- The top nuclear news stories across Japan this past weekend superficially concern the topic of P.M. Noda wanting the build a waste storage facility in Futaba. However, the issue of displeasure with the recent “cold shutdown” declaration dominated the numerous news reports. P.M. Noda visited Fukushima Governor Sato in order to ask about the storage facility, but Sato instead focused on the cold shutdown declaration. He challenged the notion that the accident is contained saying the announcement was “far from the feeling of the residents in Fukushima Prefecture and those who had to evacuate. We can call it under control only when evacuated people can come home.” (Mainichi Shimbun) Sato also added that the accident should not be declared “contained” until all evacuees have returned to their homes. He further stated damage caused by the accident had seriously undermined confidence in Tokyo’s nuclear policies. (JAIF)
- The Mainichi also ran an editorial calling plans to restart idled nukes “half-baked” because less than half of the households in mandatory evacuation zones have yet to apply for financial compensation. They also charge that “…a safe method of operating nuclear reactors has yet to be established.” why have disaster victims been slow to apply for payments? “Because the crisis hasn’t ended yet,” a man from Fukushima who’s evacuated to Yamagata Prefecture says, “We’re still in the midst of it.” The editorial further asserts that damage claims from voluntary evacuees must be taken seriously, as many as 1.5 million should be eligible for compensation, and reparation claims from beyond Fukushima Prefecture in Japan and overseas cannot be ignored. (Mainichi Shimbun) How restarting nukes and repopulation of the Fukushima evacuation zones correlate has us stumped.
- The government says the homes of 25,000 evacuees inside the 20km no-go zone might remain empty for at least five years. This will apply to locations having at least fifty millisievert annual exposures. These areas include all or part of Minamisoma City, the towns of Futaba and Okuma which lie adjacent to Fukushima Daiichi, and Iitate Village. Tokyo says 60% of these residents want to return home. In addition, the government proposes that several communities merge in order to streamline recovery efforts. For example, Mayor Tamotsu Baba of the town of Namie, which neighbors Okuma and Futaba, said he was asked to consider a merger of the three towns and Katsurao Village into a single municipality. When asked, “Why don’t you merge [with other municipalities] to improve your infrastructure?” the mayor replied, “I must hear the opinions of the town’s residents. I can’t just make a snap decision.” (Yomiuri Shimbun)
- TEPCO has increased the nitrogen injection rate inside the primary containment Vessel (PCV) of unit #2. The company says they are doing this “in preparation for inner inspection of the PCV”. By admitting more Nitrogen, the possibility of steam in the inner atmosphere will be greatly reduced. (TEPCO News)
- A “tunnel” related to the Fukushima Waste Treatment Facility has been found to contain 142 tons of radioactive water in it. This is the second such tunnel discovery since the one found on December 18. Tunnel water contains Cesium concentration of ~100 becquerels/liter. It does not seem the water came from the damaged power plants or the nearby waste water facility. TEPCO suspects the liquid is rainwater that has accumulated for quite some time, and the Cesium came in with the rainwater which picked up deposited isotopes as it drained from areas in and around the plant site. (Mainichi Shimbun) Although conspicuously missing from the article, it should be noted that the Japanese limit for fresh water is 200 becquerels/liter. Thus, the national standard is double the radioactivity found in the tunnel’s water volume.
- Of the 108 communities earmarked for decontamination funding, six have refused the offer. This is because they dread the negative publicity they will receive if they are officially declared to be contaminated. Local officials fear outsiders may misunderstand that the whole areas of the municipalities have high radiation levels. “Radiation levels are high in forestlands in mountainous areas, and they do not affect the lives of citizens,” Chichibu Mayor Kuniyasu Kuki said, “If we’re designated, it would give the impression that the entire city has been contaminated.” Most towns that refused have considerable tourist trade and don’t want to lose it. (Asahi Shimbun)
- The Japanese government is considering a full takeover of all nuclear plant management in Japan. This would mark a drastic change from past official nuclear policy. Tokyo feels that by doing this, responsibility for accident compensation will be clarified and generate support from currently-disgruntled local governments. The government feels it might lessen local official opposition to restart currently-idled nukes. But, the idea goes even further. Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yukio Edano said, “Nuclear plants are owned by private utilities but the state is responsible for compensation and decontamination work [in the aftermath of a nuclear plant accident]. It can no longer be permitted [for the private sector] to enjoy only the benefits [of the system]. The course of action by private utility firms should be determined: either they’ll continue to manage nuclear plants while paying huge insurance premiums or they’ll relinquish the benefits they currently enjoy and ask the state to bear the cost of compensation [in the event of an accident].” (Yomiuri Shimbun) But…isn’t distrust of central government at the core of local government issues? Private companies owning nukes are also distrusted, so which level of distrust is better? Is this potential move by Tokyo going to worsen rather than improve the situation? Stay tuned…
- The latest example of radiophobia concerns the burning of trash produced by last week’s New Year’s celebrations. The traditional burning of New Year’s decorations called “Dondoyaki”, has been canceled at a number of shrines in Fukushima Prefecture due to concerns about radioactive contamination. “It is regrettable that we cannot return these objects to the gods after burning them,” said Tadashi Yoshida, the 80-year-old head priest at Kasuga Shrine in Fukushima Prefecture. The decorations include ropes, charms, good luck ornaments and household altars brought to the shrine by parishioners. The shrine is located outside the Fukushima evacuation zones. Yoshida said they, and local officials of the Kawamata municipal government, are concerned for the health of children commuting to school during the burning who might be exposed to radioactive smoke fumes. Some of the materials brought by parishioners were made from local pines and straws, so it is possible the substances might contain some Cesium. Since they cannot prove the materials do not have radioactive Cesium in them, they feel they cannot take the chance on burning. (Mainichi Shimbun)
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