This document describes the results of accelerated aging tests to determine the long-term effectiveness of selected impoundment liner materials in a uranium mill tailings environment. The study was sponsored by the US Department of Energy under the Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project. The study was designed to evaluate the need for, and the performance of, several candidate liners for isolating mill tailings leachate in conformance with proposed Environmental Protection Agency and Nuclear Regulatory Commission requirements. The liners were subjected to conditions known to accelerate the degradation mechanisms of the various liners. Also, a test environment was maintained that modeled the expected conditions at a mill tailings impoundment, including ground subsidence and the weight loading of tailings on the liners. A comparison of installation costs was also performed for the candidate liners. The laboratory testing and cost information prompted the selection of a catalytic airblown asphalt membrane and a sodium bentonite-amended soil for fiscal year 1981 field testing.

Newsletter issued by the Advisory Council for Technical-Vocational Education in Texas discussing news, events, and other relevant information related to technical and vocational education for adults in Texas.

A report regarding an aerial gamma-ray and magnetic survey of the Centerville Quadrangle, Iowa and Missouri

The new and revised benchmark specifications for nine Los Alamos National Laboratory critical assemblies are used to compute the entire set of parameters that were measured in the experiments. A comparison between the computed and experimental values provides a measure of the adequacy of the specifications, cross sections, and physics codes used in the calculations.

The overall goal of PNL (Pacific Northwest Laboratory) Applied Mathematical Sciences Research is development of a DOE (Department of Energy) capability for Analysis of Large Data Sets (ALDS) and transfer of this capability to other DOE laboratories and contractors. This capability is needed to satisfy DOE's increasing requirements for handling and analyzing large volumes of diverse energy and environmental data. The integrated statistics and computer science research includes the development of improved methodologies in data definition, data management, data analysis, and visual display. The purpose of this document is three-fold. First, the document is the permanent record of the ALDS 1979 panel review. Second, the document provides the PNL staff with a benchmark of where we were at the end of the second year of ALDS. Third, the document is available to laboratories, universities, and DOE headquarters as detailed description of the ALDS project, as well as an example of the new direction of AMS-funded research.

This study has shown that utilization of the unique features of a fusion reactor can result in a novel and potentially economical method of decomposing steam into hydrogen and oxygen. Most of the power of fusion reactors is in the form of energetic neutrons. If this power could be used to produce high temperature uncontaminated steam, a large fraction of the energy needed to decomposee the steam could be supplied as thermal energy by the fusion reaction. Proposed high temperature electrolysis processes require steam temperature in excess of 1000/sup 0/C for high efficiency. The design put forth in this study details a system that can accomplish that end.

An economic analysis is provided of flat plate collector systems in industrial, commercial, and agricultural business applications in a variety of locations. A key element of the analysis is the federal solar investment tax credit. The SOLCOST Solar Energy Design Program is used for the study. The differences between industrial/agricultural and commercial applications are considered, as are finance and tax data and fuel data. The rate of return and payback are the criteria used to compare the economic viability of systems. Market penetration estimates for process steam were derived for seven southwestern states where direct solar radiation is highest. (LEW)

Progress in developing a far-field explosion simulation computer code is outlined. The term far-field implies that this computer code is suitable for modeling explosive transients in ventilation systems that are far removed from the explosive event and are rather insensitive to the particular characteristics of the explosive event. This type of analysis is useful when little detailed information is available and the explosive event is described parametrically. The code retains all the features of the TVENT code and allows completely compressible flow with inertia and choking effects. Problems that illustrate the capabilities and limitations of the code are described.

A general concept of condensed phase photoelectron spectroscopy is that angular distribution and atomic effects in the photoemission intensity are determined by different mechanisms, the former being determined largely by ordering phenomena such as crystal momentum conservation and photoelectron diffraction while the latter are manifested in the total (angle-integrated) cross section. In this work, the physics of the photoemission process is investigated in several very different experiments to elucidate the mechanisms of, and correlation between, atomic and angular distribution effects. Theoretical models are discussed and the connection betweeen the two effects is clearly established. The remainder of this thesis, which describes experiments utilizing both angle-resolved and angle-integrated photoemission in conjunction with synchrotron radiation in the energy range 6 eV less than or equal to h ..nu.. less than or equal to 360 eV and laboratory sources, is divided into three parts.

In order to explore the changing role of angular momentum transfer to the heavy target-like fragment in heavy-ion reactions, the gamma-ray multiplicities associated with projectile residues were measured in the reaction of /sup 20/Ne with /sup 181/Ta in the energy range of 7.5 to 42 MeV/nucleon. From the gamma-ray multiplicities, the intrinsic spin of the target-like nucleus was determined and corrected for the spin removed by evaporated particles. Comparisons of the measured intrinsic spin with that expected from the missing linear momentum were found to be good at low energies but failed around a bombarding energy of 17 MeV/nucleon. From the results of these studies we infer that angular momentum and therefore linear momentum is being carried away in significant amounts by particles which were not detected.

The potential of using geothermal water to develop a commercial aquaculture facility to raise channel catfish at Boulder Hot Springs, Montana is examined. Maximum catfish growth occurs in water with a temperature from 80/sup 0/F to 85/sup 0/F. This temperature can be maintaned when the 175/sup 0/F geothermal water is mixed with the available 55/sup 0/F water. The only economically viable culture considered was the raceway culture. The 4000 gpm supply of 55/sup 0/F water could supply 7 to 8 raceways with a total production of 269,000 to 307,000 pounds of catfish per year. This operation, discounting the purchase of land, would cost about $150,000 (1980).

Since the DOE Atmospheric Studies in Complex Terrain (ASCOT) Program was initiated in 1978, the major emphasis of the program has been on the study of nocturnal drainage winds using The Geysers Known Geothermal Resource Area of northern California as the study site. Studies during this year were related to reducing and analyzing the data taken during a major field study in September 1980, model development and testing, and conducting the last series of field experiments in this area to determine the interaction of cooling tower plumes from the geothermal power plants with nocturnal drainage and limited daytime mixing regimes.

The tracer self-diffusion data for fcc and refractory bcc metals are briefly reviewed with respect to (i) the available monovacancy formation and migration properties and (ii) the high-temperature diffusion enhancement above that expected for mass transport via atomic exchange with monovacancies. While the atomic-defect mechanism for low-temperature self-diffusion can be reliably attributed to monovacancies, the mechanisms responsible for high-temperature mass transport are not so easily defined at this time; both divacancies and interstitials must be seriously considered. Possibilities for improving our understanding in this area are discussed. 68 references, 7 figures.

This document reports progress made in the Basalt Waste Isolation Project during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 1981. Efforts are described for the following programs of the project work breakdown structure: systems, waste package, site, repository, regulatory and institutional, test facilities, and in-situ test facilities.

WIPP 15 is a borehole drilled in Marformation.h, 1978, in section 18, T.23S., R. 35E. of south-central Lea County. The purpose of WIPP 15 was to examine fill in San Simon Sink in order to extract climatic information and to attempt to date the collapse of the sink. The borehole was cored to total depth (810.5 feet) and encountered, from top to bottom, Quaternary calcareous clay, marl and sand, the claystones and siltstones of the Triassic Santa Rosa Formation. Neutron and gamma ray geophysical logs were run to measure density and radioactivity. The sink was about 547 feet of Quaternary fill indicating subsidence and deposition. Diatomaceous beds exposed on the sink margin yielded samples dated by /sup 14/C at 20,570 +- 540 years BP and greater than 32,000 years BP; these beds are believed stratigraphically equivalent to ditomaceous beds at 153 to 266 feet depth in the core. Aquatic fauna and flora from the upper 98 feet of core indicate a pluvial period (probably Tohokan) followed by an arid or very arid time before the present climate was established. Aquifer pump tests performed in the Quaternary sands and clays show transmissivities to be as high as 600 feet squared per …

The present work assumes that any intrinsic structure in the nuclei involved is not important. Only spin, parity, and energy are considered. Quantities such as half-life, average beta energy, or average gamma energy can be obtained by integrals over the beta strength function weighted by kinematic and other factors. The beta strength function is proportional to the level density multiplied by a reduced transition probability. Delayed neutron emission is calculated by assuming that the daughter is a compound nucleus which then statistically decays as in the Hauser-Feshbach approach. Using the ENDF/B-V fission product file which contains 877 nuclei, energy-dependent reduced transition probabilities were found for allowed 0/sup +/ ..-->.. 1/sup +/ transitions (50 cases) and for other allowed transitions (over 600 cases), corresponding to log ft values of 4.3 and 5.6 respectively. No dependence on either transition energy or on mass was found. A reduced transition probability corresponding to log ft of 7.1 was used for first forbidden transitions. Some results are presented and discussed. (WHK)

This guide serves as an overview of the biomass cogeneration area and provides direction for more detailed analysis. The business assessment is based in part on discussions with key officials from firms that have adopted biomass cogeneration systems and from organizations such as utilities, state and federal agencies, and banks that would be directly involved in a biomass cogeneration project. The guide is organized into five chapters: biomass cogeneration systems, biomass cogeneration business considerations, biomass cogeneration economics, biomass cogeneration project planning, and case studies.

This report presents calculated gamma radiation exposure rates and ground deposition of related radionuclides resulting from three types of event that deposited detectable radioactivity outside the Nevada Test Site complex, namely, underground nuclear detonations, tests of nuclear rocket engines and tests of nuclear ramjet engines.

Flight path maps for the Bakersfield, Camarillo, and Beaver INS Test Programs created by the Department of Energy, Grand Junction Operations Office.

Theoretical investigations and system studies indicate safeguards material balance data from reprocessing plants can be used to detect unauthorized removals. Plant systems have been modeled and simulated data used to demonstrate the techniques. But how sensitive are the techniques when used with actual plant data. What is the effect of safeguards applications on plant operability. Can safeguards be acceptable to plant operators, and are there any benefits to be derived. The Barnwell Nuclear Fuel Plant (BNFP) has been devoted to answering these and other questions over the past several years. A computerized system of near-real-time accounting and in-process inventory has been implemented and demonstrated during actual plant test runs. Measured inventories and hourly material balance closures have been made to assess safeguards in an operating plant application. The tests have culminated in actual removals of material from the operating plant to investigate the response and measure the sensitivity of the safeguards and data evaluation system.

Development of civic, recreation, and conservation facilities throughout a 150-acre site which had been used for waste disposal from 1951 to 1970 is described. The history of the landfill site, the geology of the site, and a test well program to assess the feasibility of recoverying landfill gas economically from the site are discussed. Based on results of the test well program, the City of Industry authorized the design and installation of a full-scale landfill gas recovery system. Design, construction, and operation of the system are described. The landfill gas system provides fuel for use in boilers to meet space heating and hot water demands for site development (MCW)

Separate abstracts were prepared for seven sections of the report. The remaining two sections not processed separately were Fission Energy and Three Mile Island support. (DLC)

Progress is reported in theoretical and observational studies of the physics of continental shelf circulation, the mechanics of the coastal boundary layer, and the pathways of mass exchange between the coastal waters and the deep sea. Attempts were also made to develop the engineering science of pollution prediction under the complex circumstances prevailing in the coastal ocean. The report is organized into the following five sections: dynamics of shelf circulation; coastal boundary layer; the water side of the air-sea interface; disposal of contaminants; and cross-shelf mass exchange.

This study was conducted to identify potential methods for the collection, transportation and storage of agricultural and forest residues in the Pacific Northwest. Information was gathered from available literature and through contacts with researchers, equipment manufacturers, and other individuals involved in forest and agricultural activities. This information was evaluated, combined, and adapted for situations existing in the Pacific Northwest. A number of methods for collection, transportation, and storage of biomass residues using currently available technology are described. Many of these methods can be applied to residue fuel materials along with their current uses in the forest and agricultural industries.