As a result of the end of the Cold War, the Department of Energy (Department) has downsized many of its facilities. This may have a negative impact on many communities that were heavily dependent on Departmental operations for economic stability. To lessen the negative effects on these communities, the Department has encouraged the formation of community reuse organizations that are responsible for acting on behalf of the community to determine and sponsor initiatives to offset the consequences of the Department`s downsizing. One such initiative has been the award of economic development grants and cooperative agreements. The objective of the audit was to determine whether economic development grants and a cooperative agreement with East Tennessee not-for-profit organizations were achieving the Department`s intended purposes.

Automatic control of fine coal cleaning circuits has traditionally been limited by the lack of sensors for on-line ash analysis. Although several nuclear-based analyzers are available, none have seen widespread acceptance. This is largely due to the fact that nuclear sensors are expensive and tend to be influenced by changes in seam type and pyrite content. Recently, researchers at VPI&SU have developed an optical sensor for phosphate analysis. The sensor uses image processing technology to analyze video images of phosphate ore. It is currently being used by PCS Phosphate for off-fine analysis of dry flotation concentrate. The primary advantages of optical sensors over nuclear sensors are that they are significantly cheaper, are not subject to measurement variations due to changes in high atomic number minerals, are inherently safer and require no special radiation permitting. The purpose of this work is to apply the knowledge gained in the development of an optical phosphate analyzer to the development of an on-fine ash analyzer for fine coal slurries. During the past quarter, installation of the video-based ash analyzer at the Middle Fork plant site was completed. A method of measuring and automatically adjusting for small variations in the sensor illumination scheme was developed …

This notice of construction (NOC) requests a categorical approval for construction and operation of three types of portable/temporary radionuclide airborne emission units (PTRAEUs). These three types are portable ventilation-filter systems (Type 1), mobile sample preparation facilities (Type II), and mobile sample screening and analysis facilities (Type III). Approval of the NOC application is intended to allow construction and operation of the three types of PTRAEUs without prior project-specific approval. Environmental cleanup efforts on the Hanford Site often require the use of PTRAEUS. The PTRAEUs support site characterization activities, expedited response actions (ERAs), sampling and monitoring activities, and other routine activities. The PTRAEUs operate at various locations around the Hanford Site.

This report summarizes the Savanna River Site (SRS) Groundwater Monitoring Program conducted by EPD/EMS during the first quarter 1996. It includes the analytical data, field data, data review, quality control, and other documentation for this program. It also provides a record of the program`s activities and serves as an official record of the analytical results.

Nonthermal plasma (NTP) technology is a promising candidate for the treatment of air pollutants. An NTP is different from a thermal plasma in that high energy electrons are used to create chemically active species without raising the gas to high temperatures. NTPs have the potential of simultaneous removal of multiple air pollutants with better control over treatment byproducts. A silent discharge plasma (SDP) configuration is one method of easily generating such a nonthermal plasma. Silent electrical discharge plasma (dielectric barrier) reactors can decompose gas-phase pollutants by free-radical attack or electron-induced fragmentation. The radicals or electrons are produced by the large average volume nonthermal plasmas generated in the reactor. In the past decade, the barrier configuration has attracted attention for destroying toxic chemical agents for the military, removing harmful greenhouse gases (oxides of sulfur and nitrogen - SO{sub x} and NO{sub x}), and treating other environmentally-hazardous chemical compounds (hydrocarbons, chlorocarbons, and chlorofluorocarbons). At the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), the authors have been studying the silent discharge plasma for processing gaseous-based hazardous chemicals for approximately five years. The key objective is to convert hazardous or toxic chemicals into non-hazardous compounds or into materials which are more easily managed. The main applications …

Surface irregularities cause the EMI moisture measurement to infer too low of a free water content in the HLW tank.

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 training and qualification program for nuclear criticality safety technical staff personnel has been developed and implemented. The program is compliant with requirements and provides evidence that a systematic approach has been taken to indoctrinate new technical staff. Development involved task analysis to determine activities where training was necessary and the standard which must be attained to qualify. Structured mentoring is used where experienced personnel interact with candidates using checksheets to guide candidates through various steps and to provide evidence that steps have been accomplished. Credit can be taken for the previous experience of personnel by means of evaluation boards which can credit or modify checksheet steps. Considering just the wealth of business practice and site specific information a new person at a facility needs to assimilate, the program has been effective in indoctrinating new technical staff personnel and integrating them into a productive role. The program includes continuing training.