Sensitive compartmented information (SCI) is a type of United Statesclassified information concerning or derived from sensitive intelligence sources, methods, or analytical processes. All SCI must be handled within formal access control systems established by the Director of National Intelligence.[1]
Example of intelligence on covert meetings held by the French President François Hollande. The intelligence was collected by the National Security Agency and classified as TOP SECRET//COMINT-GAMMA//ORCON/NOFORN, and released in form of a Global SIGINT Highlight on 22 May 2012.
SCI is not a classification; SCI clearance has sometimes been called "above Top Secret",[2] but information at any classification level may exist within an SCI control system. When "decompartmentalized", this information is treated the same as collateral information at the same classification level.
Eligibility for access to SCI is determined by a Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) or periodic reinvestigation.[4] Because the same investigation is used to grant Top Secret security clearances, the two are often written together as TS//SCI. Eligibility alone does not confer access to any specific SCI material; it is simply a qualification. One must receive explicit permission to access an SCI control system or compartment. This process may include a polygraph or other approved investigative or adjudicative action.[5]
Once it is determined a person should have access to an SCI compartment, they sign a nondisclosure agreement, are "read in" or indoctrinated, and the fact of this access is recorded in a local access register or in a computer database. Upon termination from a particular compartment, the employee again signs the nondisclosure agreement.
Control systems
An SCI cover sheet from 1967.
SCI is divided into control systems, which are further subdivided into compartments and sub-compartments. These systems and compartments are usually identified by a classified codeword. Several such codewords have been declassified. The following SCI control systems, with their abbreviations and compartments, are known:
Special Intelligence (SI)
Special Intelligence (so in the CAPCO manual, but always SI in document markings) is the control system covering communications intelligence. Special Intelligence is a term for communications intercepts.[6] The previous title for this control system was COMINT, but this was deprecated in 2011.[7] SI has several compartments, of which the following are known or declassified:
Very Restricted Knowledge (VRK)
Exceptionally Controlled Information (ECI), which was used to group compartments for highly sensitive information, but was deprecated as of 2011.[8]
GAMMA (SI-G, SI-G-AAAA, AAAA represents 4 alpha characters to indicate sub Gamma compartments), which has subcompartments identified by four alphanumeric characters.[9]
Several now-retired codewords protected SI compartments based on their sensitivity, generally referred to as Top Secret Codeword (TSC) and Secret Codeword (SC).[10] These codewords were:
UMBRA for the most sensitive material
SPOKE for less sensitive material
MORAY for the least sensitive SI that required codeword protection.[11]
These three codewords, the usage of which was terminated in 1999,[12] were attached directly to the classification without reference to COMINT or SI, e.g. Top Secret UMBRA.
STELLARWIND (STLW)
This codeword was revealed on June 27, 2013, when The Guardian published a draft report from the NSA Inspector General about the electronic surveillance program STELLARWIND. This program was started by President George W. Bush shortly after the 9/11 attacks. For information about this program, a new security compartment was created which was given STELLARWIND as its permanent cover term on October 31, 2001.[13]
ENDSEAL (EL)
This U.S. Navy's control system was revealed in the 2013 Classification Manual. ENDSEAL information must always be classified as Special Intelligence (SI), so probably it is related to SIGINT or ELINT.[14] It has two subcompartments: ECRU (EL-EU) and NONBOOK (EL-NK).
TALENT KEYHOLE (TK)
TK covers space-based IMINT (imagery intelligence), SIGINT (signals intelligence), and MASINT (measurement and signature intelligence) collection platforms; related processing and analysis techniques; and research, design, and operation of these platforms (but see Reserve below).[15] The original TALENT compartment was created in the mid-1950s for the U-2. In 1960, it was broadened to cover all national aerial reconnaissance (to later include SR-71 sourced imagery) and the KEYHOLE compartment was created for satellite intelligence.[16] TALENT KEYHOLE is now a top-level control system; KEYHOLE is no longer a distinct compartment. Known compartments include RUFF (IMINT satellites), ZARF (ELINT satellites), and CHESS (U-2).[17] The KEYHOLE series KH-1 through KH-4b were part of the new TALENT-KEYHOLE designation.[18]
HUMINT Control System (HCS)
HCS is the HUMINT (human-source intelligence) Control System. This system was simply designated "HUMINT" until confusion arose between collateral (regular) HUMINT and the control system. The current nomenclature was chosen to eliminate the ambiguity.[19] There are two compartments HCS-O (Operation) and HCS-P (Product). HCS-O-P marking was also used in "Review of the Unauthorized Disclosures of Former National Security Agency Contractor Edward Snowden".
KLONDIKE (KDK)
KLONDIKE protects sensitive geospatial intelligence.[20] It has three main subcompartments: KDK BLUEFISH (KDK-BLFH, KDK-BLFH-xxxxxx, xxxxxx represents up to 6 alphanumeric characters indicating a sub BLUEFISH compartment), KDK IDITAROD (KDK-IDIT, KDK-IDIT-xxxxxx, xxxxxx represents up to 6 alphanumeric characters indicating a sub IDITAROD compartment) and KDK KANDIK (KDK-KAND, KDK-KAND-xxxxxx, xxxxxx represents up to 6 alphanumeric characters indicating a sub KANDIK compartment).
RESERVE (RSV)
RESERVE is the control system for National Reconnaissance Office compartments protecting new sources and methods during the research, development, and acquisition process.[21] RSV-XXX, XXX represents 3 alphanumeric characters to indicate sub Reserve compartments.
BYEMAN (BYE)
BYEMAN is a retired control system covering certain overhead collection systems, including CORONA and OXCART.[22] Most BYE content was transferred to TK. BYE Special Handling content was transferred to Reserve.
Markings
SCI control system markings are placed immediately after the classification level markings in a banner line or portion marking.[23] Sometimes, especially on older documents, they are stamped. The following banner line and portion marking describe a top secret document containing information from the notional SI-GAMMA 1234 subcompartment, the notional SI-MANSION compartment, and the notional TALENT KEYHOLE-LANTERN compartment:
TOP SECRET // SI-GAMMA 1234-MANSION / TALENT KEYHOLE-LANTERN // NOFORN
(TS // SI-G 1234-M / TK-L // NF)
Older documents were marked with HANDLE VIA xxxx CONTROL CHANNELS (or "HVxCC"), HANDLE VIA xxxx CHANNELS ONLY (or "HVxCO"), or HANDLE VIA xxxx CHANNELS JOINTLY (or "HVxCJ"), but this requirement was rescinded in 2006.[24] For example, COMINT documents were marked as HANDLE VIA COMINT CHANNELS ONLY. This marking led to the use of the caveat CCO (COMINT Channels Only) in portion markings,[25] but CCO is also obsolete.[26]
^UKUSA COMINT Agreement, PDF p. 27. Note that common SIGINT terms were defined differently in this version of the UKUSA agreement; the modern definitions were codified by 1955.
^Intelligence Community Classification and Control Markings Implementation Manual v4.2, p. 58
^" Implementation Guidance for Elimination of Codewords October 22, 1999
^NSA inspector general report on email and internet data collection under Stellar Wind – full document June 27, 2013. See page 12 for the assignment of the cover term.
^Robert Sesek, My First FOIA Request: ODNI CAPCO v6, April 10, 2014
^Intelligence Community Classification and Control Markings Implementation Manual v5.1, p. 65
^Authorized Classification and Control Markings Register v1.2
Bibliography
Explanation of the US Classification System
Critique of the Codeword Compartment in the CIA, March 1977
DCID 3/29, Controlled Access Program Oversight Committee, 2 June 1995
Intelligence Community Authorized Classification and Control Markings Register and Manual v5.1, 30 March 2012
Richelson, Jeffrey. The US Intelligence Community. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. 2008.
January 07, 2023
sensitive, compartmented, information, type, united, states, classified, information, concerning, derived, from, sensitive, intelligence, sources, methods, analytical, processes, must, handled, within, formal, access, control, systems, established, director, n. Sensitive compartmented information SCI is a type of United States classified information concerning or derived from sensitive intelligence sources methods or analytical processes All SCI must be handled within formal access control systems established by the Director of National Intelligence 1 Example of intelligence on covert meetings held by the French President Francois Hollande The intelligence was collected by the National Security Agency and classified as TOP SECRET COMINT GAMMA ORCON NOFORN and released in form of a Global SIGINT Highlight on 22 May 2012 SCI is not a classification SCI clearance has sometimes been called above Top Secret 2 but information at any classification level may exist within an SCI control system When decompartmentalized this information is treated the same as collateral information at the same classification level The federal government requires 3 the SCI be processed stored used or discussed in a Sensitive compartmented information facility SCIF Contents 1 Access 2 Control systems 3 Markings 4 Notes 5 BibliographyAccess EditEligibility for access to SCI is determined by a Single Scope Background Investigation SSBI or periodic reinvestigation 4 Because the same investigation is used to grant Top Secret security clearances the two are often written together as TS SCI Eligibility alone does not confer access to any specific SCI material it is simply a qualification One must receive explicit permission to access an SCI control system or compartment This process may include a polygraph or other approved investigative or adjudicative action 5 Once it is determined a person should have access to an SCI compartment they sign a nondisclosure agreement are read in or indoctrinated and the fact of this access is recorded in a local access register or in a computer database Upon termination from a particular compartment the employee again signs the nondisclosure agreement Control systems Edit An SCI cover sheet from 1967 SCI is divided into control systems which are further subdivided into compartments and sub compartments These systems and compartments are usually identified by a classified codeword Several such codewords have been declassified The following SCI control systems with their abbreviations and compartments are known Special Intelligence SI Special Intelligence so in the CAPCO manual but always SI in document markings is the control system covering communications intelligence Special Intelligence is a term for communications intercepts 6 The previous title for this control system was COMINT but this was deprecated in 2011 7 SI has several compartments of which the following are known or declassified Very Restricted Knowledge VRK Exceptionally Controlled Information ECI which was used to group compartments for highly sensitive information but was deprecated as of 2011 8 GAMMA SI G SI G AAAA AAAA represents 4 alpha characters to indicate sub Gamma compartments which has subcompartments identified by four alphanumeric characters 9 Several now retired codewords protected SI compartments based on their sensitivity generally referred to as Top Secret Codeword TSC and Secret Codeword SC 10 These codewords were UMBRA for the most sensitive materialSPOKE for less sensitive materialMORAY for the least sensitive SI that required codeword protection 11 These three codewords the usage of which was terminated in 1999 12 were attached directly to the classification without reference to COMINT or SI e g Top Secret UMBRA STELLARWIND STLW This codeword was revealed on June 27 2013 when The Guardian published a draft report from the NSA Inspector General about the electronic surveillance program STELLARWIND This program was started by President George W Bush shortly after the 9 11 attacks For information about this program a new security compartment was created which was given STELLARWIND as its permanent cover term on October 31 2001 13 ENDSEAL EL This U S Navy s control system was revealed in the 2013 Classification Manual ENDSEAL information must always be classified as Special Intelligence SI so probably it is related to SIGINT or ELINT 14 It has two subcompartments ECRU EL EU and NONBOOK EL NK TALENT KEYHOLE TK TK covers space based IMINT imagery intelligence SIGINT signals intelligence and MASINT measurement and signature intelligence collection platforms related processing and analysis techniques and research design and operation of these platforms but see Reserve below 15 The original TALENT compartment was created in the mid 1950s for the U 2 In 1960 it was broadened to cover all national aerial reconnaissance to later include SR 71 sourced imagery and the KEYHOLE compartment was created for satellite intelligence 16 TALENT KEYHOLE is now a top level control system KEYHOLE is no longer a distinct compartment Known compartments include RUFF IMINT satellites ZARF ELINT satellites and CHESS U 2 17 The KEYHOLE series KH 1 through KH 4b were part of the new TALENT KEYHOLE designation 18 HUMINT Control System HCS HCS is the HUMINT human source intelligence Control System This system was simply designated HUMINT until confusion arose between collateral regular HUMINT and the control system The current nomenclature was chosen to eliminate the ambiguity 19 There are two compartments HCS O Operation and HCS P Product HCS O P marking was also used in Review of the Unauthorized Disclosures of Former National Security Agency Contractor Edward Snowden KLONDIKE KDK KLONDIKE protects sensitive geospatial intelligence 20 It has three main subcompartments KDK BLUEFISH KDK BLFH KDK BLFH xxxxxx xxxxxx represents up to 6 alphanumeric characters indicating a sub BLUEFISH compartment KDK IDITAROD KDK IDIT KDK IDIT xxxxxx xxxxxx represents up to 6 alphanumeric characters indicating a sub IDITAROD compartment and KDK KANDIK KDK KAND KDK KAND xxxxxx xxxxxx represents up to 6 alphanumeric characters indicating a sub KANDIK compartment RESERVE RSV RESERVE is the control system for National Reconnaissance Office compartments protecting new sources and methods during the research development and acquisition process 21 RSV XXX XXX represents 3 alphanumeric characters to indicate sub Reserve compartments BYEMAN BYE BYEMAN is a retired control system covering certain overhead collection systems including CORONA and OXCART 22 Most BYE content was transferred to TK BYE Special Handling content was transferred to Reserve Markings EditSCI control system markings are placed immediately after the classification level markings in a banner line or portion marking 23 Sometimes especially on older documents they are stamped The following banner line and portion marking describe a top secret document containing information from the notional SI GAMMA 1234 subcompartment the notional SI MANSION compartment and the notional TALENT KEYHOLE LANTERN compartment TOP SECRET SI GAMMA 1234 MANSION TALENT KEYHOLE LANTERN NOFORN TS SI G 1234 M TK L NF Older documents were marked with HANDLE VIA xxxx CONTROL CHANNELS or HVxCC HANDLE VIA xxxx CHANNELS ONLY or HVxCO or HANDLE VIA xxxx CHANNELS JOINTLY or HVxCJ but this requirement was rescinded in 2006 24 For example COMINT documents were marked as HANDLE VIA COMINT CHANNELS ONLY This marking led to the use of the caveat CCO COMINT Channels Only in portion markings 25 but CCO is also obsolete 26 Notes Edit ICD 1 p 22 Robert S McNamara quoted in Richelson The Intelligence Community p 511 Sensitive Compartmented Information SCI Program August 13 2022 ICPG 704 1 ICD 1 p 9 UKUSA COMINT Agreement PDF p 27 Note that common SIGINT terms were defined differently in this version of the UKUSA agreement the modern definitions were codified by 1955 Intelligence Community Classification and Control Markings Implementation Manual v4 2 p 58 NRO Review and Redaction Guide p 140 Intelligence Community Classification and Control Markings Implementation Manual v4 2 p 60 63 In Camera Affidavit of Eugene F Yeats Richelson p 512 514 Implementation Guidance for Elimination of Codewords October 22 1999 NSA inspector general report on email and internet data collection under Stellar Wind full document June 27 2013 See page 12 for the assignment of the cover term Robert Sesek My First FOIA Request ODNI CAPCO v6 April 10 2014 Intelligence Community Classification and Control Markings Implementation Manual v5 1 p 65 Critique of the Codeword Compartment Richelson The US Intelligence Community p 514 nsarchive gwu edu PDF https web archive org web 20161101044611 http nsarchive gwu edu NSAEBB NSAEBB225 doc23 pdf Archived from the original PDF on 2016 11 01 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Missing or empty title help Authorized Classification and Control Markings Register v1 2 Intelligence Community Classification and Control Markings Implementation Manual v4 2 p 56 Intelligence Community Classification and Control Markings Implementation Manual v5 1 p 54 National Reconnaissance Office Review and Redaction Guide p 7 Authorized Classification and Control Markings Register v1 2 ICPM 2006 700 8 See this page for an example Authorized Classification and Control Markings Register v1 2Bibliography EditExplanation of the US Classification System Critique of the Codeword Compartment in the CIA March 1977 DCID 3 29 Controlled Access Program Oversight Committee 2 June 1995 ICD 1 Policy Directive for Intelligence Community Leadership 1 May 2006 ICD 705 Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities 26 May 2010 ICPG 704 1 Personnel Security Investigative Standards and Procedures Governing Eligibility for Access to Sensitive Compartmented Information and Other Controlled Access Program Information 2 October 2008 Intelligence Community Authorized Classification and Control Markings Register and Manual v5 1 30 March 2012 National Reconnaissance Office Review and Redaction Guide For Automatic Declassification Of 25 Year Old Information 2008 Richelson Jeffrey The US Intelligence Community Boulder CO Westview Press 2008 UKUSA COMINT Agreement and Appendices Thereto 1951 1953 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sensitive compartmented information amp oldid 1118542528 Access, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
