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DRAFT LETTER TO THE CHAIRMAN, ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 1, We were pleased to receive your letter advising 11s of the actions of the Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine at their meetings $$ld at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena and at ti; Uf iv it y of California at Los Angeles on January 13 and 14, 1950; 2, The Commission has asked mi? to extend their thanks to you, and through you to the Committee, for the time-consuming efforts that they have given by visiting the various laboratories and institutional contractors to study the planned programs that are now In progress in biology, health physics and medicine. 3. It was of interest to the Commission to learn that the Committee made a survey of the laboratories at the California Institute of Technology and the University of California at Lo& Angeles and also availed themselves of the opportunity to study the apace problem at UCLA. We shall continue to keep the space problem at UCLA under study when budgets for this proJect are 4. The Director of the Division of Biology and Medicine is exploring with the military the possibility of beaching the "Independence," the last ship afloat which is still contaminated with long-term radiation hazards, instead of having it sunk, in view of its possible ber,efits generally as a training school. 5.' In furtherance of the waste disposal program, progress is belng made toward having the report "Health Protection in the Bale declassified. After this has been accomplished we feel that this report should be distributed widely and as expeditiously as
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6..The Commission is vitally concerned with the project now underway in Hiroshima, Kure, Nagasaki and Tokyo and we do appreciate the Committee's study of the problems involved. The recommendations of the Committee regarding the construction program as well as assistance in budget matters will be helpful to us when considering the ovem,all program. 7..In reference to the Fellowship Program, the Commission has given serious consideration to the views of the Committee as to their recommendations that the Fellowship Program should be returned to national administration. In view of the necessity t o have the program expedited and for the present at least, the Commission believes it to be to the best interest of the Commission , and the country that the Fellowship Program be placed on a 8..The psychological survey of the opinions of adult English-speaking citizens with regard to their attitudes and knowledge of atomic energy as recommended by the Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine will be placed on an agenda at an early date to receive Commission consideration and action, . 9 . In connection with the civil defense planning program, the instructor training courses in radiological monitoring and medical aspects of atomic warfare which are to be given at several AEC contractor institutions, are being initiated about the middle of March and will cont1riu.e f o r approximately five weeks. The training courses for physicians in the treatment of radiological Injuries among civilians will commence at the cezters on alternate dates starting March 27. . 10. We shall look forward to receiving your report on the meeting to be held 1n.Washington on March 10 and 11, 1950. -