aye 8. DETAILS OF FIELD OFFICE, CONTRACT, AND PLANT STRUCTURE Los Alamos The 1947-1950 Report of the Manager, SFO, sufficiently described management's efforts and achievements in stabilizing and revitalizing the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, in building and developing a satisfactory supporting community, and in transferring many phases of weapons manufacture to other installations in order for the Laboratory to concentrate on weapons research and development. Mission of Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory Nuclear and high explosive component research and development for all types of nuclear weapons; primary responsibility for technical aspects of active component testing; nuclear, high explosive and thermonuclear developmental and pilot production; and nuclear and high explosives quality surveillance, xX Los Alamos Field Office The Los Alamos Field Office was activated on June 18, 1951, when Santa Fe Operations Office transferred to Albuquerque, with a personnel strength of 862 which had been reduced by July 1, 1953, to 760, AEC contract administration applies to: Technical Area, community, and the nearby White Rock construction camp operation; to assisting and supporting some aspects of community and of county government; and to installations elsewhere which support weapons development. This is accomplished by administering various types of contracts including bee operating, research, development, construction, utility, architect-engineer, and consultant contracts, , Contrary to practice at other installations, the Laboratory is not operated and staffed entirely by the contractor. The Zia Company participates by providing extensive custodial, maintenance, and other specialized personnel and services; and direct employees of the AEC provide fire fighting and all phases of security services including guard force, physical security, personnel security, and security education, Also, contrary to practice elsewhere, AEC employees provide fire fighters and police for the community. Physical Plant The value of the physical plant in Los Alamos County owned by the AEC is $213, 200, 000. Los Alamos County consists of 108 square miles and coincides with the project boundary. The great majority of land is assigned the AEC under special use permit from the Forest Service. ALES Technical Area Construction On March 18, 1948, the Laboratory Technical Board concurred with an SFO decision to relocate, rebuild, and expand the Technical Area, In August 1948, the AEC authorized road and utility construction as an initial phase of a projected $121,000,000 program. As of mid1953 there had been various changes, and budgets projected a total of $118, 500,000. Addi- tional facilities now projected will bring the total back to slightly less than the original estimate, On June 30,-1953, $98,000, 000 or 83 per cent of the total program had been va