Newsletter of the Texas Bureau of Disease Control and Epidemiology discussing the news, activities, and events of the organization and other information related to health in Texas.

Newsletter of the Texas Bureau of Disease Control and Epidemiology discussing the news, activities, and events of the organization and other information related to health in Texas.

Identification of the elements of typical hazardous waste facilities (HFWs) that are the major contributors to the risk are focussed on as the elements which require additional considerations in the design and construction of low-level nuclear waste management repositories and HWFs. From a recent study of six typical HWFs it was determined that the factors that contribute most to the human and environmental risk fall into four basic categories: geologic and seismological conditions at each HWF; engineered structures at each HWF; environmental conditions at each HWF; and nature of the material being released. In selecting and carrying out the six case studies, three groups of hazardous waste facilities were examined: generator industries which treat or temporarily store their own wastes; generator facilities which dispose of their own hazardous wastes on site; and industries in the waste treatment and disposal business. The case studies have a diversity of geologic setting, nearby settlement patterns, and environments. Two sites are above a regional aquifer, two are near a bay important to regional fishing, one is in rural hills, and one is in a desert, although not isolated from nearby towns and a groundwater/surface-water system. From the results developed in the study, it was …

Attempts were made to run materials compatibility, volcanic gas collection, and heat transfer experiments during the 1977 Kilauea eruption. Preliminary results from the recovered samples showed that Fe, Ni, and Fe-Ni alloys were the most heavily oxidized. The Mo and W alloys showed some attack and only neglible reaction was seen on 310 stainless, Hastelloy C, Inconel 600, Inconel 718, Rene 41, and Nichrome. Results are qualitative only. (DLC)

The purpose of this note is to provide phase reference values for klystrons in the first ten linac sectors to be used as tentative start-up values next September and to point out the degree of long term phase stability of the klystrons as well as the possibility of implementing closed loop feedback stabilization.

A fundamental parameter in the design of the Effluent Treatment Facility (ETF), the effluent composition, has recently been investigated by analyzing samples from both separations areas. As a result of this characterization program, we can now project the composition of the ETF feed stream. The anticipated feed composition is presented here for the purpose of making system projections; and a formula is provided for a simulant to use in testing evaporation, filtration, and reverse osmosis (RO) equipment. The components in these waste streams which present potential fouling problems for reverse osmosis are calcium, iron, manganese, barium, and aluminum, in combination with carbonate, silicate, and sulfate. Organics, probably in the form of TBP and kerosene, are also present in the combined effluent, which is otherwise dominated by NaNO{sub 3} and HNO{sub 3}. 3 refs., 3 tabs.

Plutonium(III), (IV), and (VI) carbonate; plutonium(III) fluoride; plutonium(III) and (IV) oxalate; and plutonium(IV) and (VI) hydroxide precipitation methods were evaluated for conversion of plutonium nitrate anion-exchange eluate to a solid, and compared with the current plutonium peroxide precipitation method used at Rocky Flats. Plutonium(III) and (IV) oxalate, plutonium(III) fluoride, and plutonium(IV) hydroxide precipitations were the most effective of the alternative conversion methods tested because of the larger particle-size formation, faster filtration rates, and the low plutonium loss to the filtrate. These were found to be as efficient as, and in some cases more efficient than, the peroxide method. 18 references, 14 figures, 3 tables.

A gap between a neutron sonde and the wall of a borehole can have a significant effect on the observed count rate. This effect was determined experimentally to be linear with gaps as large as 2.5 cm. The count rate is given by N/sub N/ = K/sub 0/ + K/sub 1/g where K/sub 0/ is the count rate that would be observed at zero gap, and g is the gap. The parameters K/sub 0/ and K/sub 1/ are dependent on both water (ie. hydrogen) content and bulk density. In many situations failure to correct the count rate for this gap effect can result in a significant degradation in the accuracy of the water content calculated from the count rate. In a dry borehole, K/sub 1/ is small at zero formation water content, and increases with formation water content. In a water-filled borehole, K/sub 1/ is large at zero formation water content, and tends to decrease with increasing formation water content, becoming zero, as of course it must, if the formation is pure water. The absolute value of K/sub 1/ increases with increasing density. A representation was determined for K/sub 0/ and K/sub 1/ from experimental data. This representation can be …

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The purpose of this report is to describe the recent tests of D-12A-2. The tests of D-12A-2 began on April 30 and ended on May 8. The unusually long test period was a result of an extensive series of magnetic field measurements in which we attempted to determine the shielding affects of a sextupole compensating coil and the decay of the currents induced in this coil. This report is short, but much of the data from the tests are included or summarized. We begin with a description of the coil and conductor, continue with the training history, the results of magnetic measurements, including the use of a sextupole compensating coil and then describe the results of heater induced quenches including estimates of axial and transverse quench propagation velocities.

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Jim Mattox, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Application of article III, section 18 of the Texas Constitution prohibiting legislators from contracting with the state.

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Jim Mattox, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Whether an individual may be employed both as a secretary to a criminal district attorney and as a court reporter for a county court.

A weekly publication, the Texas Register serves as the journal of state agency rulemaking for Texas. Information published in the Texas Register includes proposed, adopted, withdrawn and emergency rule actions, notices of state agency review of agency rules, governor's appointments, attorney general opinions, and miscellaneous documents such as requests for proposals. After adoption, these rulemaking actions are codified into the Texas Administrative Code.

A weekly publication, the Texas Register serves as the journal of state agency rulemaking for Texas. Information published in the Texas Register includes proposed, adopted, withdrawn and emergency rule actions, notices of state agency review of agency rules, governor's appointments, attorney general opinions, and miscellaneous documents such as requests for proposals. After adoption, these rulemaking actions are codified into the Texas Administrative Code.

This report discusses the final rule regarding handicapped infants published in the Federal register by HHS on January 12, 1984. Legislative action in response to the Infant Doe issue is also discussed.

Much attention has recently been focused on the chemical ethylene dibromide (EDB). This chemical has been widely used in leaded gasoline, and has also been used to treat grains, citrus and other crops. It has been found in foods and in groundwater. This paper examines the possible health effects of exposure to EDB, as well as its regulation. The possible health effects and regulation of various chemical and physical alternatives to EDB are also examined. This paper concludes with some policy considerations pertinent to EDB.