The testing of single shell tanks to determine breathing rates. Inert tracer gases helium, and sulfur hexafluoride will be injected into the tanks AX-103, BY-105, C-107 and U-103. Periodic samples will be taken over a three month interval to determine actual headspace breathing rates.

This report summarizes the 1985--1995 results of low-level HPGe gamma spectrometry analysis of high-volume air samples collected at the Aiken Airport, which is about 25 miles north of SRS. The author began analyzing these samples with new calibrations using the newly developed GRABGAM code in 1985. The air sample collections were terminated in 1995, as the facilities at the Aiken Airport were no longer available. Air sample measurements prior to 1985 were conducted with a different analysis system (and by others prior to 1984), and the data were not readily available. The report serves to closeout this phase of local NTS air sample studies, while documenting the capabilities and accomplishments. Hopefully, the information will guide other applications for this technology, both locally and elsewhere.

This paper discusses the design and testing results of a resonant accelerometer developed for integrated surface-micromachining processes.First- and second-generation designs are presented. The sensors use leverage mechanisms to transfer force from a proof mass to double-ended tuning fork (DETF) resonators, used as force transducers. Each fork forms the basis of an integrated oscillator to provide the output waveforms. The DETF`s on the first-generation device have a nominal frequency of 175 kHz, and the sensor has a measured scale factor of 2.4 Hz/g. The oscillators on this device exhibit a root Allan variance floor of 38 mHz (220 ppb). The second-generation, higher-sensitivity sensor uses DETF`s with a nominal frequency of 68 kHz and has measured a scale factor of 45 Hz/g.

The output subsystem collects data from a running microsimulation, stores the data for future use, and manages the subsequent retrieval of the data. It forms a layer separating the other subsystems from the actual data files so that the other subsystems do not need to access the data files at the physical level or deal with the physical location and organization of the files. This subsystem also allows the user to specify what data is collected and retrieved, and to filter it by space and time. The collection occurs in a distributed manner such that the subsystem`s impact on the microsimulation performance is minimized; the retrieval provides a unified view of the distributed data.

Trace Pu{sup 239} and Am{sup 241} contamination on a surface whose alpha count is dominated by U{sup 235} and U{sup 234} decay has been successfully quantified by counting swipes in external alpha spectroscopy chambers. The swipe process, however, is labor intensive and subject to uncertainties in the swiping process as well as degraded spectral resolution due to the presence of the swipe material. A multichannel instrument for automated in situ measurements of interior and exterior contamination has been developed which incorporates a rotary table, 13 fixed ion-implanted silicon detectors, and spectroscopy electronics. Custom software was written to allow alpha spectrometer to function as a virtual instrument in the LabView environment. This system gives improved speed and resolution as well as a complete log of the location of areas of high surface contamination, a feature not practical to obtain by other methods, and one which opens the possibility of long term studies such as Pu outgrowth evaluation employing the instrument. The authors present performance data as well as system integration, calibration, control, and dynamic geometric efficiency calculations related to the design of this and next generation systems.

This document describes methods used, including sampling and analysis, to characterize hazardous chemical constituent in Tank Farms containerized solid waste.

No single methodology has been developed or universally accepted for determining the scope of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Most typically, the scope is determined by first identifying actions and facilities to be analyzed. Yet, agencies sometimes complete an EIS, only to discover that the scope does not adequately address decisions that need to be made. Such discrepancies can often be traced to disconnects between the scoping process and the actual decision making that follows. A new tool, for use in a value engineering setting, provides an effective methodology for improving the EIS scoping process. Application of this tool is not limited to National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) scoping efforts. This tool, could in fact, be used to map potential decision points for a range of diverse planning applications and exercises.

This report serves two purposes. First, it documents the analytical results of Tank 48H samples taken between April and August 1996. Second, it describes investigations of the precision of the sampling and analytical methods used on the Tank 48H samples.

This document is the fifteenth quarterly technical progress report under Contract No. DE-AC22-92PC921 `Development of Vanadium- Phosphate Catalysts for Methanol Production by Selective Oxidation of Methane` and covers the period October-December, 1996. Vanadium phosphate, vanadyl pyrophosphate specifically, is used commercially to oxidize butane to maleic anhydride and is one of the few examples of an active and selective oxidation catalyst for alkanes. In this project we are examining this catalyst for the methane oxidation reaction. Initial process variable and kinetic studies indicated that vanadyl pyrophosphate is a reasonably active catalyst below 5000{degrees}C but produces CO as the primary product, no formaldehyde or methanol were observed. A number of approaches for modification of the phosphate catalyst to improve selectivity have been tried during this project. During this quarter we have obtained surface areas of catalysts prepared with modified surface acidity. The results confirm the enhanced activity of two of the modified preparations in methanol conversion (a test reaction for surface acid sites). In previous work we noted no improvement in methane oxidation selectivity for these catalysts. Surface areas, surface analysis by XPS, and bulk analysis by ICP-AA have been obtained for vanadyl pyrophosphate promoted by Cr, Cu, and Fe. These data …