:

SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS

FOR FISCAL YEAR 1971

HEARINGS

BEFORE THE

COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

UNITED STATES SENATE

NINETY-FIRST CONGRESS

SECOND SESSION

ON

H.R. 19928

AN ACT MAKING SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR
THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1971, AND FOR OTHER

PURPOSES

52-925 O

Printed for the use of the Committee on Appropriations

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON: 1970

Washington, D.C.

The subcommittee met at 10 a.m., in room S-128, the Capitol, Hon. Robert C. Byrd (chairman) presiding.

Present: Senators Byrd, Ellender, and Allott.

BUDGET REQUEST AND SUBCOMMITTEE PROCEDURE

Senator BYRD. The subcommittee will be in order.

We begin hearings this Saturday morning on the Supplemental Appropriation bill for fiscal year 1971.

We have received from the administration budget estimates totaling $1.727.737.292. I have been advised that in addition to these items, which we have enumerated on the green table, there are many items pending in the Office of Management and Budget which, in all probability, will be submitted to the Congress in the near future.

The Supplemental Appropriation bill has not been reported by the House Committee. However, since it is intended to conclude action in the Congress on this bill prior to adjournment, we felt it desirable to begin these hearings today.

U.S. ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION

PLANT AND CAPITAL EQUIPMENT, WEAPONS PROGRAM

STATEMENT OF WILFRID E. JOHNSON, ACTING CHAIRMAN, U.S. ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION

ACCOMPANIED BY

ROBERT E. HOLLINGSWORTH, GENERAL MANAGER

JOHN A. ERLEWINE, ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER FOR
OPERATIONS

MAJ. GEN. E. B. GILLER, USAF, ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER
FOR MILITARY APPLICATIONS

WILLIAM J. MINSCH, JR., OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL

JOHN P. ABBADESSA, CONTROLLER

DAVID F. PATTERSON, DIVISION OF OPERATIONAL SAFETY
VICTOR CORSO, ASSISTANT CONTROLLER FOR BUDGETS, OFFICE
OF THE CONTROLLER

ROBERT H. BAUER, DEPUTY ASSISTANT CONTROLLER FOR
BUDGETS, OFFICE OF THE CONTROLLER

BUDGET REQUEST

Senator BYRD. The first item this morning is the Atomic Ene Commission Plant and Capital Equipment, Weapons Program, which $25,500,000 is requested in House Document 91-382.

The principal witness will be Mr. Wilfrid E. Johnson, Com sioner, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.

The justification will be placed in the record. (The justification follows:)

71-9 Fire, safety and adequacy of operating conditions projects, various locations

$25,500,000

This project provides for new facilities and for modifications, alterations, and additions to existing facilities
to eliminate fire and safety hazards and remedy unsafe operating conditions.

In May 1969, the Commission sustained very extensive damage in a fire at the nuclear weapons program facilities
at Rocky Flats, Colorado. The results of the subsequent investigation of this matter caused the Commission to
make a thorough fire and safety review of all facilities to be certain that they met standards for fire and
safety protection. The Commission considered such action essential not only in the interest of national
defense but to fulfill its responsibilities in protecting the public's health and safety.

The extensive review was conducted not only by AEC staff and its contractor personnel, but also through an
independent review by two well-qualified fire insurance consultants the Factory Insurance Association and the
Factory Mutual Research Corporation. Some of the AEC facilities were constructed under wartime conditions over
twenty years ago, and the specifications utilized in such construction were not as stringent as would be
followed if the facilities were being constructed today. Equally important, over the past twenty years con-
siderable new technology has been developed in the ways of handling, fabricating and manufacturing fissionable
materials such as plutonium. For example, certain principles have been established recently for fire suppres-
sion in plutonium operations that necessitate plant modifications in order to provide adequate fire and safety
protection. Further, recognition has been given to the increased needs for present and future improvements
from an environmental standpoint consistent with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act
of 1969.

The fire and safety review of all facilities took into consideration (1) criteria expressed in terms of potential
on-site and off-site consequences of radiation and non-radiation hazards; (2) recommendations made to the Commission
by Factory Insurance Association and Factory Mutual Research Corporation; and (3) the AEC's "improved risk" fire
protection criteria. During the course of the review, the Commission determined that available operating, general