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d, the declassification of about one-half of the
technology concerning the metallurgy of plutonium
and its processing;
e. the declassification of the technology of
zirconium=-hafnium separation; and
f. the downgrading of the present classification
of gaseous diffusion plant technology.
Mr, Libby said he believed it would be appropriate to consider
the declassification of technology relating to power reactors, particularly in the chemical processing field.
The Commissioners then briefly discussed the advantages and
disadvantages of declassifying information on obsolete methods of
isotope separation.
With regard to the possibility of declassification of heavy
water plant technology, Mr. Libby observed that other countries
might soon be competing with the U.S, in the sale of heavy water
if this information were declassified. Mr. Davis said he
believed that even if the technology were declassified, other
countries would still find it cheaper to buy heavy water from the
U.S. because of the large scale production of the U.S. plants and
their low power costs. Mr. N.arshall pointed out that information
on the process used by the U.S. for making heavy water has already
been published and that only the detailed technology remains classified. He observed that continued classification of this information
would not prevent other countries from making heavy water but only
prevent them from making it as cheaply as does the U.S. Mr. Fields
and Mr, Mitchell pointed out that the Atomic Energy Act provided
for continued classification of information only when its publication
would be an undue risk to the common defense and security.
NV.r. N.arshall added that unnecessary classification of information
tends to decrease the over-all effectiveness of the classification
program,
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