ed owners! losses was reached. It was also determined that cattle had perhaps suffered from drouth but had received only minor radiation exposure if any. Late in the year the investi- gation had reached a point where it was concluded that radiation exposure had not contri- buted to the deaths of sheép. Of considerable interest for future test operations was the negotiation of an agreement under which the United States Public Health Service would participate heavily in off. site monitoring up to some 300 miles from NPG. During the Committee's discussions it was brought out that permitting NPG region public groups to visit the site during non-operating periods would advance public relations objectives. Subsequently SFOO was advised that public individuals could be shown the site and this authorization was extended by SFOO to include small groups whose visit would be of direct value. As a result of these developments, SFOO later reported that it was feasi-~ ble to permit one-day-a-week controlled public tours at very small cost in money or effort, and recommended such action. SFOO to be Released from Further Trinity Site Responsibility Modification of a previous memorandum of understanding with the Military was being negotiated with the intent of early relief of SFOO-AEC from its assigned responsibility for safety and security of the Trinity site used in 1945. Plant and Equipment Completed plant, including equipment, increased from $471, 415, 000 on July 1 to $490, 902, 000 on December 31. Construction work in progress as the year ended totaled $39, 320, 000. , Personnel SFOO-AEC direct employees totaled 1,572 December 31, 1953, divided 336 in headquarters, 179 in other’ places, and 1,057 in field offices. Operating contractor employees totaled 20, 406. Recommendation that Los Alamos Community be Opened fu og A section of Chapter V reports the activation by the Los Alamos Field Manager in June of an employer committee to reach conclusions on the necessity for continued ac- cess controls on the Los Alamos community, and on permitting private property ownership, The Committee included: Dr. Ralph Carlisle Smith, LASL, Chairman; Paul A. Wilson, Chief, AEC Community Management Branch; Chaimers C. King, LAFO counsel; and H, Frank Brown, vice president of the Zia Company. discussion. The Committee invited public In its report to the Field Manager, it included the following: ALOO a. The security basis for closing the community has changed radically and is disappearing. Security of classified information and of the Technical Area is being maintained despite the adjacent location of 13, 000 community residents and approximately 100, 000 business and social visitors @ach year. “an 22