STATUS OF STAR GATE PROGRAM

CIA-STARGATE

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Body:  Approved For Release 2001/04/0 :CIA-RDP96-00791 R000100040009-5
 In response to Congressional direction, we are working
 with the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)  to transfer the
 STARGATE program to CIA.   We also have initiated a number of
 actions to comply with the Congressional request that we
 perform a retrospective review and technical analysis of the
 program's activities,  as well survey the program for
 declassification purposes.   We have reviewed and coordinated
 the DIA report on STARGATE;  the information provided in the
 DIA restrospective review and technical analysis is part of
 the ongoing data transfer between the two agencies and will
 be used in the independent CIA review of the program.   (S)
 Retrospective Review
 To perform the retrospective review of STARGATE's 20-
 year history and a technical analysis of the program's
 results, we Will work closely with the National Research
 Council  (NRC), which has ready access to a variety of experts
 in the scientific fields related to the program.  We have
 exchanged draft tasking statements with the NRC to establish
 a Blue Ribbon Panel of parapsychological phenomena to ensure
 a comprehensive and unbiased technical retrospective review
 of the program.   In addition,  CIA will request the NRC to:
 ? Review research and development studies related to
 this program--less than 50 studies--for which unclassified
 reports are available.
 ? Meet with program officials to develop a comprehensive
 understanding of STARGATE's current direction.
 ? Perform technical evaluation of all the data related
 to the program, including experimental designs and their
 results,  and proposed future research.   This evaluation will
 Approved For Release 2001/04/02 : CIA-RDP96-00791 R0001 00040009-5
 Approved For Release 2001/04/0 : CIA-RDP96-00791 R0001 00040009-5
 contain recommendations on which technical areas have the
 potential for fruitful research and will identify areas that
 should not be pursued further.
 ? Draft the final report, which will incorporate the
 findings of the Blue Ribbon Panel; the NRC also will
 participate, as appropriate,  in briefing these findings to
 the Congress.   (S)
 ? The review and analysis of the Blue Ribbon Panel will
 be unclassified, but we will not release its findings until
 the Congress and the involved agencies have been briefed.  We
 are working with the NRC to determine the appropriate amount
 of time for the study, which could require up to six months.
 (S)
 ? In other actions, we are requesting the cooperation of
 the US Army Research Institute, which holds a contract
 related to behavioral sciences with the NRC.  We also are
 preparing to transfer resources to the Institute for the cost
 of managing and supporting the NRC during the technical
 review.   We also are contacting several organizations
 involved in the program to review STARGATE's operations.   (S)
 We will declassify immediately certain aspects of our
 program,  including the Agency's past sponsorship of
 activities related to the investigation of paranormal
 phenomena for intelligence purposes and the results of this
 research.   We also have held informal discussions with the
 Agency's Center for the Study of Intelligence on developing
 strategies for declassifying information.   In order to
 determine what additional information related to the STARGATE
 program can be declassified, we will convene a DCI
 classification review committee.   This committee will conduct
 G"Mmost
 Approved For Release 2001/04/02 : CIA-RDP96-00791 R000100040009-5
 Approved For Release 2001/04/02 :OWWWWCIA"-RDP96-00791 R0001 00040009-5
 a detailed review of all CIA and DIA program documents and
 other information--including actual targets against which
 operations were conducted and their nature, the customers for
 these operations, and resources allocated to this effort--to
 declassify further where appropriate.   (S)
 To facilitate the declassification effort and the Blue
 Ribbon Panel review, we will request DIA to:
 ? Declassify its sponsorship of STARGATE and to continue
 downgrading and declassifying the technical reports
 associated with the program.
 ? Eliminate the program's compartmentation, and remove
 from a limited distribution status all other classified
 documentation related to STARGATE and consider declassifying
 these documents further.
 ? Transfer to CIA all DIA documents associated with
 STARGATE following declassification consideration for
 archival purposes and further review by the DCI
 declassification committee.
 ? Assist the Agency in executing the Blue Ribbon Panel
 review by providing unclassified information relating to the
 program when requested by the Panel.   (S)
 Following the completion of these declassification and review
 efforts, we will develop a comprehensive management strategy
 for the program.   (S)
 "Mommolk
 Approved For Release 2001/04/02 : CIA-RDP96-00791 R000100040009-5
 Approved For Release 2001/04/02 : CIA-RDP96-00791 R000100040009-5
 ^rils
 March 1995
 Status of transfer of program activities to CIA.
 Preliminary declassification actions by CIA,  request to
 DIA for further action.
 April 1995
 Establish DCI declassification committee to review long-
 term issues.
 Form Blue Ribbon Panel to conduct retrospective review
 and technical data analysis.
 March-June 1995
 Conduct technical review,  interview Intelligence
 Community users,  draft preliminary               report and
 recommendations.
 July 1995
 Develop CIA program management strategy that addresses
 proper scope,  resources,  and management.
 Brief Congress on results and recommendations of Blue
 Ribbon Panel.
 Report program design and status to Congress.
 CL BY 2042955
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 Approved For Release 2001/04/02 : CIA-RDP96-00791 R000100040009-5