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,