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3
facility for the production of thin weapons shells, Mr. Murray said he
recognized that new facilities would be required to meet requirements
for thin weapons shells and inquired why the General Mianager had not
recommended the construction ef a new facility and the selection of a
new contractor for this work. Mr. Fields replied that Oak Ridge had
already established a capability in fabrication of uranium and the
facility would use materials produced at Oak Ridge. He alse observed
that construction of the plant at Oak Ridge would make it easier to
integrate production and fabrication of these weapons components.
Mr. Murray said it appeared to him that future requirements for this
type of weapons components would increase so greatly that it would
not be possible to perform the fabtication in modified facilities at
Oak Ridge. Mr. Cook pointed out that this fabrication would be an
integral part of the Oak Ridge operation and that any new facility
would not be self-sufficient but would require material te be trans~ported to the facility and then returned to Oak Ridge for final processing,
Mr. Murray said that he objected to beginning a large weapons facility
at Oak Ridge and he believed AEC should anticipate the greatly increased
demand for these components and plan to integrate a new facility and
a new contractor into its production operations for this purpose. Mr, Cook
observed that it would require considerably longer to acquire a new
facility and select a new contractor and that construction at Oak Ridge
would be the only way to meet military requirements.
In answer to a question by Mr. Libby, Mr. Cook said that
approximately $50 to $60 million had been invested in weapons
facilities at Oak Ridge. In answer to a question by Mr. Strauss, he
said that acquisition of another facility and selection of another contractor would require about an additional 12 months. Mr. Murray
suggested the possibility of selecting o new contractor aad establishing
4 new site for a part of this program. Mr. Cook pointed out that such a
procedure weuld net meet existing military requirements.
Mr. Murrey faquired why these facilities sheuld not be coastructed at Rocky Fiats since it was te have been the main weapons
fabrication plant. General Starbird replied thet use of Recky Flate
would concentrate this fabrication at one site and under the contractor.
M.r. Murray pointed out that éermtruction of this facility at Oak Ridge
would make it even more attractive than it was now.
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