National Archives and Records Service film-vault fire at Suitland, Md. : hearings before a subcommittee of the Committee on Government Operations, House of Representatives, Ninety-sixth Congress, first session, June 19 and 21, 1979 (1979)

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57 Mr. Preyer. Yes. This made it, in effect, a nondeluge sprinkler system. Going back to the nitrate tilm conversion project, I understand that the Library of Congress is planning a new film laboratory at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio for the purpose of converting nitrate film. Can the Archives use this facility? Would it be in existence soon enough? I understand they can convert nitrate film to safety film for 25 cents a foot. I wonder if you can do it that economically and also I wonder why you would not use the Library of Congress facility. Dr. Rhoads. Mr. Chairman, the figure that you cited as the Library of Congress cost per foot is essentially the same as the figure for our own program. It is my understanding that that facility will not be in full operation at Dayton, Ohio, until sometime in the summer of 1980 and by the fall of 1980 we think we are going to have our motion pictures all converted. Mr. Preyer. Thank you. [Subcommittee note : The quotation of $0.25 a foot is in error. Actually, the nitrate film conversion cost for the Library of Congress for fiscal year 1978 was $0.1567 per foot. This figure does not include complete foot-by-foot inspection costs. The laboratory conversion cost for National Archives is $0.18 per foot, and rises to $0.22 per foot wnp! inspection costs are included.] Mr. Preyer. Mr. Kindness, do you have any questions ? Mr. Kindness. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Dr. Rhoads, of course, combustion is an archivist's nightmare. Wi all recognize that. Wliat written procedures and standards relating to the conduct of work specifically at Suitland and at other facilities of a similar nature are there ? I am wondering whether we might just make that a part of the record. Mr. Rhoads. Yes, we have such procedures for the work at Suitland. We would be happy to submit that for the record. Mr. Kindness. Thank you. Mr. Preyer. Without objection, so ordered. [The material follows :]