MD. The team focuses on the review of CIA equities in the records of other governmenl agencies thai have been accessioned lo NARA.
The on-site review and continuing presence at NARA has also fostered frequent interaction between CIA and NARA personnel facilitating the resolution of issues pertaining to equily recognition and declassification review at NARA. ThroughIA has reviewed lor declassification almost five million pages of the current estimatedillion pages of CIA equities that exist at NARA II. Wc have also reviewed over two million additional pages at NARA which, though not formally referred to CIA, were part of collections that were judged somewhat likely to contain CIA equily. We arc pleased to report the rcsulls were largelyo CIA equityith improved equity identification training and the upcoming implementation of die Document Declassification Support System (seee have curtailed these supplemental and costly redundant reviews.
In addition, CIA has participated in lhe NARA Withheld Project, which began in May
month, NARAollection of material for review byagencies lhat it believes is of interest to researchers. Througheptember
CIA onsile team at NARA reviewed0 pages of material inProject containing CIA equities. This activity will be incorporated into theReferral Center.
Identification of Restricted and Formerly Restricted Datan esseniial part of CIA's plan to protect sensitive classified material has been lohost and conduct specific training in support of lhe Department of Energy (DOE) for the identification of RD/FRD. CIA's RD/FRD identification training program complies with the intent of the Kyi Amendment lo the National Defense Authorization Actnd incorporated in Public- DOE- Iraincd reviewers at CIA exclude documents
containing RD/FRD from automatic declassification and mark them RD/FRD. CIA refers all questionable documents to the Department of Energy for adjudication.
Department of Energy Audit. Innder the provisions of Public,Protection Against Inadvertent Release of Restricted Data and Formerly Restricted Qata" the Department of Energy (DOE)uality Assurance Review (QAR) of CIA's compliance with the DOE Special Historical Records Review Planhe DOE QAR consistedeview of the CDC SHRRP and other relevant material and information, as well as discussions with CDC personnel.esult of their QAR. DOE concluded thai CIA is in full compliance with the requirements of their SHRRP.
National Gcospatial-Intelligcncc AgencyIA continues its cooperative program with NGA. Under this program,GA haseam of declassification reviewers at the CIA declassification facility. The team reviews CIA records, inherited by NGA from the former National Photographic Interpretiition Center (NPIC) and imagery and mapping related equities in CIA holdings. Throughhe successful program has resulted in the review ofillion pages. In our judgment the joint CIA-NGA effort has resulted in considerable saving for both agencies and lias expedited the reviewajor segment of NGA records.
Support to the National Aeronautics and Space AgencyJA haseimbursable program that provides for equity review by CIA of NASA records. These reviews are primarily pcrfonncd at the CIA Declassification Center. The purpose of the effort is to identify NASA, CIA, and other government agency equities. While searching for these equities, CIA reviewers who arc DOE trained routinely search for Restricted and Formerly Restricted data and any errant codeword material. In addition, CIA is also assisting NASA in the development of its declassification guide.
CIA's Remote Equities Program. CIA has been proactive in its effort to locate, identify, and process its equities in records of permanent historical value existing at other government agency sites.
InIAew databasesummarizes the
status of current and potential sites anduick review of site information collected by CIA lo facilitate on-site surveys andeparate master database contains specific records of all site contacts, the purpose of Ihe contact, and any associated data concerning CIA equiiies. As they are identified, new organizations and sites are added.
Using thesenown or potential sites holding records with CIA equities were identified. Atr these sites CIA completed surveys and determined no CIA equities exist. CIA reviewedages atf ihe remainingites inf Ihe otherites,emain lo be contacted or are in the process of providing referral data to CIA. CIA has contacted the four remaining sites,otal estimated CIA equity countages, and is preparing to conduct reviews of the material.
Remote Archive Capture (RAC) Program. The RAC program is the resultoint initiative by the CIA and NARA to accommodate the extensive review requirements for classified historical records from Presidential Libraries.
23
Under [he RAC program, CIA has scannedillion pages of records on-site at the Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Ford, and Carter Presidential Libraries for review by overovernment agencies. Anages of Nixon Presidential material has been scanned at NARA II, College Park, MD.
CIA has deployed classified CREST systems to four Presidenlial Libraries to assist archivists in processing records under the RAC program.
State of the Art Information Review Systemt the CIAin support of the RAC program, CIA has equipped and setacilityof other governincnl agencies. At this facility, agencies can performon the standalone STAIRS system of Presidential Library informationthe RAC Program containing their equities. Currently,overnmentin the program. Throughages have beenagencies other than CIA. In the same period, CIAagesLibrary material on itssystem.
Document Declassification Support SystemnIA received Congressional funding for the development and implementationatabase that would facilitate the referral of documents containing multiple agency equities throughout the declassification community. CIAechnical project managerustomer representative to coordinate requirements with other US Government agencies, develop the Request for Proposals, and toompetitive procurement. The development contractor was selected in latend the initial operating capability is scheduled for
TTic declassification community will bc able to use the database to electronically provide information on documents that contain other agency equities and thai require declassi fication review by these responsible agencies. DDSS will provide basic unclassified locational information for these equities and monitor the status of reviews. DDSS will consolidate, in effect, the dozens of local databases and paper records in different formats that are currently maintained by most agencies. It will also serve to register referrals for notification and acknowledgement so that the three-year period permitted for completion under the amended EO may be tracked, Based on current estimates, by0 percent of the approximatelyillion pages of referrals will be tracked in DDSS. Funding for6 and beyond for the syslcm, however, continues tooncern.
Quality Assurance Review of State Department Electronic Cables. Last year, CIA participatedovel program along with Air Force and the Department of Energy lo assist the State Department in the identification of other agency equity inillion Slate Dcpartmcnl electronic cables and related products, ranging. Using an automated system developed by CIA, Slate electronic cables were subjectedeyword review (often relcrred todirty wordo locate, in our case, CIA equities thai were inadvertently missed in State Department's line-by-linc review of this massive collection. The CIA lool for keyword searching was also made available to the Air Force for use in their State cable effort. The benefits to this cooperative effort were the identificationelatively small percentage of additional "missed equily" and thef refined equity identification guidelines, subsequently used in training
unclass: FltD//JiCWTT 24
l
sessions lor Stole and NARA reviewers (seei addition, tlie continual refinement of electronic cable review techniques which will be very useful as Slate processes cables from thera, and without question will become increasingly more important as the declassification effort moves forward in time and other agencies encounter electronic records.
of Declassification Authority
CIA has no plans to delegate broad declassification authority to other government agencies. In fact. CIA has rescinded past arrangements under which it delegated limited declassification authority to NARA. To date, however.overnment agencies with limited classified holdings have delegated declassification authority lo CIA. NSA has delegated lo CIA the authority to exempt NSA equity in certain circumstances.
obust and largely successful equity identification training program, CIA remains concerned about the accuracy and rigor of equity identification for intelligence equities. CIA materials arc difficult to identify because of widely ranging reporting formats, the broad dissemination of its information, the inherent protection of source materials, and the existence of seamlessly embedded equities in the reports of other government agencies. CIA. therefore, strongly believes that declassification review, an obviously even more complex task than equity identi fication, is best performed by trained and experienced CIA reviewers operating under the most current guidelines.
Identification Training
CIA has long recognized Ihe need for equity identification training for not only its own records but also the records of other government agencies. As noted above, CIA continues to be concerned about equity identification training and the handling of CIA records and lhe importance of both rigor and accuracy in the protection of still-sensitive intelligence equities. Wc arc also concerned about the resource cost of redundant reviews as the mechanism to mitigate risk (thateferral agency feeling obligated to review entire boxes or collections because of concerns rc the accuracy of equity identification by the record owningn an effort to address these concerns, we haveroactive participant in FRWG-sponsored equity training and have provided training independently for other government agencies. In particular, during the past year. CIA conducted several well-attended equity identification training sessions for reviewers at the Department of Stale and NARA.
Factors Affecting Ability to Comply with Ihe EO
Changing budgetaryboth the CIA and the Executive Branch atdirectly impact the Agency's ability to sustain previous levels of document declassification. In addition, the Agency regards the review of external referralsarticularly challenging aspect of the EO and is concerned about the rigor and accuracy of records equity identification throughout the Executive Branch. That concern extends to the clarity of the notification process for referred equities even when they are properly identified. CIA expects that equity identification training and the successful implementation oi'DDSS will significantly reduce these referral concerns.
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p*56
4.5 Re-Review of Records
The EO requires Ihal exempted information bepecific date or event for automatic declassification. Tlie sole exception is the identityonfidential human source or human intelligence source.
Many of CIA's methods, techniques, and operations overears old are still active. In some cases, currently inactive sources and methods may be reactivated, depending upon future targets and requirements. Because of these uncertainties, it has not been considered feasible to identify withefinitive date or event for automatic declassification of exempt CIA information. Therefore. CIA has asserted its right to re-review records before an assigned date/event This approach has been accepted both in the approved File Series Exemption Request and in the approved Declassification Guide.
File Series Exempt Information: As described in our File Series Exemption Request, approvedile series exempt information other than human source will be rc-reviewed before it isears old or by thehichever is later, using declassi ficalion guidance in effect at the time of the re-review. Information will be automatically declassifiedears after its creation, orhichever is later, unless it has been judged exempt in ihe re-review.
Non-Exempt Information: The CIA Declassi ficalion Guide, approved intates that noncxcmpl informationnformation not file scries exempt) other than human source will be re-rcviewed before it isears old or by thehichever is laier, using declassification guidance in effect at the time of the re-review. Intbnnaiion will be automatically declassifiedears alter its creation, orhichever is later, unless ii has been judged exempt in the re-rcvicw.
Throughfter applying integral fileIA expects to re-review an estimatedillion pages of non-human source file scries exempt material. Because of database limitations and the complexities of integral file blocking, this figure must he considered preliminary. In addition, CIA will re-review an estimatedillion pages of CIA non-human source records subjected to declassification review ihal were either exempted or released in part. Finally, an estimated four million pages of referrals will requireecause of the high sensitivity and relatively recent review of many of these records, CIA estimates that less thanercent can be further declassified.
Integral file blocking has been applied at tlie job level for non-human source file scries exempt records, and ai box level, where appropriate, lor exempted reviewed iccords. Uliimaiely. we may be able to apply IFB at Ihe box level for non-human source file scries exempt records, which may result in as many as an estimatedillion additional pages.
" These numbers differ from lastillion pages non-human source file .seiies exempt art!illion non-human source reviewed and exempted records) because of the application cf integral file blocking: ihe subtraction oforkload, and Ihe inclusion of eslimates of referral re-review
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4.6 The "Rolling Period"
As concerns lhe "rollingIA lias begun researching its databases and surveying records in order to determine which records are subject to review, in particular records originally dated prior2 bul in boxes that have been integral file blocked (lFBed)nd oilier records in boxes uniformlyome of which may bc delayed due lo special media. Additional boxes, which contain records2 and years beyond will he deferred to future declassification dates via integral file blocking.
Wc estimate that after IFB (an estimated four millionillion pages of CIA-owned material are in boxes2 or are in boxes lFBedn both cases the automatic declassification date is Ofillionre textual and due byheillion are special media for which wc arcelay toc further estimate thai anages2 material will be referred to CIA. We expect to defer that material to6e will review the textual subset of the2 material. This is, of course, in addition to the ongoing requirements for legacy reviewecords involving textualnd external referrals and special.e will farther begin the re-review of non-human source file series exempt records and also begin to review records due for declassification89 in order to stay ahead of all declassification deadlines. The review capacity of the CIA Declassification Center will be prioritized to ensure thatextual automatic deelassification deadlines are met.
5.0 Conclusion
CIA believes that this updated plan continues to comply with the EO and fulfills the EO's intent toalance between protecting information critical to the nation's security and releasing historically valuable records that no longer meet the standards for protection. CIA fully expects to meet the6 deadline; our resource constraints, however, coupled with the increasing complexity of the records under review, will preclude maintaining lhe level of released records that have been achieved in Ihe pasl. In the face of diese challenges, CIA will concentrate its efforts on the review and release of those records that are deemed to have the highest importance to the American public.
7
IpliV
ANNEX "Cn
5 CIA Declassification Plan Required Under Executive, "Classified National Security Informationas Amended
Explanation of Variances from the CIA Workload and Production Estimates Provided in the4 CIA Declassification Plan
Submitted to the nformation Security Oversight Office5
I AS
5 CIA Declassification Plan, datednnex "C"
Explanation of Variances from the CIA Workload and Production Estimates Provided in the4 CIA Declassification Plan
In iis previouscclassi ileal ion plan providedSOO inIA estimated that itYear Program legacy workloadillion pages. That number has changed in this report to justillion pages. There are several reasons for this change as detailed below;
Previous CIA workload counts included material owned by the National Geospatial-Intclligence Agencyhen the EO was first implemented NGA records were then still part of Agency holdings and were included as such in all early estimates of Agency requirements under the EO. NGA personnel were detailed to CIA to review these records. However, for clarity CIA and NGA have now agreed to report CIA numbers separately. This change in accounting reduced CIA non-exempt workload countsi/lion pages and CIA file series exemptionsillion pages. Il also reduces CIA production counts byi/lion pages.
CIA has now implemented Integral File Blocking congruent with the provisions of the amended EO. Previous CIA workload accounting used the begin date of boxes to determine the status of records. Any box containing even one document created prior2 vvas assigned into the CIA workload. However, some CIA boxes contain records spanningr more years and this led CIA to attempt to review for declassification documents created in. Unfortunately, this required many of these documents to be exempted, because of their increased sensitivity and the absence of declassification guidance. Under IFB, the CIA is now using the end date of the box to assign its declassification date. This change only affects boxes not yei processed by CIA but has had the effect of shiftingillion pages of material previously reported as part of theorkload to outycars. All numbers on legacy workload now exclude these records.eclassification matter, CIA expects that rc-schcduling these recoids into later years for review will allow CIA to declassify andigher percentage of these records than would bc releasedurrent review.
CIA constantly re-evaluates Ihe records it believes require declassification review under the EO and refines its estimates of pages in its workload. CIA databases do not provide detailed information describing the amount of material in any box prior to its being processed. Therefore, page estimates only become tmc counts upon actual review of the material, ln addition, CIA routinely scrubs its job and box lists to add new finds and to remove or update existing records as new mfoirnation becomes available. This can change the overall workload estimates from ycar-lo-ycar. As shown below, this impact has been to reduce lhe CIA workload totalsillion pages since the last declassification plan.
tfo" 2
UNCLASS IFI ED//JWtrC
ClA workload estimate:
Less NGA holdings Less Integral File Blocking Less refinement of estimates Current CIA workload estimate
illion pages
illionillionil/ion pages
illion pages
should be noted that material thai has been integral file blocked is still part of theYear Program workload under the EO but not in the same sense as the remaining "legacy" collections. Instead, the file blocked records form pan of the rolling review that will include otherecords, also file blocked using box end dates. Beginning as soon aslA will begin to schedule rolling review into its annua! production goals.
Also in its previous declassification plan, CIA included production of the resident NGA team and other material reviewed by the CIA Declassification Center but not pan of the CIA EO workload requirements in its annual and cumulative production counts throughor example, CIA has declassified and released most of the STAR GATE collection even though these records primarily arc more recent than required for review under Ihe EO. In addition, CIA has provided support to NASA performing equity identification, and performed additional equity identification reviews in some accessioned collections at NARA Ihal were suspected of containing un-labbed CIA equities. Finally, CIA has reviewed some records too recent to be required under the EO as part of efforts lo preserve archival integrity and process entire Agency jobs ai one time. Other than STAR GATE, these reviews have not produced declassified pages included in CIA production counts.
In past reporting of production, these efforts have been included to account for all activities of the CIA Declassification Centerowever, CIA is now excluding any CDC production not covered underYear Program workload. This change reduces CIA production counts byillion pages.
These production count changes are summarized as follows:
CIA production (through: Plus4 production
Lessear production, such as STAR GATE
million pages
il/ion pages
NGA production, now in the NGA plan
million pages
CIA production (through:
miIIion pages
illion pages
.i/3
Similar/actors affect the reporting ot declassified (released} pages in the past:
Previous CIA released product (through: 8 million pages'
Pius4 releasedmillion poges
Lessearillion /uiges
Less NGA released2 million paqes
Revised CIA released produci (through: 3 million pages
1 Reported asillion pages in the FYIA Ik-oInstiljeaiion I'lan
UNCLASSIFIED//jetTD* 4
ANNEX "D'
5 CIA Declassification Plan Required Under Executive, "Classified National Securitys Amended
Annex D: Description of the CIA Multi-Level Automated Declassification Review Process
Submitted to the Information Security Oversight Office5
UNCLASS IFIED/ /FfitSfS
$ CIA Declassification Plan, dated"
Description of the ClA Multi-Level Automated Declassification Reiiew Process
As stated in our declassification plan, submittedIA, in the implementation ofYear declassification program, has attempted loalance between protecting infonnation critical to the Nation's security and releasing historically valuable records that no longer meet the standards forritical requirement for the automated review and redaction process has been to improve efficiency and reduce costs while maintaining high standards for review quality. The core component of review costs is personnel.oal of the program has been to continuallyrocesses to reduce review time and associated personnel costs.
With the growing experience of the reviewer workforce, and facedarge volume of records and the ever-present need to maintain the pace of declassification review, CDC has continued to seek ways lo re-engineer the process. Recently, CDC implemented modified processes for several of the review teams that streamline and reduce the number of levels of review while maintaining overall review quality.
Presently. CIA records undergoing declassification review are primarily from the Directorate of Intelligencehe office of the Director of Central Intelligencend the Presidentiil Libraries (Remote Archive Capture or RACecently, we have implemented modified review processes that appropriately accommodate the nature of the records and product lines for records from the office of the DCI. the DI. and (he twohr.ir.es Teams.
UNCLASS IFI ED
These innovations reduce incorrect or unnecessary work by less experienced reviewers that ultimately requires correction by the more experienced reviewers stationed later in the process and focus effort on the most historically valuable documents.
In the case of the Presidential Libraries, all materials are by definition considered lo be of significant historical value and therefore, regardless of content, undergo detailed and comprehensive review.
Though we have notriage step, the review of Presidential Library materialundergoing modification with the introduction of
review process the two Presidential Library Teams, ln this case, at least initially, wc have maintained the original model of more experienced reviewers last.
We have also re-engineered the process used for review of material from the Dl.the high level of experience of the current members of the PI contractor reviewwere able topecial version ofcontractor
review for DI material. Based upon the priorities and needs of the programistorical significance of lhel documents arc sent to designated members of the DI Teamomplete and thorough review. I-
1 The Implementing Directive permits "denial al firstn) Redaction Standard.
UNCLASSIFIED//EdtfO
3
I All riocumenls
enter the standard referral and certification process. As is the case wiih the material from the other teams, released documents are subjected lo final quality assurance review and "dirty word" search.
To make the streamlined process work, wc are stepping up our training and re-training program and haveroup-wide quality assurance sampling process to ensure Agency equities are fully protected. In sum, CIA is closely monitoring and analyzing the volume and quality of materials reviewed under the streamlined processes that are now employed by the DCI, DI, and the two Presidential Library teams. But, additional review will be instituted if deemed necessary.
Through our in-depth automated metrics program and by encouraging the creativity and innovation of our reviewer cadre we hope to continue to improve the efficiency and quality of the review process without damage to national security.
Original document.
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