The wrist badge provides a dosimeter that is useful in estimating the radiation dose to the hands and forearms. Its new shield system gives good gamma and slow neutron dose discrimination with duPont 552 film packets. The film can be evaluated using the present technique and equipment. Several attempts to develop hand dosimeters have been made. Finger rings using film have been used routinely but have not been entirely satisfactory for all situations. The wrist badge was developed to provide improved gamma and slow neutron dose measurement of the upper extremities under certain appropriate conditions. The wrist badge dosimeter is not a substitute or alternate for finger ring dosimeters but is a necessary dosimeter for some extremity exposure situations.

A disposal method is needed for wastes generated from the decontamination of the NPR primary coolant loop. The limitations imposed by facilities design criteria for the disposal of NPR wastes preclude direct river release of the spent cleaning solutions because of the anticipated quantities of radioactive material in these wastes. The soil at a 100-N Area trench or crib should not be relied on for removing radionucleotides by ion exchange or filtration because of the high salt content of the wastes and the presence of solubilizing reagents. Permanent or long term storage of large volume of decontamination wastes would be expensive. A waste treatment is sought for concentrating the radioactive materials to volume suitable for long term storage and which would permit dispersal of the excess liquid to the environs.

Continued operation of F reactor with high water collection rates during the past 12 years has resulted in numerous detrimental effects. In addition to promoting external corrosion tube leaks, water leaks have corroded the Gunbarrel to the biological shield donut assemblies and cast iron thermal shield blocks, thus preventing the majority of tubes in F reactor from unrestrained thermal expansion. Fatigue of the Van Stone flange under the resulting compression loads leads to eventual failure in some cases. In addition, excessive compression loads exerted against the nozzle gasket result in plastic deformation and eventual failures of the gasket.