The Atomic Energy Commission: From its ineption im 1947 until as abolition in 1975, the AEC carried out 2 Congressional mandate for a large federal role in atomic energy development. The AEC maintamed programs for nuclear weapons research, development, production, and testing, production ofphrtonmum and weapons grade uranium, milling and refining of uranium ore, Momedioal research into the effects of radietion and muclear weapons, basic nuclear research in fields such as chemistry, physics, and metallurgy, development of nuclear reactors; promotion ofa civilian nuclear power industry, and conduct of international Atoms-for-Peace activities, Te was unique among federal agencies in combining responsibilities to both promote and regulate a technology. It promulgated official regulations to govera the conduct of officials implementing many of these programs. In 1947 the AEC assumed control of research and production facilities created by the Manharran Ragineer District (MED) during Work War T. The facilities were scattered from coast to coast, with the primary ones being located in Gak Rulee, Tennessee: Hentord, Washington: and Los Ajameos, New Mexieo. The MED operated them through contracts with private universities, auch as the University of California, and orivate companies, such as DuPoot and Union Carbide. To develop the atomic bomb, the MED established « complex of production plants and laboratories in which the government owned the facilities but tapped the expertize of industry and universities through contracting out the tack of operating them. The AEC did not change the MED's system of government-<craned, contractor opersted (OCHO) laciliies. To provide government oversight of contractor operated facilities some distance from Washington, the ARI intially created five field centers of operations and gave them broad delegations of authority. Esch was to manage a different part of agency programs, and exercise! broad authority within lunite sec by AEC Washington beadquerters. Bach, however, was to have unusual initiative and freedom of action as long us it opermed within general palicy guidelines set oy Washington. The Richland Operations Office: At Richland the ABC had to oversee a large platonrum production comples. Initial site construction had started im 1943 ard within 2 years an enormous complex was in place. By June 1944 enproximately 79,000 workers ishored to complete Hanford. By war's end they had built 4 plutonium production faculicy consisting of three auclear production reactors, three chemical separations plants, are other ancillary plants. In scoordance with the MED’s practice of emploving private indusiry to construct and operate the atamic bomb development complex, El DuFont de Nemours and Company constructed and operated the site. Because this facility was so large and complex, in 1947 the AC crested a field center of operations whase sole tack was to supervise the Hanford plutonium production facility. Called the OHice of Hanford Directed Onerstions, the AECanon changed its name to the Hanford ay Onerstions Office, and, then a decade later, to the Richland Operations Office. The office was incated in Richland, Washington, few miles fromthe Hantbrd production site. Unlike some