ML19257B599
| ML19257B599 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 02/07/1961 |
| From: | Pitzer K US ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (AEC) |
| To: | Graham J US ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (AEC) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19257B598 | List: |
| References | |
| TASK-TF, TASK-TMR NUDOCS 8001170702 | |
| Download: ML19257B599 (4) | |
Text
8 4
I February 7, 1961 t
Mr. John S. Graham, Chainnan.
U. S. Atomic Enercy Cocniscion Washincton 25, D. C.
Dear Mr. Grcha n:
The 72nd r.cetinC of the General Advicory Cecnittes van held
,P in Wachir:gton, D. C. on January 30, 31, and February 1,1961.
. Savon tre::bers of the Co.zaittec vere present during all reccions.
Thece vere Philip H. Abelcon, Manson Eenedict, U. F. Libby, 8
I! ort an liomcey, J. C. Warner, John H. Uilliers, and K. S. Pitzer,
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as Chairman. Alco precent verc Eatert A. Charpie, Secretary,
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and Anthony A. Tcitei, Accintant Secretary.
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The following reccar.crdatione end actions of the Co:=ittee cre hereuith precented:
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Safety P2ogram The GAC has in tle past been nach concerned with the l
I broad aspects of safety an vill continue to be.
In the first year of its existence, the Con:nittee (letter to Chm. Lilienthal from the GAC Chain an, J. R. Oppenheimer, on June 1,1947)
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reconr.cnded the establichment of the Advicory Cc=mittee on Reactor Safeguards. Cn this occacion the Co c ittee said:
"The AEC has referred to un the question of the l
hazards attendant upon conctructing and operating i
reacto*3 near centerc of populatien. !!o cencral ancwcr to this question can have value.
Each reactor cust be examined crecifically and in detail.....
In order that the Comission have available the continuing advice of qualified experts, we recomend the creation of a panel to
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include at least one man verced in mechanical engineerint,, chemical engineering, pile dec1Cn, and atomic explosives."
Five years later the Committee concerned itself on its own motion with the general question of the dangers of radio-active fallout from nuclear explosions both in tests and war.
There had been an earlier purely theoretical study called Project Gabriel donc largely by one can. The I!cv York Health and Cafety Laboratory under Merril Eicenbud had been organized to nahe fallout reacurements during tects near Ine test site.
The Co:nnittee became cerioucly concerned and recoprended a cuch Jr. ore extencive program. As a result an intensive nuzter study was conducted at the Rand Corporation in the summer of 1953 under the direction of one of the GAC tembers, W. F.
Libby, and two other members, I. I. Rabi and J. R. Oppenheimer, l
participated.
1 This study formulated and recorrended the launching of the Sunshine Project--a worldwide study of the actual fall-out and biocphere contamination from nuclear weaponc tests.
The project was ctarted irrediately that fall. When the Cactle Series was conducted during the following cpring the Sunshine Project was ready and collected the data.
Thuc on broad questions of policy bearing on cafety the tradition of the Connittee has been one of deep concern and we propose that thic continue.
Uc propose at our next meeting to review carefully the '
cafety policy and pmecdures within the central AEC organization and hope to meet with the chaircan of the ACES at that time.
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Uc cuCCest. that the AEC concider the desirability of f
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cutabliching an ad hoc cafety review toard concinting of cafety experts fma industry and the AEC. Theychoulqdeal h%
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6-initially with the AEC itcelf and its principal contractors.
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The board should te ached to ex6mine in depth the organization, policiec, and pmcedures employed to ensure the cafety of all types of operation.
If requented we vill be glad to assist l
in the celection of appropriate perconnel.
1 DELETED Respectfully submitted,
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K. S. Pitzer Chairman Attach:r.cnt e
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