Materials Vulnerability of the United States--An Update.

Abstract

This special report discusses the problem of availability of nonenergy materials in the United States, and reviews some recent Government and industry efforts to deal with the situation. The US materials dilemma involves issues more complex than simply a scarcity of certain materials, or monopolistic and coercive actions by foreign materials suppliers. Materials availability problems include insufficient R and D to develop new resources, extraction processes and substitutes; inadequate recycling; and the lack of an established dialogue between the materials R and D and the materials supply and demand communities. The work of the National Commission on Supplies and Shortages is discussed, particularly with regard to materials stockpile planning. An appendix to the memorandum describes the current status of the Strategic Studies Institute method of determining a 'relative vulnerability index (RVI)' by which critical materials may be classified as to vulnerability to military, political, or economic pressures. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 30, 1977
Accession Number
ADA040086

Entities

People

  • Alwyn H. King

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Availability
  • Commerce
  • Commodities
  • Computer Programs
  • Congress
  • Department Of Defense
  • Energy
  • Governments
  • International Relations
  • Investments
  • Law
  • Materials
  • Security
  • Stockpiles
  • United States
  • War Colleges
  • Warning Systems

Readers

  • Economics
  • Environmental Engineering.
  • Industrial Economics