The Atomic Energy Commission: Prom ins inception in 1247 until ite abolition in 1075, the
AED carried out a Congressional mandate tor « large federal role in atomic energy development.
The AEC maintained programs for muclear weapona research, development, production, and
testing: production of plutonium and weapons grade uranium: milling anc refining of uranium ore;
luomedical research into the effects of radiation and nuclear weapons, basic nuclear research im
fields auch as chemistry, physics, and metallurgy, develonment of nuclear reactors, promotion of a
civilian nuclear power industry, and conduct of internaizonal Atome-for-Peace activities. 1¢ was
unaque among federal agencies in combining responsibilities ta both promote and regulate a”
technalogy. It promulgated oficial reguletions to govern the conduct of officials implementing
many of these programs.

in 1947 the AEC assumed control ofresearch and production fcilities created by the Manbartan

Engineer District (MED) during World War Tl The facilities were scattered fromcoast to coast,

with the primary ones being loceted im Oak Ridge. Tennesase, Hanford, Washington: and Los

Alamos, New Mexicn. The MED operated thers through contracts with private universities, such

as the Universty of California, and private compames, such as DuPont and Union Carbide. Te
develop the atomic bomb, the MED established a coraplex of production plants and laboratories
im which the government owned the facilities but tagmed the erpertise ofmulustry and unbversities
through contracting out the taskof onerating them.

The AEC did not change the MED's system of government-owned, comractor operated (GOOCH
iscilities. Toprovide government oversight of contractor cnerated fecilities some distance frorn
Washington, the ARC ininally created five field centers of onerations and gave them broad

ddiggations of authority. Lach was to manage a different pert of agency programs, and exercised

broad authority within limite set by AKT Washington headquarters. Each, however, wag to have
unusual initiative and treedam of action as long as 4 operated within general policy guidelines set
by Washington.

‘The Richland Operations Office: At Richland the ARC had to oversee a large phitonium
production complex. intial site construction had started in 194% and within 2 years an enormous
complex was in place. By fune 1944 approximately 39,000 workers labored to complete
Hantord By war's end they had budt a plutonium production Deuliry consisting of three nuclear
production reactors, three chemicel separations planis, and other ancillary plants. in accordance
oath the MED's practice af ereploying privete industryio construct and operate the ateric book
development cormlen, Ef Dubom de Nemours and Company constructed and operated the site.
Because this facility was sn large and complex, m 1947 the ARC created « field center of
operations whose sole task was to supervise the Hanford plutonium oroduction facility, Called
the Office of Hanford Directed Operations, the AEC scan changed is name to the Hantbrd
Onerations Office, amd, then a decade later, to the Richland Operations Office. The office was
located in Richland, Washington, o few miles from the Hanford production site, Unlike some

cther AEC operations offices, the Office of Hanford Directed Operations supervised activities,

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