April 14, 1950 letter from J. H. Lampe to Colonel J. W. Harrelson, with enclosures

%DONRappr041450; ]> April 14, 1950 letter from J. H. Lampe to Colonel J. W. Harrelson, with enclosures Machine readable transcription Lampe, J. H. Creation of machine-readable version: Russell S. Koonts Creation of digital images: James M. Jackson Sanborn Conversion to TEI.2-conformant markup: Russell S. Koonts ca. 20 kilobytes NCSU Libraries Raleigh, NC April 14, 1950 letter from J. H. Lampe to Colonel J. W. Harrelson, with enclosures

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5 pp. Manuscript copy consulted UA 105.1

Nuclear Reactor Project

Prepared for the North Carolina State University Science and Technology Electronic Text Center

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Library of Congress Subject Headings April 14, 1950 English LCSH manuscript 24-bit color: 400 dpi April 14, 1950 letter from J. H. Lampe to Colonel J. W. Harrelson, with enclosures Typescript 5 pp. April 14, 1950 DONRappr041450

A series of letters stating the intent of NC State to proceed with its plans to build a nuclear reactor. Also included are letters from Pitzer and Lampe regarding the reactor.

April 14, 1950 Colonel J. W. Harrelson Chancellor N. C. State College Campus Dear Colonel Harrelson:

As a result of a conference with the Atomic Energy Commission in Wash- ington on Thursday, April 13, North Carolina State College of the con- solidated University of North Carolina has been encouraged to proceed with its program in Nuclear Engineering and with its proposed nuclear reactor. Enclosed is a copy of a letter written by Director K. S. Pit- zer of the Division of Research of the Atomic Energy Commission. This letter was written to Acting President Carmichael and Dr. Pitzer asked me to place the designated copy in your hands. I am also enclosing a copy of a letter which I wrote to the Atomic Energy Commission setting forth certain technical details as to our project. I also want to take this opportunity to express to you my appreciation for your help in this matter and particularly for the letter which you sent to the Atomic Energy Commission in behalf of our Nuclear Engineering work.

The conference of yesterday at Washington, which was attended by Dr. Beck and me, was held in Dr. Pitzer's office. The Atomic Energy Commission was represented by a number of their leading technical experts and members of their legal department. Mr. Carroll Wilson, general manager of the AEC, and Mr. Sumner Pike, acting chairman of AEC, are both acquainted with our interest and activity here at North Carolina State College.

The members of the Atomic Energy Commission and staff attending the con- ference gave North Carolina State College a really sympathetic hearing. Their attitude was one of help and encouragement and the following con- crete results were agreed upon:

1. The AECthrough its Research Division is sending a letter to Acting President Carmichael setting forth its position at this time in connection with our proposal to establish a reactor on our campus here at Raleigh. This letter is to be interpreted as a very favorable document, not only giving us permission to go ahead with the reactor design but also establishing North Carolina State College and its School of Engineering in a high position in the eyes of the Commission. It also compliments us on being the first edu- cational engineering institution in the United States to meet the need of training for atomic work by the establish- ment of a Nuclear Engineering program. The compliment fur- ther includes our planning for the nuclear reactor, which

again is a "first" in an effort to make nuclear training available on a campus of an educational institution. 2. The AEC through its Oak Ridge branch has established a con- tract with the School of Engineering of North Carolina State College and with Dr. Beck and the undersigned to proceed immediately with plans for designing and safeguarding of the nuclear reactor to be built here. The have allotted a sum of $5,000 which they will spend to fulfill this design objective. It was suggested that State College might join with a like amount to be expended through the summer to ex- pedite this program. 3. It is further emphasized that the Safeguard Committee of the AEC must approve the design of the reactor, the method of operation, the matter of public health, the location of the reactor, etc. The approach of the AEC, however, is that the reactor will be for training and research activity and in every way be unclassified so as to obtain the maximum bene- fit for educational purposes. 4. The Commission was reassured that the College would take every means to prevent any association or participation of individ- uals in this work or activity who are known Communists or have any suspicion of Communism in their record.

Both Dr. Beck and I appreciate your encouragement and wholehearted support in our endeavor to develop nuclear training here in the Engineering School. We believe it is an important milestone in the contributing efforts of this institution.

Sincerely yours, J. H. Lampe Dean of Engineering JHL:p Encls.-2 cc: Dr. Clifford Beck

UNITED STATES ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION Washington April 13, 1950 William Carmichael, Jr. Controller and Acting President The Consolidated University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, North Carolina Dear President Carmichael:

The Division of Research has been most interested in your proposal to construct a low power nuclear reactor at North Carolina State College.

This letter is to assure you that the Atomic Energy Commission intends to en- courage the North Carolina State College of the Consolidated University of North Carolina in its proposal. As you know, there are some aspects of the proposal which will require further study before the Commission can approve the construction of such a reactor or allocate fissionable material for the purpose. Principal among these is the development of a reactor type which will be suitable from a safety standpoint for location on the University campus and which from a security standpoint will per- mit as free disclosure as possible of its design and operating characteristics. These are problems which we have discussed with you and which seems to us at the present time to be entirely capable of solution.

We understand that North Carolina State College's present proposal is to build, house and staff the reactor at its own expense, and that the College desires in turn to have the maximum possible freedom in determining the teaching and research uses to which the reactor may be put. This situation is a new one in the Commission's experience, and for this reason we are particularly eager to learn how far it is possible to go in making this phase of atomic energy available for normal engineer- ing education and research. We believe that North Carolina State College is to be commended for its initiative in developing the type of engineering education neces- sary for full utilization of atomic energy.

The Division of Research is prepared to assist Dr. Beck and Dr. Lampe in collecting the information and visiting the technical authorities appropriate to the design of the reactor and the drafting of a detailed proposal. The initiative in arriving at a satisfactory reactor design and adequate operating procedures should, in our opinion, be taken by the North Carolina State College.

If we can be of further help in defining the Commission's position, or in aiding the North Carolina State College in preparing a final proposal, please let us know.

Sincerely, K. S. Pitzer, Director Division of Research CC: R. W. Cook, Oak Ridge C. K. Beck Dean J. H. Lampe Chancellor J. W. Harrelson

COPY NORTH CAROLINA STATE COLLEGE Physics Department April 12, 1950 Atomic Energy Commission Washington, D. C. Attention: Mr. Carroll Wilson, General Manager Dear Mr. Wilson:

For almost a year, at North Carolina State College, development of a curriculum in Nuclear Engineering has been in progress. In September, 1950, this curriculum will be offered to interested students. It comprises a full undergraduate course of study, and a fifth-year and master's degree post- graduate programs. An attached brochure: "A Curriculum in Nuclear Engineering at North Carolina State College," describes this program in some detail.

A suggestion has been made that the presence of a low-power nuclear re- actor on the State College campus would constitute tremendous advantage in the instructional aspects of the Nuclear Engineering program and in the as- sociated research projects of the graduate training program. Such a reactor could also be used as an extremely valuable tool in many diverse projects of numerous research groups in the vicinity of Raleigh.

The second brochure attached hereto, "Proposal of a Nuclear Reactor at North Carolina State College," presents a preliminary and qualitative descrip- tion of a low-power 'water-boiler' reactor, a brief list of the facilities of North Carolina State College for carrying out the proposed program, and brief considerations of safety, security, and cost. In this report it is proposed that the A. E. C. permit a nuclear reactor to be constructed on the North Carolina State College campus, and that the A. E. C. furnish the requisite nuclear fuel for the reactor.

There appears to be ample information available of unclassified and de- classified nature for this reactor to be operated as an unclassified unstalla- tion, on unclassified categories of research problems. It is proposed that this be done. The responsible State College staff men involved in design and operation of the reactor would, of course, be cleared by the F. B. I. and instructed in the limits of publicly disclosable information. The United States loyalty of student and research participants, utilizing the reactor facility in unclassified instruction and investigation, should be definitely ascertained, but for these it is anticipated that F. B. I. clearance should not be required.

State College proposes to provide the financial support for the reactor. With A. E. C. approval of the project, it is anticipated that the requisite funds can be obtained. Should subsequent developments, however, indicate the desirability of a portion of the funds being provided by the A. E. C., arrange- ments for this should not be excluded by the initial agreement.

It is requested that these proposals be approved and permission be given for State College to proceed with the design and construction of the reactor.

Specifically, in order for the College to proceed in the procurement of financial support, in arrangements for a building to house the reactor, and in the calculations and design of the machine, the following definite committ- ment is requested:

Agreement of the Atomic Energy Commission to the idea that, with satisfactory design, acceptable procedures, and adequate and responsible staff, an unclassified reactor may be constructed and operated by State College on the State College campus.

If agreement is reached on this bais idea, additional arrangements, relative to an efficient, intelligent program for building the reactor, are requested:

1. F. B. I. investigation for clearance of State College staff members involved in the reactor program be arranged by the A. E. C. 2. Designation of a contact officier in the A. E. C. through whom the cleared State College men can obtain information needed in calculations and design of the reactor, relevant equip- ment from surplus A. E. C. stocks, etc. 3. Arrangement of a committee with which the State College men can, by mutual discussion and consideration, arrive at the features which may be included in and those which must be excluded from an unclassified installation.

We request your consideration of these proposals.

Sincerely yours, J. H. Lampe, Dean School of Engineering