Abstract. The purpose of this paper is to present, in the light of 20 years of reactor-operation experience at ORNL, what is being done in preparation for operation of the HFIR (High Flux Isotope Reactor). This paper considers only the areas of staffing and training; development of operating and maintenance procedures; preoperational testing of water systems; and testing of remote handling tools. The preparatory work in other areas such as the hydraulic tests, neutron tests, etc., is not covered in this presentation.

The Plutonium Recycle Test Reactor is a research and development tool supporting the Plutonium Recycle Program and the research activities at Hanford. The present organization directly associated with the PRTR is composed of Operating, Technical Assistance, Maintenance, and Engineering Groups. Liaison with research groups utilizing PRTR facilities is accomplished through the Technical Assistance Group. the other three groups serve the PRTR in the manner suggest by the group name. This paper limits its interest to the staffing experience of the Operating Group.

Over the past six years, the hiring practices of the Reactor Operations Division of Argonne National Laboratory have been conducted to determine the highest level of personnel who would be willing to remain in the position of reactor operator. We have discontinued the hiring of personnel who have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution or who are close to receiving such a degree. We now hire men from three general categories: (1) graduates from two-year technical institutes, (2) men who have had a number of years of experience in related operating jobs such as the petroleum industry or the chemical industry, and (3) men who have served in the nuclear programs of the armed forces. The following tests are given: (1) Wonderlic personnel Test, score above 43 percentile is mandatory, (2) Oral Directions Test, score above 80 percentile is expected, (3) mechanical Comprehension Test, score above 80 percentile is expected, (4) Arithmetic Reasoning Test, score above 60 percentile is expected, and (5) Primary Mental Abilities Test, used primarily as a check on the other tests given. Applicant is interviewed by at least three supervisors in the Division. All three supervisors must concur before an offer of employment is made.

The ML-1 is a nuclearly heated, electrical power producing plant being developed for the U. S. atomic Energy commission and the U. S. Army by Aeroject-General Nucleonics. The power plant is a compact, water-moderated, gas-cooled, nuclear reactor, coupled in a single closed cycle to a gas driven turbine-compressor set and alternator. The plant is designed to produce power up to 500 Kw electrical,using 3 Mw thermal supplied by the reactor. It will operate 10,000 hours without refueling and have a plant life of five years. The total weight is less than 40 tons and no single package weighs more than 15 tons.

The radiation chemistry of ammonia, pure or with various additives, was studied by Co60 gamma radiation. The kinetics of aniline formation by the irradiation of homogeneous benzene-ammonia mixtures was determined together with the kinetics of hydrazine formation in the case of pure ammonia. The effects of dose, intensity, temperature, and specific additives were determined.