Dr. Alvin M. Weinberg received the Atoms for Peace Award for 1960. He was recognized for his leadership in reactor development. The award is made to an individual or individuals who are considered to have contributed most to the peaceful uses of atomic energy. Dr. Weinberg in accepting the award stated that “...heavy nuclear development is primarily a group enterprise in which any single individual can contribute relatively little. It is the many scientists and engineers at ORNL whose dedication, ingenuity, and faith are really being honored”.
ORNL Neutron Physics Division replaced the Tower Shielding Reactor-I (TSR-I) with TSR-II. Both programs were studies to determine if a nuclear powered aircraft engine could operate safely. After four years of TSR-I use considerable difficulty was encountered in interpreting data from a Bulk Shielding Reactor type core and applying it to a spherical power reactor core data. The unique feature of TSR-II is that the specifications called for it to be spherical, with control elements placed in the center and specially shaped to cause minimum perturbation of the radiation. This permitted easier analysis of the core data.
Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) names Oak Ridge and Idaho Falls as burial sites for solid, packaged radioactive wastes, such as laboratory paraphernalia; however, highly radioactive liquid waste resulting from chemical processing of irradiated fuels removed from reactors will continue to be stored in underground storage tanks at Idaho Falls, Hanford and Savannah River.
ORNL's radioactive waste study program concerned with health and safety aspects related to release of low-level radioactive waste solutions to the Clinch River is to be broadened. A forerunner of the Lab's Environmental Science Division, Aquatic Ecology Program, this study will be a comprehensive study of the Clinch River downstream to determine the dispersion and ultimate fate of radioactive materials that come from the laboratory research and processing activities. These activities have been processed through a waste treatment plant prior to discharge to the White Oak Creek.