This is an interim report of a study to establish a risk measure for radioactive waste repositories and to generate radiological performance objectives. The problem of regulating radioactive waste repositories is reviewed, and the difficulties associated with this activity are discussed. Risk-benefit analysis as a tool for regulation has been suggested, and its contribution is assessed. Decision analysis as a development of risk-benefit analysis is suggested as an alternative approach, in particular, employing the concept of expected utility. A utility function which describes the possible consequences of a radioactive waste repository is discussed in some detail, paying particular attention to the public concerns which must be addressable through such a function and how it is recommended to capture them. A specific utility function is developed, and its elicitation from a particular subject is described. The representation of public values in a decision-analytic approach presents some problems and these are fully discussed; recommendations are made as to appropriate methods to carry this out. The vexed question of determining an acceptable safety limit is studied and recommendations are made concerning the most suitable way to determine ''how safe is safe enough.'' Finally a brief discussion is given of how these concepts may …

The growing awareness of the hazards of chemicals in the environment has resulted in the passing of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) on Oct. 11, 1976. This paper attempts to cover some of the salient features of Public Law 94-469, EPA's approach to implementation of its provisions, and some of a chemist's perceptions of TSCA's prospects of success.

Industrial conversion in the U.S. to alternate fuels from natural gas is presently underway and is anticipated to accelerate rapidly in the next few years. Currently the prime alternate fuels are distillate and residual oils. Conversion to residual oils for high-temperature process heat applications is anticipated to result in accelerated refractory and insulation corrosion and degradation due to reactions between fuel impurities and the ceramic linings of high-temperature equipment. Analyses are presented of several generic types of refractories and fibrous insulations which were exposed to residual oil combustion products under well-controlled conditions for times ranging from hundreds to thousands of hours in a Refractory Test Facility (RTF) designed to simulate industrial process heat combustors. Results are presented for aluminosilicate refractory firebricks, mortars, and refractory fibrous insulations following exposure to domestic residual oil combustion for 500 hr at temperatures near 1375/sup 0/C (2500/sup 0/F). For all three types of refractory material, compositions with two different Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ contents were included. The fuel oil impurities included Fe, Ca, Zn, Ni, Pb, and S in concentrations from tens to hundreds of weight ppM. Some of these impurities reacted with the refractory samples by producing a slag layer on the exposed surfaces followed …

These step-by-step procedures enable an occasional operator to run the Site 300 Meteorological Center. The primary function of the Center is to determine the maximum weight of high explosives that can be fired at Site 300 under any given meteorological conditions. A secondary function is to supply weather data for other programs such as ARAC (Atmospheric Release Advisory Capability). Included in the primary function are radar and theodolite operations for balloon tracking; calculation of temperatures for various altitudes using Oakland weather obtained from a teletype; computer terminal operation to obtain wind directions, wind velocities, temperatures, and pressure at various altitudes; and methods to determine high-explosive weight limits for simple inversions and focus conditions using pressure-versus-altitude information obtained from the computer. General information is included such as names, telephone numbers, and addresses of maintenance personnel, additional sources of weather information, chart suppliers, balloons, spare parts, etc.

Uni-axial seismic tests were performed on a 1/2-scale, two-dimensional model of the HTGR core consisting of 73 graphite elements in a hexagonal array. Core displacement and velocity, boundary support force, and in-core element force were measured. Behavior of the core using single-axis excitation was compared with its behavior when subjected to two-axis excitation.

Uni-axial seismic tests were performed on /sup 1///sub 5/-scale and /sup 1///sub 2/-scale two-dimensional models of the HTGR core consisting of 73 graphite elements in a hexagonal array. Core displacement and velocity, boundary support force, and in-core element force were measured. The test rigs were excited in two directions: across-the-flats of an element and across-the-corners. Results from the two models were compared on a normalized scale basis to check the scaling laws.

The site was described in terms of location, suitably, accessibility, and other factors. Detailed descriptions of the Solar Total Energy-Large Scale Experiment Application (STE-LSE) (Bleyle of America, Inc., Knitwear Plant), the DOE owned Meteorology Station operating at the site, and the instrumentation provided by the Georgia Power Company to measure energy usage within the knitwear plant are included. A detailed report of progress is given at the Shenandoah Site, introduced by the STE-LSE schedule and the Cooperative Agreement work tasks. Progress is described in terms of the following major task areas: site/application; instrumentation/data acquisition; meteorology station; site to STES interface; information dissemination. A brief overview of milestones to be accomplished is given, followed by these appendices: solar easement agreement, interface drawing set, and additional site background data. (MHR)

The Environmental/Chemical Thesaurus approaches scientific language control problems from a multidisciplinary view. The Environmental/Biomedical Terminology Index (EBTI) was used as a base for the present thesaurus. The Environmental/Chemical Thesaurus, funded by the Environmental Protection Agency, used as its source of new terms those major terms found in 13 Environmental Protection Agency data bases. The scope of this thesaurus includes not only environmental and biomedical sciences, but also the physical sciences with emphasis placed on chemistry. Specific chemical compounds are not included; only classes of chemicals are given. To adhere to this level of classification, drugs and pesticides are identified by class rather than by specific chemical name. An attempt was also made to expand the areas of sociology and economics. Terminology dealing with law, demography, and geography was expanded. Proper names of languages and races were excluded. Geographic terms were expanded to include proper names for oceans, continents, major lakes, rivers, and islands. Political divisions were added to allow for proper names of countries and states. With such a broad scope, terminology for specific sciences does not provide for indexing to the lowest levels in plant, animal, or chemical classifications.