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 Information published in the Texas Register includes proposed, adopted, withdrawn and emergency rule actions, notices of state agency review of agency rules, governor's appointments, attorney general opinions, and miscellaneous documents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.

This report discusses Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Act, which was enacted by the 108th Congress as Section 1057 of the FY2004 National Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 108-136). It includes background of the SAFER Act, appropriations from FY2010-FY2011, reauthorization of the program in the House and Senate, and information about program implementation.

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The 2009 and 2012 International Energy Conservation Codes (IECC) yield positive benefits for Colorado homeowners. Moving to either the 2009 or 2012 IECC from the 2006 IECC is cost-effective over a 30-year life cycle. On average, Colorado homeowners will save $1,528 over 30 years under the 2009 IECC, with savings still higher at $5,435 under the 2012 IECC. Each year, the reduction to energy bills will significantly exceed increased mortgage costs. After accounting for up-front costs and additional costs financed in the mortgage, homeowners should see net positive cash flows (i.e., cumulative savings exceeding cumulative cash outlays) in 2 years for the 2009 and 2 years with the 2012 IECC. Average annual energy savings are $119 for the 2009 IECC and $392 for the 2012 IECC.

Technetium-99 ({sup 99}Tc) ({beta}{sup -}{sub max}: 293.7 keV; t{sub 1/2}: 2.1 x 10{sup 5} years) is a byproduct of uranium-235 fission and comprises a large component of radioactive waste. Under aerobic conditions and in a neutral- basic environment, the pertechnetate anion (TcO{sub 4}{sup -}) is stable. TcO{sub 4}{sup -} is very soluble, migrates easily through the environment and does not sorb well onto mineral surfaces, soils or sediments. This study moves forward a new strategy for the reduction of TcO4- and chemical incorporation of the reduced Tc into a metal oxide material. This strategy employs a single material, a polyoxometalate (POM), {alpha}{sub 2}-[P{sub 2}W{sub 17}O{sub 61}]{sup 10-}, that can be photoactivated in the presence of 2-propanol to transfer electrons to TcO{sub 4}{sup -}, and incorporate the reduced Tc covalently into the {alpha}2- framework to form the Tc{sup V}O species, Tc{sup V}O({alpha}{sub 2}-P{sub 2}W{sub 17}O{sub 61}){sup 7-}. This occurs via the formation of an intermediate species that slowly converts to Tc{sup V}O({alpha}{sub 2}-P{sub 2}W{sub 17}O{sub 61}){sup 7-}. EXAFS and XANES analysis and preliminary EPR analysis, suggests that the intermediate consists of a Tc(IV) {alpha}2- species where the Tc is likely bound to only 2 of the 4 W-O oxygen atoms in …

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