Ona, The AEC Industrial Information sub-program activated in 1952 was only partially activated within SFO, although there was a continuing stream of information actually falling in this category, particularly from Sandia, LASL, and some from Holmes and Narver. This program is essentially a part of scientific and technical information, but stresses digging out and facilitating dissemination of data with possible interest to U. S. technology and to industrial management. One SFOO and two contractor representatives served on the AEC Industrial Information Committee. Public information prior to mid-1950 was almost exclusively a Los Alamos pro- ject and a community relations activity. Local Los Alamos management decision during a reduction-in-force in mid-1952 cancelled all LAFO information positions, necessarily curtailing the previous effective and planned program to inform the community of management actions. A heavy planning and work load was assigned SFOO Information in late December 1950, with advent of continental tests and subsequent direction, staff- ing and operation of the multiple-agency Test Information Office. The period's assignments included planning and conducting the announcementof all new major installations and developing limited information activity for former installations which were publicly acknowledged as AEC facilities. Public information was characterized during the period by: (1) Very major expansion of activity without any addition to personnel; (2) full protection of classification while releasing a greatly-increased total of nonclassified information; and (3) developing the information function as an integral part of SFOO management. Patents A Patent Attorney was added to the SFOO headquartersstaff in mid-1952 with full Operations Office responsibility except for Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory mat- ters which are assigned to a Los Alamos Patent Group. A Sandia Patent Group was deactivated in mid-1952. During the period, SFOO opened 162 patent dockets on probable inventions and filed 49 patent applications. Assistant General Counsel A wide range of activity was conducted during the period reflecting the legal problems arising from SFO expansion of its physical plant and its contractor organization. A procedure was developed and authorization obtained for prompt investigation and payment of limited claims resulting from continental tests, and a statute drafted under which there would be unquestioned authority to pay such claims up to $5,000. An act of the California Legislature was obtained returning to Sandia employees $399, 751. 49 paid by the AEC through the University of California to the California State Employees Retirement System. Thirty lump-sum contractor appeals totaling more than $500,000 were handled for SFOO, and 20 others totaling more than $200,000 were pending. Major problems related to the failure of construction contractors were handled. Test Operations The expanded scope and increased pace of full-scale field testing put an extremely heavy burden on various headquarters offices and on J-Division of LASL during 1951. A staff office was activated early in 1952 to administer AEC-SFOOtest responsibilities, including various contracts and inter-agency memoranda of agreement, and to coordinate participation by DOD and other agencies. Office personnel also participated actively in the management of two subsequent continental and one overseas series. DOE/ALD 10 a DS