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ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOX BIOLOGY AND MEDIcI?TE UNITED STATES ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION All eight members of the Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine met with E:. Dunhhni and several of his permanent staff for the Committee's lOlst meeting, The meeting was held a t the Nevada Test Site and the Nevada Operations Office in Las Vegas, November 14-16, 1963. The Conunittee is most appreciative of Fts opportunity t o observe much of the work a t the NTS and, in particular,to have been permitted to observe underground test "Anchovy" with thorough briefings by the staff before and after the event. We feel that we have learned a great deal, particularly from the splendid presentation by Dr. Graves, of USL ; and we are unanimous in feeling that to whatever extent security measures may permit, it would be good for the American public if the need for continued teat f ng of nuclear devices could be more completely presented and emphasized. As a committee, and as individuals, we were greatly interested and impressed with the joint efforts of the DOD, NASA and AEC inthe development of nuclear propulsion for space vehicles. It was clearly evident that when the difficult technological problems of design and operation are solved, and testing of the successive stages proceeds, biological and health problems of a major order will occur. learn that these matters have been given the position of importance A t the Nevada Test Site,as described by the Health and Safety Director of the major NTS contractor,Dr. C. Maupin, the fine new medical facility now asproaching completion will not solve the major problem which confronts him. The professional opportunities for physicians needed i n this program could be made attractive,but under existing circumstances, this is not the case. The lengthy daily travel from Las Vegas is a serious deterrent to the recruitment of able physicians, and the restrictions imposed by the Nevada State Licensing Board limits markedly the supply of competent applicants. One suggestion which should be investigated is the possibility of the assignment of selected young medical officers from the Public Health Service and the DOD to a tour of duty with the NTS Occupational Health Program. We were pleased to
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circumstances, young men desirous of expanding t h e i r knowledge of and their contact with medical aspects of radiation, as well as an opport unity to participate in medical and biological research activities involving the use of radiation sources of all types, might well be attracted insufficient numbers to solve this very difficult manpower The Comit tee urges you to discuss this possibility The Cornittee was pleased t o hear more regarding the plans and activities ' of the Livemore program, particularly those phases being pursued a t the detection 4nd identification of nuclides .from the air was most Livermore project will be more readily achieved. Briefing on the present status of development o f instruments for With facilities of this nature the major goals of the The Cm n ltte e 'commented favorably on the report prepared by Mr. Hollister, Biological and Environmental Consequences of Nuclear War; a Note on Scope and Approach" which was distributed to the Comit tee.and was favorably impressed with Mr.Hollister ' s thoughtful approach. The Committee was also impressed with the complexities confronting Mr.Hollister with the continuation and expansion of his studies. I n Executive Session the Cop it tee heard from two of its members, Drs. Bale and Hodges, who had been assigned to attend the GAC meeting in Washington, where the Wigner preliminary re part of the Harbor Project at Woods Hole was presented. In their estimation, there is every indication that the Harbor Project was highly successful in developing a clearer understanding of the need for nationwide civil defense measures and the nature and extent of their probable effectiveness. await a final report of the Project ' s findings with extreme interest. The Comit tee will The XCBM expressed the hope &he Commission would define more clearly at this time the role which i t would hope the Division of Biology and Medicine would play inthe problems of civil defense. It was hoped by members of the Committee that these activities would be limited to those aspects of civil defense in which the Division of Biology and Medicine has exceptional competence. A report on the 102nd meeting, held i n Washington, D. C. January 10-11, will be sent to you in the near future.