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CHAPTER IV

Community Programs
Camp facilities, housing, and some degree of community services are provided at

several SFO installations.

There are, however, only two which are classified formally as

"community programs," those at Los Alamosand at Sandia Base.

The Los Alamos and Sandia programs are detailed in this chapter.

activities of this general type include the following:

The other support

Salton Sea Test Base, Westmorland, California

Limited but important all-year housing-communityfacilities are provided with operation by Sandia Laboratory, The site is on the edge of Salton Sea remote from any established
community. A few residences, a lodge, and utilities were constructed prior to July 1950,
as part of a $1,373,000 administrative and community facilities construction program. Present housing is adequate to accommodate approximately 35 permanent employees and up to
75 scientists, technicians, and military personnel during brief operational periods.

Recre-

ational facilities include a swimming pool, the importance of which is enhanced by summer
temperatures as high as 125 degrees.
Burlington Plant, Iowa

AEC contributed financially to facilities to house employees of the operating contractor,

Silas-Mason Company.

Community management is a responsibility of Army Ordnance, which

operates the Iowa Ordnance Plant at which the SFO plant is located.

Inyokern, California
AEC contributed financially to construction of community facilities supporting the Salt
Wells Pilot Plant of Naval Ordnance Test Station. Community operation is a responsibility
of Naval Ordnance,

Nevada Proving Grounds
Camp Mercury is the camp which supports NPG, including housing and mess facilities
for the small interim population and for the relatively large operational period population.
Plans have been drawn for further construction to make Mercury capacity come closer to
operating period requirements, including provision of additional barracks and of an assemblyrecreation structure. As of July 1953, these plans were being held in abeyance pending
Commission review of future NPG utilization,
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Pacific Proving Grounds
Permanent camp-type facilities are provided on Eniwetok Island for military personnel
and on Parry Island for AEC and contractor personnel, both providing for population
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