Evening star., 1960-07-04
BY the Associated Press

A call was sounded today for
a co-ordinated national pro-
gram to help local commune
ties obtain maximum benefit
from the peaceful uses of
atomic energy.
The American Municipal AS
Sociation urged that the Atomic
Energy Commission take the
lead in setting up such a pro-
gram, which also would help
the communities cope with ra-
diation and other potential
problems.
The Association suggested its
plan would require the collab-
grafton of professional and in
dustry groups as we'll as Fed
eral agencies and municipal in
terests.
Studies Impact
In a special report on the
community impact of the
peacetime atom, based on a
study made at the request of |
the Acc. the Association said: |
THE effects of this new field |
of technology may be on a ma
jor scale, influencing the econ
omy and long-term development
plans of localities, as well as
creating changes in the i'm
mediate functions of local gov
Iernment. There is now no major
national program dealing with |
these overall implications of /
the locality impact of atomic |
energy Development"
The Municipal Association
describes itself as "the national |
representative of approximately
$4,000 municipal governments
throughout the United States
and Puerto. Rico"
Declaring that, for one thing,
"a central clearing house of
information on the local impact
is urgently needed" the report |
said:
"At present it is necessary
for local officials to make re-
quests to many different Estate
and FederaD Offices in order to
find out what information is
available on such basic matters
as Cradiation) standards, train
ing and the like. Then, the in
formation is cften incomplete.
Asks Central Source
"a central clearing house of
information in this field should
be set up on a national basis
at the earliest possible time,
and its location should be pub
licized."
The association said that its
study, begun in December of
1858, shows that while the Ma
tion still is only in the early
stages of atomic energy de-
velopment," the peaceful appli-
cations have reached substan-
tial proportions and are in
creaSing."
Already" the report said,
there are several thousand
licensed users of nuclear ma
terials of various kinds To-
Gated in some $500 cities and
towns across the country"
1t added:
Local communities have a
key role and a direct interest
in the nature of peaceful nu-
clear development. They are
closets to the point of impact.
For them it means new proc
esses, new products and new
types of industrial and labora-
tory facilities. 1t also means
new considerations in the OPP
Grafton of local government, in
the responsibilities of local Of
flcialS and in the lives of local
residents"
Sees Spotty Action
The association said its SUR
vey showed that some COM
munities are alert to the prob
lens, and have undertaken va
ried types of activities" but that
Others have not yet noticed the
impact and have taken no ac-
ton"
Declaring that the radiation
aspects of nuclear energy con-
stitutR the key both to its
potential benefits-and prob
elms-for a community, the
report said:
1T (radiation may require
basic reappraisal of public
protection measures and raise
pressing questions regarding
the applicability of local build
| inc oYol 1O,a;,1o ,.ao,,Eokio,,z kL.a