Correspondence issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "Earlier this year, GAO initiated a governmentwide review of the implementation of the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990. The Inflation Adjustment Act requires each federal agency to issue a regulation adjusting its covered maximum and minimum civil monetary penalties for inflation by October 23, 1996, and requires them to make necessary adjustments at least once every 4 years thereafter. During the review, the Department of Education's Office of the General Counsel indicated that at least eight of the agency's civil penalties are covered by that act, but the agency had not yet adjusted any of them for inflation."

A letter report issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "The Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) is implementing a new approach to overseeing the safety of a 2.2-million-mile network of pipelines in the United States that transports potentially dangerous materials, including hazardous liquids, such as oil and natural gas. OPS has to complete several important steps to implement its integrity management approach within an ambitious, self-imposed schedule. The agency began applying this new regulatory approach to hazardous liquid pipelines in 2000 by issuing final rules requiring operators of these pipelines to develop integrity management programs. While implementing its integrity management approach, OPS must also perform ongoing oversight duties, such as inspecting the construction of new pipelines and investigating pipeline incidents. In addition to meeting its ambitious schedule, OPS faces a number of other challenges in implementing this new regulatory approach. These challenges include (1) enforcing the integrity management requirements consistently and effectively, (2) ensuring that natural gas transmission pipeline operators use assessment methods appropriately, (3) establishing an inspection interval for natural gas transmission pipelines, (4) measuring and reporting on the effectiveness of the approach, and (5) developing and implementing an approach for overseeing pipeline security. OPS's …

The Scaled Thermal Explosion Experiment (STEX) has been developed to quantify the violence of thermal explosion under well defined and carefully controlled initial and boundary conditions. Here we present results with HMX-based explosives (LX-04 and PBX-9501) and with Composition B. Samples are 2 inches (50 mm) in diameter and 8 inches (200 mm) in length, under confinement of 7,500-30,000 psi (50-200 MPa), with heating rates of 1-3 C/hr. We quantify reaction violence by measuring the wall velocity in the ensuing thermal explosion, and relate the measured velocity to that expected from a detonation. Results with HMX-based explosives (LX-04 and PBX-9501) have shown the importance of confinement and HMX solid phase, with reaction violence ranging from mild pressure bursts to near detonations. By contrast, Composition B has shown very violent reactions over a wide range of conditions.

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The Ashtabula Environmental Management Project (AEMP) at Department of Energy-Ohio (DOE-OH) requested technical assistance from the EM-50 Lead Lab to aid in defining new cost and time effective approaches in the following problem areas: soils, concrete, and groundwater/Corrective Action Management Unit (CAMU) at RMIES in Ashtabula, Ohio. Attachment 1 provides the site request for assistance. The technical assistance team assembled for this request is provided in Attachment 2. These individuals reviewed key site information prior to convening with DOE and contractor personnel (RMIES and Earthline) for a three-and-a-half-day meeting to better understand baseline technologies, limitations, and site-specific issues. After listening to presentations about the nature and extent of known contamination, the team broke out into several groups to brainstorm ideas and develop viable solutions. This executive summary details unresolved issues requiring management attention as well as recommendations to address soils, concrete, and groundwater/CAMU. It also provides a summary of additional technical assistance that could be provided to the site. More details are presented in the body of this report.

Because of the possibility of an enriched uranium spill in transit, a program has been initiated to develop safer methods of shipment. This report compares uranium on resin with conversion to unpurified UO3, and provides information needed to judge the relative merits of the processes to produce these two solid forms.

In this work, solvent recovery from aqueous CSSX process raffinate effluent was tested using the process diluent (Isopar{reg_sign}L). A model was developed to obtain stage efficiency for the diluent contact stages. The model was used to fit experimental data from a 19.8-hr solvent recovery test. Diluent-in-aqueous entrainment was measured during the test. Vacuum distillation was used to concentrate the solvent components, BOBCalixC6 and modifier, in the diluent used in solvent recovery. Using the results, a feasibility study was performed to compare the annual cost of lost solvent under each of four solvent recovery options. These options were decanter tank, centrifuge, two-stage diluent contact using centrifugal contactor, and no solvent recovery action.

On August 6-7, 2002, a Technical Assistance Team (''Team'') from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Subsurface Contaminants Focus Area (SCFA) met with Fernald Environmental Management Project (FEMP) personnel in Ohio to assess approaches to remediating uranium-contaminated leachate from the On-Site Disposal Facility (OSDF). The Team was composed of technical experts from national labs, technology centers, and industry and was assembled in response to a request from the FEMP Aquifer Restoration Project. Dave Brettschneider of Fluor Fernald, Inc., requested that a Team of experts be convened to review technologies for the removal of uranium in both brine ion exchange regeneration solution from the Advanced Wastewater Treatment facility and in the leachate from the OSDF. The Team was asked to identify one or more technologies for bench-scale testing as a cost effective alternative to remove uranium so that the brine regeneration solution from the Advanced Waste Water Treatment facility and the leachate from the OSDF can be discharged without further treatment. The Team was also requested to prepare a recommended development and demonstration plan for the alternative technologies. Finally, the Team was asked to make recommendations on the optimal technical solution for field implementation. The Site's expected outcomes for this effort …

A photoinjector based on a higher-order mode (HOM) rf cavity presents several potential advantages over traditional photoinjector designs. These include ease of fabrication, tuning stability, and the possibility of achieving higher accelerating gradients. Since the initial proposal [1], the design has evolved towards lower rf power requirements but still maintains the ability to generate very high-quality electron beams. This paper presents the results of beam dynamics studies on a HOM-based photoinjector roughly equivalent to the SLAC/BNL/UCLA-style 1.6-cell S-band photoinjector [2]. Best-beam property numbers are obtained via simplex optimization, and parameter sensitivity studies are presented. Results are given for idealized as well as typical drive laser profiles.

This work discusses the operational envelope developed for tests involving in-situ formed magnetite to remove strontium (Sr) and actinide from Savannah River Site (SRS) waste solution. These tests will be performed at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) in support of the SRS effort for HLW treatment. The operational envelope was developed in consultations with key personnel at SRS. Four elements of the operational envelope were identified: (1) waste simulant composition, (2) radionuclide concentrations and oxidation states, (3) minimum DF requirements, and (4) the maximum amount of magnetite that can be used per liter of waste.

Criticality analysis of the proposed melt-dilute (MD) form of aluminum-based spent nuclear fuel (SNF), under geologic repository conditions, was performed [1] following the methodology documented in the Disposal Criticality Analysis Methodology Topical Report [2]. This methodology evaluates the potential for nuclear criticality for a waste form in a waste package. Criticality calculations show that even with waste package failure, followed by degradation of material within the waste package and potential loss of neutron absorber materials, sub-critical conditions can be readily demonstrated for the MD form of aluminum-based SNF.

A weld energy monitor has been developed to measure electrical energy delivered to resistance welds. The monitor combines the measurement of voltage, current, and time into an energy measurement with accuracy traceable to the National Bureau of Standards. This paper discusses this development.

On July 17-18, 2002, a technical assistance team from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Subsurface Contaminants Focus Area (SCFA) met with the Bechtel Jacobs Company Disposal Area Remedial Action (DARA) environmental project leader to review treatment and characterization options for the baseline for the DARA Solids Storage Facility (SSF). The technical assistance request sought suggestions from SCFA's team of technical experts with experience and expertise in soil treatment and characterization to identify and evaluate (1) alternative treatment technologies for DARA soils and debris, and (2) options for analysis of organic constituents in soil with matrix interference. Based on the recommendations, the site may also require assistance in identifying and evaluating appropriate commercial vendors.

In support of DOE's use of SGML, XML, HTML, and related standards, I have served since 1985 as Chairman of the international committee responsible for SGML and related standards, ISO/IEC JTC1/SC34 (SC34) and its predecessor organizations. During my August 2002 trip, I attended the summer 2002 meeting of SC34/WG3 in Montreal, Canada. I also read a paper at Extreme Markup Languages 2002, a major conference on the use of SGML and XML sponsored by IDEAlliance. Supporting standards development allows the Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) and the Y-12 National Security Complex (Y-12) the opportunity both to provide input into the process and to benefit from contact with some of the leading experts in the subject matter. Oak Ridge has been for some years the location to which other DOE sites turn for expertise in SGML, XML, and related topics.

A metallic waste form alloy that consists primarily of stainless steel and zirconium is being developed by Argonne National Laboratory to contain metallic waste constituents that are residual from an electrometallurgical treatment process for spent nuclear fuel. An approach for monitoring the consistency of metallic waste forms (MWFs) is developed based on consideration of the intent of regulatory requirements, production method, measured physical and chemical properties of the MWF, and analytical capabilities. It is recommended that the Zr content of the MWF be measured and tracked to monitor consistency because the Zr content: (1) provides a measure of the amount of the Zr(Fe,Ni,Cr){sub 2+x} intermetallic phase, which sequesters the majority of radionuclides in the MWF and affects its physical robustness and (2) indicates that the desired Fe-Zr eutectic was obtained, which provides a direct indicator that the appropriate process conditions (time, temperature) were employed. It is recommended that the Zr content be measured by chemical analyses of drill shavings taken from the MWF products.

The study of ionization cooling considered for muon colliders requires a full 6D treatment because of the need to exchange the longitudinal and transverse emittances. A general cooling channel consists of solenoids and quadrupoles for focusing, dipoles to generate dispersion, wedge absorbers for cooling and emittance exchange, and rf cavities for reacceleration. The quadrupole strengths can be adjusted so that the net focusing is cylindrically symmetric. The beam moments in such a system are completely specified in terms of five generalized emittances. We derive a set of coupled first-order differential equations describing the evolution of the generalized emittances due to the damping and excitation processes. The framework for lattice design is considered.

Addressing the challenges posed by global climate change will eventually require the active participation of all industrial sectors and consumers on the planet. To date, however, most efforts to address climate change have focused on only a few sectors of the economy (e.g., refineries and fossil-fired electric power plants) and a handful of large industrialized nations. While useful as a starting point, these efforts must be expanded to include other sectors of the economy and other nations. The transportation sector presents some unique challenges, with its nearly exclusive dependence on petroleum based products as a fuel source coupled with internal combustion engines as the prime mover. Reducing carbon emissions from transportation systems is unlikely to be solely accomplished by traditional climate mitigation policies that place a price on carbon. Our research shows that price signals alone are unlikely to fundamentally alter the demand for energy services or to transform the way energy services are provided in the transportation sector. We believe that a technological revolution will be necessary to accomplish the significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector.

Daily newspaper from Baytown, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.

Funeral program for Mrs. Alice Nadean Parker, born July 2, 1935 and died August 20, 2002. The funeral was held Monday, August 26, 2002 at Mt. Zion First Baptist Church, officiated by Rev. Kenneth Allen. Funeral arrangements were made through Lewis Funeral Home and she was buried in Meadowlawn Memorial Park in San Antonio, Texas.

Daily newspaper from Altus, Oklahoma that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.

Weekly newspaper from Alvin, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.

A new power plant design has the goal of making major improvements in cost and ease of operation over previous designs. Improvements in the way information is organized and presented to control room operators based on established Human Factors Engineering (HFE) criteria is key to achieving these goals. An overview of the process and methods being employed in an ongoing design effort will be discussed, including the ways in which current Human Factors guidance is being applied in a unique operating environment.

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

Daily newspaper from Chickasha, Oklahoma that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.