The High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at Martin Marietta Energy Systems' Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has been unable to ship its spent fuel to Savannah River Site (SRS) for reprocessing since 1985. The HFIR storage pools are expected to fill up in the February 1994 to February 1995 time frame. If a management altemative to existing HFIR pool storage is not identified and implemented before the HFIR pools are full, the HFIR will be forced to shut down. This study investigated several alternatives for managing the HFIR spent fuel, attempting to identify options that could be implemented before the HFIR pools are full. The options investigated were: installing a dedicated dry cask storage facility at ORNL, increasing HFIR pool storage capacity by clearing the HFIR pools of debris and either close-packing or stacking the spent fuel elements, storing the spent fuel at another ORNL pool, storing the spent fuel in one or more hot cells at ORNL, and shipping the spent fuel offsite for reprocessing or storage elsewhere.

The aims of the US Department of Energy's Carbon Dioxide Research Program are to improve assessments of greenhouse-gas-induced climatic change and to define and reduce uncertainties through selected research. This project will address: The regional and seasonal details of the expected climatic changes; how rapidly will these changes occur; how and when will the climatic effects of CO[sub 2] and other greenhouse gases be first detected; and the relationships between greenhouse-gas-induced climatic change and changes caused by other external and internal factors. The present project addresses all of these questions. Many of the diverse facets of greenhouse-gas-related climate research can be grouped under three interlinked subject areas: modeling, first detection and supporting data. This project will include the analysis of climate forcing factors, the development and refinement of transient response climate models, and the use of instrumental data in validating General Circulation Models (GCMs).

The primary objective of this CCT project is to evaluate the use of Gas Reburning and Low NO[sub x] Burners (GR-LNB) for NO[sub x] emission control from a wall fired boiler. It is anticipated that, if the demonstration is successful, the GR-LNB technology could become commercialized during the 1990's and will be capable of (1) achieving significant reduction in the emissions of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide (another acid rain precursor) from existing facilities to minimize environmental impacts such as transboundary and interstate pollution and/or (2) providing for future energy needs in an environmentally acceptable manner. Low NO[sub x] burners are designed to delay the mixing of the coal fuel with combustion air to minimize the NO[sub x] formation. Typically, one may obtain up to 50% reduction in NO[sub x] emissions through the use of LNB. For LNB applications, the technology is developed and a number of LNB designs are commercially available. With GR, about 80-85 percent of the coal fuel is fired in the main combustion zone. The balance of the fuel is added downstream as natural gas to create a slightly fuel rich environment in which NO[sub x] is converted to N[sub 2]. The combustion process is completed …

NIOSH has studied the mutagenicity of seven mild gasification product samples using the Ames Salmonella/microsomal assay. The Ames assay is widely used as a short-term test for the detection of possible genotoxic agents and potential carcinogens. Bacterial tester strains used in the Ames assay contain specific mutations (frameshift or base pair substitution) the amino acid histidine. The assay was performed on CTC No. 11, a mild gasification product with a liquid/tar consistency, using a DMSO and Tween 80. CTC No. 11 displayed significant mutagenic activity in all conditions tested. The high response was noted on TA98with microsomal activation. Although both solvents allowed a strong response to be evident, the mutagenic activity was higher when DMSO was the solvent. Significant response under these conditions indicates thepresence of potent, indirect-acting, frameshift mutagens. Moderate significant mutagenic activity was also noted on TA98 without microsomal activation indicating the presence of a direct-acting frameshift mutagen. In this case, the response was slightly higher when Tween 80 was used the solvent. Mutagenic activity on TA100, which indicates base-pair substitutions, was moderate with microsomal activation and weak without.

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.

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, Dan Morales, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Whether a county constable is under a statutory duty to serve civil process issued by federal courts (RQ-133)

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, Dan Morales, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Whether the former workers’ compensation laws authorize the Industrial Accident Board or its successor to pay for the cost of agency ordered medical examinations of claimants (RQ-400)

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, Dan Morales, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Whether the Texas Structural Pest Control Act, V.T.C.S. article 135b-6, exempts city employees who perform pest control services from its licensing requirements (RQ-459)

The baseline risk assessment [WSRC91] has demonstrated that the hazard at PAR Pond is solely from external exposure to Cs-137, a gamma emitting radionuclide. Between 1954 and 1964, approximately 222 curies of radioactive cesium (Cs-134 and Cs-137) were released to the Lower Three Runs Creek system from R Reactor [Ma9l]. These releases were associated with leaking fuel and target slugs in the reactor disassembly basin. Independent studies show that approximately 45 curies of Cs-137 (half-life of 30 years) still resides in the sediments of PAR Pond [Wh9l; Wi9l]; Cs-134 has a relatively short half-life (2 years) and has decayed to insignificant quantities since it was released.

Based on a comparison of the known constituents in high-level nuclear waste stored at the Savannah River Site (SRS) and explosive compounds reported in the literature, only two classes of explosive compounds (metal NO{sub x} compounds and organic compounds) were identified as requiring further work to determine if they exist in the waste, and if so, in what quantities. Of the fourteen classes of explosive compounds identified as conceivably being present in tank farm operations, nine classes (metal fulminates, metal azides, halogen compounds, metal-amine complexes, nitrate/oxalate mixtures, metal oxalates, metal oxohalogenates, metal cyanides/cyanates, and peroxides) are not a hazard because these classes of compounds cannot be formed or accumulated in sufficient quantity, or they are not reactive at the conditions which exist in the tank farm facilities. Three of the classes (flammable gases, metal nitrides, and ammonia compounds and derivatives) are known to have the potential to build up to concentrations at which an observable reaction might occur. Controls have been in place for some time to limit the formation or control the concentration of these classes of compounds. A comprehensive list of conceivable explosive compounds is provided in Appendix 3.

The primary objective of this CCT project is to evaluate the use of Gas Reburning and Low NO{sub x} Burners (GR-LNB) for NO{sub x} emission control from a wall fired boiler. It is anticipated that, if the demonstration is successful, the GR-LNB technology could become commercialized during the 1990`s and will be capable of (1) achieving significant reduction in the emissions of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide (another acid rain precursor) from existing facilities to minimize environmental impacts such as transboundary and interstate pollution and/or (2) providing for future energy needs in an environmentally acceptable manner. Low NO{sub x} burners are designed to delay the mixing of the coal fuel with combustion air to minimize the NO{sub x} formation. Typically, one may obtain up to 50% reduction in NO{sub x} emissions through the use of LNB. For LNB applications, the technology is developed and a number of LNB designs are commercially available. With GR, about 80-85 percent of the coal fuel is fired in the main combustion zone. The balance of the fuel is added downstream as natural gas to create a slightly fuel rich environment in which NO{sub x} is converted to N{sub 2}. The combustion process is completed …

A low-temperature (750{degrees}C) process to produce aluminum, employing dimensionally-stable electrodes, was investigated under this contract. Tests were carried out at a 10-ampere scale to develop a nonconsumable anode and to evaluate certain cell operating parameters. The work was carried out in conjunction with a NSF SBIR research grant to study the fundamental science aspects of the process. A scaled up 300-ampere cell was built and a preliminary test run was made with encouraging results. The new technology has the promise of producing aluminum at 5.0 kWh/lb as compared to the US average of about 7.5 kWh/lb, and to produce it at lower cost. Preliminary technical discussions have been held with a major US aluminum company under secrecy agreement for eventual licensing.

Sixteen years of work on the microbial food web of the southeastern shelf and its relation to the production, movement, and fate of organic materials, have helped us understand the roles of microorganisms in that ecosystem. We found that microbial metabolism dominates the flow of energy and materials on the continental shelf, utilizing nearly all available organic matter, except in mid-winter. Bacteria strongly influence the cycle of carbon in continental shelf waters, both by rapidly utilizing organic materials and by promoting aggregation of particulate material. We demonstrated a strong interaction between microorganisms in the water and those in the nearshore bottom sediments. We showed that chelation of copper by dissolved organic ligands in the coastal water protects phytoplankton not only from existing amounts but from much larger amounts. Simulation modeling predicted that there is usually little transfer of energy from the microbial food web to macroorganisms (fishes), an observation that has since been validated by investigators. A complete list of publications, theses and dissertations resulting from this project is provided.

Can the structure of a melt much above the glass transition temperature (Tg) determine the structure and (transport) properties of glass? In other words, are there extremely long lasting configurations in a melt which would affect ion transport in the glassy state? A major effort during the past year has been to address these very fundamental questions. An important consideration here is to separate the effect of the variable melt structure from that of a variable cooling rate in the glass transformation range. For this reason our experiment consists of preparing 0.3 Na{sub 2}O--0.7 B{sub 2}O{sub 3} glasses from the melt which is first equilibrated at 1400 C and then annealed at 850 C for 0 to 180 minutes. From 850 C variously annealed melts are quenched to the glassy state by following identical procedure. If the structure (as reflected in ion transport) of 1400 C melt relaxes to that of 850 C in {approximately} minutes, we may expect to observe variations in the conductivity time in the ns range.

Slow strain rate testing has been undertaken to determine the effects of individual chemical species on the fracture process of high-strength 4340 steel. Test environments included potassium chloride, ammonium nitrate, and ammonium chloride at concentrations from 0.001 to 1.0 mole por liter at ambient temperature. Tests were performed at cathodic and anodic controlled potentials, as well as at the open-circuit potential, to delineate the stress corrosion cracking range.

During the last year we have made considerable progress on determining the emission rate of methane from rice fields in China and the factors that control the emissions. We have completed work on the methane emissions f rom rice fields for a period of four years at Tu Zu near Chengdu in Szchuan province in China. The available data is being entered into the computer. Flux calculations will be available within 2 months. The fluxes of methane from the rice fields and ambient methane concentrations near the fields are provided including temperature cloud cover, wind speeds, water level, planing density, fertilizer application, pests, ad diseases, growth rate, rice type, soil type, microbial ecology, root exchange exudates, and pH. for the 4-year period. The analysis of the data show that there are a number of internal and external variables that affect the emissions of methane from rice fields.

The Savannah River Site (SRS) is a Department of Energy (DOE) facility located near Aiken, South Carolina. Assessment of groundwater flow rates and directions, potential contaminant transport times, and concentration of potential contaminants is required to determine current and future environmental effects resulting from releases by these facilities. Proposed closure actions and/or remedial alternatives also need to be evaluated. Numerical groundwater flow and solute transport models are a means of assessing the environmental effects on the groundwater system. They provide a logical method of integrating all available data into a consistent framework for quantitative analysis. The results of groundwater models can be used directly for input to management decisions and design/construct issues or can provide input into risk assessment models for site evaluations. GeoTrans, Inc. was contracted by the Environmental Restoration Department of WSRC to develop a groundwater model of the entire General Separations Area (GSA). Of particular interest is the area surrounding the Mixed Waste Management Facility (MWMF) as shown in Figure 1.2. The model developed in this phase of the study will be used to assess groundwater flow issues for the entire GSA. The second phase of the study will address contaminant transport issues specific to the area …

Research continued on relative biological effectiveness, in the following areas: radial distribution of dose about the path of an energetic heavy ion; the response of E. Coli mutants to ionizing radiations; the application of a fragmentation model to to the calculation of cell survival and mutation with heavy ion beams; biological radiation effects from gamma radiation and heavy ion beams on organisms; cancer induction in the Harderian Gland by HZE particles; and effects of low dose radiations. (CBS)

Various aspects of research concerning Dictyostelium discoideum are presented. The initial focus of this project was upon: the characterization of potential probes for the cellulose synthase (antibody and nucleic acid), the determination of the cultural induction conditions of cellulose synthesis, the solubilization of the enzyme activity, the development of a non-inhibitory disruption buffer, the generation and isolation of mutant strains deficient in cellulose synthesis, and the development of the capability to determine the degree of polymerization of the in vitro product. I have briefly summarized our most significant findings with only selected data sets being shown in this report in the interest of brevity.

The program is conducted by a team consisting of AiResearch Los Angeles Division of Allied-Signal Aerospace Company and Argonne National Laboratory (ANL). The objective of the program is to advance materials and fabrication methodologies to develop a monolithic solid oxide fuel cell (MSOFC) system capable of meeting performance, life, and cost goals for coal-based power generation. The program focuses on materials research and development, fabrication process development, cell/stack performance testing and characterization, cost and system analysis, and quality development.

For the past 40 years, the Savannah River Site (SRS) has been subjected to numerous geological and geotechnical investigations in support of facility construction and waste site development and remediation. Over this period,.a variety of different subcontractors have collected large quantities of geoscience data. In addition, current programs involve numerous investigators from different departments, and consequently, earth science data and interpretations are scattered among the departments, investigators, and subcontractors at SRS. As a result, scientific and management decisions cannot take advantage of the significant body of information that exists at SRS. Recent DOE Orders (Systematic Evaluation Program, 1991) have put specific requirements on their contractors to compile geological databases to coordinate DOE site data gathering and interpretations, and to assist in compiling safety analysis reports. The Earth Science Advisory Committee and the Environmental Advisory Committee have also made specific recommendations on the management of SRS geoscience data. This plan describes a management system to identify, communicate, and compile SRS geological (including geohydrologic), seismological, and geotechnical (656) data and interpretations on a Geographic Information System (GIS).

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, Dan Morales, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification; Whether a county pre-trial services agency is authorized under chapter 17 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to hold personal property as additional security for personal bond if additional security is ordered by the district court, and, if so, where such personal property should be held (RQ-193)

Letter opinion 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, Dan Morales, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification; Whether the Port of Houston Authority of Harris County may purchase real property and facilities, thereby removing the property from the tax base and related question (RQ-391)