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 Information published in the Texas Register includes proposed, adopted, withdrawn and emergency rule actions, notices of state agency review of agency rules, governor's appointments, attorney general opinions, and miscellaneous documents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

The US Department of Energy (DOE) proposes to construct and operate the National Ignition Facility (NIF). The goals of the NIF are to (1) achieve fusion ignition in the laboratory for the first time by using inertial confinement fusion (ICF) technology based on an advanced-design neodymium glass solid-state laser, and (2) conduct high-energy-density experiments in support of national security and civilian applications. The primary focus of this paper is worker-public health and safety issues associated with postulated chemical accidents during the operation of NIF. The key findings from the accident analysis will be presented. Although NIF chemical accidents will be emphasized, the important differences between chemical and radiological accident analysis approaches and the metrics for reporting results will be highlighted. These differences are common EIS facility and transportation accident assessments.

The transport of atoms or molecules over surfaces has been an important area of study for several decades now, with its progress generally limited by the available experimental techniques to characterize the phenomena. A number of methods have been developed over the years to measure surface diffusion yet only very few systems have been characterized to this day mainly due to the physical limitations inherent in these available methods. Even the STM with its astonishing atomically-resolved images of the surface has been limited in terms of its capability to determine mass transport properties. This is because the STM is inherently a ``slow`` instrument, i.e., a finite time is needed for signal averaging in order to produce the image. A need exists for additional surface diffusion measurement techniques, ideally ones which are able to study varied systems and measure a wide range of diffusion rates. The STM (especially because of its highly local nature) presents itself as a promising tool to conduct dynamical studies if its poor time resolution during ``normal operation`` can somehow be overcome. The purpose of this dissertation is to introduce a new technique of using the STM to measure adatom mobility on surfaces -- one with a …

This study is designed to provide improvements in advanced reservoir characterization techniques and is applied to the study of the Tensleep Sandstone reservoir in Wyoming. Investigations were performed on CO{sub 2} flooding.

This work gives a proof of convergence for a randomized learning algorithm that describes how anoles (lizards found in the Carribean) learn a foraging threshold distance. This model assumes that an anole will pursue a prey if and only if it is within this threshold of the anole`s perch. This learning algorithm was proposed by the biologist Roughgarden and his colleagues. They experimentally confirmed that this algorithm quickly converges to the foraging threshold that is predicted by optimal foraging theory our analysis provides an analytic confirmation that the learning algorithm converses to this optimal foraging threshold with high probability.

Using a thin flame model with a constant density ratio across the flame and a constant burning velocity, numerical simulations of flame propagation into defined, non-decaying turbulent-like flow reveals a succession of growth rate behaviors. Starting with laminar growth, the flame length then acquires an exponential growth rate when the turbulence distorts the early flame so that an inner flame radius is a small fraction of the largest outer radius. As the flame continues to grow, the difference between the inner radius and the outer radius, referred to as the flame zone thickness L{sub Z}, becomes constant and small compared to the flame size--this yields a constant growth rate, but with magnitude much larger than the initial laminar value. The flame size, using either the average radius or the maximum radius, grows like R {approximately} V{sub C} t, where the flame convection V{sub C} is created by volume expansion distributed throughout the flame zone L{sub Z}. This constant growth rate appears to evolve into a power-law growth rate, R {approximately} t{sup 1+q}, where q > 0, similar to the growth of the flame length, L{sub F} {approximately} t{sup 1+p}, where p > q. which follows its exponential growth period. This …

This document describes a suspect/counterfeit parts inspection program required by DOE conducted in accordance with Internal Memo 16710-94-DWM-048, J.A. O`Brien to J. N. Nansen, B Plant Suspect/ Counterfeit Parts Action Plan, dated May 24, 1994. The program included: physical inspection of all spare parts inventories within the plant; screening of installed B Plant/WESF (Waste Encapsulation and Storage Facility) systems for applications where the use and subsequent potential failure of suspect/counterfeit parts could have critical consequences; and a physical inspection based upon this screening.

The bulk thermal conductivity of several epoxy mixtures was measured with a setup at Lab D. Samples are prepared by using two aluminum cylinders of 3/4-inch diameter. The cylinders have holes drilled in them for insertion of temperature sensors (0.040-inch diameter thermistors), a heating element (standard resistor), and a tapped hole for heat sinking to a plate. The two cylinders are held together during gluing, and the thickness of the glue bead is controlled by using a shim of kapton tape, nominally 3.5 mils thickness per ply of tape. A resistor is glued into the hole using 5 minute epoxy. Care is taken to avoid shorting the leads to the aluminum cylinder. Once the sample is prepared, the sample is fixed to the heat sink using the tapped hole provided. Thermistors are carefully inserted into the four holes. Once set up, the data acquisition program is run for a half-hour prior to turning on the heater power. This is done to ensure that all temperatures stabilize, and this is checked when doing the analysis. The power is then turned on and run until the temperatures have stabilized, which takes two additional hours. The data acquisition program outputs the four measured …

The purpose of this analysis is to calculate the number densities for spent nuclear fuel (SNF) to be used in criticality evaluations of the Multi-Purpose Canister (MPC) waste packages. The objective of this analysis is to provide material number density information which will be referenced by future MPC criticality design analyses, such as for those supporting the Conceptual Design Report.