August 17, 2012

Aug 17, 2012 | Fukushima Accident Updates

  • The Tokyo government ordered Tepco to not tell the Press that unit #3 at F. Daiichi was in a very dangerous state, early on March 14. When plant manager Yoshida saw that RPV and containment pressures were spiking, he ordered all non-essential personnel to leave the unit #3 buildings (not the control room) for fear of another hydrogen explosion. He passed this word on to Tepco/Tokyo, and they began writing a press statement about it. This was about two hours before the unit #3 explosion. However, officials from the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) ordered Tepco to delay the announcement. Tepco’s teleconferencing footage shows one official saying, “We’ve been stopped by the government and are being made to wait before issuing any announcement to the press.” A second Tepco official adds, “NISA officials are blocking any release of information on the matter. The agency’s officials are saying that (Tepco) should not be the entity to announce this either.” NISA says it kept everything on hold because they were unable to obtain the necessary permission with its chief. (Japan Times)
  • A study by the National Defense Medical College and Ehime University shows public slander and criticism contributed more to the mental stress of Fukushima workers than fear of radiation. It warns that stress, anxiety and loss of motivation among Tepco workers could eventually slow recovery eforts. Jun Shigemura, who coauthored the report, says “Even though they work hard bringing the crippled reactors under control, they have become the perpetrators, and the target of angry Japanese people.” Criticism of Tepco by the public and media has been escalating. Thus workers at the two Fukushima stations have fallen victim to blame and slurs, rather than appreciation for their efforts. In addition, the report suggests that similar, if not worse discrimination is being suffered by the myriad of contractors assisting in the recovery effort. The doctors warn that discrimination is harming the workers’ productivity. Shigemura adds, “Such low motivation could result in slowing down the restoration process, which will take decades, and possibly trigger accidents.” (Japan Times)
  • The Tokyo government has begun a comprehensive survey of Fukushima evacuees to see how many want to return home. Reconstruction Minister Tatsuo Hirano says they will be focusing on towns with populations from inside the zones believed to have exposures in excess of 20 millisieverts per year. The government estimates that about 15,000 residents from inside the former no-go zones will not be allowed to return home in the foreseeable future because of possible exposures in excess of 20 mSv. The first town is Katsuro village, located between 20 and 30 kilometers from F. Daiichi. The Ministry wants to know if long-term Katsuro evacuees will agree to the construction of a temporary town where people can live until their former homes are allowed to repopulate. (NHK World)
  • Nearly 700 Japanese retirees want to volunteer in the F. Daiichi recovery, but Tokyo is not cooperating. One retiree, Yasuteru Yamada, has gone to the United States to get American pressure put on the government to use them. In a New York presentation, he said, “The Japanese government is very sensitive to American voices.” The retirees feel their help will reduce radiation exposure to younger people, “Radiation exposure is unavoidable. But even with (radiation) damage . . . the rest of my life is no more than 15 years.” Yamada is 73 years old. The retirees have approached both Tepco and the government, but both told the retirees there is “no room” for them. “Why can’t we join them or replace them? That is the question,” the Tokyo native said. “I believe that one day Tepco will face a (worker) shortage.” (Japan Times)