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From chemical spectroscopy and photochemistry in the vacuum ultraviolet conference; Valmorin, Quebec, Canada (5 Aug 1973). The discussion of photoionization and fragmentation of polyatomic molecules covers experimental procedures, energy deposition, dissociation processes and the determination of thermochemical quantities, and diatomic and small and large polyatomic molecules. (JFP)

The gaseous oxidation of uranium and its alloys is a complex process. Material transport across the oxide scale occurs predominately by anion diffusion, leading to the development of large stresses in the oxide. The thermodynamic stability of UO/sub 2/ is such that the oxygen potential in a compact layer of UO/sub 2/ is so low that many constituents of uranium alloys remain unoxidized and are found embedded in the UO/sub 2/ scale. The high- temperature oxidation properties of uranium and its alloys are reviewed in light of the above parameters. Materials covered include binary alloys of uranium with Nb, Zr, Mo, V, Ti, Al, and Cu as well as the ternary system U--Nb--Zr and other more complex formulations. Details of oxygen diffusion in UO/sub 2/ are discussed. Evidence is given for stress generation during oxidation, and mechanisms for stress generation and relief are described. (25 figures, 52 references) (auth)

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For Atlantic Richfield Hanford Co., Richland, Wash. Research being conducted under the Radionuclides in Soils Program is attempting to predict the distribution and movement of liquid wastes in the heterogeneous subsurface environment of the Hanford Reservation. As part of this program, a transport model is being developed to predict chemical phenomena in soil-waste reactions. This document describes the use of the PERCOL model, which was developed as a simplified one-dimensional precursor to the transport model. PERCOL numerically describes the complex chemical reactions which occur during percolation of a waste solution through a porous media. This User's Manual describes the main program (PERCOL) and two subroutines MEWTIT and DIST) and gives procedures for accessing these programs, inputting data to them and interpreting the output. (auth)

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The vapor pressure of potassium was experimentally determined from 2100 deg F up to-its critical temperature. An empirical equation of the form ln P = A + B/T + C ln T + DT/sup 1.5/ was found to best fit the data. A critical pressure of 2378.2 plus or minus 4.0 psia (161.79 plus or minus 0.27 ata) was measured. The corresponding critical temperature, extrapolated from the pressure-- temperature curve, is 4105.4 plus or minus 5 deg R (2280.8 plus or minus 3 deg K). The technique employed was tae pressure tube method developed earlier in this laboratory and used for determining the vapor pressure of rubidium and cesium. This method measures tae critical pressure directly, as well as the vapor pressure st lower temperatures. (4 tables, 6 figures, 26 references) (auth)

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A computer program has been written to solve the modified Millington and Quirk equation for computing the hydraulic conductivity curve for partially saturated soil from the moisture retention versus suction measurements. This document describes the equation and computer programs. It also shows plots of test results and compares them with physically measured data. (auth)

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From nuclear science symposium; San Francisco, California, USA (14 Nov 1973). The controversy in recent years over the extent of the risk to the public from environmental radioactivity attributable to nuclear facilities (in particular nuclear power plants and fuel reprocessing facilities) has resulted in a lowering of previously acceptable environmental radiation levels. The proposal by the AEC to limit effluents from light-water-cooled nuclear reactors so that the exposure of any individual in the public would not exceed 5 mR/yr, and the pronouncement by the BEIR Committee that the current environmental radiation protection guides are unnecessarily high, are illustrative. In turn the AEC has issued a Safety Guide calling for considerable refinement in the measuring and reporting of effluents from nuclear power plants, and has only recently issued a counterpart dealing with the measuring and reporting of radioactivity in the environs of nuclear power plants. The EPA has also recently issued a guide for the surveillance of environmental radioactivity. Currently, power reactor operators are being required by the AEC Regulatory Staff to conduct detailed, sensitive environmental surveillance. Much of this appears to be based on extremely conservative assumptions throughout, including doseeffect relationships, exposure situations, pathway models, reconcentration factors and intakes, which …

This report summarizes and analyses H.R. 1070 as adopted by the House of Representatives, and revises and replaces the June 18, 1973 analysis of the Administrations trade bill (H.R. 6767).

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"CER Geonuclear has developed, in cooperation with the Atomic Energy Commission, a set of detailed plans utilizing nuclear explosives for an underground engineering experiment called project Rio Blanco. The overall objective is to prove the commercial feasibility of using nuclear explosives to recover commercial quantities of tightly held natural gas in the Piceance Basin."

The ACIR Library is composed of publications that study the interactions between different levels of government. This document is an annual report.

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