INTRODUCTION,
RICHLAND OPERATIONS OFFICE
RECORDS PRODUCED BY OPERATIONS OFFICE ORGANIZATIONS
INACTIVE RECORDS.SELECTED GENERAL PLECTRIC MATERIALS

by Roger M. Anders
Oiice ofHuman Radiation Experiments
Deputy Assistent Secretary for Planning and Adnunisiration
Assistam Secretary for Boviroomernt, Safery and Health
March 1996

The Department of Energy and Ite eritege: The Department of Energy (DOE) is one of the
most diverse agencies inthe Federal government. It was created in 177 from a score of
organizational entiies from 2 dozen departments and agencies, DOR encourages the
development of energy technologies in several areas--sclar, geothermal, fossil fuel, and nuclear. it
develops technologies aimed at promoting conservation of energy resources. TXOE is one ofthe
largest Federal agency supporters ofbasic scientific research and manages a research coraplex that
inchudes seme of the nation’s premier isborstories, DOE helos formulate national policies for
energy use and development. Perhaps surprisingly to many, DOE alse rans the nuclear weapons

research, development, and oroduction complex as well as associated dismantlement and clean up

activities,

DOE's nuclear heritage comes from the World War 1] Manhattan Project which built the atomic
bomb. The threads of DOE's involvement with mucieer issues and programs run through the

igliowing agencies: the Manhettan Engineer District (1942-19473, the Atomic Energy
Comunisgion (1947-1975), and the Energy Research and Development Adminstration (1975iv?) DOE not onky took over inetions, cultures, and traditions from these agencies, it also
mheriied records fram them. Of these agencies, the longest lived and most controversial was the
Atomic Energy Commission (ARO) The AEC also created a greater volume of records than any
other DOE predecessar agency and, net surprisingly, DOE sull has custody ofa substantial

yohume of AEC records.

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