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THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
WASHINGTON. D. c. 20301


NOV 1 2 1973 .a I 694""





1 

Honorable F. Ray Marshall cc?? r1?/

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Secretary of Labor
Washington, D. C. 20210

#44 w?  9433?. 14.9. .12?
Dear  04.9%

I have read Secretary Schlesinger's letter to you of
August 30, 1978 regarding the new standard proposed by
the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for



occupational exposure to beryllium. I am very concerned
about the potential impact of the standard on the national
security.

The continued availability of domestic beryllium processing
and fabrication capabilities is important to Department of
Defense operations. Cessation of beryllium supply would
significantly and adversely affect key national defense
programs. For classified nuclear weapon applications,
substitute materials either do not exist or would require
extensive research and development, testing and qualification
programs. ?The instability which would result from a shut?
down of domestic beryllium production is particularly
troublesome.

I believe that it would be in the national interest to with:
hold issuance of the proposed new standard until presentation
of firm scientific evidence that the existing beryllium
standard is insufficient and that the new standard is clearly
needed for worker safety.

An identical letter has been sent to the Secretary of Health,
Education and Welfare.

Sincerely,



cc: Secretary of Energy
Assistant to the President for
National Security Affairs

 

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