January 16, 2014

Jan 16, 2014 | Fukushima Accident Updates

  • Tepco has successfully transferred 154 spent fuel bundles out of F. Daiichi unit #4. The process was resumed this past week after a two week holiday hiatus.  http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/removal4u/index-e.html
  • Tokyo has approved Tepco’s financial “revival plan” which includes nuke restarts. Japan’s Press generally agrees the success of the plan hinges on restarting two Kashiwazaki-Kariwa units this coming summer to cut the company’s huge fossil fuel costs. Tepco says the restarts will reduce their annual $6.5 billion fossil fuel purchases, much of which is due to Japan’s nuclear moratorium.  Industry Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said, “As for the restart of Kashiwazaki Kariwa … this is simply an assumption built into the financial plan.” Tepco President Naomi Hirose was asked if the plan’s approval absolved Tepco of responsibility since Tokyo now is majority owner in the utility. He responded, “TEPCO will throw all available resources at taking responsibility for Fukushima. We will compensate every last person and the company has many things to do in order for residents to return quickly.” However, the governor of Niigata Prefecture, home of the K-K nuclear station, doesn’t like it. Although not required by law, political protocol requires the prefecture’s approval before restart, and the governor’s anti-Tepco stance could stop restarts. Governor Hirohiko Izumida said, in his opinion, Tepco has yet to fully understand the 2011 accident at Fukushima Daiichi and is therefore unqualified to operate any nuclear plant in Japan. Izumida met with Tepco’s Hirose this morning and demanded the firm “fully verify” the accident, and called Tepco’s plan to restart the K-K plants a “moral hazard”.  The Asahi Shimbun quotes Izumida as saying the Tepco recovery plan is “pie in the sky”. http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/govt-to-approve-tepcos-revival-plan — http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20140115_25.html — http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2014011600586
  • The Nuclear Regulation Authority has begun screening Onagawa unit #2 for restart. The Onagawa station was closest nuclear plant to the epicenter of the 3/11/11 earthquake and was hit by the highest tsunami wave of all nukes (~13 meters). The 9 meter off-shore tsunami wall was overwhelmed, but the elevation of the plant at nearly 14 meters above sea level prevented a severe accident. None of the reactor operating or emergency cooling systems were damaged, although several seawater cooling supply pumps were flooded and rendered inoperable. (1) Units #1 and #3 were operating at full power when the quake struck, and unit #2 was preparing for restart after a scheduled refueling and maintenance period. Some 350 local residents fled to the station because their homes had been impacted by the tsunami, were safely taken-in by the site staff, and given the large employee gymnasium as refuge. 240 persons stayed for more than two weeks, provided food and water, plus floor bedding, because their homes were either destroyed or swept away by the waves (there were several). (2) Tohoku Electric Company, owner of the three unit station, feels unit #2 is ready to pass the NRA inspection for restart. The company is currently building new sea walls which will be 19 meters high in order to meet the regulation that tsunami protection must be built to survive a quake and wave greater than experienced on 3/11/11. Unit #2 is a Mark-5 Boiling Water Reactor system with a Mark I advanced containment. There are more reactor emergency systems on BWR Mark 5 than was the case at F. Daiichi, plus the Primary Containment is considerably larger and more forgiving.  http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/nuclear.html  — (1) http://www.genanshin.jp/english/news/data/report_OnTk.pdf — (2) http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/mar/30/onagawa-tsunami-refugees-nuclear-plant
  • Meanwhile, Tokyo delayed Japan’s new energy policy amid public outcry against nuke restarts. The policy draft was issued in December and roughly 19,000 public comments ensued. Industry Minister Motegi said, “We are hoping to proceed as soon as possible, but we have received about 19,000 public comments. We shouldn’t decide on it too hastily.” The plan’s draft said nuclear energy should remain as a base-load source of electricity in order to “stabilize Japan’s energy supply-demand structure”. While the body of public responses has not been made public, Motegi said the surge of citizen input has made it necessary to provide more detail on initiatives for fossil-fueled generation, power plant efficiency, and the implementation of renewables. Motegi added, “We also have to think more about nuclear waste,” which has become an ever-increasing issue. http://japandailypress.com/japan-delays-energy-plans-amid-public-concern-regarding-nuclear-power-1542508/
  • Another former Japanese Prime Minister has joined the antinuclear ranks. Ex-PM Morihiro Hosokawa announced his candidacy for Tokyo governor, supported by antinuclear former PM Junichiro Koizumi. On Tuesday, Hosokawa announced he advocates a no-nukes future for Japan because he has a sense of crisis about Japan’s energy future. He also mentioned disaster prevention, measures to deal with the country’s falling birthrate and aging population as part of his platform’s issues. Both former PMs believe the gubernatorial race will affect national policy like never before due to the impending Olympics being held in 2020. Hosokawa says the survival of Japan is at stake and a no-nukes policy is a key to Japanese revival. Hosokawa’s main opponent, former health minister Yoichi Masuzoe, is running on a platform much less focused on nuclear energy. He wants to revitalize Tokyo, improve earthquake resistance in the city, ensure the 2020 Olympics will be a resounding success, and improve social services for the elderly. Masuzoe added that national energy policy is important, but as governor he can only increase the use of renewables by the city and support a reduction of dependence on nuclear power. http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20140114_32.html — http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0000941005
  • Fukushima evacuees living in Tokyo have mixed emotions about the upcoming gubernatorial race. There are roughly 8,400 former-Fukushima residents who fled to Tokyo in 2011. Ex-Pm Morihiro Hosokawa, is doing his utmost to make nuclear energy the focal point of the election. But, many of the Fukushima evacuees are skeptical. They see Hosokawa’s antinuke platform as not addressing their needs. They want to know when they will be allowed to go home, not whether or not Japan should restart idled nukes. Hosei University professor Harutoshi Funabashi, commented, “Many evacuees cannot decide whether to change their registered address, due in part to the national government’s vague policies. It’s absurd that almost three years after the start of evacuations the evacuees don’t have the right to vote in the areas they have evacuated to. If nuclear power policy is to become an issue in the gubernatorial race, I hope they’ll also look at this and other situations that evacuees face.” Kozo Misawa, from Minamisoma, said, “I’m anxious because I don’t know how long I’ll have before I’m told to leave. If I had some reassurance that I could stay here a long time I could plan out my life, but as it is I can’t even buy furniture.” He sees Hosokawa’s antinuclear stance as merely a ploy to get votes, “I wish he’d first focus on the many other issues (like how to support evacuees).” A 38-year-old woman who evacuated with her husband and child said, “I’d prefer the candidates in the gubernatorial race to talk about what they’ll do for evacuees, rather than about nuclear power plants.” http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20140115p2a00m0na012000c.html
  • Fukushima Prefecture will increase efforts to insure effective public calls for evacuation. A survey after last month’s nuclear accident drill found that using 20 police and fire loudspeakers to announce an evacuation fell well-short of what is needed. Residents in 26 of the 36 affected locations said announcements were unclear and difficult to hear indoors. Also, many older cell phones did not receive emergency Emails. However, all evacuees making short-term visits to Okuma and Futaba towns who rented walkie-talkies got the messages. Fukushima officials say each communication method had strong and weak points, and plan to use the multiple announcement methodology in the future. http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/nuclear.html
  • The US Congress plans to appropriate funds for detailed health checkups for the crew of the USS Ronald Reagan. The aircraft carrier took part in “Operation Tomodachi” (friends), to support the quake and tsunami relief effort following 3/11/11. Last year, more than 50 of the ships +5,000 person crew filed a lawsuit against Tepco and the Tokyo government for injuries allegedly caused by too-high radiation exposure. The suit was dismissed by a federal judge in November, but heavy Press coverage extended to the plaintiffs and their attorneys spurred several Senators and Representatives to push for a thorough investigation. The pending Omnibus Spending Bill earmarks funds to investigate the plaintiff’s health concerns. The Pentagon has released data showing that no US servicemen received hazardous exposures while in Japan, and the worst case exposure to the Reagan’s crew was less than a quarter of annual natural background levels found in the States. But, that’s not good enough for some members of Congress. They want an inventory of adverse medical conditions with Ronald Reagan sailors, plus a detailed account of actions taken by the service to prevent radiation exposure, minimize it or treat affected personnel. The Omnibus Bill is due to be submitted for congressional vote on April 15. http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2014011500656 — http://www.militarytimes.com/article/20140114/NEWS/301140016/Lawmakers-seek-data-sailors-exposure-Fukushima-radiation