The AECmaintsined programs for nuclear weapons research, development, production, and testing: production of plutoniumand weapons grade uranium, mulling and refining ofuranium ore, biomedical research mito the effects of radiation aml nuclear weepons basic nuclear research in elds such as chemistry, physics, and metallurgy, development of nucleer reactors; promotion of a civilian nuclear powerindustry, and conduct of international Atoms-for-Peace activities. Bt was unique among federal agencies in combining responsibutties to both oromote and regulate a technology. in 1847 the AEC assumed cormro! of research and production facilities created by the Manhattan Engineer District (MED) during World War I. The thoiities were scattered from coast to coast, with the primary ones being located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Hanford, Washington, and Los Alasnos, Mew Mexicn. At Qak Bhipe the Manhattan Project established faciinies far the production ofbomb grade uranium. If also had mended to build nuclear reactors for plutonium production there as well, When research showed thet production reactors would generate far moreheat and radioactivity then scientists had provieusly beheved, the Manhatten Project located plutonium production facilities near Hanford, Washington. During the war the E. 1 DuPont de Memours Company built and operated Hanford phitonmen oreduction faoilines for the Manhattan Engineer District. To operate its facilities, the MET) had used contractors while retaining government ownership of plants, isborstories, and buildings. The ABC contimed this system ofgovernment-owned, coutractor-operated (CHOCO) facilities Ar Hanford, Dubont mulled out as the operating commractor after the erm] ofthe war. in 1946 General Electric acquired the managing and operating contract and assumed responsiulity for producing phaionturn. Pacific Northwest Nations! Laboratory: Shortly after the MED bewan building platoon; production facilities at Hentord, it formed a research laboratoryio support production actrvities. The laboratory, eventually celled the Hanford Laboratories, launched programsto study radiation damage to reactor materials, io investigate fuel processing rechniques, to develop processes for the removal of usetul fisuien products fromreactor wastes, and to erady the binkogical and environmental effects of production reactor operation. Because the MED intended to place huge production reactors on the Cohenbia River, there was special interest in shucdying reactor environmental impact and effects on aquatic tb, particularly since the Columbia provided drinking water and food for millions afpeopie in the Paciic Noriewest. To investigate the biological end environmental effects of production reactors, for example, the Hanford Laboratories launched several programs. One examined the effect of the reactors on river fish and squatic biology and another the effects on the environment of radiomctopes released iF routinely during reactor operation. This effort focused on the effets of tadine, trithum, radioactive purticles, and plutonium on the enviromment and man. The Hanford Laboratories also initiated programs to study the absorption ofradinisctopes through the human gastrointestinal weet and methods oftreating redistion intury. Until the middle 1960s the Hanford Laborataries focused on nuclear technology and the environmental and hesich effects of radiation.