Two years ago the Atomic Energy Commission took the first step toward letting private industry work on the development of nuclear power. It set up five teams, of two companies each, to study the problem.* Last week, with some optimistic team reports on hand, AEC Chairman Gordon Dean took the second big step to end the Government's monopoly. Dean and his colleagues decided the time had come to change the Atomic Energy Act. To Congress, AEC recommended that:
> Private companies should be allowed to own atomic reactors.
> Qualified companies should be allowed to buy fissionable materials from AEC, or...