Reading Room Document

Disposal of Copper from the National Stockpile

The document discusses the legal authority for the disposal of copper from the national stockpile under the Strategic and Critical Materials Stockpiling Act. It concludes that the President has the authority to release copper from the stockpile for common defense purposes, as long as there is a clear relationship between the release and the common defense purposes for which the materials were acquired. The document also presents the current situation in the copper market, highlighting disruptions and inflationary developments that threaten the stability of the U.S. economy and the common defense. It raises the question of whether the relationship between the release of stockpiled copper and common defense purposes is sufficiently strong and direct to justify the use of Section 5 of the Act.

November 15, 1965