Si SFO facilities increased from 340 in 1950 to 458 at the end of 1951. Althcugh many new facilities have been established in the expansion of activities outlined above, the num- ber was decreased to 423 by June of 1953 through realignment and consolidation of survey activities; e.g., in 1952 the individual sites at Los Alamos were.dropped as individual facilities and were considered for survey purposes as parts of their related divisions. The survey program has progressed considerably in effectiveness in the past three years. Experience has permitted emphasis to be shifted, from assuring that minimum security measures are in effect at each facility, to the areas of coordinating all programs and measures throughout SFO to provide increased effectiveness and economy in the overall operation. Guard Forces and Physical Security One indication of the results of the above efforts may be seen in the marked reduction in the relatively expensive use of guards in physical security. Careful analysis of security interests and tailoring of protection to requirements, "building in" advanced physical security measures at new installations, relocation of security areas, efficient utilization of alarm devices, fencing, etc., have made possible a more than 50 per cent reduction in the ratio of guards to the total Q-cleared work force at major SFO installations. In 1950, there was one guard for every seven employees at the then existing major installations; in mid-1953 that ratio was approximately one guard per 17 employees. In fiscal 1952, an intensive study of the security area setup at Los Alamos resulted in significant reduction in the size of limited areas (unescorted access to which requires Q-clearance), with no decrease in effectiveness of security protection. This, in conjunction with institution of personnel security safeguards to prevent unnecessary processing of requests for Q-clearances, permitted a 3, 750 reduction in the number of Q-clearances processed as compared to the previous year, with no concurrent decrease from the pre- vious year in the total work force or hiring activities. Personnel Security The basic personnel security policy has remained unchanged since the 1950 report. Security clearance for access to Restricted Data is granted only after the AEC has determined, based upon full background investigative reports, that permitting the individual such access will not endanger the national defense and security. Personnel security files, including investigative reports, continue to be screened in local security branches. Cases involving substantially derogatory information, "Holds," are referred to the regional of- fice, for review and determination as to whether the information is in fact substantially derogatory. "Hold'' cases are then submitted to Washington with recommendation as to further processing. As authorized by Washington, further processing is normally either to an informal interview of the individual to extend and clarify the record if it appears that the question of eligibility could be resolved satisfactorily by that method, or to a formal regional Personnel Security Board hearing and subsequent review, if necessary, by the Personnel Security Review Board in Washington. The hearing process is referred to as the "Administrative Review Procedure." fl eg ‘pie Important procedural changes have been made in the program, however, that are of interest here. . In the latter part of 1950, detailed instructional outlines for processing personnel security cases were issued by Washington, widening the scope of the program and system- atizing procedures throughout the AEC. 124 MRD 57 129