Seas.
deieiclalialen
3. Apportionment of funds for the FIR was delayed initially
because a site for the radiation facility has not been selected.
After the selection of Sharpe General Depot, Stockton, California,
as the site, apportionment was denied pending conclusive establishment of the fact that private industry could not be persuaded to
fund for the project.
(Ref. AEC 719/12)
4, A subsequent request for apportionment of funds was
denied by the BOB on the grounds that:
(a) it would not be
consistent with the Administration policy to limit construction
to essential projects; and (b) the appropriateness of a fullscale plant was questionable.
The MLC was so advised, and the AEC
requested additional information from DOD to support a request for
a reconsideration of the BOB determination of May 14, 1957.
(Ref, AEC 719/14)
Present Status
5. AEC has received from BOB a report on the conclusions of
the DOD's Technical Advisory Panel on Atomic Energy, substantially
as follows:
a. Radiation processing of food offers great military
promises,
b. A full-scale pilot industrial plant is consistent
with the Army's food testing program.
ce. The gamma radiation facility need not, initially,
have the full processing capability of 1000 tons per
month,
d. A cobalt-60 facility appears to offer a more practical
source of gamma radiation than the FIR.
In addition, the DOD:
a. Asked whether or not the AEC would furnish some
two megacuries of cobait-60 for use in a cobalt facility
(assuming no unacceptable effect on production for weapons
programs).
.
b. Suggested that a cobalt facility might be financed
with funds appropriated for FIR construction.
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