October 21, 2013

Oct 21, 2013 | Fukushima Accident Updates

  • Rainwater has overwhelmed many wastewater tank containment dams at F. Daiichi. The resulting Japanese Press coverage is heavy. Eleven of the dams overflowed on Sunday, six of which were found to have contamination in excess of Tepco’s self-imposed release limits. One of the overflowed dams contained 710 Becquerels per liter of radioactive Strontium, spawning numerous scary headlines. The company said some of the water necessarily seeped into the surrounding earth, but most of the remaining run-off was contained by recently constructed “barrier mounds” surrounding the wastewater tank complex. However, Tepco could not absolutely guarantee all run-off was contained. There are 23 coffer-dam-enclosed tank clusters in total. Twelve did not appear to be overwhelmed. This is the first time simultaneous overflows have occurred. (The following are links representative of the Press coverage in Japan) http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20131021_16.html — http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/10/21/national/rainwater-flows-over-tank-barriers-at-fukushima-no-1/#.UmUXa4HD8dU
  • One of the F. Daiichi groundwater wells has shown a significant radioactive increase. The well is 10 meters from the tank that lost 300 tons of wastewater in August. The new reading on Friday was 400,000 Becquerels per liter, up from 61 Bq/liter two days before. Tepco says the increase may be connected to the August tank leak. The reading indicates the contamination has invaded the groundwater due to the heavy rains from recent typhoon Wipha. No Cesium isotopes were contained in the well water. The Tritium level was measured at 790,000 Bq/liter. There has been no parallel increase in seawater readings due to the discovery. http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/2013/1231539_5130.html — http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20131019_02.html  As of this morning, the well’s activity had dropped to 330,000 Bq/liter of all-beta and 550,000 Bq/liter of Tritium. http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/f1/smp/2013/images/around_h4_13102101-e.pdf  Meanwhile, the increased activity in the drainage ditch reported last week has risen. Last Thursday, the concentration was 2,300 Bq/liter, but on Friday it rose to 34,000 Bq/liter. Tepco says the sandbag barricade in the ditch has prevented the activity from reaching the sea. The company says much of the increase was probably due to evaporation. Tepco also announced they support the International Research Institute for Nuclear Decommissioning’s suggestion to pursue foreign proposals for Fukushima cleanup. A Tepco official said, “We will set up a website in both Japanese and English to notify interested parties at home and abroad of our calls for decommissioning ideas so that we can offer more useful and practical proposals to the government.” http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/f1/smp/2013/images/south_discharge_13101801-e.pdf — http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/10/18/national/water-radiation-soars-at-fukushima-no-1/#.UmEvOIHD8dU As of this morning, the ditch activity had drooped to 144 Bq/liter of combined Cesium and 1,600 Bq/liter of all-beta. http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/f1/smp/2013/images/south_discharge_13102101-e.pdf
  • The contamination levels of the F. Daiichi inner port have recovered. Two weeks ago, the “all-beta” readings of the contained seawater between the unit #1 and #2 intake structures suddenly increased. The reason was contaminated soil dropping into the water from construction of soil-solidified barriers along the shoreline. As of this morning, the contamination level had dropped to pre-10/7/13 levels. Currently, the combined Cesium reading is 90 Bq/liter, down from 350 Bq/liter a week ago and the 1,200 Bq/liter reading on October 10 which spawned heavy negative Press. http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/f1/smp/2013/images/intake_canal_131021-e.pdf
  • Japanese experts say the seafood off Fukushima Prefecture is safe to eat. Jun Misonoo, a consulting researcher at the non-profit Marine Ecology Research Institute, says, “[Contamination levels] of fish now coming to the market are well below the government safety threshold. We consider them safe to eat.” Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology’s Jota Kanda added, “Compared with the release of radioactive materials in the initial stage (of the crisis), the amount of material now is overwhelmingly small. This is not something that has a big impact on fish in the sea.” Since the testing does not include each and every fish being sold, some consumers fear dangerously contaminated seafood might be missed and could possibly be consumed. Misonoo says this is a misplaced fear because such a possibility is miniscule. He stressed that if someone were to ingest 1 kg of fish contaminated with Cesium of 100 Becquerels per kilogram every day for a year, that person would receive an internal radiation exposure of 0.47 millisievert. This is below the national standard of 1 mSv/yr. Misonoo pointed out, “And you would never keep eating 1 kg of fish every day. It’s quite unrealistic.” Finally, Misonoo said fears based on radioactive Strontium are equally naïve because the isotope would seek the bone in fish, “And you won’t eat much in the way of fish bones at any rate.” (comment – The attached link seems to be the only one covering this important story. Unfortunately, Japan Times seems to go out of its way to “balance” the expert’s statements with negative descriptive terminology and fearsome possibilities.) http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/10/20/national/experts-play-down-fish-radiation-fear/#.UmPRoIHD8dV
  • On Friday, Japan’s Communist Party urged PM Shinzo Abe to abandon nuclear energy. During a meeting in Japan’s upper house, Party official Tadayoshi Ichida argued that Japan has experienced no power shortages due to the nuclear moratorium, the economy has not collapsed and people lead normal lives, thus there is no need to restart any nukes. Abe responded that the moratorium has caused Japan’s massive trade deficit, increased reliance on using fossil fuels, and that people’s lives have been greatly affected by soaring electricity costs. Fossil fuel imports have risen by $30 billion dollars, and nukes are needed to reverse a spiraling trend. Abe stressed that a responsible energy policy requires nuclear generation. He vowed to support renewable energy development and continue power saving measures for at least the next three years. Abe added that reducing dependence on nuclear energy in the future is possible. http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20131018_28.html
  • Tepco owes the government more than $33 million in environmental decontamination costs. Tokyo has spent about $40 million, but Tepco has only paid about $7 million. The company says that with the costs of F. Daiichi cleanup and the loss of income due to the nuke moratorium, they are unable to pay the entire decontamination bill. Tepco also feels that some of the bill covers measures beyond what has been agreed upon, so Tokyo should shoulder some of the financial burden. Some ministries are sympathetic, while others are not. The Industry Ministry supports Tepco’s claims, saying, “If TEPCO’s business projection becomes murky, it would suffer severe staff drains that would disrupt its recovery from the crisis.” On the other hand, the Finance Ministry rejects Tepco’s claims, “A framework to collect the cost of decontamination work in the long term has been established, and it is impossible to consider the idea of TEPCO collapsing because of decontamination efforts.” In addition, Japan’s Board of Audit says Tepco could cover the cost if they better controlled what they pay contractors.  Regardless, Tepco is legally bound to pay the bill upon receipt, however company President Naomi Hirose says, “One company cannot bear it all.” Many legislators feel that honoring Tepco’s position would only ease their burden. http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0000729428
  • More Fukushima fisheries are back at work. Thirteen fishing boats sailed out of Iwate on Friday, seeking as many as 8 kinds of seafood for market including octopus and squid. The Iwate cooperative wanted to begin operations in September, but delayed their plans due to reports of possible sea contamination from F. Daiichi in the Press. They had actually decided to restart fishing on September 24, but persistent inclement weather kept it from happening. They subsequently feared a late September start would not be accepted by consumers outside the Prefecture. Fisherman Hisashi Yoshida said, “This is the first step to resume our fishing in earnest. I hope we will be able to catch a wider variety of fish soon.” http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/10/18/national/more-fukushima-fishermen-start-trial-operations/#.UmEvIYHD8dU
  • PMShinzo Abe is trying his best to dispel naïve rumors about Fukushima seafood. On Saturday, he visited the Fukushima port of Matsukawaura, met with fishermen, and ate samples of their catch. Abe told reporters that fishing has resumed and tests have found all seafood to be safe. However, he said the fact remains that fishermen and farmers in Fukushima are suffering from rumors that have no factual basis. He would like people across Japan to know that seafood caught off Fukushima is good and safe and the government will publicize the safety of the seafood. Later in the day, he visited tsunami-ravaged Shinchi Town in the Soma District, where homeless refugees have agreed to rebuild on higher ground. Abe promised he would do all he could to rebuild the tsunami-devastated Tohoku coastline. http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20131019_26.html