Reported are: development of analytical capabilities of a submillimeter spectrometer; improved minimum detectibility of laser-induced molecular fluorescence; use of laser photoionization sources for analytical mass spectrometry; photoacoustic spectroscopy of solids; development of time-resolved spectroscopy for multicomponent mixtures; excited-state reactions of Ba/sup +/ + N/sub 2/O ..-->.. BaO +N/sub 2/; development of an ion-cyclotron-resonance spectrometer; development of glow-discharge multielement analytical systems; analysis of deposits on exploding gold bridgeware detonators; results of /sup 13/C-NMR study of toluene-2,4-diisocyanate polymers; analysis of 1,6-hexanediamine and 1,3-dipiperiodylpropane; studies of discrepancies between chromatographic and mass spectrometric data. (JRD)

Process engineering designs, major equipment and plant facilities to be utilized in commercial nuclear waste preparation and vitrification in the 324 Radiochemical Engineering Building are reviewed with regard to accident potential and consequences. This Safety Analysis Report Supplement compares calculated environmental doses anticipated from the Commercial Nuclear Waste Vitrification Project (CNWVP) routine operations with the average doses from past waste management operations conducted at the Hanford Project and finds them to be significantly less. The calculated CNWVP environmental doses are found to be far below presently applicable ERDA standards and standards proposed by the EPA for nuclear power operations. (DLC)

The Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, located on the central California coast, is nearing completion. Recent geologic and seismological investigations have indicated that the nearby Hosgri fault may be part of a major fault system. If so, the original Design Basis Earthquake (DBE) may be inadequate for Diablo Canyon. Therefore, several factors that could significantly affect the design response spectra for the site were examined. It was found that, because of the area's geology, significant site effects could occur that would reduce ground motion; possible soil-structure interaction would also reduce the seismic motion at the basemat of the main structure as compared to the free-field motion. Studies of wave-passage effects have shown that they are complicated and cannot be easily predicted. It is concluded that an increased-magnitude DBE should have little effect on the reactor design if the increase is caused by increased stress drop rather than greater fault rupture length.

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.

Ultrafiltration media with and without the assistance of bone char filters were evaluated to determine their effectiveness in removing radionuclides from contaminated solutions. Precipitants, resin, adsorbents, and inorganic adsorbents were studied to determine their effectiveness in decontaminating solutions. A study of the effects of radiation on ultrafiltration media was initiated. An ultrafiltration media pilot plant was ordered and is being installed.

The Waste Preparation Task (Task 6) of the Commercial Nuclear Waste Vitrification Project (CNWVP) includes the design, installation and operation of small scale (1 MTU LWR fuel/month) equipment to prepare high-level liquid waste (HLLW) from commercial LWR spent fuel. The HLLW will be used in Task 5, the radioactive demonstration of waste vitrification. The operational aspects of this task include the procurement of irradiated LWR fuel; the processing operations to prepare HLLW; and other necessary operations associated with the disposition of the uranium waste and other fuel residues, including the plutonium associated with the fuel. The processing operations in the 325-A Building will require handling in excess of 45 percent of a Minimum Critical Mass (MCM), use of an organic solvent to extract uranium and plutonium away from the fission products, and ion exchange resin for plutonium purification. An analysis of the environmental consequences and probability of conceivable accidental conditions that may result from this operation indicates no undue consequences to the environment. The calculated maximum environmental consequences of postulated accidents would be low radiotoxic doses of 0.3 rem whole body 50-yr dose commitment to a maximum individual and 20 man-rem whole body 50-yr dose commitment to the surrounding population. …