The principal aim of the National Waste Terminal Storage (NWTS) program is to develop pilot plants and, ultimately, repositories in several different rock formations in various parts of the country. Rocks such as salt, shale, limestone, granite, schists, and serpentinite may all qualify as host media for the disposition of radioactive wastes in the proper environments. In general, the only requirement for any rock formation or storage site is that it contain any emplaced wastes for so long as it takes for the radioactive materials to decay to innocuous levels. This requirement, though, is a formidable one as some of the wastes will remain active for periods of hundreds of thousands of years and the physical and chemical properties of rocks that govern circulating groundwater and hence containment, are difficult to determine and define. Nevertheless, there are many rock types and a host of areas throughout the country where conditions are promising for the development of waste repositories. Some of these are discussed below.

Objective of this program is to provide facilities (Federal repositories) in various deep geologic formations at several locations in USA for the safe disposal of commercial radioactive waste from power reactors. The four types of containerized waste are described. The steps for developing the repositories are outlined. (DLC)

In this laboratory we have studied the macromolecular changes accompanying release of contact inhibition by using a method by means of which a large fraction of cells in a confluent monolayer are released from contact inhibition of growth and division. This is accomplished without chemical treatment of the cells, without change of medium and in such a way that most cells are provided with free growth area. The procedure involves growing the cells to confluence on surfaces uniformly covered with glass beads 200 {microns} in diameter. When confluence has been attained, contact inhibition ma be released by discarding the beads leaving behind numerous spaces, throughout the culture. Removal of the beads dislodges few if any of the cells. After release of contact inhibition by removing the beads, the cultures double in cell number following the first round of DNA replications, and continue to grow until they are again contact inhibited. Cell types used have included several cell lines and strains including both primary cell cultures of neonatal rat heart cells and established 3T3 and 3T6 mouse fibroblast cell lines.

About 40 underground nuclear explosions detonated at the Nevada Test Site (NTS) were chosen for analysis of their spectra and any relationships they might have to source parameters such as yield, depth of burial, etc. The sample covered a large yield range (less than 20 kt to greater than 1 Mt). Broadband (0.05 to 20 Hz) data recorded by the four-station seismic network operated by Lawrence Livermore Laboratory were analyzed in a search for unusual explosion signatures in their spectra. Long time windows (total wave train) as well as shorter windows (for instance, P/sub n/) were used as input to calculate the spectra. Much variation in the spectra of the long windows is typical although some gross features are similar, such as a dominant peak in the microseismic window. The variation is such that selection of corner frequencies is impractical and yield scaling could not be determined. Spectra for one NTS earthquake showed more energy in the short periods (less than 1 sec) as well as in the long periods (greater than 8 sec) compared to those for NTS explosions.

Several unique accelerator components were designed and built for the Rotating Target Neutron Source Facility at the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory. Particular consideration was given to material selection and cooling design of components because the facility will have a large steady-state beam energy. Components discussed include the system composed of the ion source and 90-deg double-focusing magnet in the high-voltage terminal, a water-cooled 400-keV acceleration column, a pyrolytic-graphite beam collimator, and quick-disconnect beam-tube couplings.

Large pools for storing spent fuel elements from nuclear reactors are being proposed to augment the present storage capacity of pools located at nuclear power plants and fuel reprocessing plants. These pools will be part of either independent spent fuel storage installations or large reprocessing plants. Because of the large size of the pools, seismic loads are of significant interest, and in particular the adequacy of current design methods for calculating seismic loads was of special concern. An evaluation of design methods representative of current practice was carried out, and the results are summarized. The evaluation was based on a comparison of total structural loads obtained by these methods with those obtained using the LUSH code. The LUSH code offered a combination of latest technologies in structural analysis involving soil-structure interaction.

Results of homogeneous catalytic hydrogenation of complex unsaturated substrates including coal and coal-derived materials are reported, with organic soluble molecular complexes as catalysts. Among the substrates used were Hvab coal, solvent-refined coal, and COED pyrolysate. The hydrogenations were carried out in an autoclave. The results are summarized in tables.

The objective of this investigation is to determine the upper limits on the thermal yield of a 1 kt source detonated at shallow depths. Three problems were computed for the depths of burial of 0.5, 1.5, and 3 m. The source is an iron bubble with 30 cm radius and 25 kg of mass. The computation was done on the CEL code. The results show that the relative thermal yield is no more than 6 percent, and that it vanishes at DOB of about 4 m. The computed blast strength is plotted against the range. The results are consistent with the measurements on ''Johnnie Boy'' and ''Jangle-U'', and in good agreement with the RAD9 calculations and the HULL calculations.

Experimental data in the literature on the physical, thermodynamic, and transport properties of aqueous LiOH are summarized. The behavior of some properties is predicted beyond the range of the data. 12 fig, 14 tables, 20 references.

This manual describes the use and structure of the June 30, 1976 version of the Four-D propagation code for high energy laser beams. It provides selected sample output from a typical run and from several debug runs. The Four-D code now includes the important noncoplanar scenario feature. Many problems that required excessive computer time can now be meaningfully simulated as steady-state noncoplanar problems with short run times.

In the study of ductile fracture it is useful to simulate fracture on the computer under plane stress conditions. In general, this is a three dimensional problem. Presented here is a method for adapting a two dimensional elastic-plastic computer program to calculate problems in plane stress as well as plane strain geometry. A simulation of a tension test of a flat aluminum plate pulled to failure is calculated with the modified two dimensional program. The results are compared with a fully three dimensional calculation. Finally a comparison is made with an experiment to demonstrate the effectiveness of the computational methods for studying fracture of work hardening materials.

The use of the Borrmann effect to produce nearly monoenergetic x rays is described. Both theoretical and experimental results are presented for the energy range from 15 to 55 keV. Peak shape, full-widths at half-maximum, and intensities are discussed. In addition, a brief description of a computer code for calculating the theoretical results is given.

The report discusses and evaluates the adequacy of buyer specifications for snubbers. Technical specifications for snubbers (hydraulic and mechanical) were studied in detail in an effort to define the ''fundamental needs'' of the industry with respect to characteristics of snubbers during operation. In the course of this study, it was determined that there is insufficient consensus among users to make such a definition. Authorities in the fields of structural dynamics, structural systems design, and snubber design were also consulted for additional information. Information from these sources is incorporated to identify the fundamental areas of concern, areas where consensus is lacking, and problems to be resolved in order to establish meaningful standards for this equipment.

A small, secondary treatment plant for processing sanitary wastes was upgraded by the addition of tertiary treatment (chemical treatment and final clarification) and mixed-media filtration. Operational data showed that the tertiary treatment significantly reduced pollutants. Filtration further reduced suspended solids significantly and removed some additional phosphorus; however, no additional reduction in total oxygen demand or in nitrogen was noted. Detailed analyses of costs for construction and routine operations showed the cost of tertiary treatment was small compared to costs associated with mixed-media filtration.

Available data on distribution coefficients for the biologically important radionuclides present in high-level waste were used to estimate retardation factors (K/sub f/) for a mass transport hydrologic model. The radionuclides were divided into 3 groups: fission products with no sorption (K/sub f/ = 1), fission products with sorption (K/sub f/ = 10/sup 2/), and the actinides and their daughter products (K/sub f/ = 10/sup 4/). Minimum and maximum values were assigned the latter two groups. Uncertainties as a function of time were estimated at +- an order of magnitude. 39 references, 5 tables.

The Program Plan specifies the basic plan for the utilization of FY-74 funds allocated by the AEC Division of Applied Technology and contributions from other participants for the development of geothermal energy in southern Idaho. Funding priorities are dictated by the Construction Data Package submission deadline and the October 1, 1974, site selection. Tasks not funded during FY-74 will be pursued during FY-75. (auth)

None

Since DNC was first introduced, four contractors for ERDA have become actively involved with its utilization. These contractors are Rockwell International, which operates the Rocky Flats plant at Golden, Colorado; Union Carbide Corporation operating the Y-12 plant at Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Sandia Laboratories, operating a plant in Albuquerque, New Mexico and the Bendix Corporation with a plant in Kansas City, Missouri. DNC activities at the four sites are elucidated by slides. At the present time, these four plants have a total of 17 machine tools operating under DNC control with over 50,000 of DNC operating time. Present planning calls for the addition of about this many more machines by the end of FY 1978.

High-frequency electromagnetic probing is used to monitor the rate and direction of flow of fluids injected into the ground. This method shows the potential for providing more detailed information than procedures presently used. The experimental technique and the test-of-concept experimental results are discussed. This technique has applications in oil-reservoir engineering and in hydrology studies concerning storage of chemical and nuclear wastes. 11 figures.

Theoretical studies supporting the Livermore photolytic Group VIA laser project were initiated early in 1977. Results of numerous theoretical studies which deal with the photolysis process, losses in the upper laser level and the photolytic pumps are described. Results of ab initio calculations on OCS have been used to assign the electronic states and to analyze the photolysis process. Photoionization cross sections of the upper laser level have been calculated for O(/sup 1/S), S(/sup 1/S) and Se(/sup 1/S). Potential curves of S/sub 2//sup +/ have been determined in the search for possible quenching processes of the upper state. Besides determining ab initio potential energy curves of rare-gas excimer pumps we have also determined photoionization cross sections of the excimer states.

Biological monitoring programs, as well as relevant radioecological research studies, are reviewed at specific Department of Energy facilities; the program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is discussed in detail. The biological measurements that are being used for interpreting the impact of a facility on its surrounding environment and nearby population are given. Suggestions which could facilitate interlaboratory comparison studies are presented.

Control technologies to manage environmental impacts from geothermal developments in California's Imperial Valley from development to 1985 are discussed. Included are descriptions of methods for managing land subsidence by fluid injection; for preventing undesirable induced seismicity or mitigating the effects of seismic events; for managing liquid wastes through pretreatment or subsurface injection; for controlling H/sub 2/S by dispersal, reinjection, and chemical treatment of effluents; and for minimizing the impact of noise from power plants by setting up buffer zones and exclusion areas.

During 1975 Pantex Plant conducted a monitoring program to determine the concentration of specific radioactive and non-radioactive species in the local environment. Although the plant activities involve the handling of significant quantities of uranium, plutonium and tritium, only small releases of uranium (depleted in the isotope /sup 235/U) and tritium occurred which could have affected the local environment. Monitoring data indicate that concentrations of these nuclides in the environment are below established criteria for air and water and therefore should not present a health hazard either to employees or to the public.

An assessment is provided on the viability of dual topological unitarization as a practical scheme for organizing and interpreting hadronic phenomena at current machine energies. Previous detailed reviews are complemented, with emphasis on phenomenological aspects and more recent developments. Diffraction scattering, a test of P--f identity hypothesis, the flavor model, the P--f identity versus the Veneziano two-jet picture, and an illustration of the new phenomenology are included. 24 references. (JFP)