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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Plowshare closer to commercialization

Journal Article · · Chem. Eng. News; (United States)
OSTI ID:6726521
The U.S. Atomic Energy Commission's Plowshare program is beginning to move out of the laboratory into an industrial environment. One legal hitch to further progress is that AEC cannot start selling nuclear explosion services for commercial uses until the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 is amended to give the agency authority to enter into contracts to sell the service. At present, the agency is limited to providing nuclear explosion services to research and demonstration projects. Legislation is afoot to amend the act to permit AEC to enter into contracts to provide nuclear explosive services for peaceful purposes ''on a nondiscriminatory basis'' that would provide ''reasonable compensation'' to the government. An AEC spokesman says that joint industry-government projects in underground engineering are at least 4 to 5 yr from becoming commercial ventures. So far, there are several such projects executed or planned. These include Project Gasbuggy, Project Rulison, Project Dragon Trail, Project Sloop, Project Ketch, and Project Bronco. In addition, 2 gas stimulation projects are proposed for the Pinedale area of Wyoming. A base map shows where gas stimulation projects dot the Rocky Mt. region.
OSTI ID:
6726521
Journal Information:
Chem. Eng. News; (United States), Journal Name: Chem. Eng. News; (United States) Vol. 47:31; ISSN CENEA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English