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)

73 at Suitland and at the main library building in Washington and indicated that you would like some comment from us. The letter, which I have now read, is really a very generalized set of assertions and says that a report of findings is still being prepared. I really think that, lacking the detailed report, it would be very difficult for me to comment in any meaningfid way at this time. E. t once that report is in, we will, of course, study it and be happy to respond. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Preyer. Thank you, Dr. Ilhoads. Mr. Kindness ? Mr. Kindness. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Dr. Rhoads. I am greatly encouraged that these steps are being taken. I wonder if we might expand our realm of thought just a little this morning. This may not be entirely fair to you because it is a thought that has occurred to me since the other day, but it is something to be considered in line with this inquiry. In terms of disaster of one sort or another, is there in the planning of NARS some preparation for what might occur in the event of a tornado, hurricane, or other type of circumstance that might do damage to the building ? Would that have any effect on the operation, for example, of the air-conditioning system and result in greater exposure to risk of fire with nitrate film ? Second, in the event of any type of activity that might cause fire to the building from the outside, is there anything that needs to be prepared for? I realize this is a little beyond the scope Dr. Rhoads. I think that about all I can say, Mr. Kindness, is that the systems to protect the film are, by and large, automatic systems. We do not have to have someone there to turn something on. So, if there were casualties, injuries, or worse, presumably the systems w^ould operate; although I guess I would have to qualify that, depending on the kind of catastrophe it was. It is entirely possible that a tornado, earthquake, or something like that could damage those systems. I think you are making an important point, but there are so many possible vaiiables in the scenarios that you set forth that I find it a little difficult to respond. Mr. Kindness. Right. I am not suggesting this is a high-risk problem, or that it occurs to me as being such, but, rather, whether, as a result of these events that have occurred, some thought ought to be given to what might need to be put in place by way of protection and planning ahead, or whether it might be determined that there is no unusual risk to be contemplated by any foreseeable event occurring along those lines. I simply had not thought about it really until this morning. Mr. Ingram. Pardon me, Mr. Kindness. Perhaps, Dr. Rhoads, the question might be : whom you rely upon, for advice, both on fire safety and for other possible natural disasters — whether you have on your staff trained engineers who could provide that assistance. Dr. Rhoads. In terms of trained engineer, of course, we would be relying on the Public Buildings Service for this kind of expertise. We are giving serious consideration to the establishment of a new position in the National Archives of a security officer who would have