The division transitioned to non-nuclear energy-related projects such as coal gasification and gradually ceased designing and testing nuclear reactors.

[4] Following World War II, the potential of nuclear power captured the interest of the United States Government and the general public.

In the event of an accident, the sudden breach of the high temperature water system (among other things) necessitates a special containment vessel to capture the released pressure.

Boeing retained ownership of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory property, including Area IV, with its environmental cleanup responsibilities.

[11] The Hamilton Sundstrand division of United Technologies Corporation became the recipient of the remaining technical knowledge from the Atomics International nuclear-related activities.

Atomics International has its beginnings in Downey then moved to several locations in the western end of California's San Fernando Valley in Canoga Park.

The Atomic Energy Research Development Group began operations in the North American Aviation plant located on Lakewood Drive in Downey, California.

In 1959, Atomics International established their headquarters at a complex of buildings located along De Soto Avenue in Canoga Park, California.

[10] The research operations conducted by Atomics International are known to have caused some degree[clarification needed] of chemical and radiological contamination to Area IV.

The U.S. Department of Energy has accepted responsibility for the cleanup of both chemical and radiological impacts within Area IV under the 2010 Administrative Order on Consent (AOC).

[16] The AOC requires the DOE to clean up both chemical and radiological contaminants to background concentrations within the underlying soils of the 290-acre Area IV.

In May 2009, the US Environmental Protection Agency began a $41.5 million survey to determine the nature and extent of any radiological contamination within Area IV.

[19] Atomics International designed and built a range of low-power (5 to 50,000 watts thermal) nuclear reactors for research, training and isotope production purposes.

[20] One reactor model, the L-54, was purchased and installed by a number[clarification needed] of United States universities and foreign research institutions, including Japan.

The objective of the Systems for Nuclear Auxiliary Power program undertaken in 1955 by the United States was the development of compact, lightweight, reliable atomic electric devices for space, land and sea.

From the period 1955 to 1973 when the program was terminated, approximately $850 million then-years dollars were spent by the United States to develop the SNAP nuclear reactors.

In the late 1950s to the early 1960s, Atomics International established a number of government-owned facilities to support the SNAP program at the Energy Technology Engineering Center (ETEC) in Area IV of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL).

[27] At the Santa Susana Field Laboratory, approximately twenty facilities were designed and built in Area IV[28] to manage radioactive materials in support of the nuclear reactor programs.

The Energy Technology Engineering Center (ETEC) specialized in the non-nuclear testing of components which were primarily designed to transfer heat from a nuclear reactor using liquid metals instead of water or gas.

Operating both as a contractor to the U.S. Government and as a commercial company, Atomics International maintained authorizations allowing for the use of radioactive materials in either situation.