General and special funds: ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION OPERATING EXPENSES For necessary operating expenses of the Commission in carrying out the purposes of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, including the employment of aliens; services authorized by [section 15 of the Act of August 2, 1946 (5 U.S.C. [55a)] 3109; hire, maintenance and operation of aircraft; publication and dissemination of atomic information; purchase, repair and cleaning of uniforms; official entertainment expenses (not to exceed $30,000); reimbursement of the General Services Administration for security guard services; hire of passenger motor vehicles; [$1,923,000,000] $2,144,800,000 and any moneys (except sums received from disposal of property under the Atomic Energy Community Act of 1955, as amended, (42 U.S.C. 2301)) received by the Commission, notwithstanding the provisions of section 3617 of the Revised Statutes (31 U.S.C. 484), to remain available until expended: Provided, That of such amount $100,000 may be expended for objects of a confidential nature and in any such case the certificate of the Commission as to the amount of the expenditure and that it is deemed inadvisable to specify the nature thereof shall be deemed a sufficient voucher for the sum therein expressed to have been expended: Provided further, That from this appropriation transfers of sums may be made to other agencies of the Government for the performance of the work for which this appropriation is made, and in such cases the sums so transferred may be merged with the appropriation to which transferred: Provided further, That no part of this appropriation shall be used in connection with the payment of a fixed fee to any contractor or firm of contractors engaged under a cost-plus-a-fixed-fee contract or contracts at any installation of the Commission, where that fee for community management is at a rate in excess of $90,000 per annum, or for the operation of a transportation system where that fee is at a rate in excess of $45,000 per annum. (42 U.S.C. 2011; 2017; 2291; 80 Stat. 162; Public Works Appropriation Act, 1967; additional authorizing legislation to be proposed.) Program and Financing (in thousands of dollars) 129,594 346,420 700, 500 492, 303 272,000 90, 450 17,855 19,500 The Atomic Energy Commission conducts a variety of production, research and development and supporting activities directed toward its responsibilities for national defense and peaceful applications of atomic energy. Most of the activities are carried on in Government-owned facilities by industrial concerns and educational institutions operating under contracts. Coordination with the armed services is achieved through the Military Liaison Committee of the Department of Defense. Total program costs in 1968 are estimated at $2,197.1 million or $46.2 million greater than the estimated 1967 costs of $2,150.9 million, and $56.7 million greater than actual costs of $2,140.4 million for 1966. The 1968 94,000 6,731 program decreases are in raw materials, special nuclear 13, 224 materials, and community. These decreases are more than offset by increases in the weapons program, in research in the physical and biomedical sciences, in reactor and isotopes development, in the development of civilian applications of nuclear explosives, and in training, education, and scientific information activities. 2,197, 122 In 1968, total program obligations will be more than program costs, the difference being obligations to be incurred for future years' costs. Total program obligations for operating expenses in 1968 are estimated to be $2,203.6 million compared to $2,159.7 million in 1967 and $2,180.1 million in 1966. -6,542 -3,334 -60,068 -55,506 -170,218 General and special funds-Continued OPERATING EXPENSES-Continued The schedule of costs by activity does not include nonbudgetary costs such as depreciation charges, accrued annual leave earned but not taken by AEC employees, and the cost of source and special nuclear material consumed; in total, these are as follows: 1966, $373 million; 1967 estimate, $375 million; 1968 estimate, $382 million. 1. Raw materials.—The 1968 estimate of 8,000 tons of uranium concentrates to be procured is based on current contractual commitments and reflects the expiration of the contracts with Canada and South Africa on December 31, 1966, and the gradual decline in the level of domestic procurement. The 1968 estimate is 2,037 tons below the 1967 estimate of 10,037 tons. Procurement in 1966 was 12,426 tons. Funds are also included to support a servation of energy resources and reductions in power cost. Research and development on the application of nuclear power to desalting will also be stressed. Costs of $28.8 million will be incurred for the cooperative power reactor demonstration category in which AEC provides financial aid for development and construction of full-scale power reactors and for participation in a dualpurpose nuclear power and desalting project in California. This aid helps to provide a basis for a privately financed nuclear power industry. The Euratom category provides for research and development under a joint program with the European Atomic Energy Community. The merchant ship reactors category will be confined to studies and technical and economic evaluation of the development of nuclear reactors for propulsion of merchant ships. program of resource investigations to help assure the long-improvement of existing designs of portable, medium range availability of nuclear fuels. 2. Special nuclear materials. Special nuclear materials are produced primarily for use in nuclear weapons and as fuels for nuclear reactors. Major production plants are located at Richland, Wash.; Savannah River, S.C.; Oak Ridge, Tenn.; Paducah, Ky.; and Portsmouth, Ohio. Production of uranium enriched in the isotope U-235 will decline somewhat in 1968 as a result of reduced cascade power. Work will continue on process improvements to assure continuity and safety of operation, to develop more economical methods of production, and to permit timely development of new production processes as requirements for new products develop. 3. Weapons.-The weapons program encompasses the production of atomic weapons; the maintenance of stockpiled weapons in a state of constant readiness; the design, development, and underground testing of new weapons types including the development, starting in 1967, of supplemental test sites; maintenance of a readiness capability to resume atmospheric testing; and participation with the Department of Defense in the development of test detection methods. 4. Reactor development. This program includes the development of nuclear power reactors for central station applications and the development of power and propulsion reactors for a variety of military, civilian, and space applications, together with research and development on advanced reactor systems, nuclear safety, and general reactor technology. The costs by major category are (in thousands of dollars): The Army power reactors category provides for the powered, water-cooled nuclear powerplants and the development of advanced plants for military applications. The naval propulsion reactors category provides for the design and development of improved nuclear propulsion plants for installation in ships ranging from small submarines to large combatant surface ships. The space propulsion systems category (Project Rover) is carried out in cooperation with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to develop nuclear rocket technology for potential space applications. The space electric power development category is conducted in cooperation with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Department of Defense to develop nuclear reactor and radioisotopic power systems for space applications. The terrestrial electric power development category provides for the development of nuclear reactor and radioisotopic power systems for terrestrial and undersea applications. General reactor technology includes development work in support of the overall reactor program in such areas as reactor fuels, materials, physics, heat transfer, components, and chemical separations. The advanced reactor systems research and development category is devoted to the exploration of promising advanced reactor concepts. The nuclear safety category provides for research and development and investigation of safety problems, conduct of field tests, and application of effective engineered safeguards in the construction and operation of nuclear 2. Cooperative power reactor demonstration program.. 13,544 3. Cooperative program with Euratom.. 3,421 17,116 2,000 4. Merchant ship reactors. -1 100 5. Army power reactors. 2,335 700 900 6. Naval propulsion reactors 1966 actual 1967 estimate 1968 estimate 7. Space propulsion systems 96,700 84,365 108,073 116,500 77,575 60,400 8. Space electric power development... 65,020 Medium energy physics.. 9.164 11,000 11,100 61,497 9. Terrestrial electric power development 60,740 Low energy physics.. 26,385 28,336 29,400 8,125 10. General reactor technology--- 46,955 Mathematics and computer research. 5,278 6,107 6,200 Chemistry research.. 49,579 52,864 55,000 11. Advanced systems research and de velopment... 18,121 Metallurgy and materials research. 24,848 26,284 27,600 12. Nuclear safety.. Controlled thermonuclear research. 21,768 22,626 26,200 21,648 32,015 35,000 13. Operational services. 3,000 492,303 The emphasis of the civilian power reactor category is now directed to the development of fast breeder and advanced converter reactors, which offer promise of con The Commission serves as the executive agent for the Nation's high energy physics program and research costs are expected to increase in 1968 as existing accelerators are improved and the new linear accelerator at Stanford achieves its first full year of operation. The increase in low energy physics is due primarily to the operation of new research tools authorized in prior years and more intensive operation of older facilities. Chemistry and metallurgical research are aimed at advancing basic knowledge related to practical operations of the atomic energy program. The objective of thermonuclear plasma research is to determine whether the energy released by thermonuclear reactions can be controlled and made useful. This research is expected to expand in 1968 to allow work to proceed on a new generation of devices designed to test new theories in plasma confinement. Approximately three-fourths of this program is conducted at 10 sites owned by or operated for the Commission, and the remainder is supported and conducted in more than 150 universities, colleges, institutes, and independent laboratories. 6. Biology and medicine.-Research is conducted on the effects of radiation on living organisms and on the environment, protection against the injurious effects of radiation, and development of methods for utilizing radioactive materials in the diagnosis, treatment, and understanding of human diseases, such as cancer. The program includes the measurement and effects of radioactivity (including fallout) in the atmosphere, soils, and surface waters for the establishment of standards to insure that AEC activities are conducted with safety. The program recognizes the responsibilities of other Government agencies conducting programs in biomedical research. Approximately two-thirds of the research is conducted by 20 laboratories which are owned by or operated for the Commission, and the remainder is supported in more than 235 universities, colleges, hospitals, and independent laboratories. In addition, research is conducted in Japan to determine the long-term effects of atomic bomb radiation on the affected population. 7. Training, education, and information. This program includes specialized training courses; graduate and postdoctoral fellowships and traineeships; assistance to schools, faculty and students; operation of the Puerto Rico Nuclear Center; dissemination of scientific and technical information; and operation of nuclear science and technology demonstrations and exhibits. In 1968, AEC will provide approximately 560 fellowships and traineeships beyond the undergraduate level. Assistance to schools includes grants for acquisition of nuclear training equipment, teaching aids, demonstration apparatus, and special laboratory equipment. University summer and academic year institutes in radiobiology and other subjects in the field of radiation science are made available to high school and university science teachers. The cooperative use of specialized atomic energy laboratory facilities and staff in assisting the educational programs of colleges and universities throughout the country will continue to increase. In order to facilitate the transfer of certain regulatory functions from AEC to the States, training courses and on-the-job orientation are conducted in radiation safety, radiological health protection, waste disposal, and certain other subjects for State and local government employees. To broaden the dissemination of information on atomic energy, technical information services are provided at both a technical and popular level. The results of scientific research and technical developments are systematically made available to other Government agencies and to the general public. Public understanding of atomic energy is aided by nuclear science demonstrations and exhibits. 8. Isotopes development.-This program supports the development of a variety of new uses of radioisotopes and high level radiation. Particular emphasis is given to development of isotopic power and heat sources for a variety of applications, to development of isotopic measuring and diagnostic systems, and to development of technology for radiation pasteurization of foods. program is designed to promote and encourage industrial participation and cooperation. The 9. Civilian applications of nuclear explosives.-This program provides for the research, development, and experimental testing necessary to develop and demonstrate peaceful uses for nuclear explosives. The 1968 program is based on a continuation of cratering experiments and testing of specially designed nuclear explosives and techniques for reducing the amount of radioactivity released by explosions for use in nuclear excavation projects; work on special nuclear explosives for scientific research in neutron physics and transuranium elements production; and development of technology to exploit the economic potential of nuclear explosives in the recovery of natural resources. 10. Communities.-The program estimate of $6.2 million includes $3.6 million for the Los Alamos community of which $2.7 million is for assistance payments for schools, municipal services and hospital, and $0.9 million is for costs related to those functions which have not been transferred or sold. The remaining $2.6 million is for assistance payments to the former AEC communities of Oak Ridge, Tenn., and Richland, Wash. All assistance payments are in accordance with the Atomic Energy Community Act of 1955, as amended. 11. Program direction and administration.-This program includes the salaries and other costs for employees engaged in executive direction, general management, and technical supervision of the atomic energy program, and in the establishment and enforcement of regulations for civilian uses of atomic energy. Employees are located in the Washington headquarters and in field offices. The 1968 estimate provides for 5,853 employees, which is 225 employees over the estimated June 30, 1967, strength of 5,628. 12. Security investigations.-The Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, requires background investigations of those persons proposed for access to restricted data of the atomic energy program. The number of full background investigations to be requested in 1968 is estimated at 15,900 compared with 15,200 for 1967 and 15,208 for 1966. 13. Cost of work for others.-In furthering the objective of widespread utilization of atomic energy for peaceful purposes, AEC, when requested, furnishes materials and services to industrial organizations and other private parties. Charges made for such products and services are reflected in the budget under receipts and reimbursements from non-Federal sources (revenues applied) and are applied as a source of funds, thereby reducing the amount of appropriations required. The items included are (in thousands of dollars): |