June 27, 2013

Jun 27, 2013 | Fukushima Accident Updates

  • Tritium levels may be increasing inside the F. Daiichi break-wall. On June 10, the Tritium concentration was at about 500 Becquerels per liter just off the seawater intake of unit #1. A June 21 sample showed 1,100 Bq/l at the same location. The Japanese limit for open release is 60,000 Bq/l, but with Japan’s radiophobic Press the Tepco announcement is being given sensational treatment. There has been no increase in Cesium and analysis for Strontium-90, the newest “scary” isotope, has not been completed. The source of the increased Tritium could be groundwater flow. Tepco is trying to establish the reason for the Tritium increase. NHK World reports the NRA has urged Tepco to check for new leaks at the plant and take all urgent measures possible to prevent contamination of the sea. The NRA says groundwater-borne leaks are “likely”. http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20130625_04.html — http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/06/25/national/tritium-samples-in-sea-near-no-1-soar/#.UcmMvevD8dU — http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20130625p2g00m0dm043000c.html
  • The former president of Japan’s Nuclear Technology Institute gave his view on the cause of the Fukushima accident. At a conference in Taipei, Michio Ishikawa rejected the notion of the 3/11/11 earthquake causing the crisis, saying the accident was due to the massive tsunami resulting in a blackout lasting more than a week. Ishikawa emphasized that existing technology with nuclear plant designs are very safe, but “It was the Japanese government and relevant institute’s incompetence that led to the disaster.” Ishikawa thus calls F. Daiichi a man-made calamity. Also at the conference, Taipei’s Economics Minister, Chang Chia-juch, said most of the reports coming out of Japan are too exaggerated to truly picture the extent of the crisis, and “People need correct information.” Antinuclear activist Tsui Su-hsin said both statements were incorrect and the earthquake was the actual cause of the accident. He charged that the conference is merely a government attempt to defuse opposition to the completion of the country’s fourth nuke. http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aall/201306240021.aspx
  • Japan’s antinuclear forces have descended on utility shareowner meetings. The Press has focused on the numerous proposals to scrap all nukes and the well-orchestrated protests held outside the meeting locations. The utility shareowners soundly defeated all of the proposals, however.  The utilities vowed to meet all new NRA safety regulations and get their currently-idled nukes restarted as soon as possible. Shikoku Electric president Akira Chiba expressed guarded optimism, “We will seek to restart our reactor at an early date by winning the consent of the local people.” The most heated meeting was at Tepco headquarters in Tokyo where angry antinukes submitted no less than nine proposals, including a demand that the undamaged Kashiwazaki-Kariwa station be dismantled. The leader of Tepco’s antinuclear shareowner contingent, Yui Kimura, said that as long as shareowners refuse to force nuclear plant dismantlement they are as responsible for the Fukushima accident as the company itself.  A Namie shareholder said,“Please think of our suffering, our uncertainty, our fear of living with radiation.” Outside on a Tokyo street, Greenpeace Japan activists were dressed up like casino workers working a fake roulette table. “Nuclear power is a dangerous gamble,” said Yuki Sekimoto, a Greenpeace spokeswoman. Only the Horuriku Electric Company meeting was devoid of protestors and antinuclear shareowner proposals. It is no coincidence that Horuriku was the only company with idled nukes to show a profit last year.  http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20130626_18.html — http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/06/26/business/reactor-operators-face-shareholders/#.UcrvqOvD8dU — http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20130626p2a00m0na008000c.html
  • Some of Japan’s Press report that NRA-mandated safety upgrades “mask” existing problems with nukes. Japan Today calls utility plans to submit restart applications next month are “wildly optimistic” because the NRA will possibly err on the side of caution and effect unforeseen delays in nuke resumptions. In addition, local consent for restarts needs to be given, which is at this point not a sure thing. The Press is using the uncertainty tactic to the maximum because until the restart applications are submitted, acted upon and local consent is gained, no one will know the outcome for sure. http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/japan-nuclear-safety-upgrades-mask-industry-problems
  • The onset of F. Daiichi melted fuel removal may begin as early as 2020. The Tokyo government says it is possible to advance prospective date from the original 2021 schedule because of improvements in the efficiency of pre-removal work. The revised road-map for decommissioning was revealed in Tokyo today. http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2013/06/232837.html
  • Tepco has rejected a financial settlement proposal by a state arbitrator. In May, the Center for Settlement of Fukushima Nuclear Damage Claims recommended that Tepco pay damages to 190 residents of Iitate Village. That was the first time a state body had endorsed a reward for radiation fears. The plaintiff’s homes are classified as currently uninhabitable by the government. The claimants believe they warrant compensation due to anxiety over the possibility of future health issues from radiation exposure. Tepco says they will not comply with arbitration because the evacuee’s claims do not fit scientific knowledge about the health effects of low-dose exposure. One angry claimant asked Tepco what they would do if this happened to them or their relatives. http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20130626_31.html