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 Information published in the Texas Register includes proposed, adopted, withdrawn and emergency rule actions, notices of state agency review of agency rules, governor's appointments, attorney general opinions, and miscellaneous documents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

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 Information published in the Texas Register includes proposed, adopted, withdrawn and emergency rule actions, notices of state agency review of agency rules, governor's appointments, attorney general opinions, and miscellaneous documents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

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 Information published in the Texas Register includes proposed, adopted, withdrawn and emergency rule actions, notices of state agency review of agency rules, governor's appointments, attorney general opinions, and miscellaneous documents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

Letter opinion issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Jim Mattox, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification.

The results from the RELAP5/MOD3 and PARET/ANL codes are compared with the SPERT-IV series of experimental reactivity insertion transients. The PARET/ANL code provides conservative estimates of SPERT-IV experimental data for the midrange transients and for the more severe transients. The PARET results are similar to the results obtained earlier for the SPERT-I D-12/25 series of experiments. The RELAP5/MOD3 code (including the developmental version 3.2.1.2) gives results comparable to PARET for some midrange transients, but seriously diverges from the experimental data when significant boiling is present. Based on the results of this study, the use of the RELAP5 code for research reactor applications should be limited to transients that do not generate substantial boiling and voids. We hope to be able to resolve these differences in further work with the NRC staff and its contractors. The RELAP5 code would be a more useful tool for the analyses research reactor transients with the addition of suitable correlations for low pressures and plate type geometry.

A neutronic feasibility study for converting the High Flux Beam Reactor at Brookhaven National Laboratory from HEU to LEU fuel was performed at Argonne National Laboratory. The purpose of this study is to determine what LEU fuel density would be needed to provide fuel lifetime and neutron flux performance similar to the current HEU fuel. The results indicate that it is not possible to convert the HFBR to LEU fuel with the current reactor core configuration. To use LEU fuel, either the core needs to be reconfigured to increase the neutron thermalization or a new LEU reactor design needs to be considered. This paper presents results of reactor calculations for a reference 28-assembly HEU-fuel core configuration and for an alternative 18-assembly LEU-fuel core configuration with increased neutron thermalization. Neutronic studies show that similar in-core and ex-core neutron fluxes, and fuel cycle length can be achieved using high-density LEU fuel with about 6.1 gU/cm{sup 3} in an altered reactor core configuration. However, hydraulic and safety analyses of the altered HFBR core configuration needs to be performed in order to establish the feasibility of this concept.

The Field Lysimeter Investigations: Low-level Waste Data Base Development Program is obtaining information on the performance of radioactive waste forms. These experiments were recently shut down and have been examined in accordance with a detailed waste form and soil sampling plan. Ion-exchange resins from a commercial nuclear power station were solidified into waste forms using portland cement and vinyl ester-styrene. These waste forms were tested to (a) obtain information on performance of waste forms in typical disposal environments, (b) compare field results with bench leach studies, (c) develop a low-level waste data base for use in performance assessment source term calculations, and (d) apply the DUST computer code to compare predicted cumulative release to actual field data. The program, funded by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), includes observed radionuclide releases from waste forms at two test sites over 10 years of successful operation. The lysimeter is a useful experimental device that is providing source term data and can be used to determine waste form stability. Lysimeters are ideal systems for obtaining actual field test data because, when properly designed and operated, they can be used to isolate soil and waste systems under actual environmental conditions. Such conditions cannot be duplicated …

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A procedure to measure tritium in water samples at contents as low as 20 pCi/L has been perfected, using alkaline electrolysis to enrich the tritium.

Under current US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules, small onshore oil producers are allowed to discharge produced water to surface waters with approval from state agencies; but small onshore gas producers, however, are prohibited from discharging produced water to surface waters. The purpose of this report is to identify those states that allow surface water discharges from small onshore oil operations and to summarize the types of permitting controls they use. It is intended that the findings of this report will serve as a rationale to encourage the EPA to revise its rules and to remove the prohibition on surface water discharges from small gas operations.

An Alternative LEU Design for the FRM-II proposed by the RERTR Program at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) has a compact core consisting of a single fuel element that uses LEU silicide fuel with a uranium density of 4.5 g/cm{sup 3} and has a power level of 32 MW. Both the HEU design by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the alternative LEU design by ANL have the same fuel lifetime(50 days) and the same neutron flux performance (8 x 10{sup 14} n/cm{sup 2}-s in the reflector). LEU silicide fuel with 4.5 g/cm{sup 3} has been thoroughly tested and is fully-qualified, licensable, and available now for use in a high flux reactor such as the FRM-II. Several issues that were raised by TUM have been addressed in Refs. 1-3. The conclusions of these analyses are summarized below. This paper addresses four additional issues that have been raised in several forums, including Ref 4: heat generation in the cold neutron source (CNS), the gamma and fast neutron fluxes which are components of the reactor noise in neutron scattering experiments in the experiment hall of the reactor, a fuel cycle length difference, and the reactivity worth of the beam tubes and other …

In a radioactive waste repository, materials will be introduced for a variety of reasons. Some materials such as metals, bonding agents, and concrete will serve as active parts of the designed engineered barrier system (EBS). Other materials will be introduced to serve a number of purposes that include any or all of the following: surveillance (thermocouples, gauges), construction and operation (drilling rigs, roadbeds, exhaust fumes, chemical toilets, concrete, grout, rebar), lubrication (petroleum-based products, rope dressing) and other functions. Water chemistry will directly affect the corrosion of containers, the dissolution of spent fuel and waste glass and the concentration of dissolved or suspended radionuclides in water that exits breached containers. To predict the water quality requires a knowledge of the dissolution kinetics of the phases present in man-made materials, and the precipitation kinetics of product phases. The chemical evolution of man-made materials of interest to the Yucca Mountain project are by and large not presently known. Prediction of the long-term behavior (10,000 years) required of the modeling efforts is an additional layer of complexity that is not addressed by current models of water chemistry. Man-made modifications to the environment may significantly alter the thermal, chemical and radionuclide transportation attributes of the …

The Imaging and Detection Program (IDP) within Laser Programs at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in cooperation with the Hughes Aircraft Company has developed a versatile, high performance, airborne experimental test-bed (AETB) capability. The test-bed has been developed for a wide range of research and development experimental applications including radar and radiometry plus, with additional aircraft modifications, optical systems. The airborne test-bed capability has been developed within a Douglas EA-3B Skywarrior jet aircraft provided and flown by Hughes Aircraft Company. The current test-bed payload consists of an X-band radar system, a high-speed data acquisition, and a real-time processing capability. The medium power radar system is configured to operate in a high resolution, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) mode and is highly configurable in terms of waveforrns, PRF, bandwidth, etc. Antennas are mounted on a 2-axis gimbal in the belly radome of the aircraft which provides pointing and stabilization. Aircraft position and antenna attitude are derived from a dedicated navigational system and provided to the real-time SAR image processor for instant image reconstruction and analysis. This paper presents a further description of the test-bed and payload subsystems plus preliminary results of SAR imagery.

This report presents figures derived from a rating process to determine budget needs for projects for 1994 and 1995 at the Albuquerque Field Office. Projects for 1994 include plant life safety code upgrades, roads and parking lot upgrades, and emergency system notification replacement. Projects for 1995 include reconfiguration of inert operations, steam and condensate system upgrades, and site drainage control.

The Department of Energy (DOE) established the Mixed Waste Characterization, Treatment, and Disposal Focus Area (MWFA) to develop and facilitate implementation of technologies required to meet the Department`s commitments for treatment of mixed low-level and transuranic wastes. The mission of the MWFA is to provide acceptable treatment systems, developed in partnership with users and with participation of stakeholders, tribal governments, and regulators, that are capable of treating DOE`s mixed waste. These treatment systems include all necessary steps such as characterization, pretreatment, and disposal. To accomplish this mission, a technical baseline is being established that forms the basis for determining which technology development activities will be supported by the MWFA. The technical baseline is the prioritized list of deficiencies, and the resulting technology development activities needed to overcome these deficiencies. This document presents Phase I of the technical baseline development process, which resulted in the prioritized list of deficiencies that the MWFA will address. A summary of the data and the assumptions upon which this work was based is included, as well as information concerning the DOE Office of Environmental Management (EM) mixed waste technology development needs. The next phase in the technical baseline development process, Phase II, will result in …

This document (Volume 2) contains the Appendices A through J for the Mixed Waste Focus Area Integrated Technical Baseline Report Phase I for the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. Included are: Waste Type Managers` Resumes, detailed information on wastewater, combustible organics, debris, unique waste, and inorganic homogeneous solids and soils, and waste data information. A detailed list of technology deficiencies and site needs identification is also provided.

This report describes progress in the experimental nuclear physics program of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. It presents findings related to properties of high-spin states, low-energy levels of nuclei far from stability, and high-energy heavy-ion physics, as well as a brief description of the Joint Institute of Heavy Ion Research (a collaboration between the University of Tennessee, Vanderbilt University, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory) and its activities (particularly those of the last few years), and a list of publications. 89 refs., 18 figs., 5 tabs.

Executive Order 12333, {open_quotes}United States Intelligence Activities,{close_quotes} (1) designates the Department`s intelligence element as a member of the Intelligence Community, and (2) states that no agency within the Intelligence community shall sponsor, contract for or conduct research on human subjects except in accordance with guidelines issued by the Department of Health and Human Services. The Federal policy for the Protection of Human Subjects, which was based on Department of Health and Human Services regulations, was promulgated in Title 10 Code of Federal Regulations Part 745 by the Department of Energy. The purpose of this inspection was to review the internal control procedures used by the Office of Nonproliferation and National Security to manage selected intelligence and intelligence-related projects that involve human subject research.

This Acceptance Test Procedure (ATP) will test and verify that the Exhauster meets the specified functional requirements, safety requirements, operating requirements, and provide a record of the functional test results. The system/functions that will be tested are listed in the scope section of the Acceptance Test Procedure.

A heavy ion linear induction accelerator is considered to be the leading driver candidate for an Inertial Fusion Energy reactor. To deliver a space-charge-dominated beam at the appropriate energy (several GeV), such an accelerator would be several kilometers in length. Since total length has a strong influence on accelerator cost, we are considering the potential advantages and practical implementation of a recirculating induction accelerator. To address the critical scientific and technical challenges of a recirculating space-charge-dominated heavy ion beam, we have begun to develop the elements of a scaled ``small recirculator``. An operating recirculator must demonstrate full beam control including multi-lap operation, beam insertion/extraction, acceleration and pulse compression. At present, experiments have been conducted using a 2mA, 80keV K{sup +} beam transported through a 45{degree} bend; experiments on a 90{degree} bend with five induction modulators will begin soon. This paper briefly summarizes the recirculator specifications and operational features and reports the latest experimental data as well as the developmental status of beam diagnostics.

This effort is a fundamental study of local chemical, electronic and physical behavior of metal and metal oxides as exposed to corrosive gases such as hydrogen and water vapor. The study benefits from state-of-art surface science experimental tools, such as scanning tunneling and atomic force microscopies (STM/AFM), photoelectron emission microscopy (PEEM), temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and modulated molecular beam mass spectrometry (MMBMS), to provide detailed knowledge of how, why and where a chemical reaction initiates and subsequently progresses with time, and theoretical/computational methods at the atomistic scale. The theoretical/computational component reported here consists of the first-principles calculation of the electronic structure of U surfaces exposed to H attack The calculations were designed to shed light on the energetic of various configurations of H interstitial impurities on the surface or in the substrate of U bcc metal. Predictions as to the preference of H to occupy surface or substrate interstitial positions can be made on the basis of the configuration with the lowest ground-state total energy.

On November 1, 1996 the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Richland Operations Office (RL) approved the Flammable Gas Unreviewed Safety Question (USQ) (Wagoner 1996). The Tank Waste Remediation System issued (Hall 1996) two standing orders (96-36 East; and 96-34 West) to implement the requirements and authorization for continued operations included in the RL letter (Wagoner 199E). These standing orders included several requirements for the control of ignition sources (Appendix B, Section 7.0 ``Ignition Source Controls``) that include requirements for the design and operation of ``...equipment and materials used in the conduct of work...`` in Tank Farms. A verbatim compliance review of these ignition source controls identified several pieces of equipment and materials which have been used routinely in Tanks Farms for many years in support of safe operation that either could not: meet the equivalent design or safety provisions included in the standing orders (Hall 1996), or 21. be modified in a timely manner to meet safety and programmatic commitments. When the standing order was prepared it was anticipated that there would be a need to approve temporary exceptions. Appendix B, Section 7.0 of the standing order (Hall 1996) reads in part as follows: ``For activities where compliance will require …

The purpose of the Single Heater Test (SHT), the design of the test, and the borehole layout were reported by OCRWM M&O (1996a). Briefly, the main purpose of the SHT is to study the thermal- mechanical behavior of the densely welded non-lithophysal Topopah Spring tuff at the Exploratory Studies Facility (ESF). The SHT is also used as a shake-down for the test of the coupled thermal- mechanical- hydrological-chemical (TMHC) processes.