The video from the August 29, 2012 NDC Open Forum is now available and may be viewed here.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNnxN3M9TUc

The National Archives recently developed a new web portal for declassification information.  As a result some of the links in older blog posts to released entries and bi-annual reports are not working correctly.  The new portal provides centralized pages for all new releases and reports.  You may access these by clicking  the links below.

New Releases:  http://www.archives.gov/declassification/ndc/releases.html

Bi-annual Reports:  http://www.archives.gov/declassification/ndc/reports/

 Don

The Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel (ISCAP) provides the public and users of the classification system with a forum for further review of classification decisions.   For the first time, documents declassified by the ISCAP are available for public access on a new site accessible from the declassification portal:  http://www.archives.gov/declassification/iscap/decision-table.html

The Executive Order 13526, “Classified National Security Information,” (the Order) requires that the ISCAP inform senior agency officials and the public of final ISCAP decisions on mandatory declassification review appeals and classification challenges (see sections 1.8 and 3.5 of the Order). This function is important for two reasons. First, the documents decided upon by the ISCAP for classification challenges and mandatory declassification review appeals may be of historical interest to the public, not just to the appellants. Second, agencies must now consider the final decisions of the ISCAP when making their own declassification decisions (see section 3.1(i) of the Order). Distribution of electronic versions of declassified documents on a publicly available web site is the most efficient way for the ISCAP to fulfill this function.

Among the recent decisions posted by the ISCAP are portions of several President’s Daily Briefs from the late 1960s and intelligence reports regarding nuclear activity in Iran in the 1970s.  These decisions represent the leading edge of declassification.  The ISCAP decisions site is a work in progress, and will be further refined to better serve the needs of our users.  Comments and suggestions regarding the ISCAP site may be sent to iscap@nara.gov.

The National Archives has launched a new declassification portal that provides a single point of access for declassification actions happening at NARA: http://www.archives.gov/declassification/

From this portal, users can get information about recent records releases at the National Archives.  Users can find information about the National Declassification Center, the Public Interest Declassification Board, the Presidential Libraries, and the Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel.

Aero Sys Div, 1969 (RG 342 UD-UP 138; NND 63253; Boxes 35 and 58)

By Michael Rhodes

Recently declassified records from the Aeronautical Systems Division, USAF (RG 342 – Records of United States Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations) reveal some surprising, perhaps never-before-seen images:

 

USAF Project 1794

The above illustration was discovered in the pages of a document titled “Project 1794, Final Development Summary Report” (d.1956) The caption reads “USAF Project 1794”. However, the Air Force had contracted the work out to a Canadian company, Avro Aircraft Limited in Ontario, to construct the disk-shaped craft. According to the same report, it was designed to be a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) plane designed to reach a top speed of Mach 4, with a ceiling of over 100,000 feet, and a range of over 1,000 nautical miles.

Fig 1 Cutaway of Aircraft Structure

Fig 2 Cutaway of Aircraft Structure

Curiously, these pictures bear a strong resemblance to ‘flying saucers’ in popular science fiction films made during the years these reports were created: 1956 and 1957.

Twenty records related to the Katyn Forest Massacre are now available on the National Archives Transcription Pilot Project.  Help transcribe telegrams, messages, letters and reports, including handwritten script.  Your efforts help improve the accessibility of the records.  For more information on how to get started, check out the Transcription Tips.

Learn more about the Katyn Forest Massacre on Archives.gov.

The National Declassification Center (NDC) led a multi-agency project to identify and review for declassification records relating the Katyn Forest Massacre.  This effort resulted in the release of more than 1000 new pages of material not previously released to the public.  The opening was announced on September 10, 2012 during an event at The Capitol Visitors Center.  A link to the new web page describing this release is posted below.  http://www.archives.gov/research/foreign-policy/katyn-massacre/ 

Any additional Katyn-related documents identified in the future will be expedited for release and notice will be posted on this blog.

Continuing to answer questions posed at the August 29, 2012 Open Forum.

How many agencies now have file series exemptions and approximately how many pages are covered by each?

For this question, I consulted with my colleagues at the Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO).  Here is their answer: 

The following agencies have approved file series exemptions:  Air Force; Central Intelligence Agency; Defense Intelligence Agency; National Reconnaissance Office; National Security Agency; Department of Defense; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Navy; National Security Staff; Department of State.

The numbers of pages covered by each File Series Exemption are generally included in the classified records submitted with each agency’s submission, and are not releasable.

Last week’s open forum was well attended with a lively discussion.  Once again, we had some questions that did not get answered.  Over the next few days, I will be posting and answering these questions.

The first question is:  Do any of the records the NDC is processing contain codeword material (e.g. sensitive compartmented information or SCI) and, if so, can you give an estimate of the total number of pages?  Are any being released?

We have approximately 4.5 million pages of codeword material among the 371 million page backlog.  These records have been reviewed and have been properly exempted from automatic declassification in accordance with Executive Order 13526, section 3.3.

Washington, DC…The National Archives National Declassification Center (NDC) will host its third public forum on Wednesday, August 29, at 10 a.m. in the William G. McGowan Theater of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC.  This event is free and open to the public.  Please enter via the Special Events entrance on Constitution Ave. and 7th St., NW.

The forum’s theme is “NDC challenges at two years: what did we learn, and how are we moving forward?”  NDC Director Sheryl Shenberger will update the public on declassification progress toward meeting the President’s goal of eliminating the backlog of unprocessed classified records by December 31, 2013.  She will also discuss the fifth Bi-annual Report on Operations of the National Declassification Center. The report is online at www.archives.gov/declassification/reports.

Two inter-agency panels will address NDC’s progress over the past two years.  National Archives staff will update the public on standardized declassification training and changes to declassification policy. The forum will conclude with a question and answer session with members of the public.

For additional information or to submit questions in advance question, contact Don McIlwain at don.mcilwain@nara.gov or (301) 837-0587.