at Brookhaven Laboratory and the bevatron at University of California, Berkeley, were discussed fully. Since then, various groups have been working on other ideas for accelerating high-energy particles, and new machines are now approaching the project stage. The first week of this year's conference was devoted to a discussion of these new ideas and machines. During the second week, most recent developments in particle detection and pion physics were discussed. A number of individual scientists from the United States, as well as from other countries was invited and 14 from the United States, including a number from Commission installations, attended the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union Conference on Physics of High-Energy Nuclear Particles in Moscow, May 14-20, 1956. The conference was devoted to the physics of high-energy particles, and the results of experiments in the Institutes of the Soviet Union concerning the properties and interactions of elementary particles of high-energy matter. Theoretical implications of the experiments and relevant work about interactions of particles in cosmic rays were discussed. After the conference, scientists visited several scientific installations within the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, such as the Lebedov Institute of Physics, the Institute of Nuclear Problems, the USSR Atomic Power Station, and the Moscow State University. Participation of Alien Scientists in Nonclassified Research The Commission has revised its policy on participation of alien scientists as employees, or guests working without pay, in nonclassified research in nonsecurity areas of Government laboratories and integrated contractor installations. Prior to this revision, alien scientists could be employed on nonclassified research only at University of California Radiation Laboratory, Berkeley, Calif., and at Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, Long Island, N. Y., under assigned quotas. For guest alien scientists no quotas were fixed. With the postwar recovery of scientific research in European countries, the institution of agreements for cooperation, the launching of the President's Atoms for Peace program, and the impending shortage of qualified scientists and engineers within the United States, the Commission decided to broaden use of alien scientists. It removed the quota restrictions on employment of alien scientists, and permitted all laboratories and contractor installations to employ aliens, or appoint guest aliens, subject to the same security arrangements as under previous policy deemed necessary for the protection of classified information. They will work on nonclassified projects only and in nonsecurity areas. In addition to security requirements, two other stipulations are made: laboratory space must be available, and equally qualified United States citizens must be given priority. The manager of operations for the field office affected will be responsible for authorizing employment or appointment by laboratories or contractors. This policy on alien employment and appointment does not apply to individuals from countries listed as Subgroup A countries in Section 371.3 of the comprehensive export schedule of the Department of Commerce. Nor does it apply to aliens employed or appointed as guests on nonclassified research contracts reviewed originally by Washington headquarters. Alien employment or appointment under these contracts will be in accordance with each contractor's employment policy. Civilian Application Taking major steps to assist development of the private atomic energy industry, the Atomic Energy Commission put into effect nine basic regulations during the first half of 1956. The regulations deal with licensing, access to restricted data, unclassified activities in foreign atomic energy programs, and rules of practice. Eight were new regulations while the ninth was a revision of the existing regulation on distribution of byproduct material (radioisotopes). The first construction permits authorizing construction of two large nuclear power reactors were issued to Consolidated Edison Co. of New York and to Commonwealth Edison Co. of Chicago. During the period 10 applications were received for licenses to construct nuclear reactors of various types, including two for the generation of electric power. Continued growth in the use of radioisotopes in medicine, industry, and agriculture was evidenced by the entry into the program of some 304 new users. The Commission testified on legislation designed to help meet the liability insurance problems of reactor licensees. A total of about 300 private individuals and organizations applied for permits for access to restricted data during the reporting period, and 912 were in effect as of June 30, 1956. A public document room was opened making documents related to the licensing program available for examination. Regulations Eight new regulations were published in effective form. In addition, the regulation on byproduct material (radioisotope) licensing was revised to conform with the 1954 Atomic Energy Act, and to liberalize and simplify domestic and foreign distribution procedures. In drawing these regulations, a primary objective was to impose the minimum of control consistent with the protection of the common defense and security and the health and safety of the public. Briefly, the regulations and their scope are as follows (see Appendix 7 for texts): "Licensing of Production and Utilization Facilities," 10 C. F. R. (Code of Federal Regulations) Part 50, effective February 18, 1956, applicable to the licensing of nuclear reactors, plants for the separation of isotopes of uranium, and plants for processing irradiated materials containing special nuclear material. "Operators' Licenses," 10 C. F. R. Part 55, effective February 3, 1956, established procedures and minimum criteria for the issuance of licenses to individuals having responsibility for operating the controls of production and utilization facilities. "Licensing of Special Nuclear Material," 10 C. F. R. Part 70, effective March 4, 1956, established procedures and criteria for the issuance of licenses to possess, use, and transfer special nuclear material. "Licensing of Byproduct Material," 10 C. F. R. Part 30, effective February 10, 1956, is a revision of a former regulation applicable to the licenses governing the procurement, delivery, possession, use, transfer, export, and disposal of certain radioisotopes. "Rules of Practice," 10 C. F. R. Part 2, effective March 5, 1956, establishes the Commission's administrative procedures in connection with the issuance, renewal, amendment, suspension, or revocation of licenses, and commission rules for conducting formal hearings. "Access to Restricted Data," 10 C. F. R. Part 25, effective February 4, 1956, establishes the procedures and criteria for obtaining access to confidential or secret restricted data relating to the civilian uses of atomic energy. "Safeguarding of Restricted Data," 10 C. F. R. Part 95, effective February 2, 1956, imposes requirements for the protection of confidential and secret restricted data and applies to all persons who receive access to such data under an Access Permit. "Unclassified Activities in Foreign Atomic Energy Programs," 10 C. F. R. Part 110, effective January 20, 1956, prescribes procedures governing applications by individuals and organizations in the United States for specific authorizations to engage directly or indirectly in the production of special nuclear material outside the United States and generally authorizes certain nonclassified foreign activities. The regulation also establishes reporting requirements applicable to persons who engage in certain unclassified activities in foreign atomic energy programs. "Standard Specifications for the Granting of Patent Licenses," 10 C. F. R. Part 81, effective February 25, 1956, establishes standard specifications for the issuance of licenses on patents owned by the Commission, patents declared affected with the public interest pursuant to Section 153.a. of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, and other patents useful in the production or utilization of special nuclear material or atomic energy licensed pursuant to Section 153.e. of the Act. The regulation contains a general authorization, subject to certain restrictions, under Section 57.a. (3) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954. A new draft of the proposed regulation prescribing standards for protection against radiation hazards was submitted to the Advisory Committee of State Officials during the February meeting of the Committee. Further revisions in the regulation are being made in the light of comments and suggestions received. Program for Private Access to Restricted Data An average of 50 permits was granted each month during the period to private individuals and concerns interested in obtaining access to restricted data on the civilian applications of atomic energy. As of June 30, 1956, a total of 912 permits was in effect. The increasing use made of the permits was evidenced by the growing number of personnel clearances requested, reports purchased, and visits made to Commission facilities by permittees as indicated by the following tables. NOTE. This does not include clearances originally granted for Commission program work and transferred or extended to the Access Permit program. Requests for amendments to access permits, principally to enlarge the scope of access provided, stood at about 35 per month compared to 10 per month during the last half of last year. This also indicates increased activity by the holders of permits. The distribution of permits by geographic area, industry, and field of interest is given in the following tables along with comparative data for the permits in force as of December 31, 1955: 13 P. xiii, Seventeenth Semiannual Report (July-December 1954), and p. 102, Eighteenth Semiannual Report (January-June 1955). Reactors for other purposes such as research, propulsion of Plants to refine uranium and thorium ore and process feed Chemical plants for reprocessing spent fuel elements... Manufacture of Atomic Energy Products Entire reactors____ 40 72 Components such as fuel elements, instruments and pumps for Materials for atomic energy applications such as zirconium, |