Salt Lake Telegram | 1949-05-18 | Page 2 | AEC Picks Site at Idaho Falls

Picks Site e At Idaho Falls POCATELLO May 18 UP UPI UP- UP I The U. U S atomic energy commission commis t I sion slop announced Wednesday select selection selection tion Lion of Idaho Falls as headquarters for tor its operations officer forthe for forthe J the new national nuclear reactor testing station The announcement was made by Leonard E E. Johnston manager of Idaho operations for the A E C. C He disclosed the site selection I f for or the offices at a meeting with Ilith l the mayors of four our southern Idaho cities clUes Arco Arco Blackfoot Idaho Falls and Poca Pocatello tello i Negotiations are under way to locate the office in the new nets annex 1 r of the Ro Rogers g gI ers hotel in n Idaho Falls t I This is scheduled for completion I L next net month Johnson will o open p en the theoffice office as soon as P possible Made After Survey Selection of Idaho Falls was made aft after r a survey of several i southeastern Idaho communities A major factor in sel selection of Idaho Falls was Ivas its proximity to the testing station site combined 1 with the availability of housing I educational and hos hospital P facilities for A E C- C personnel and their I families Johnston said Completion of the new road west westI I from Idaho Falls alls to the site will reduce the distance from the ads administrative administrative ad ad- s office from the pr present present pres pres- sent s- s ent 55 miles to 36 miles Bion program director director director tor for the Idaho operation stated that gradual development of the reactor testing station over a period period period pe pe- of years ears will make it possible for Snake River valley communitIes communities to absorb both administrative tive and operating personnel Future Futuro Outlook It is fa expected that construction workers worker's will Ivill be accommodated inand in inand inand and around Arco and Blackfoot By the end of 1949 1999 about 75 A E C will win be stationed in Idaho and about to construction workers Yorkers will be on the job at the site which centers around the naval proving ground near Arco By the end of 1950 1 added about A E C 1 and possibly 2000 construction workers will be be employed Rail movement of freight to the site will be handled bandIed through Pocatello Poca Poca- tello teno A A. study also is being made to determine if some sane of the facilities facilities facilities ties of the naval na gun plant at Pocatello Pocatello Pocatello Poca Poca- tello can be used for machining operations in connection with the construction of reactors at the testing station station-