Document OE5KRw3OjE9e9Qbka0xwO3w3v

Mr* H. Fossstt ' July 18, 1939 Bear Sr. Fossett* Tn answer to your July 7th letter concerning bomb-proof Ethyl blending facilities, 1 should like to clarify the suggestion advanced in ay letter of Jan 30th# If this clarification still does not indicate that the Mr Comand*3 order can be complied with ade quately by the alternative facilities suggested, I believe the speci fically detailed' information you wish, could best be developed by the Engineering Department of the Mr fore froa drawings and specifi cations bo w is tbs possession of I.C.l. I understand firm your letter that the Engineering Depart-- msaat has already designed coaplate and adequate vaatilatloa for the entire gasoline storage, tunnels, and power plant* Featilation for the Fluid sdbciag and storage space has not yet been designed due to the lack " of answer to two questional' whether or not to use as enclosed drum booth and pertinent standards of air change rate for the handling of Ethyl fluid* If blending East be don 'underground, or in any enclosed place, I am la agreement that a drua booth should be provided. I would suggest that your approval of ventilation design be predicated on that design meeting the standards established for our Blender building overall, md for the forced-draft drawing booths Contained in the Blender 'building, I would be quite willing to- 'have our people hare develop the necessary design, data for- yoa-f. however, 1' feel <$ata euro that the entire design could be developed such .sore quickly and satisfactorily between the En gineering Department* I.C.l, end jour'am staff . We have given, X.C.I* all drawings, specifications, data, -etc* and these should be available now in London* Going back to- our previous suggestion for an alternative to underground blending and the necessity of providing an enclosed, forceddraft drua- tooth, you state the Mr Ministry ruled out the' idea of hav ing several protected surface blending platforms due to thair visibility from the .air* It was not our intention to suggest installation of parrsansmt platforms* Say X reword the suggestions Mr. H, Fossett ' *-2~ July 18, 1939 1. Completely protect gasoline tankage, power facilities, pipelines, Ethyl Fluid storagej in other words, completely protect every physical piece of.equipment, just as is now contemplated. 2. Maks no attempt to protect the blending operation (eduction of Fluid from drums}, for the reason that this operation need not be performed during a time when protection is necessary. You concur with our view that the operation need not ba performed during attack, and that it will not be performed oftener than once in perhaps six months. 3. Provide in the open sir proper connections to the under ground pipeline for Fluid eduction. We suggested more than one such location for the same reason provision has been made for more than one ventilation outlet duct -- spare in case of direct hit* thus giving opportunity for later repair. 4* Hake this location invisible. The piping take-offs and valve handles could be Contained in a 3-foot diameter manhole extending down to the main pipeline, the hole filled with sand bags for pipeline protection plus quick access to the pipeline in case of necessity*- Th top of the hole could be sodded .over except when in use, 5. All above-ground paraphernalia used during blending designed, portable! - eductor# standpipe and connections, drum blocks or platforms, etc* It appears to us that the above complies fully with the Air Command order. All vital services, supplies, and physical equipment are completely protected.. Nothing is visible to attackers, or at least everything,,'-ea- be made invisible very quickly on atiaek warning. Since this is the Case, it is difficult for us to see the justification for going to the expense of underground, enclosed blending, with its attendant potential hasards, in spite of ventilationj in other words going to that expense and hasard for the sake of protecting a mobile affair that,is only exposed a matter of three or four hours out of six months, particularly when there is complete choice in designating those few hours. Very truly yours, J. H, Schaefer KZ 0015807 Ss B