Atomic Commission's Expansion Programme

Northern Advocate, 13 January 1948, Page 5

Atomic Commission's Expansion Programme

WASHINGTON, Mon. (10 a.m.).—The United States Atorpic Energy Commission had embarked upon a “sizeable construction programme, dictated by necessity and urgency,” the director of the commission’s production division (Mr Walter Williams) told the joint Congressional housing committee.

The programme included the building of new laboratory facilities, modernisation and expansion of existing plant and laboratory facilities, replacement of temporary wartime structures, and modernisation and expansion of housing and community facilities. “This construction is essential to the fulfilment of atomic energy programmes and objectives.” he said. The United Press comments that the work presumably could include the secret new atomic testing ground on Eniwetok Atoli. Mr Williams said the major part of the housing and community building scheme would, be carried out at Richland, Washington State, whose permanent population would increase by 60 per cent, in the next two years. Additional building would a'so be needed at Oakridge, Tennessee, and Los Alamos, New Mexico.