The report discusses the bill that was introduced on May 14,1997, by the chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on surface Transportation and Merchant Marine, and the bill was referred to that committee.

Conference sessions were held on the following topics: Microbes, metals and metabolism; Biological weapons, facts and fiction; Antimicrobials in food safety and human health; Microbial DNA chips; Global processes, microorganisms and molecular ecology; Microbes, art and artifacts; Functional genomics of environmental strains; and Biodegradation and biotransformation breakthroughs. There was also a special lecture titled ''The hand is quicker than a sneeze as a disseminator of disease.''

The risk posed by the continued storage of ferrocyanide wastes in Hanford Site underground storage tanks has been studied extensively using theoretical analyses, laboratory experiments,tank monitoring, and waste sampling. This report provides an assessment of this hazard and provides the technical basis to resolve the Ferrocyanide Safety Issue for the 18 tanks, and supports the removal of these tanks from the Watch List. Based on the assessment provided in this report, the ferrocyanide waste in all 18 of the current ferrocyanide Watch List tanks, is categorized as safe and cannot burn or explode.

New data on tank 241-C-106 were obtained from grab sampling and from compatibility testing of tank C-106 and tank AY-102 wastes.All chemistry-associated and other compatibility information compiled in this report strongly suggests that the sluicing of the contents of tank C-106; in accord with appropriate controls;will pose no unacceptable risk to workers; public safety; or the environment. In addition; it is expected that the sluicing operation will successfully resolve the High-Heat Safety issue for tank C-106.

This presentation briefly outlines a cleanup program at a Rocky Flats site through viewgraphs and an executive summary. Exposure pathway analyses to be performed are identified, and decontamination levels are listed for open space and office worker exposure areas. The executive summary very briefly describes the technical approach, RESRAD computer code to be used for analyses, recommendations for exposure levels, and application of action levels to multiple radionuclide contamination. Determination of action levels for surface and subsurface soils, based on radiation doses, is discussed. 1 tab.

GENERAL PHYSICAL LAYOUT: (1) The backplane is comprised of 2 identical sections, the upper half designated J1, and the lower half designated j3; (2) For each section, there are a total of 16 slots, designated 1 through 16, from left to right; (3) Odd numbered slots are left handed (Connectors to the left of the card), these slots utilize inverse DIN connectors; (4) Even numbered slots are right handed (Connectors to the right of the card), these slots utilize standard DIN connectors; (5) There are 2 60 pin daisy-chain headers associated with each section, 3M part number 3597-6003; (6) The headers associated with the J2 (upper) section are designated J2CHAINR and J2CHAINL; (7) The headers associated with the J3 (lower) section are designated J3CHAINL and J3CHAINR; and (8) Mechanical layout presented in drawing number 3823.113-MD-330045. TRIGGER SIGNALS: (1) There are 21 trigger signal which originate from a given slot and are routed to the slot immediately to the left and 21 trigger signals which originate from a given slot and are routed to the slot immediately to the right; (2) There are 21 trigger signals which originate from the slot immediately to the left of a given slot and 21 …

More than a quarter century after enactment of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), unresolved questions still persist regarding its applicability to state and private actions. This is particularly true when such projects are undertaken to support the needs of a federal agency. Proposed below is a paradigm for determining when NEPA applies to state or privately conducted, but federally influenced or inspired, actions. The paradigm employs a set of five sequential tests for determining if a state or privately conducted action is subject to the requirements of NEPA.

Progress are reported on several tasks on drying of lumber in a kiln. Data are given for the heat transfer rate vs wet bulb temperature for heat exchangers with various profiles.

In an effort to reduce the costs of its military systems and gain greater access to state-of-the-art technologies, the Department of Defense is pursuing what is being called a "dual-use" strategy. This strategy seeks to make greater use of the commercial sector in developing and manufacturing military goods. This report discusses issues raised over the implementation of this strategy.

Ion exchange columns from the 309 Plutonium Recycle Test Reactor rupture loop must be shipped to the solid waste burial ground. The enclosed calculational note documents the calculations used to calculate the absorbed doses expected in the case of a postulated accident.

Electrical resistance tomography (ERT) was used to follow the infiltration of water into pavement section at the UC Berkeley Richmond Field Station. A volume of pavement 1m square and 1.29 m deep was sampled by an ERT array consisting of electrodes in 9 drilled holes plus 8 surface electrodes. The data were collected using a computer controlled data acquisition system capable of collecting a full data set in under 1 hour, allowing for nearly real time sampling of the infiltration. The infiltration was conducted in two phases. During the first phase, water was introduced into the asphalt-concrete (AC) layers at a slow rate of about 8 ml per hour for a period of about 6 days. In the second phase, water was introduced into the asphalt-treated-permeable base (ATPB) layer at a more rapid rate of about 100 ml/h for about 2 days. The ERT images show that water introduced into the upper AC layers shows up as a decrease in resistivity which grows with time. The images also appear to show that when water moves into the layers below the ATPB, the resistivity increases; an unexpected result. There are some indications that the water moved laterally as well as down …

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Intense laser (>10{sup 21} W/cm{sup 2}) driven hard x-ray sources offer a new alternative to conventional electron accelerator Bremstrahlung sources. These laser driven sources offer considerable simplicity in design for multiple axis views and have the potential for very high spatial (<0.1 mm) and temporal resolution (<10 psec). The temporal resolution can be converted into increased image contrast by gating out the scattered background radiation and detecting only the ballistic photons transmitted by the object of interest. Currently available hard x-ray (>0.1 MeV) imaging systems are limited to a time resolution greater than {approx}60 nsec. Here, we propose the investigation of new types of imaging x-ray detectors which offer the potential for gate times less than 100 psec at photons energies in the 0.1-8 MeV range. Such detectors would find use in a variety of advanced radiographic applications in DOE'S stockpile Stewardship Program.

As part of the feasibility study, a design analysis was conducted to determine the usefulness of the existing sand filters and associated media for reuse. The sand filters which were studied for potential reuse are located on the northern end of the 100-K East Area water filtration plant on the Hanford Site. This plant is located about one- half mile from the Columbia River. The sand filters were originally part of a system which was used to provide cooling water to the nearby plutonium production K Reactors. This Cold War operation took place until 1971, at which time the K Reactors were closed for eventual decontamination and decommissioning. Recently, it was decided to study the concept of putting the sand filter structures back into use for fish-rearing purposes. Because the water that circulated through the water purification pools (K Pools) and associated sand filters was clean river water, there is little chance of the structures being radioactively contaminated. To date, separate K Pools have been used for raising a variety of cold water fish species, including white sturgeon and fall chinook salmon, as well as for providing potable water to the 100 K Area of the Hanford Site for fire …

Final Report for Tank 241-BY-106; Rotary Mode Cores 64 and 65.

The objective of this paper is to establish the fundamental limits on the minimum electrical energy consumption that will be required to implement true chemical reduction of NOx by the plasma alone. The effect of background gas composition particularly the oxygen content on the completion between the reduction and oxidation processes will be discussed. The effect of the electron kinetic energy distribution on the radical production and subsequent chemistry will also be discussed.

This greenhouse of the future is located at the Center for Regenerative Studies (CRS) at Cal Poly Pomona. The building design was driven by desired environmental conditions. The primary objective was to keep the interior space warm during winter for the breeding of fish and other greenhouse activities, especially in the winter. To do this, a highly insulating envelope was needed. Straw bales provide excellent insulation with an R-value of approximately 50 and also help solve the environmental problems associated with this agricultural waste product. A summary of the construction progress, construction costs and operating costs are included.

Laser ablation has been evaluated as a surface pretreatment prior to adhesive bonding. In prior experimental work, it was observed that when adhesively bonded, composite, single lap shear samples fail, the fracture often occurs at either the adhesive/adherend interface or in the resin rich surface layer of the composite. These two areas represent the weakest portion of the joint. Laser ablation pretreatment generates areas where the resin on the composite surface is selectively removed leaving behind exposed reinforcing fibers which are the major load bearing members of the composite. In a subsequent adhesive bonding operation, this allows portions of the fibers to be encapsulated in the adhesive while other portions of the fiber remain in the composite resin. This type of pretreatment permits fibers to bridge and reinforce the interface between adhesive and adherend. A secondary benefit is the removal of surface contaminantes by pyrolysis. Microscopic observation of laser ablated surfaces indicates a prominent, fiber rich area. Results of the mechanical evaluation indicated that the lap shear strength for laser ablated samples was significantly higher than specimens with no pretreatment or with solvent cleaning only, but were slightly lower than specimens that were mechanically roughened and cleaned with solvents prior …

A sample of calcined plutonium dioxide was exposed to room air for one week. The sample was weighed daily to determine if the material absorbed moisture from the room air. A random variation of weight was observed after the first day; however, the sample returned to its original weight at the end of the week. The loss on ignition for the material increased from 0.439 to 0.544 weight percent during this time. This change is considered inconsequential as the material will normally be packaged for storage within hours of its production.

This report describes the accomplishments of a three year LDRD project, aimed at developing computational models and methodologies for improving prosthetic joint design. The investigators developed human models as well as prosthetic joint models. Input data came both from high resolution scans performed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and from data provided by collaborators. Results of the approach, in addition to being presented at scientific meetings, are being used to obtain US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in the process of putting new implant designs on the market.

The natural reactors that occurred in Gabon, Africa over 2 billion years ago present an interesting analog to the underground repositories proposed around the world for the long-term storage of high-level spent nuclear fuel. Many articles have been written concerning the low migration rates of actinides and fission products from the Oklo reactor sites, but Oklo also presents researchers with an opportunity to discover the conditions that led to nuclear criticality in uranium oxides with low enrichments. A computer model was developed to predict the conditions that were necessary to lead to criticality in the Oklo reactors. Critical core dimensions and infinite multiplication factors are presented as a function of time, the porosity of the host rock, and the water and uranium content of the sandstone deposits at Oklo.

This document reports the results of operational testing on tank inlet air control stations in 241-AW tank farm. An air control station was installed on each of the six AW tanks. Operational testing consisted of a simple functional test of each station`s air flow controller, aerosol testing of each station`s HEPA filter, and final ventilation system balancing (i.e., tank airflows and vacuum level) using the air control stations. The test was successful and the units were subsequently placed into operation.

Automobiles of the future will be forced to travel fi.uther on a tank of fuel while discharging lower levels of pollutants. Currently, the United States uses in excess of 16.4 million barrels of petroleum per day. Sixty-six percent of that petroleum is used in the transportation of people and goods. Automobiles currently account for just under two-thirds of the nation's gasoline consumptio~ and about one-third of the total United States energy usage. [1] By improving transportation related fiel efficiency, the United States can lessen the impact that emissions have on our environment and provide a cleaner environment for fiture generations. In 1992, The Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Transportation Materials completed a comprehensive program plan entitled, The Lightweight MateriaIs (LWko Multi-Year Program Plan, for the development of technologies aimed at reducing vehicle mass [2]. This plan was followed in 1997 by the more comprehensive Office of Advanced Automotive Technologies research and development plan titled, Energy Eficient Vehicles for a Cleaner Environment [3] which outlines the department's plans for developing more efficient vehicles during the next ~een years. Both plans identi~ potential applications, technology needs, and R&D priorities. The goal of the Lightweight Materials Program is to develop materials and …

Ground truth information (i.e. precise information about the hypocenter and origin time of aseismic event) is difficult to obtain in the Middle East and North Africa region. One source of ground truth we are attempting to exploit is data from local seismic networks. An electronic bulletin from the second phase of the Joint Seismic Observation Period (JSOP), with participating countries in the eastern Mediterranean region, provides a source of local network data not ordinarily available. I have used JSOP bulletin data for the period January 1996 through June 1996 to relocate over 100 earthquakes occurring in and around the Gulf of Aqaba. Fourteen of these earthquakes have picks in the bulletin for stations surrounding the Gulf (Egypt Saudi Arabia, Israel,and Jordan). The rest of the data involves picks for stations either in Israel, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia (east side and north of the Gulf) or for stations in Israel, Jordan, and Egypt (west side and north of the Gulf). The VELEST code (Joint Hypocenter Determination method) was used to calculate improved locations (over what can be obtained from single event determinations--SED with poor station configurations) for the all the earthquakes in the data set. Location differences between the JHD solution …