Document text
Machine-read from the scan, so expect some errors. Lines that couldn’t be read are left out.
Page 2
BIOLOGY AND UZEICINE 1. To protect and maintain the health of all per sms s*Aject tcthe effects of atomic energy operations. 2. TO promote and w-dertake research in medicine, bic lou and biophysics as they relate t o atmic 3. To Fromote the training of sufficient technical arAds cie nti fic personnel t o proceed with the pro eras in biology, medicine and health such problems as the health of the workers i n Conmission projects, the recognition a deval u a tim of environmental prc'olems re k ting t o operation of Cortmission facilities, understandin< the efiects of radiation on plants, animals an3 hman beings, the develo?ment of instr - ment s for the detection and measureaenf of radiation, and the apDlication of radioisotopes in bio hu, medicine and biaphysicsInfo mz tion fully discussed in the Fifth Semi - hual Report tcthe Congress xi11 not be repeated here. Soil Studies. Contract arrangements were completed with the U. S. Department of Agriculture late i n Noverrber to study varicus . relationships between soils and cert z in radioactive materials. Included in the investigations will be determination of the rzte at yvhich certain radi c active substances are taken up and accumulated in plants ; rneasurelcent of the characteristics of certain soil types which might make them useful for the disposal of radioactive wastes; and the possible enployment of certair: p1m.t species to aid in restoring the usefulness of land areas which have been contaminated with certain fission products, whether accidentally or intentionally. The Commission will provide up t o $200,000 for the erection of facilities, including a greenhouse, a nhotll laboratory, environmental rooms, and radiation measurement instruments. 'Operating funds for these studies are tobe provided for the Department of Agriculture by the Commission and are expected t o be roughly $200,000 during the
Page 3
Crop grGWth studies. A s reported in detail in Lhe Fiffll Semi-kmual Report, other emer im ents carried out bjr the ?le;~:?;'tJ~~~nt through t h e 19L9 crop year. The disposal at production plants and research laboratcfies Of solid, liquid, and gaseous wastes which are toxic orr & icz ~ t i ~ . ~ involves a responsibility to others which the Commission recc&scs and h a s scted on. st md point of current operations wd future developments; seeds it. has directed that methods and facilities bede vel cp d t~ r&lce i n volune ar'd t o decontaninate the wastes which are released fm its operations; m.d third, it has undertaken t o inform rep res d - a - tives of responsible public agencies as t o operatiofis wfiict &flt. First, it has appraised the prcblen frm I n appraising the problem the Commission has had the cNPeration of the fublic Health Service, the Geological Survey and t.h Xeather Bureau, which are familiar with the environmental as@.s of industrial waste disposal. Moreover, through the activities of two special committees ( a Stack Gas Torking Group and t h e Committee on Liquid Process Xaste Disposal and Reclamation) the Commission has ob tan edf ka experienced independent experts a review of its gaseous and li@d waste disposal problems including recommendations for re sea & Through the presentation of technical pzpers by the Cm z iS SiG a ' staff, the members of a number of professional associations ha^ be*' informed of the work being carried out o r planned by the Cowissi@:1: 68th Convention - American Water Works Associzt i x . 2 August 2 k , 1948 - Chattanooga, Tennessee Wastes and Sewage Works Association 2 1 s t Annuzl UeetinC; - Federation of Sewage 'kY01'kS
Page 4
I n response tc special technical interest in the disposal of wastes fron: atomic enPrgy operations, the Cods sion held. a seminar on wasted is po zal at ~Jasiiingtonon J a mary 2k-25 attended by representatives of the follcvring professional gro qx : Federztion of Sevrage ‘:‘iorks Associations Those who attended this serinar were selected by their professional organizations as key men technically qL ali fie d to assist the Commission i n its effort to stimulate public interest. and cooperation inthe environmental aspects of the a to rice32rs Be llium. -,Q,y&tm&@~~ngtQe~oApn&si on I s +z$..r&d. health +prob erns has been that of be rj l lios is,arc x is ease bFo*% on by a so sac is utilized in various in das tries,the potentially large demmd for it as a moderator i n proposed reactors accentuates the im?ortancz of better understan.di?g of its health problems. of continuing research at the University of X nc in nat i, Saranac Laboratories, Yarvard School of Public Health, t h e University of ilochest,er and Commission Laboratories, methods aqd standards have 5een developed which can eradicate 90 percent of the he a it h problems associated with t h e use of beryllium. Administration of Research Contracts Problems and shortcomings related to the administration of research contracts in the fields omr a, me‘Sicine, and blophysics have been under examination durin Lm FL t of ost gr ~ the - growt hand intensification of existing research and to ring research activity into being where none has exis and technical facilities. Through contracts administered by the Office of Naval Research, (ONR), the Cods sion undertook i n 1949 t o give financial support t o research projects at a large nm ber of universities,hospitals, and other institutions. Because the Commission’s staff in these fields
Page 5
was small, administrakion by GNEi perrL_tted ;nore projects to be undertaken in a short period of months thzn would otherwise have Seen p ossi j le. of the sp research yr oj ect s by the Coxmission has now become pr act i - Asthe staff i n ;r:asliinc:ton anJ the field has grown in order to achieve the advantages listed below, a decision has recently been made, therefore,to enter into direct contracts covering research projects in biology and medtcine, rather than to continue t o rely upon the facilities of the Office of Naval Research. These advantages are : 1. Research projects closely related to specific Comulission problems and programs, but not within the scope of ONR interest, can be more readily promoted. 2. %ore complete exchange of information can be effected between research investigators and the Commission' s 3. The investigator ' s dual relationship with two federal agencies can be eliminated. 4. Financial control ca.1 be nore closely integrated with program res ? on sibi lit y. The Operations Offices of the Commission will negotiate and administer the business aspects of the contracts, w-hereas the selsction of projects to be supported and their technical super - ~ sio nW ill 3, there s pons iS ili ty of the Washington staff. New contracts, and many renewals o r supplements, will be shifted over to this arrangement. For ex a iq le,the research projects under way at the four university training centers cooperating inthe fellowship prog rm will be renewed under direct contract so that the tr aig ing and research aspects of their activity may be more closely coordinated.
Page 6
September December July - Deceniber Plant and Equipmmt 23Q3.6 soResearch and Development I Reeearch and Develaprasnt 19.0 Plant and Equlpmt Research and Developnrsnt 6.73.5 Research and Developmnt Plant and Equipment Research and Development Plant and Equipment Plant and Equipment -9 14.2-7.3