This decontamination and inspection plan (DIP) describes decontamination and verification activities in support of Phase 2 closure of the 300 Area Waste Acid Treatment System (WATS). Phase 2, the second phase of three proposed phases of closure for WATS, provides for closure of all WATS portions of the 334-A Building and some, but not all, WATS portions of the 333 and 303-F Buildings. Closure of the entire unit will not occur until all three closure phases have been completed. The DIP also describes the designation and management-process for waste and debris generated during Phase 2 closure activities. Information regarding the decontamination and verification methods for Phase 1 closure can be found in Decontamination and Inspection Plan, for Phase 1 closure of the 300 Area Waste Acid Treatment System, 21 WHC-SD-ENV-AP-001. Information regarding Phase 3 closure will be provided in later documents.

An attractive feature of the inertial fusion energy (IFE) approach to commercial energy production is that the fusion driver is well separated from the fusion confinement chamber. This ''standoff'' feature means the driver is largely isolated from fusion reaction products. Further, inertial confinement fusion (ICF) target ignition (with modest gain) is now scheduled to be demonstrated at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) using a laser driver system. The NIF program will, to a considerable extent, validate indirectly-driven heavy-ion fusion (HIF) target designs for IFE. However, it remains that HIF standoff between the final focus system and the fusion target needs to be seriously addressed. In fact, there now exists a timely opportunity for the Office of Fusion Energy Science (OFES) to experimentally explore the feasibility of one of the attractive final transport options in the fusion chamber: the self-pinched transport mode. Presently, there are several mainline approaches for HIF beam transport and neutralization in the fusion chamber. These range from the (conservative) vacuum ballistic focus, for which there is much experience from high energy research accelerators, to highly neutralized ballistic focus, which matches well to lower voltage acceleration with resulting lower driver costs. Alternatively, Z-discharge channel transport and self-pinched transport …

Data compression and processing of image sequences are becoming increasingly important in the era of the information superhighway. This project aims at the development and proof-of-principle of new methods for motion extraction, image sequence compression, and motion analysis. These methods will increase the efficiency of recognition systems and various database applications. The early research into such novel concepts at the forefront of computer vision will benefit LLNL and DOE in all areas associated with archived images and image sequence data. Automated security and surveillance applications are also of special interest in this context. In FY 1997, we started developing a parallel implementation of the face recognition paradigm on the message passing interface (MPI). A parallel implementation is essential to understanding the structure of large image-databases. Our algorithms are now available to interested parties for applications such as scientific data management (SDM). We also are implementing our new algorithms as a growing library of C++ objects. During FY 1997, we focused our research efforts on designing and delivering hardware. In particular, we (1) established the capability to design new retinas and other very-large-scale integrated (VLSI) hardware at LLNL's Institute for Scientific Computing Research (ISCR) and (2) fabricated prototypes through MOSIS, a …

Test data from oxidation of K Basin fuel (SNF) samples in dry air were reviewed, and linear reaction rates were derived on a time-average basis. The derived rates were compared to literature data for unirradiated uranium in dry air using rate law of the form log(rate) = a + b (I/T). The analyses found differences between the SNF data and the literature data. Oxidation rate below 150 C was higher for K Basin fuel than for unirradiated uranium.

In FY97 we completed work on the (MELD) code, a comprehensive, multiple-length-scale, Graphical User Interface (GUI)-driven photonics design tool. In 1997 MELD was rated one of the one hundred most technologically significant new products of the year by Research and Development magazine.

The previous report provided a detailed summary of the work data on the project at the Rulison field. Key to this report was the finding that the regions where wells showed good EURs were spatially associated with faulting. Specifically, areas considered more permeable due to the presence of natural fractures are generally located in the high-side (footwall) of reverse faults. While this association seems to hold in the Rulison seismic data coverage, this association requires corroboration. Thus the work plan for the quarter of July 1, 1997--September 30, 1997 consisted of three tasks: (1) perform detailed fault mapping of Rulison 3-D seismic data with Barrett Resources; (2) review SOCO 2-D seismic fault mapping and structural interpretations; and (3) initial work into developing a predictive method for locating fault-related natural fractures. The first two tasks were initiated and completed during this reporting period. The work involved required at the collaborative effort between the field operators and ARI staff. The third task marks the beginning of quantitative fracture mechanics analysis of the geologic processes that are involved for the development of fault-related natural fractures. The goal of this work is to develop a predictive capability of locating natural fractures prior to drilling.