Sh protection and which could be released safely. The effect on information releasedpublicly has been especially noticeable in the continental test activity, but it has been just as real throughout the research, development, production, community and other management struc- ture of SFO. . Classification Santa Fe Operations, having the major field responsibility within the AEC for the weapons mission, originates a large volume of data requiring classification. The scope of the activity is indicated by the fact that more than 1,500 formal, written decisions were rendered by the SFO Classification Board during the past three years, and by the Security report that 15,000,000 classified documents have been originated within SFO each year. In the period since mid-1950, the SFO classification organization has been decentral- ized to some extent and at the same time formalized as a SFO-wide activity. The position of Dr. Norris E. Bradbury, Director, LASL, as the staff Classification Representative for the Manager, SFO, was made formal and shown on organization charts. Dr. Bradbury serves as Director of the SFO Classification Board with Dr. Ralph Carlisle Smith, Assistant Director for Classification and Security, LASL, as his executive officer in both capacities. The Manager, SFO, arranged for the appointment of a local classification board at Sandia Laboratory. Asa result, the SFO Classification organization as of July 1, 1953, included: a. The SFO staff Classification Representative: Dr. Bradbury, with Dr. Smith as his executive. b, The SFO Classification Board: Dr. Bradbury, Director; Dr. Smith, Executive Secretary; and special panels serving as members according to the nature of matters to be considered. c. The Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory Classification Board: Same as d. The Sandia Laboratory Classification Board: above, man; William H. Lawrence, Secretary. J. R. Townsend, Chair- Consideration is being given to establishing like boards in other contractor and field office organizations, Decisions of the local area. boards are submitted to the SFO Classification Board for information, or for review and final determination. For uniformity of classification policy and interpretation of existing guides, the SFO Boardis the final authority within SFO on all classification matters subject to SFO determination. By this interchange of decisions, the boards have established a more uniform policy and have minimized possible compromises Vbead of information. The practice has proved especially valuable in control of information relative to the various high explosives processing plants within SFO. ALS “ A major activity has been providing guidance to the new contractors who have entered - into the program including: Dow Chemical, National Bureau of Standards, Procter & Gamble, Thompson Products, Cambridge Corporation, American Car & Foundry, etc. In his capacity as SFO Classification Executive, Dr. Ralph Carlisle Smith has acted as the classification officer for all weapons test operations, including Operations Greenhouse, DORA eee, x.