This review of the plans for the chemical explosive fracturing of the Devonian shales of Lincoln County, W. Va., for natural gas stimulation includes an assessment of the environmental effects. Alternatives, mitigating factors, cost benefit analysis, potential conflicts with other plans and programs, and relation of short-term use to long-term productivity are covered briefly. It is concluded that the proposed project does not constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the environment as defined by NEPA. 4 figures. (DLC)

The paper examines the fiscal impacts associated with siting nuclear-powered electrical stations. First, a framework for examining fiscal impacts is constructed. This framework consists of four elements: the ability of a local community to raise revenues, the degree to which this ability is used, the uses to which tax revenues are applied, and the effect of tax/expenditure decisions on the local economy. Changes in these four elements caused by the siting are termed fiscal impacts. Second, this framework is applied to two communities, Waterford, Connecticut and Plymouth, Massachusetts, which host operating reactors. In each community the ability to raise revenues through the property tax--the prime local revenue source--approximately doubled. As a result both communities chose ultimately to reduce tax rates. Moreover, it appears that the annual revenues raised through the public sector as a result of the reactor siting exceeded income changes that resulted from increased local employment associated with each reactor's operation. It therefore appears that for these two towns, the primary economic impact occurred through the public sector. The report concludes with suggestions for further research into local fiscal and economic effects associated with power reactor siting.

The /sup 237/Np//sup 235/U fission cross section ratio has been measured from 0.02 to 30 MeV. Using the threshold method, a value of 1.294 +- 0.019 is obtained for the average cross section ratio in the interval from 1.75 to 4.00 MeV.