Advanced development of a pressurized ash agglomerating fluidized-bed coal gasification system. Quarterly progress report, October 1-December 31, 1982 (open access)

Advanced development of a pressurized ash agglomerating fluidized-bed coal gasification system. Quarterly progress report, October 1-December 31, 1982

The overall objective of the Westinghouse coal gasification program is to demonstrate the viability of the Westinghouse pressurized, fluidized bed, gasification system for the production of medium-Btu fuel gas for syngas, electrical power generation, chemical feedstocks, or industrial fuels and to obtain performance and scaleup data for the process and hardware. Progress reports are presented for the following tasks: (1) operation and maintenance of the process development unit (PDU); (2) process analysis; (3) cold flow scaleup facility; (4) process component engineering and design; and (5) laboratory support studies involving gas solids flow modeling and coal/ash behavior. 9 figures, 19 tables.
Date: April 21, 1983
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Gene-enzyme telationships in somatic cells and their organismal derivatives in higher plants. Progress report (open access)

Gene-enzyme telationships in somatic cells and their organismal derivatives in higher plants. Progress report

Progress is reported in the following subject areas: (1) chemistry of the arogenate molecule; (2) plant enzymology at the organismal level; (3) isolation of regulatory mutants in tobacco; and (4) stability of the haploid state in Nicotiana sylvestris.
Date: April 21, 1980
Creator: Jensen, R. A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Annual environmental monitoring report: calendar year 1981 (open access)

Annual environmental monitoring report: calendar year 1981

The environment locally surrounding Mound was monitored primarily for tritium and plutonium-238. The results are reported for CY-1981. The environmental medium analyzed included air, water, vegetation, foodstuffs, and sediment. The average concentrations of plutonium-238 and tritium were within the applicable standards (adopted by the US DOE) for radioactive species.
Date: April 21, 1982
Creator: Farmer, B. M. & Carfagno, D. G.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Volume reduction system for solid and liquid TRU waste from the nuclear fuel cycle: October--December 1977 (open access)

Volume reduction system for solid and liquid TRU waste from the nuclear fuel cycle: October--December 1977

A bench-scale incinerator for the investigation of unusual particulate and gaseous radioactive material in the incinerator off-gas was assembled and equipment checkout was begun. Modifications to a glovebox to be used for the demonstration phase of incinerator-ash immobilization are approximately 80% completed with demonstration to begin next quarter. The curing time for ash-cement pressed pellets was optimized by periodic crush-strength testing of open-air and underwater cured samples. Leach tests were performed at 70 and 100/sup 0/C to simulate normal and extreme storage conditions. Long-term leach tests were initiated on plutonium-238 doped ash-cement pressed pellets in distilled water at ambient temperature. Pressed pellets of bone char, ash, and sludge-ash in several mixtures were fabricated and tested to establish pressing and curing parameters. Leach tests were also performed on bone char-cement pressed pellets. Curing studies have been conducted on the pressed pellet matrix to define differences between curing in the open atmosphere and under water. Leachability studies have been initiated on the pressed pellet ash/cement matrix in distilled water at ambient, 70 and 100/sup 0/C. Also, leachability studies on doped plutonium-238 pressed ash/cement pellets and pressed bone char/cement pellets in distilled water at ambient temperature have been conducted. Compressive strengths of bone …
Date: April 21, 1978
Creator: Luthy, D. F. & Bond, W.H.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Preliminary planning study for safety relief valve experiments in a Mark III BWR pressure suppression system (open access)

Preliminary planning study for safety relief valve experiments in a Mark III BWR pressure suppression system

In response to a request from the Water Reactor Safety Research Division of the US NRC, a preliminary study is provided which identifies key features and consideration involved in planning a comprehensive in-plant Safety Relief Valve experimental program for a Mark III containment design. The report provides identification of program objectives, measurement system requirements, and some details quantifying expected system response. In addition, a preliminary test matrix is outlined which involves a supporting philosophy intended to enhance the usefulness of the experimental results for all members of the program team: experimentalists, analysts, and plant operator.
Date: April 21, 1980
Creator: McCauley, E.W. & Holman, G.S.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Interim report: studies of boron deposition near geothermal power plants (open access)

Interim report: studies of boron deposition near geothermal power plants

Measurements in the Geysers area from April until October 1979 when the onset of seasonal rains limited field work are presented. Field studies involved the following three basic types of measurements: cooling tower drift deposition, plant ecological studies, and animal population studies. Brief summaries of the data are presented to demonstrate the types of information obtained. (MHR)
Date: April 21, 1980
Creator: Koranda, J.J.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Linear induction accelerator parameter options (open access)

Linear induction accelerator parameter options

The principal undertaking of the Beam Research Program over the past decade has been the investigation of propagating intense self-focused beams. Recently, the major activity of the program has shifted toward the investigation of converting high quality electron beams directly to laser radiation. During the early years of the program, accelerator development was directed toward the generation of very high current (>10 kA), high energy beams (>50 MeV). In its new mission, the program has shifted the emphasis toward the production of lower current beams (>3 kA) with high brightness (>10/sup 6/ A/(rad-cm)/sup 2/) at very high average power levels. In efforts to produce these intense beams, the state of the art of linear induction accelerators (LIA) has been advanced to the point of satisfying not only the current requirements but also future national needs.
Date: April 21, 1986
Creator: Birx, D.L.; Caporaso, G.J. & Reginato, L.L.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Qualification of tribological materials and coatings for use in sodium. [LMFBR] (open access)

Qualification of tribological materials and coatings for use in sodium. [LMFBR]

This paper describes some of the essential performance measures used to qualify materials for tribological applications in liquid sodium environments and summarizes relative properties of some of the newer tribological materials now qualified for use in sodium systems.
Date: April 21, 1980
Creator: Johnson, R. N. & Farwick, D. G.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Silicon-on ceramic process: silicon sheet growth and device development for the large-area silicon sheet task of the Low-Cost Solar Array Project. Quarterly report No. 14, January 1-March 31, 1980 (open access)

Silicon-on ceramic process: silicon sheet growth and device development for the large-area silicon sheet task of the Low-Cost Solar Array Project. Quarterly report No. 14, January 1-March 31, 1980

The purpose of this research program is to investigate the technical and economic feasibility of producing solar-cell-quality sheet silicon by coating inexpensive ceramic substrates with a thin layer of polycrystalline silicon. The coating methods to be developed are directed toward a minimum-cost process for producing solar cells with a terrestrial conversion efficiency of 11% or greater. By applying a graphite coating to one face of a ceramic substrate, molten silicon can be made to wet only that graphite-coated face and produce uniform, thin layers of large-grain polycrystalline silicon; thus, only a minimal quantity of silicon is consumed. A dip-coating method for putting silicon on ceramic (SOC) has been shown to produce solar-cell-quality sheet silicon. This method and a continuous-coating process also being investigated have excellent scale-up potential which offers an outstanding, cost-effective way to manufacture large-area solar cells. The dip-coating investigation has shown that, as the substrate is pulled from the molten silicon, crystallization continues to occur from previously grown silicon. Therefore, as the substrate length is increased (as would be the case in a scaled-up process), the expectancy for larger crystallites increases. Results and accomplishments are reported. (WHK)
Date: April 21, 1980
Creator: Whitehead, A B; Zook, J D; Grung, B L; McHenry, K; Schuldt, S B & Chapman, P W
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Innovative Clean Coal Technology (ICCT): 500 MW demonstration of advanced wall-fired combustion techniques for the reduction of nitrogen oxide (NO sub x ) emissions from coal-fired boilers (open access)

Innovative Clean Coal Technology (ICCT): 500 MW demonstration of advanced wall-fired combustion techniques for the reduction of nitrogen oxide (NO sub x ) emissions from coal-fired boilers

This quarterly report discusses the technical progress of an Innovative Clean Coal Technology (ICCT) demonstration of advanced wall-fired combustion techniques for the reduction of nitrogen oxide (NO{sub x}) emissions from coal-fired boilers. The project is being conducted at Georgia Power Company's Plant Hammond Unit 4 located near Rome, Georgia. The primary goal of this project is the characterization of the low NO{sub x} combustion equipment through the collection and analysis of long-term emissions data. A target of achieving fifty percent NO{sub x} reduction using combustion modifications has been established for the project. The project provides a stepwise retrofit of an advanced overfire air (AOFA) system followed by low NO{sub x} burners (LNB). During each test phase of the project, diagnostic, performance, long-term, and verification testing will be performed. These tests are used to quantify the NO{sub x} reductions of each technology and evaluate the effects of those reductions on other combustion parameters such as parameters such as particulate characteristics and boiler efficiency.
Date: April 21, 1992
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Responses to Post Hearing Questions (open access)

Responses to Post Hearing Questions

Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "This letter responds to a Congressional request for additional information related to a March 14, 2006 hearing entitled "GSA Contractors Who Cheat on Their Taxes and What Should Be Done about It." Our responses are based largely on information contained in our published reports and testimonies related to Department of Defense, civilian agency, and GSA contractors with unpaid taxes and reflect our views based on that information."
Date: April 21, 2006
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Fair Housing: Opportunities to Improve HUD's Oversight and Management of the Enforcement Process (open access)

Fair Housing: Opportunities to Improve HUD's Oversight and Management of the Enforcement Process

A letter report issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "Discrimination in housing on the basis of race, sex, family status, and other grounds is illegal in the United States. Each year, the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) and related agencies carry out enforcement activities for several thousand complaints of housing discrimination. The timeliness and effectiveness of the enforcement process have been continuing concerns. GAO describes the stages and practices of the fair housing enforcement process, looks at recent trends, and identifies factors that may influence the length and thoroughness of the process."
Date: April 21, 2004
Creator: United States. General Accounting Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Defense Management: DOD Needs to Improve Program Management, Policy, and Testing to Enhance Ability to Field Operationally Useful Non-lethal Weapons (open access)

Defense Management: DOD Needs to Improve Program Management, Policy, and Testing to Enhance Ability to Field Operationally Useful Non-lethal Weapons

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Nonlethal weapons (NLW) provide an alternative when lethal force is undesirable. The Department of Defense (DOD) defines NLW as those that are explicitly designed and primarily employed to incapacitate personnel or materiel, while minimizing fatalities, permanent injury to personnel, and undesired damage to property and the environment. DOD created the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Program in 1996 to have centralized responsibility for the development of NLW and coordinate requirements among the services. GAO was asked to review the status of NLW programs within DOD and the military services by identifying the extent to which (1) DOD and the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Program have developed and fielded NLW since the program's inception; (2) DOD has established and implemented policy, doctrine, and training for NLW; and (3) DOD has conducted testing and evaluation prior to fielding NLW. GAO reviewed and analyzed DOD and service plans, guidance, and doctrine and interviewed officials associated with NLW development."
Date: April 21, 2009
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Federal Reserve Banks: Areas for Improvement in Information Security Controls (open access)

Federal Reserve Banks: Areas for Improvement in Information Security Controls

Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "In connection with fulfilling our requirement to audit the financial statements of the U.S. government, we audited and reported on the Schedules of Federal Debt Managed by the Bureau of the Public Debt (BPD) for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2009 and 2008. As part of these audits, we performed a review of the general and application information security controls over key financial systems maintained and operated by the Federal Reserve Banks (FRB) on behalf of the Department of the Treasury's (Treasury) BPD relevant to the Schedule of Federal Debt. As we reported in connection with our audit of the Schedules of Federal Debt for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, we concluded that BPD maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control relevant to the Schedule of Federal Debt related to financial reporting and compliance with applicable laws and regulations as of September 30, 2009, that provided reasonable assurance that misstatements, losses, or noncompliance material in relation to the Schedule of Federal Debt would be prevented or detected on a timely basis. However, we found deficiencies involving information security controls that we do …
Date: April 21, 2010
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Credit Cards: Customized Minimum Payment Disclosures Would Provide More Information to Consumers, but Impact Could Vary (open access)

Credit Cards: Customized Minimum Payment Disclosures Would Provide More Information to Consumers, but Impact Could Vary

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 requires that credit card issuers (issuers) include in all cardholder billing statements a generic warning, or "disclosure," about the potential financial consequences of consistently making only the minimum payment due on a credit card. However, some have urged that consumers should instead receive "customized" disclosures in their billing statements that use cardholders' actual balances and the applicable interest rates on their accounts to show the consequences of making only minimum payments, such as estimates of the time required to repay balances and the total interest amount resulting from continual minimum payments. In response to a congressional request, this report assesses the (1) feasibility and cost of requiring issuers to provide cardholders with customized minimum payment information, (2) usefulness of providing customized information to cardholders, and (3) options for providing cardholders with customized or other information about the financial consequences of making minimum payments."
Date: April 21, 2006
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Workplace Safety and Health: OSHA Could Improve Federal Agencies' Safety Programs with a More Strategic Approach to Its Oversight (open access)

Workplace Safety and Health: OSHA Could Improve Federal Agencies' Safety Programs with a More Strategic Approach to Its Oversight

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Federal workers' compensation costs exceeded $1.5 billion in 2004, with approximately 148,000 new claims filed that year. Because of concerns for the safety of federal workers, as well as the costs associated with unsafe workplaces, GAO described the characteristics of federal agencies' safety programs and the implementation challenges they face, and assessed how well the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) oversees and assists federal agencies' efforts to develop and administer their safety programs."
Date: April 21, 2006
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Housing Government-Sponsored Enterprises: A New Oversight Structure Is Needed (open access)

Housing Government-Sponsored Enterprises: A New Oversight Structure Is Needed

Testimony issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Serious concerns exist regarding the risk management practices and the federal oversight of the housing government-sponsored enterprises (GSE)--Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Bank System (FHLBank System), which had combined obligations of $4.6 trillion as of year-end 2003. In 2003, Freddie Mac disclosed significant accounting irregularities. In 2004, the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) cited Fannie Mae for accounting irregularities and earnings manipulation. Fannie Mae has to restate its financial statements for 2001-2004 and OFHEO has required the GSE to develop a capital restoration plan. Also in 2004, the FHLBanks of Chicago and Seattle entered into written agreements with their regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Board (FHFB), to implement changes to enhance their risk management. To assist Congress in its housing GSE oversight, this testimony provides information on GSEs' missions and risks, the current regulatory structure, and proposed regulatory reforms."
Date: April 21, 2005
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Invasive Forest Pests: Lessons Learned from Three Recent Infestations May Aid in Managing Future Efforts (open access)

Invasive Forest Pests: Lessons Learned from Three Recent Infestations May Aid in Managing Future Efforts

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Invasive forest pests have seriously harmed our environment and imposed significant costs upon our economy. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the lead agency for responding to forest pests. This report evaluates the federal response to three invasive forest pests--the Asian longhorned beetle, the emerald ash borer, and the pathogen Phytophthora ramorum (P. ramorum). Specifically, GAO describes (1) the status of efforts to eradicate these species, (2) the factors affecting the success of those efforts, (3) overall forest health monitoring programs, (4) coordination and communication of the three pest response efforts, and (5) USDA's use of panels of scientific experts to aid in the response efforts."
Date: April 21, 2006
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Office of Personnel Management: Retirement Modernization Planning and Management Shortcomings Need to Be Addressed (open access)

Office of Personnel Management: Retirement Modernization Planning and Management Shortcomings Need to Be Addressed

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "For the past two decades, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has been working to modernize the paper-intensive processes and antiquated systems used to support the retirement of federal employees. By moving to an automated system, OPM intends to improve the program's efficiency and effectiveness. In January 2008, GAO recommended that the agency address risks to successful system deployment. Nevertheless, OPM deployed a limited initial version of the modernized system in February 2008. After unsuccessful efforts to address system quality issues, OPM suspended system operation, terminated a major contract, and began restructuring the modernization effort, also referred to as RetireEZ. For this study, GAO was asked to (1) assess the status of OPM's efforts to plan and implement the RetireEZ program and (2) evaluate the effectiveness of the agency's management of the modernization initiative. To do this, GAO reviewed OPM program documentation and interviewed agency and contractor officials."
Date: April 21, 2009
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Financial Audit: Material Weaknesses in Internal Control Continue to Impact Preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements of the U.S. Government (open access)

Financial Audit: Material Weaknesses in Internal Control Continue to Impact Preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements of the U.S. Government

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Since GAO's first audit of the fiscal year 1997 consolidated financial statements of the U.S. government (CFS), material weaknesses in internal control and other limitations on the scope of our work have prevented GAO from expressing an opinion on the accrual basis CFS. Certain of those material weaknesses relate to inadequate systems, controls, and procedures to properly prepare the CFS. The purpose of this report is to (1) provide details of the continuing material weaknesses related to the preparation of the CFS, (2) recommend improvements, and (3) provide the status of corrective actions taken to address the 56 open recommendations GAO reported for this area in June 2008."
Date: April 21, 2009
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Human Capital: Selected Agencies' Statutory Authorities Could Offer Options in Developing a Framework for Governmentwide Reform (open access)

Human Capital: Selected Agencies' Statutory Authorities Could Offer Options in Developing a Framework for Governmentwide Reform

Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "As the federal government continues its overall transformation, the centerpiece of this effort is the strategic management of human capital. Federal agencies will need the most effective human capital systems to succeed in their transformations. Congress has recently given agencies such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Defense (DOD) statutory authorities intended to help them manage their human capital strategically to achieve results. Consequently, in this environment, the federal government is quickly approaching the point where "standard governmentwide" human capital policies and processes are neither standard nor governmentwide. To help advance the discussion concerning how governmentwide human capital reform should proceed, GAO and the National Commission on the Public Service Implementation Initiative hosted a forum on whether there should be a governmentwide framework for human capital reform and, if so, what this framework should include. While there were divergent views among the forum participants, there was general agreement on a set of principles, criteria, and processes that would serve as a starting point for further discussion in developing a governmentwide framework to advance needed human capital reform. Specifically, they …
Date: April 21, 2005
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Financial Management Systems: Lack of Disciplined Process Puts Effective Implementation of Treasury's Governmentwide Financial Report System at Risk (open access)

Financial Management Systems: Lack of Disciplined Process Puts Effective Implementation of Treasury's Governmentwide Financial Report System at Risk

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "For the past 9 years, since the first audit of the consolidated financial statements of the U.S. government (CFS), one of the major impediments to our ability to render an opinion on the CFS is that the federal government has not had adequate system, controls, and procedures to properly prepare the CFS. To address some of the internal control weaknesses identified in our audit report, Treasury began developing the Governmentwide Financial Report System (GFRS). The goal of this new system is to directly link information from federal agencies' audited financial statements to amounts reported in the CFS, a concept that we strongly support. We reported internal control weaknesses and GAO recommendations regarding the preparation of the CFS, along with progress made in this area in a separate report. This report provides our assessment of Treasury's ongoing effort to develop and implement GFRS and makes recommendations for reducing the risks associated with the development of GFRS."
Date: April 21, 2006
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Employment and Training: Most One-Stop Career Centers Are Taking Multiple Actions to Link Employers and Older Workers (open access)

Employment and Training: Most One-Stop Career Centers Are Taking Multiple Actions to Link Employers and Older Workers

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The share of older persons in the U.S. population age 55 and older is projected to increase to 30 percent by 2025 and continue to grow through 2050. At the same time, more older persons are expected to continue working than in the past and, in doing so, may need employment and training services as they make transitions to different jobs and work arrangements. Several factors will contribute to this phenomenon. The number of older Americans and their proportion of the total population are increasing and are expected to continue to increase. Fewer of these older Americans are expected to have the traditional retirements of previous generations and many will continue working for financial or other reasons. At the same time, labor force growth is expected to slow and employers will be faced with a relatively smaller and younger available workforce. As a result, some businesses will need to retain existing older workers or attract additional older workers to meet their workforce needs. The Department of Labor (Labor) has identified one-stop career centers (one-stops) as a means to link older workers with employers through employment and …
Date: April 21, 2008
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Afghanistan: Key Issues for Congressional Oversight (open access)

Afghanistan: Key Issues for Congressional Oversight

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The United States has provided approximately $38.6 billion in reconstruction assistance to Afghanistan and has over 35,000 troops in the country as of February 2009. Some progress has occurred in areas such as economic growth, infrastructure development, and training of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), but the overall security situation in Afghanistan has not improved after more than 7 years of U.S. and international efforts. In response, the new administration plans to deploy approximately 21,000 additional troops1 to Afghanistan this year, and has completed a strategic review of U.S. efforts in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Based on our past work and the significance of U.S. efforts in Afghanistan to the overall U.S. counterinsurgency strategy, we have highlighted Afghanistan as an urgent oversight issue facing this Congress. The government of Afghanistan, with the assistance of the international community, developed the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS), which was finalized in June 20083, as a guiding document for achieving Afghanistan's reconstruction goals. The ANDS articulates the priorities of the government of Afghanistan as consisting of four major areas: (1) security; (2) governance, rule of law, and human rights; (3) …
Date: April 21, 2009
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library