We developed a new fluid property module for TOUGH2, called EOSN, to simulate transport of noble gases in the subsurface. Currently, users may select any of five different noble gases as well as CO2, two at a time. For the three gas components (air and two user-specified noble gases) in EOSN, the Henry's coefficients and the diffusivities in the gas phase are no longer assumed constants, but are temperature dependent. We used the Crovetto et al. (1982) model to estimate Henry's coefficients, and the Reid et al. (1987) correlations to calculate gas phase diffusivities. The new module requires users to provide names of the selected noble gases, which properties are provided internally. There are options for users to specify any (non-zero) molecular weights and half-lives for the gas components. We provide two examples to show applications of TOUGH2IEOSN. While temperature effects are relatively insignificant for one example problem where advection is dominant, they cause almost an order of magnitude difference for the other case where diffusion becomes a dominant process and temperature variations are relatively large. It appears that thermodynamic effects on gas diffusivities and Henry's coefficients can be important for low-permeability porous media and zones with large temperature variations.

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Greg Abbott, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Whether the State Board for Educator Certification may have access to school districts’ teacher appraisals to use in approving educator preparation programs and certifying new teachers (RQ-0622-JC)

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Previously we showed how small admixtures of xenon (Xe) stabilize electron avalanches in liquid Argon (LAr). In the present work, we have measured the positive charge carrier mobility in LAr with small admixtures of Xe to be 6.4 x 10{sup -3} cm{sup 2}/Vsec, in approximate agreement with the mobility measured in pure LAr, and consistent with holes as charge carriers. We have measured the concentration of Xe actually dissolved in the liquid and compared the results with expectations based on the amount of Xe gas added to the LAr. We also have tested LAr doped with krypton to investigate the mechanism of avalanche stabilization.

At HLW Division's request, an analysis has been performed of power usage at characteristic times in the Defense Waste Processing Facility production. For the first time in the Department of Energy complex, a program has been developed permitting the monitoring or systematic categorizing of power and heat distribution in an operating waste glass production melter. To date, the Defense Waste Processing Facility Melter power and heat trends have been analyzed in terms of individual or total power sources. The method applied here provides a steady state balance between melter power inputs and various heat losses under continuous feeding/pouring or idling conditions. Power comes from two electrode circuits and separately controlled dome heaters. Heat energy is lost through the melter shell, as well as evaporation of water, heating of steam and in-leakage air, chemical reactions, and heating of glass. These various power consumption pathways are not constant and depend on melter operation, such as feed rate, solids ratio, feed batch and net melt pool circulation. The analysis uses the lumped parameter approach to sum the power inputs and proportion them to the various power uses, providing an overall perspective of the power distribution. Through the analysis of a practical melt rate …

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) conducted this study for the Groundwater Protection Project managed by Fluor Hanford, Inc., and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The purpose of the study was to explore the possibility of using statistical methods to classify sediment samples belonging to the Hanford and Ringold formations using mineralogy and geochemistry data. Visual examinations of the sediment do not always conclusively identify the geologic formation to which a sample belongs. The Hanford and Ringold formations constitute the majority of the vadose zone sediments within DOE's Hanford Site. They are particularly important because of the control they exert on contaminant transport in the subsurface environment. Although much is known about the formations from geologists' studies, quantitative methods for distinguishing between them had not been developed. In this study, PNNL constructed a database consisting of existing mineralogy measurements made using electron microprobe (EM) and petrographic (Petro) techniques and geochemical compositions measured by x-ray fluorescence (XRF). Data were concentrated in the 200 West and 200 East Areas of the Hanford Site. Statistical techniques were used to examine the distributions of the variables. Principal component analysis was used to examine the multivariate structure of the data. In addition, several classification methods …

This report is a qualitative study of airflow patterns within a building at the transfer area of the 105 KE Basin on the Hanford Site in Washington State. The purpose of the study was to determine the appropriate location for air monitoring equipment.

Resonant photoemission in the Pu5f and Pu6p states is compared to that in the Gd4f and Gd5p states. Spectral simulations, based upon and atomic model with angular momentum coupling, are compared to the Gd and Pu results. Additional spectroscopic measurements of Pu, including core level photoemission and x-ray absorption are also presented.

At the Savannah River Site, the High-Level Waste Tank Farms store and process high-level liquid radioactive wastes from the Canyons and recycle water from the Defense Waste Processing Facility. The waste is concentrated using evaporators to minimize the volume of space required for HLW storage.

A weekly publication, the Texas Register serves as the journal of state agency rulemaking for Texas. Information published in the Texas Register includes proposed, adopted, withdrawn and emergency rule actions, notices of state agency review of agency rules, governor's appointments, attorney general opinions, and miscellaneous documents such as requests for proposals. After adoption, these rulemaking actions are codified into the Texas Administrative Code.

Approximately 130M L of sludge/supernate high-level radioactive waste is currently stored in underground carbon steel tanks at the Savannah River Site in Aiken, South Carolina. The Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) began immobilizing these wastes in borosilicate glass in 1996. Currently, the radioactive glass is being produced as a sludge-only composition by combining washed high-level sludge with glass frit and melting. The glass is poured into stainless steel canisters that will eventually be disposed of in a permanent geological repository. The focus of this report is on frit development activities conducted solely on the basis of predictions generated by DWPF's PCCS glass property-composition models.

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This report discusses the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), which consolidated and replaced the former Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) and other federal library assistance legislation. LSTA grants to the states are allocated to state library administrative agencies (SLAAs), and may be used for two basic purposes: developing and improving electronic or other linkages and networks connecting providers and consumers of library services and resources; and/or targeting library services to under served or disadvantaged populations, such as persons with disabilities, those with limited literacy skills, or children from poor families.

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In the 108th Congress, debate over energy efficiency programs has focused on budget, oil, natural gas, and electricity issues, and provisions in the omnibus energy policy bill, S. 2095, H.R. 6, and S. 14/S. 1149. The Bush Administration’s FY2005 budget request for the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Energy Efficiency Program sought $875.9 million, including $543.9 for R&D and $332.0 million for grants. In the first session, the omnibus energy bill (H.R. 6) had several significant tax and regulatory measures for energy efficiency. It did not pass the Senate due to concerns about cost and an MTBE “safe harbor” provision.

This report discusses the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) responsibility for inspecting most meat, poultry, and processed egg products for safety, wholesomeness, and proper labeling while detailing the results of congressional action in reducing the presence of pathogens and food-borne illness in facilities and food products.