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Declassified record · U.S. Department of Energy

AEC Meeting No. 950 2:15 P.M., Wednesday, January 6, 1954, Subject: Castle Operation, Production Facilities Issues

Dated
Jan 6, 1954
Document type
Meeting minutes
Length
4 pages
Open the original scanArchive record OSTI ID 16381745 · public domain

Document text

Machine-read from the scan, so expect some errors. Lines that couldn’t be read are left out.

Page 1

ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION Eugene M, Zuckert Brig. Gen, K,E. Fields Joseph Campbell Capt. William L, Guthrie (USN) Walter J. Williams Mora e Salishr y William Mitchell Edward R, Trapnell Upon a proposal by Mr, Murray, and realizing the grave responsibilities placed upon them and their need for Divine assistance, the Commis - sioners at their first regularly scheduled meeting of the New ~ea~ ~- voked God’s blessing and guidance on

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2, Current Activities Reports . The General Manager and Division Directors reported on current developments at field installations and on the progress of matters under study by the daff. Questions by a, Status of Hanford Strike the Commissioners were dis - Mr, Smith reported that all construction at Hanford had ceased as the result of the strike which had begun on January 5. Complete information on the issues underlying the strike was not yet available, The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service had entered the dispute. At this point Mr. Smith left the meeting, b. Status of F lans for Tripartite Conference Dr. Bugher reported that a proposed agenda for the forthcoming tripartite conference on Area 2 of the modus vivendi had been transmitted to Canada and the United Kingdom. The C=an reply had already been received, c. App ointment of New Member to Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine dicated that he would be unable to accept an invitation to join the Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine, The Chairman said that before anyone else is approached on this matter he would like to attempt persoxmlly to prevail upon Dr. Farran to accept the appointment. At this point Mr. Zuckert entered the meeting. d, Long Range Radiation Detection Techniques Dr. Bugher described recent efforts to detect at high altitudes by means of balloons and rockets, He

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#’-activity had been detected up to 88,000 feet which could quite definitely be attributed to the Mike Shot in Operation IVY, However$ by far the largest part of the Mike debris remained une. Review of AEC Budget by Appropriations Committee The General Manager said that the Controller had been informed that, as in 1952, an investigating group representing the House Appropriations Committee would review AEC budget3. Approval of Minutes, The Commission approved minutes for Meetings 937 through At this point Commissioner Zuckert and Messrs, Cook and Burchard left the meeting and Mr. Fine entered, Under consideration was a report by the Commission Member of the CPC Subgroup of Scientific Advisers, proposing that the Commission note with approval that the information contained in Appendix “C” to AEC 43/749 would be forwarded to the U.K. as an activity within Area 5 of the Technical Cooperation F’rogram, The Commissioners discussed at length with Mr. McDaniel, Mr. English and other members of the staff questions concerning the natur c of the information which would be transmitted and its significance in intespr eting weapons test data. Mr, Smyth observed that it seemed clear that the information involved in the proposed exchange of documents would not exceed the limits of the Technical Cooperation F rogram. However, he did not believe that this information would entirely satisfy the British and it was pos aible that they might request conference on the matter. If such conferences were actually held it would be necessary to exercise extreme caution since direct discussions might easily “lead to the inadvertent disclosure of information which is not to be communicated.

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said that hc had previously discussed with Mr, Salisbury various revisions tn the draft press release (Annex 2 to Appendix “A”) and that these revisions were to be made before the release wzs issued~ The Commissioners commented briefly on various individual items in the After further discussion, the Commission: a, Noted that the draft press release attached as Annex 2 to Appen~A” to AEC 597/34 would be revised in accordance with the discussion at the meeting; Operation CASTLE (attached as Appendix “B” to AEC 597/34); c, Noted that the plan has been drafted in conformance with the Commission’s action on AEC 597/31 at Meeting 947 on December 18, 1954, which authorized the General Manager to compile an adequate record in text and pictures which may be issued at the conclusion of the tests as seems desirable in the national interest; and d. Noted that the Joint Information F lan for Operation CASTLE is before the Department of D ef ens e for approval. At this point General F’ields and Captain Guthrie and Messrs. English, B eckerley, Salisbury, Trapnell, Waters, Burchard, and Mackenzie left Mr. Reichardt presented a review of intelligence information concerning Russian atomic ‘energy program, Questions ‘by the Commissioners Approved by the Commission: May 11, 1954