i. Merril Eisenbud MR. EISHENBUD expressed concern with the manner in which the con- cept of the waximum permissible dose has been applied in the past. Although there has been considerable experience with similar maximum permissivie limits of other types such as the flocr loading of a building, such ADMINISTRATION experience has evidentiy not been available to those OF MAXIMUM preparing radiation coles. In the case of floor LIMITS loading, the values specified are frequently exceeded as in the case of a heavy safe. Building inspectors, however, are authorized to use judgment and to permit reasonable deviation. He also spoke of experience in the uranium processing plants where workers at times were consistently being overexposed although their exposure for a period of years was well below the average maximum permissible concentration. MR. EISENBUD expressed a belief that the whole future of the program was in jeopardy because of the unrealistic way maximum permissible dose figures are being applied and that an occasional overexposure should not be considered a failure on the part of the control progran. DR. GLASS expressed agreement with the point of view, but mentioned that even for an individual the belief is that there is a level beyond which possible genetic damage to his own immediate offspring would result, although at a very much higher level than the figures under consideration. The British Committee set this limit for the individual as a total of 200 roentgens over a forty-year period. DR. WARREN expressed the opinion that if any land at all were purchased because of the high radiation level, the Commission would be subject to later damage claims from anyone in a similar situation where land had not been purchased because of its cost. MR. TAMMARO explained that cost had not been a consideration in the case of the Idaho property but the criterion had been whether or not the land had been irrigated. The purchase of irrigated land had seemed to present a public relations problem. Actually no decision has yet been made. DR. WARREN suggested purchasing the land and allowing the residents to use it on an annual license. There was further discussion on the subject of whether the 5 roentgen limit was intended to apply on 4 population besia or an individual basis. The various recommendations appear to mean on an individual basis although not clear. Mr. Corsbie was introduced by Dr. Warren to discuss the Civil Defense Program. - oh.