This report follows a manuscript report made in January 11, 1952, and provides results of a survey that gives corrections as well as suggestions for new and local sources of aggregate material in comparison to the original report. These reports were made in response to a heavy desire of improvement in reactor design and shielding.

Abstract: "This is the preliminary report of a radiological-ecological survey of the invertebrate fauna that inhabit the Columbia River within the confines of Hanford Works and downstream to the site of McNary Dam. The survey was carried out during the period of October, 1948 through February, 1950. Materials and methods are discussed and the results of extensive radioassays, qualitative and quantitative biological determinations, and hydrographic studies are given and analyzed. Twelve figures and twenty-three tables are included. All aquatic invertebrates were found to be concentrating radioactivity from the river water. A maximum activity density of 4.4-10-(-3) μc/g wet weight was found in the larvae of midges (Hydrobaeninae) collected near Hanford during September, 1949. Radioactive wastes were not found to be causing any apparent deleterious effects to the natural invertebrate fauna. Existing population variations are caused by biological and hydrographic conditions."

This report summarizes the research and development work carried out during December, 1959, and January and February, 1960, for Budget Activity 2790 - Separations Development for Non-Production Reactors. The major effort on Activity 2790 has been completed. Current efforts on the remaining problem areas will enable Hanford to begin reprocessing fuel elements from power reactors which employ depleted or slightly enriched uranium fuels in July, 1962.

One of the problems encountered in the design of the EGCR has been the possibility of bowing in the outer six rods of the seven rod cluster. The power distribution in an outer rod is asymmetrical with respect to the center of the rod. This causes a variation in the cladding temperature, and might result in unven thermal expansion, or bowing.

The Non-Production Fuel Reprocessing Program involves the chemical processing of valuable reactor fuels received from privately owned power reactors. It is necessary therefore, to accurately measure the fuel material received in order to insure proper payment to reactor operator and to provide the Atomic Energy Commission with appropriate accountability data. The volume measurement study described herein was conducted in order to determine the limits of accuracy that could be obtained in measuring relatively large volumes of solution under plant processing conditions.

Presently rotary drum filters are being used for plutonium oxalate slurry filtration in the 234-5 Building. Changing of the filter cloth used on a rotary drum is a time consuming operation which involves ever increasing radiation exposure to maintenance personnel. Consequently, studies were conducted in the 321 Building on a disk type filter which could be adapted for simple and quick ("one-nut") replacement of the filter medium.

Data has been previously presented to show that aluminum corrosion in high temperature water may proceed with either a parabolic or a linear dependence on time. The rate of the parabolic process is an Arrhenius function of temperature and essentially independent of alloy composition. More recently several aluminum melts have been tested which corrode by a logarithmic rate process.

The transfer or circulation of raw dissolver solutions containing gross particulate matter presents many problems not easily overcome by standard pumping equipment. In April of 1956 the HAPO concept of a modified Archimedes screw pump was developed. Two basic models, externally powered and driven through extended shafts, were constructed and tested. Operation of these preliminary models was so satisfactory that a third unit, integrally formed into drive motor, was built and placed in extended life test. This report describes construction and testing of the third and final model.

The final percentage of xenon created by fission in uranium and plutonium is a function of the neutron flux intensity. The flux dependence results because axenon 133 and 135 can be converted to a a stable xenon isotope by neutron capture instead of decaying into cesium.

This paper discusses a remotely operated system developed to transport (raise and lower) a 1/2 gram radium gamma radiation source for calibration of the HAPO film badges and finger rings. The system employs the rotometer principle for positioning the source for operating purposes. An accurate timer is utilized to assure the desired exposure time.

Ultrasonic cleaning uses high-frequency sound waves to induce cavitation within a cleaning, medium. During cavitation, millions of small bubbles form and collapse, resulting in agitation proportional to the energy put into the solution. The making and breaking of these bubbles produce the scrubbing action associated with ultrasonic cleaning.