This report presents results on radiation monitoring from the radiological sciences department for January, 1955. Information is presented concerning radioactive effluent releases, personnel skin contamination, air sampling, and general radiation monitoring from the facilities.

A survey was made on methcds and related costs of disposing of radioactive wastes as practiced in 1955 by twelve atomic industry installations. Wherever possible, estimated unit costs of differentiated stages of waste handling are shown- these are integrated to show the over-all scope of waste dispesal practices at each site. Tabular data summarize costs and operation magnitades at the installations. A pattern is established for standardizing the reporting of fixed costs and equipment unsage costs. The economy of solid waste volume reduction is analyzed. Material costs are listed. An outline for recording monthly waste disposal costs is presented. Obvious conclusions drawn from the factual data are: that it is more expensive per cubic foot to handle high-level wastes than low-level wastes. and that land disposal is less expenaive than sea disposal. A reexamination of baling economics shows that high compression of solid wastes is more expensive than simpler forms of compaction. (auth)

This document provides tables which give the computed acid, silicate, and silica requirements which will be necessary after completion of the water treatment plant expansion programs.

This document presents a summary of work and progress at the Hanford Engineer Works for November 1955. The report is divided into sections by department. A plant wide general summary is included at the beginning of the report, after which the departmental summaries begin. The Manufacturing Department reports plant statistics, and summaries for the Metal Preparation, Reactor and Separation sections. The Engineering Department`s section summarizes work for the Technical, Design, and Project Sections. Costs for the various departments are presented in the Financial Department`s summary. The Medical, Radiological Sciences, Utilities and General Services, Employee and Public Relations, and Community Real Estate and Services departments have sections presenting their monthly statistics, work, progress, and summaries.

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Seven control rods will be used in the APPR-1 instead of five as originally planned. Critical experiments evaluating the rod worth for the APPR-1 have been performed at ORNL, and calculations have been carried out by ALCO interpreting these experimental results. The calculations indicate that the capability of any four of the original five rods to shut down the cold reactor at mid-life is marginal. The calculations are summarized in this memorandum. (auth)

A study was made to evaluate the possibility of an explosive reaction occurring in the Hanford Purex Plant concentrators as presently instrumented. Results revealed that the occurrence of an explosive reaction in the Purex Plant concentrators with present instrumentation is very unlikely. (W.L.H.)

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The major physics research effort this quarter was directed toward the detection of the antiproton. Negative particles of proton mass were first counted on September 22, 1955. On October 19, 1955 the discovery and identification of the antiproton was announced. Total cross-section measurements for {pi}{sup +} and {pi}{sup -} mesons continued. A study was made of neutron interactions and of the {gamma}-ray decay products of mesons. Proton-proton scattering was done at 2 Bev and 4 Bev using counters, and at 5.5 Bev using a 35-atmos diffusion cloud chamber. Emulsion exposure s to protons were made for three groups outside the laboratory. The bevatron facilities were improved this quarter by the addition of a heavy-duty inner-radius platform at the experimental area. New thin windows, an improved plunging beam clipper, a new 4-in. quadrupole-magnet set, and a new 12-by-60-in. analyzing magnet were added to the experimental facilities. Improvements were made in magnet-current stabilization and in reliability of the radiofrequency-accelerating systems. The beam was successfully tracked during a step in peak magnet current, and for a short time into inversion.

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In keeping with the announced goals for production at Hanford, a series of separations plant studies is being conducted with the objective of providing an insight into worthwhile design development goals both process and plant-wise. These studies will provide a basis for evaluation of research and development programs, with all cost estimates and other supporting information standardized, both in presentation and detail. These developments are vital to the future of separations plant planning in order that proper emphasis be placed on the most economic production facility for HAPO, should production planning require an additional major facility. This report is the second of a series, reporting on the design developments under way. The purposes of this document are to present the results of the second separations plant design study directed toward a new solvent extraction plant and to summarize process, plant, and equipment changes which should be developed to achieve the significant capital and operating cost reductions indicated.

In the reference letter and later letters the author made recommendations pertaining to the programs of AEC National Laboratories and other AEC contractors in direct support of the Savannah River project during FY-1956. He believes that these recommendations should now be revised in view of schedule changes ad in the light of accumulated experience. The estimated cost of the programs recommended earlier totaled $2,083,000 for FY-1956. The estimated cost of programs currently recommended total $2,048,000 for FY-1956. The programs mentioned in succeeding paragraphs are concerned mainly with the development of processes for producing extended surface fuel elements and, to a lesser extent, with the development of separations processes. The author considers these particular supporting programs important to the rapid and successful achievement of development objectives at the Savannah River Plant and accordingly recommend that the Commission sustain them. Two of the programs, specifically the work by Sylvania and by Horizons to develop processes for reducing thorium oxide to metal, are not now associated with meeting future production objectives at the Savannah River Plant. The author believes that these programs should be brought to an orderly conclusion, as previously planned, to avoid any loss of the art developed to date.

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This report provides justification for a metal loader for ``C`` elevator for the 100-B,D,DR,F, and H Areas. This proposed work is justified on the basis of increased irradiation capacity for plutonium production and miscellaneous improvements in efficiency of reactor front face work.

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An archaeological field study was conducted along the Green River in the areas of Little Hole and Browns Park in Utah and Colorado. The purpose of the study was to measure the potential for hydropower operations at Flaming Gorge Dam to directly or indirectly affect archaeological sites in the study area. Thirty-four known sites were relocated, and six new sites were recorded. Information was collected at each site regarding location, description, geomorphic setting, sedimentary context, vegetation, slope, distance from river, elevation above river level, and site condition. Matching the hydrologic projections of river level and sediment load with the geomorphic and sedimentary context at specific site locations indicated that eight sites were in areas with a high potential for erosion.

In connection with the antiproton investigation at the Bevatron we planned and carried out a photographic-emulsion exposure in a magnetically selected beam of negative particles. The magnetic system was identical to the first half (one deflecting magnet and one magnetic lens) of the system used in the antiproton experiment of Chamberlain, Segre, Wiegand, and Ypsilantis. The selected particles left the copper target in the forward direction with momentum 1.09 Bev/c.