September 13, 2013

Sep 13, 2013 | Fukushima Accident Updates

  • Tokyo Electric Company has another American expert to consult on Fukushima issues. Lake Barrett, formerly with both the US Department of Energy during the Three Mile Island clean-up, has been asked to be part of Tepco’s “Contaminated Water and Tank Countermeasures Headquarters.” His experience with the TMI accident recovery should be invaluable to Tepco’s mitigation of wastewater problems at F. Daiichi. Barrett will also provide input on the decommissioning of the four damaged units at the station. Tepco says there will be other international experts asked to assist them. http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/2013/1230443_5130.html — http://japandailypress.com/us-nuclear-expert-to-serve-as-adviser-to-tepco-regarding-fukushima-crisis-1135716/ Barrett’s first public statement after touring F. Daiichi calls for increased public communication. He pointed out that Tepco’s current efforts to contain wastewater tank leaks are helping the situation. Barrett stressed that current efforts can be improved, and they should be. But, he feels there is no reason for concern about public health and safety. Because people are traumatized by reports of radioactive releases, Barrett calls on Tepco to improve its methods of communication in order to keep people from over-reacting. http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20130913_18.html
  • One groundwater sampling well inside the wastewater tank complex shows 130,000 Becquerels per liter of Tritium. The new reading on Friday was more than four times the level found on Monday. Japan’s Tritium limit for open release is 60,000 Bq/liter, but only a very tiny amount of the water found in the groundwater sample might have seeped into the nearby drainage ditch. Tritium is the radioactive isotope of hydrogen having by-far the weakest Beta radiation of all reactor-produced materials. Regardless, one Japanese Newspaper (Japan Times) alleged that the ground under the tank complex is turning into a “radioactive swamp”. http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20130914_03.html  — http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/09/11/national/no-1-chief-pleased-with-olympics-bid-tritium-reading-doubles/#.UjGuc-vD8dU  Meanwhile, the Japanese Press ignores the latest readings from the nearby drainage ditch – felt to be the most likely pathway for the Tritiated waters to reach the sea. Only only one location shows a level of “all Beta” emitters (2000 Bq/liter). While most of the Japanese Press is reporting the all-Beta as containing Strontium and Cesium isotopes, the data clearly shows there is no Cesium in the ditch’s water, and there is still nothing detectable at the ditch’s outlet to the sea. http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/f1/smp/2013/images/south_discharge_130913-1-e.pdf  It should be noted that the most recent samples of seawater from F. Daiichi show nothing detectible. Both the NRA and Tepco results agree. http://radioactivity.nsr.go.jp/en/contents/8000/7306/24/289_k_0913.pdf  — http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/f1/smp/2013/images/seawater_130913-e.pdf
  • This morning, Tepco found that contaminated water is flowing into a recently-drained unit #2 equipment tunnel. The tunnel was drained because the company felt it has been the source of the groundwater contamination found in four nearby observation wells. (1T-3, 1T-4, 2T-1, and 2T-2 at this link– http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/f1/smp/2013/images/around_rb_13091301-e.pdf ) 210 tons of water has been pumped out of the tunnel and discharged to the unit #2 turbine building basement. The water’s removal was completed August 24th. Now, water is flowing back into the tunnel and the water level is rising at a rate of 8cm/day. http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2013091300314
  • A nuclear researcher claims groundwater contamination is entering the barricaded F. Daiichi quay. Head researcher at the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Seiji Takeda, says Tritium in a few of the groundwater sampling wells and inside the quay suggests outflow is occurring. Takeda says Tritium moves with water and can be used to track water flow, and its levels on the sea-side of the four damaged units are greater than the inland, mountain-side groundwater. The specific wells of concern are located near an underground equipment tunnel known to have contained extremely high levels of contamination. Takeda feels the groundwater contamination came from seepage out of the tunnel. http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20130912_01.html
  • Japan’s Federation of Electric Power Companies vows industry-wide support for Tepco with the current waste-water situation. Chair Makoto Yagi said, “We take the problem seriously. The whole industry should tackle it.” Initially, the Federation will send 10 radiation experts and a variety of radioactive survey equipment to F. Daiichi.  “We will consider additional support based on TEPCO’s needs and depending on developments in the situation at the power plant,” Yagi said. He added that he fully supports restarting nuclear plants so they can be a core of reliable future electricity supplies. http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2013091300823
  • Vietnam has lifted their radiation inspection requirements on Japanese food imports. Their Agricultural Ministry actually removed the restrictions on September 1. The reason for the delay in the announcement has not been reported. The ministry had required all foods from Japan to be checked for contamination, especially those from Fukushima, Ibaraki, and Tochigi Prefectures. Vietnam no longer considers the food checks necessary. http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2013/09/245643.html
  • South Korea says their ocean is free of Fukushima contamination. The peninsular country recently banned fish imports from 8 Japanese prefectures over the Fukushima leak reports in the press. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries reports, “The result of an analysis of waters from six sea areas that was conducted jointly with the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission showed no traces of induced radioactive materials. The test confirmed that marine products produced from our waters are safe from radiation.” This raises the possibility that S. Korea’s recent ban on many of Japan’s fisheries is intended to protect Korea’s fishing businesses. http://japandailypress.com/south-korea-confirms-safety-of-waters-from-fukushima-radiation-contamination-1235784/
  • Only 60% of the F. Daiichi “advisory” evacuees have returned home. The advisory area stretched from the old 20km no-go zone out to a 30km radius from the nuke station. The evacuation advisory was lifted last March, but only 36,000 of the 60,000 people who were affected have taken advantage of the opportunity. Reasons for not going home vary. Some say they fear subsequent problems at the nuke will force them to leave again, while others say some hospitals and stores remain closed. Still others doubt they will be able to find jobs if they move back. http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20130912_40.html
  • Japan’s antinukes object to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Many critics purport that Japan’s pursuit of the Olympic venue shows that Fukushima doesn’t really matter to Tokyo’s government. Others take issue with Prime Minister Abe saying the situation at F. Daiichi is under control. One web user Tweeted, “Are you thinking about the people of Fukushima!!” An alleged F. Daiichi worked also Tweeted, “Prime Minister Abe isn’t a specialist in nuclear disasters, or a specialist in environmental impacts.” Another person tweeted, “I promise that the Olympics will probably — no, definitely — have the worst possible impact on the Fukushima Daiichi decommissioning.” On the other hand, the overwhelming majority of Japan’s public is thrilled with getting the 2020 Olympics and feel the venue will result in greater international pressure to clean up Fukushima Prefecture and decommission the damaged nukes. http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2013/09/10/fukushima-watch-tokyo-olympics-victory-more-grief-for-fukushima/
  • The recent court decision to not indict Tepco and Tokyo officials over the nuclear accident has outraged the people that filed the criminal complaint. Lawyer Hiroyuki Kawai, representing more than 14,000 plaintiffs, said, “How can they say they conducted a thorough investigation when they did not carry out any raids on relevant offices? From the very beginning, it was not an investigation seeking indictments, but rather, one conducted so no indictments would be handed down.” Journalist Soichiro Tawara supported Kawai by saying, “As long as there is the possibility that new evidence could emerge, such raids should have been carried out and a decision should only have been made after all the evidence was examined. It cannot be claimed a thorough investigation was conducted.” Kawai also criticized the Fukushima prosecutors for transferring the case to Tokyo. He says a formal request for an inquest panel will be submitted in the hope of reversing the non-indictment decision. http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201309100060
  • Former PM Naoto Kan says no nuclear plant is 100% safe. At a Press conference in Taiwan, Kan said the Fukushima accident brought him to that conclusion. He will tour a Taiwanese nuke today, then make make antinuclear speeches today and Saturday. Kan says he will also meet with Taipei Mayor-elect Eric Chu and Taipei Mayor Hau Long-bin. http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20130913p2g00m0dm040000c.html Kan’s former party, the DPJ, has taken issue with PM Abe’s claim that Fukushima is under control. DPJ Secretary General Akihiro Ohata said, “The prime minister must back up his claim that the (radioactive water) problem is under control. The government has a responsibility to explain this statement to the people of Fukushima Prefecture and indeed the entire country.” He threatened to take the issue to the Diet (congress) if Abe cannot satisfactorily respond. The DPJ also says the NRA’s “frozen wall” to stop groundwater contamination is “technically very difficult” and “If the contamination is widespread, then the (frozen soil) method cannot be used.” http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20130913p2a00m0na017000c.html