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ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION DRAFT LETTER TO CHAIRMAN, ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR BZOLOGY AND MEDICINE 1. Attached is a letter dated February 2, 1950, from the Chairman, Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine, reporting on -the twentieth meeting .'of the Committee held on January 13-14, 1950, together with a draft reply to Dr. Gregg prepared by the Division of Biology and Medicine. 2. The attached paper is submitted for the Commission to consider at the meeting at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 7, 1950 the draft letter to Dr. Gregg. Deputy General Manager Biology and Medicine 17-18 New York Operations 34 Oak Ridge Operations 35 21,22 Santa Fe Operations 37
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ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION Committee for Biology and Medicine which was held on Friday and Saturday, January 13 and 14, 1950, at the University of California at Los Angeles and the California Institute of Technology. All the members were present. The projects supported by the Atomic Energy Commission at the California Institute of Technology were visited on Friday. The Committee was specifically interested in the work as it was unfolded to them on the Biological Synthesis of Proteins with use of Isotopes under the direction of Dr. Henry Borsook and the Genetic and Cytological Effects of High Energy Radiation under the direction of Dr. George Beadle. . .This I s to report on the twentieth meeting of the AdvisoryWe are hopeful to be able to scrutinize the progress made In these projects from time to time as we feel that it will be useful in future genetic studies. UCLA, You will recall that at our meeting on September 11, 1948, the Committee studied the request of Dr. Stafford Warren for an allocation of funds to construct a building to house this project. At that time It was the sense of the Committee that on the merits for the building should be granted. In this connection on this visit we paid particular attention to space requirements. We realized the laboratories are limited in their quarters, however, for the present the work of the project seems to be progressing satisfactorily in the temporary buildings that have been provided. Dr. Stafford Warren opened the meeting on Saturday with a brief description of the organization of the AEC project at UCLA. We were Impressed particularly with the Alpha Scintillation Counter for Health Physics and Dust Study Applications which was developed at the project. tention to sink the "Independence." It was unanimously agreed that it would be well to explore the feasibility of beaching the Friday afternoon was spent in surveying the AEC project at Dr. Stafford Warren presented the problem of the Navyts in-
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UKC LASSIF IED "Independence," the last ship'which is still contaminated with long-term radiation hazards rather than sink it. It would then be possible for the ship to be used as a training school. The Director of the Division of Biology and Medicine proposes to submit this problem to the Military Liaison Committee for their consideration and recommendations. tion in the Handling and Disposa1,b.fRadioactive Wastes," the sense of the Committee that thi&,,eqcellent report should be published and be widely distributed. The problems emanating from the Atomic Bomb Casualty ComIt will be of interest to you tomission were again discussed. learn that a joint meeting of representatives of the Atomic Bomb Casualty Comnission, consisting of Dr. Tom Rivers, Dr. Robley Wearn, Dr. Shields Warren and myself representing the Atomic Energy Commission, will be held on February 4 at the National Research Council to review the program in Japan, We were pleased to learn from the Deputy Director that the Commission feels that the fellowship program should be continued and that a tentative program has been established for continuing the program on a regional basis. The Committee regretted the fact that the fellowship program is to be placed on a regional basls rather than on a national basls and in this connection passed the following motion: "The Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine is gratified that the Atomic Energy Commission has continued a fellowship program, even under the objectionable restrictions imposed by the rider to the appropriation bill. However, it is the sense of this Committee and our belief that this program should be returned to In furtherance of the Civil Defense Program, the Committee unanimously recommended that It would be well for the Atomic Energy Commission to conduct a psychological survey of the opinions of adult, English-speaking citizens with regard to their attitudes and knowledge of atomic energy, It is our understanding that the program as described by Mr. Niehoff will be handled by the University of Michigan, and moneys in the amount of $30,000 have been set aside for this work. emphasis on the radiological monitoring courses that are to be set up at several of the installations. After a full discussion, the Committee reaffirmed their previous reconmendations as set forth in my memorandum to the General Manager reporting the activities of the meeting of February 12, 1949. We regretted to hear that Dr. Bowers was leaving the Division of Biology and Medicine in Washingtoc, however, we 'shall probably gain from his investigative work at the University of California, We are sure that Dr. Warren's burdens will be lightened by the addition of Mr, Derry to the staff. Dr. Warren reviewed the civil defense Program with special
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The next meetlna of the Committee is scheduled to b e held at the Atomic Energy :omission in Washington on March 10 and 11, Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine
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DRAFT LETTER TO THE CHAIRMAN, ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 1, We were pleased to receive your letter advising u s of the actions of the Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine at their meetings fi$,kd at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena and at t~~'hfBw?qjityof California at Los Angeles on January 13 and 14, 1950; 2 2 The Commission has asked me 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 Los Angeles and also availed themselves of the opportunity to study the space 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,'I the last ship afloat which is still contaminated with long-term radiation hazards, instead of having it sunk, in view of its possible beriefits generally as a training school. 5.' In furtherance of the waste disposal program, progress is being made toward having the report "Health Protection in the Handling and Disposal of Radioactive Wastes" by Dr, William F. 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 overik,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 to have the program expedited and f o r 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 o f 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 recefve Commission consideration and action. 9. In connection with the civil defense planning program, the instructor training courses I n 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 cont1nv.e f o r approximately five weeks. The training courses for physicians in the treatment of radiological injuries among civilians will commence at the centers on alternate dates starting March 27. 4 10. We shall look forward to receiving your report on the meeting to be held in+Washington on March 10 and 11, 1950.