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CRS Report for Congress entailing issues and legislative action in regards to K-12 teacher quality. Topics include, unionization, funding, tenure, etc..

On July 25, 2003, the House approved a supplemental appropriations measure (H.R. 2859) that provides $983.6 million for the Disaster Relief Fund administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). During debate Members rejected an amendment to require a rescission from discretionary accounts to compensate for the supplemental. On July 31 the Senate approved the House-passed version of H.R. 2859. The President signed the Emergency Supplemental Appropriation for Disaster Relief Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-69) on August 8, 2003.

This report provides background concerning various aspects of fuel ethanol, and a discussion of the current related policy issues.

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Tri-weekly student newspaper from Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas that includes local, state and campus news along with advertising.

A letter report issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "Media reports of desecration of graves and human remains and other types of mismanagement at cemeteries and crematories have inspired a debate regarding whether the federal government should take on a greater role in regulating the death care industry, primarily funeral homes, crematories, cemeteries, pre-need sales of funeral plans, and third party sales of funeral goods. The federal government has a limited role in regulating the death care industry, as most regulatory responsibilities are handled at the state level. Because of this, federal policymakers have expressed an interest in understanding the range of practices that are used by the states to regulate the various segments of the death care industry. Based on surveys of state regulators covering the various segments of the death care industry; and visits to the states of California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, New York, and Texas; this report provides information on (1) the structures used by states for regulating the death care industry, and (2) the mechanisms used by states for enforcing their regulations covering the industry. The report also provides information on the resources available to help consumers make informed choices regarding …

Since the start of Run II, we have found that we are unable to reliably and accurately measure the beam position with the present BPM system during high energy physics (HEP). This problem can be traced back to the analogue frontend called the AM/PM module which has trouble handling coalesced beam, but works well with uncoalesced beam. In this paper, we propose a simple fix to the AM/PM module so that we can measure the beam position during HEP. The idea is to use narrow band crystal filters which ring when pinged by coalesced beam so that the AM/PM module is tricked into thinking that it is measuring uncoalesced beam.

Fish that pass through a hydroelectric turbine may not be killed directly, but may nonetheless experience sublethal stresses that will increase their susceptibility to predators (indirect mortality). There is a need to develop reliable tests for indirect mortality so that the full consequences of passage through turbines (and other routes around a hydroelectric dam) can be assessed. We evaluated a new technique for assessing indirect mortality, based on a behavioral response to a startling stimulus (akin to perceiving an approaching predator). We compare this technique to the standard predator preference test. The behavioral response is a rapid movement commonly referred to as a startle response, escape response, or C-shape, based on the characteristic body position assumed by the fish. When viewed from above, a startled fish bends into a C-shape, then springs back and swims away in a direction different from its original orientation. This predator avoidance (escape) behavior can be compromised by sublethal stresses that temporarily stun or disorient the fish. We subjected striped shiners and fathead minnows to varying intensities of either turbulence (10-, 20- or 30-min) or 2-min exposures to a fish anesthetic (100 or 200 mg/L of tricaine methanesulfonate), and evaluated their subsequent behavior. Individual fish …

This document describes the waste feed evaporator modeling work done in the Waste Feed Evaporation and Physical Properties Modeling test specification and in support of the Hanford River Protection Project (RPP) Waste Treatment Plant (WTP) project. A private database (ZEOLITE) was developed and used in this work in order to include the behavior of aluminosilicates such a NAS-gel in the OLI/ESP simulations, in addition to the development of the mathematical models. Mathematical models were developed that describe certain physical properties in the Hanford RPP-WTP waste feed evaporator process (FEP). In particular, models were developed for the feed stream to the first ultra-filtration step characterizing its heat capacity, thermal conductivity, and viscosity, as well as the density of the evaporator contents. The scope of the task was expanded to include the volume reduction factor across the waste feed evaporator (total evaporator feed volume/evaporator bottoms volume). All the physical properties were modeled as functions of the waste feed composition, temperature, and the high level waste recycle volumetric flow rate relative to that of the waste feed. The goal for the mathematical models was to predict the physical property to predicted simulation value. The simulation model approximating the FEP process used to develop …

The lecture covers mainly Sections 2.VIII and 3.VII of the book ''Accelerator Physics'' by S.Y. Lee, plus mode-coupling instabilities and chromaticity-driven head-tail instability. Besides giving more detailed derivation of many equations, simple interpretations of many collective instabilities are included with the intention that the phenomena can be understood more easily without going into too much mathematics. The notations of Lee's book as well as the e{sup jwt} convention are followed.

The purpose of this program guidance document is to provide technical requirements for use, operation, inspection, and maintenance of the RH-TRU 72-B Waste Shipping Package and directly related components. This document complies with the requirements as specified in the RH-TRU 72-B Safety Analysis Report for Packaging (SARP), and Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Certificate of Compliance (C of C) 9212. If there is a conflict between this document and the SARP and/or C of C, the SARP and/or C of C shall govern. The C of C states: ''...each package must be prepared for shipment and operated in accordance with the procedures described in Chapter 7.0, ''Operating Procedures,'' of the application.'' It further states: ''...each package must be tested and maintained in accordance with the procedures described in Chapter 8.0, ''Acceptance Tests and Maintenance Program of the Application.'' Chapter 9.0 of the SARP tasks the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) Management and Operating (M&O) contractor with assuring the packaging is used in accordance with the requirements of the C of C. Because the packaging is NRC approved, users need to be familiar with 10 CFR {section} 71.11, ''Deliberate Misconduct.'' Any time a user suspects or has indications that the conditions of …

Caustic adjustment of the UF recycle stream was required to prevent gel formation for the solutions tested. Actual amounts of caustic adjustment required will vary depending on the composition and volume ratios of the UF recycle. The concentration of recycles in the waste feed evaporator as required to blend with waste feed streams to provide a feed to the ultrafiltration process with a supernate specific gravity of 1.22 is feasible. No problems (such as severe foaming) were noted during the lab-scale testing that would preclude operation of the evaporator. The physical properties of the recycles and waste feed blends fit well to correlations based on sodium concentration and temperature. Evaporation of streams containing high levels of insoluble solids may lead to ''bumping'' or other undesirable behavior in the evaporator at insoluble solids. Sodium alumino-silicate solids were not noted in the evaporator feed or concentrate, but NAS did form in the blends of concentrated recycle and waste feeds. Strontium was found to precipitate during neutralization of the acid cleaning solution and remain precipitated during evaporation. Mercury was found to be significantly soluble in Envelope A simulants and the solubility of mercury increased during evaporation. No mercury was detected in the offgas …

The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provide consumers with web-based information on the environmental effects of automobiles so that individuals can make informed choices about the vehicles they use or may purchase. DOE and EPA maintain a web site (www.fueleconomy.gov) that provides users with information about fuel economy [as well as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and air pollution emissions] for the cars and trucks they use or may consider purchasing. EPA also maintains a separate web site (www.epa.gov/greenvehicles) that offers similar information, with the focus on air pollution emissions rather than fuel economy. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) (www.greenercars.com) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) (www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/ccbg/ccbg.htm) also maintain web sites that provide consumers with information on the environmental effects of automobiles. Through the National Transportation Research Center (NTRC) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, DOE has supported some initial qualitative research with people who are interested in purchasing a new or used vehicle and whose actions identify them as at least somewhat concerned about the environment. The purpose of this research was to explore and understand how these people respond to the different ratings and measurements of environmental effects provided by the …

This report provides the analytical results of samples taken during the low-activity waste evaporator process demonstration conducted at the Savannah River Technology Center with a 15-liter sample of Hanford tank 241-AN102 pretreated radioactive supernate. The objective of the task was to determine the concentration of various organic, inorganic and radionuclide constituents of potential concern and physical properties of the evaporator feed, concentrate, condensate and off gas for the Hanford River Protection Project. Over 150 samples and blanks were collected and analyzed in accordance with EPA methods. One hundred nineteen target organic analyze concentrations were shown to be less than the minimum quantitative limits in all samples (feed, concentrate, condensate, and off gas samples).Tetrahydrofuran (THF) was present in evaporator samples. THF was the most concentrated volatile compound detected in the off gas. No pesticides or polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were detected in any evaporator sample. Very low levels of some dioxins and furans were reported in the off-gas samples, but are thought to have been due to contamination. Most of the sample collection, sample preparation, and sample analyses provided results with sufficient pedigree to support the rigor associated with regulatory application of these results.

This Special Analysis (SA) addresses two contaminants of concern, H-3 and I-129, in three Effluent Treatment Facility (ETF) Activated Carbon Vessels awaiting disposal as solid waste. The Unreviewed Disposal Question (UDQ) evaluation listed two options for disposal of this waste, disposal as Components-in-Grout (CIG) or disposal in Slit Trenches with sealed openings to restrict release of H-3 form the vessels. Consumption of the CIG inventory limit and consumption of CIG facility volume are shown for the ETF vessels to allow easy comparison with the consumption of Slit Trench inventory limit and consumption of the Slit Trench facility volume . The inventory projections are based on doubling the inventory of the three ETF vessels in the E-Area to account for the unknown inventory of three ETF vessels in the ETF. When the grout ultimately is assumed to degrade hydraulically, the water movement is not impeded as much as the release is accelerated by the presence of the grout. Under these conditions for the CIG trenches relative to the Slit Trenches, the well concentrations are higher, the inventory limit is lower and for a given inventory the inventory limit consumption is higher.

Analytical methods for determining formic, acetic and oxalic acids, formaldehyde, and methanol have been evaluated and/or optimized for measuring products from photoreduction of CO{sub 2} in illuminated, aqueous suspensions of photocatalysts. An electrophoresis anion separation method (CIA) can detect aqueous formate and oxalate ions at 22 and 17 {micro}M (1 ppm), respectively. Recalibration of the Nash formaldehyde determination shows that as little as 10 {micro}M (0.3 ppm) can be detected spectrally. Several experiments using suspensions of Pt/TiO{sub 2}, SrTiO{sub 3}, and SrTiO{sub 3} with Cr and Sb were illuminated in CO{sub 2} saturated solutions. No acids were detected in most experiments using CIA; however, ion chromatography (IC) was able to detect formate and acetate at low {micro}M (sub ppm) concentrations in several experiments using Pt/TiO{sub 2} and SrTiO{sub 3} in sunlight and with xenon uv light. Analysis for methanol by gas chromatography showed that not more than 2 ppm methanol could have formed and probably less. Adding 0.6 mM 2-propanol to an irradiated CO{sub 2}/TiO{sub 2} suspension led to formation of 550 {micro}M formate, but no formaldehyde, probably because re-oxidation of formate by semiconductor holes was competitively blocked. Loss of C{sub 1} products at higher concentrations by re-oxidation may be …

Al-polarity inversion domains formed during AlN layer growth on (0001) sapphire were identified using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). They resemble columnar inversion domains reported for GaN films grown on (0001) sapphire. However, for AlN, these columns have a V-like shape with boundaries that deviate by 2 {+-} 0.5{sup o} from the c-axis. TEM identification of these defects agrees with the post-growth surface morphology as well as with the microstructure revealed by etching in hot aqueous KOH.

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From Summary: "This report examines the 2001 recession and the recessions of the previous three decades in detail. It gives a brief overview of the other post-war recessions. It outlines the fiscal and monetary policy response to each recession."

This report presents the results of the characterization of 11 large liquid scintillators. The neutron energy threshold and maximum detection efficiency were determined as a function of voltage and constant fraction discriminator threshold. Fits to the response of each detector were found. The results can be used to select the experimental settings in the operation of the detectors to ensure consistent response and repeatability.