May 22, 2014

May 22, 2014 | Fukushima Accident Updates

  • The release of “clean” F. Daiichi groundwater has begun. On Wednesday, May 21st, Tepco discharged 561 tons of stored, fully analyzed groundwater to the Pacific Ocean. The radioactivity levels were below the ridiculously low self-imposed limits set by Tepco. All activity levels were verified by independent third-parties before the release began. President of the Fukushima Daiichi D & D Engineering Company, Naohiro Masuda said, “We would like to express our sincere appreciation to many parties, including Fukushima Prefecture and members of the fishing industry, for their understanding in the operation of the groundwater bypass, which plays an important role among the countermeasures to suppress the increase of contaminated water. In operating the bypass, we will pay strict attention to the management of the relevant facilities and, in conjunction with analysis by third parties, maintain the water quality to conform to operational targets.” The discharge is the final step in the company’s “groundwater bypass” operation which pumps groundwater out of the earth before it comes in contact with the four damaged turbie and reactor building structures and becomes contaminated. Tepco can now begin a steady “pumping up” of groundwater which is hoped to reduce the amount of liquid seeping into the building basements by about 25%. http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/2014/1236566_5892.html photos and video of the release can be found here… http://photo.tepco.co.jp/en/date/2014/201405-e/140521-02e.html A photographic overview of the “pumping up” locations, storage tanks used while the waters are analyzed for radioactivity, and the location of the point at which the release enters the sea, can be found here… http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/handouts/2014/images/handouts_140520_06-e.pdf
  • Tepco has received another $1.76 billion to cover evacuee compensation pay-outs for June. By the end of May, the total amount given to the 85,000 Tokyo-mandated evacuees will be $38.8 billion. The money was issued by the government’s Nuclear Damage Liability Facilitation Fund. http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/2014/1236589_5892.html
  • A court has barred the restart of Oi units #3 and #4. Fukui District Court has decided to legally disallow resumption of operations at the Oi station. It is the first time that a Japanese court has ordered a utility not to bring a nuclear plant online. The lawsuit was filed by 189 plaintiffs who live within 250 kilometers of the nuke. One reason for the filing was “An evacuation advisory was considered for those who live within 250 km of the Fukushima Daiichi complex at the time of the accident.” This was unquestionably based on former PM Naoto Kan’s paranoiac nightmare of possibly having to evacuate Tokyo during the early stages of the March, 2011 accident at F. Daiichi. The court also said their decision was based on what they call an “invasion of personal rights”. Presiding Judge Hideaki Higuchi admitted the importance of nuclear plants for society, but pointed out that they are “merely a tool for generating electricity and thus inferior to people’s fundamental rights (to life). It would be only natural to suspend nuclear plants if they pose specific risks of danger.” In addition, the court said the plant “poses a realistic, imminent danger in this quake-prone country”, taking the “enormous” effect of the Fukushima accident into consideration. Further, the formal decision says that the plant owners (Kepco) have been too optimistic with earthquake evaluations and do not take into account that there have been 5 cases of nukes experiencing tremors exceeding expectation in the past five years. Lawyer Katsuhiko Kabuki, hailed the Fukui District Court’s decision, saying, “It is a refined ruling that declared that the mission to protect residents’ personal rights lies with the courts, while drawing a line from KEPCO’s [Kansai Electric Company] economic and commercial interests.” It was noted that earlier this month, the Osaka High Court turned down a similar lawsuit filed by a group of residents in the Kinki region of western Japan seeking suspension of the two Oi reactors, upholding a lower court decision. Takayoshi Igarashi of Hosei University said, “Judges hand down rulings according to their conscience. It is natural for decisions over nuclear plant safety to turn out different depending on how they perceive the Fukushima nuclear disaster. It is likely that courts will continue to make conflicting decisions, but I believe the Supreme Court will ultimately come up with a uniform decision.” The Nuclear Regulation Authority has declined comment on the ruling. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the government’s stance on restarts remains unchanged, despite the Fukui court decision. http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20140521p2g00m0dm087000c.html — http://mainichi.jp/english/english/perspectives/news/20140522p2a00m0na012000c.html — NHK World; Ruling says plant operator too optimistic; May 21, 2014
  • Kepco has appealed the district court decision barring Oi restarts. Kepco filed with the Kanazawa branch of Nagoya High Court, insisting that the two Oi units are safe. Plaintiff head Tetsuen Nakajima says it will be difficult to overturn the Fukui court decision because it fully supported the plaintiff’s arguments. He added that Kepco must be aware that the plaintiffs are committed to stopping Oi restarts and will re-file if the Fukui decision is overturned by a higher court. Nakajima said he is appalled that Kepco has appealed the Fukui decision. http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2014052200523 — NHK World; Kansai Electric appeals court ruling on Ohi plant; May 22, 2014
  • Japan’s largest newspaper calls the Fukui court decision irrational. Concerning the court’s barring of restarts at the Oi nuclear station, The Yomiuri Shimbun said, “This was an irrational court ruling obsessed with the elimination of every scintilla of risk.” In addition, the editorial states, “The Fukui court has ignored the new safety standards that came into force for nuclear reactors in July 2013, and exhibited scant scientific knowledge,” and “No safety steps could possibly be valid based on such unrealistic thinking.” There are other details in the article, which I highly recommend that everyone read. http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0001299157
  • The Asahi Shimbun says the local public was not “warned” about the venting (depressurizing) of unit #3 on March 14, 2011. Tokyo allegedly told Tepco and the Fukushima government not to make any announcements about the situation at the No. 3 reactor to avoid panic among the public. The actual “dry venting” was never carried out. The Asahi found this in the voluminous testimony given to the government’s investigative committee (NAIIC) in 2012 by plant manager Masao Yoshida. Tepco simulations predicted Iodine exposures of up to 250 millisieverts in Soma, north of F. Daiichi. The threshold for oral thyroid gland protection is 100 millisieverts. All plans for venting were terminated with the unit#3 hydrogen explosion at 11am on March 14. Yoshida explained why no warning was given by him, “Public relations officials can do whatever they want to, such as issuing press releases, but we at the plant had our hands full trying to deal with the accident.” The Asahi says this shows that protection of the public might not be a high priority during a nuclear accident. Lawyer Hideaki Kobura said, “Companies have an obligation to protect the safety of residents during a serious incident. With the central government and TEPCO having failed to clarify responsibility even after three years, discussions should not begin on resuming operations at nuclear plants.” http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201405210045
  • The number of detected Fukushima child thyroid cancers has increased to fifty. This is a jump of 17 over the figures posted by the prefectural government in December. The panel releasing the data says it will be difficult to establish a causal link between the children’s cancers and the Fukushima accident. The prefecture’s unprecedented screening program is intended to cover roughly 370,000 children. 80% have been tested. It is hoped all remaining children will be screened and a final report posted by August. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/05/20/national/number-fukushima-kids-thyroid-cancer-jumps-17-december/#.U33ooqNOUdV
  • Once again, the tsunami refugees are subjected to a lack of respect that would never be considered for Fukushima evacuees. The Natori court in Miyagi Prefecture is demanding that tsunami refugees must move out of their temporary housing units due to demands from the local landowner’s union. The Medeshima complex in Natori City houses 322 refugees. The landowner’s union says they will no longer extend the contract for keeping the people there, which expires in June. The landowners want the people out so they can begin land development in October. Because the prefecture’s offer to subsidize residents who move into private rented apartments has ended, residents at the Medeshima housing facility will be urged to relocate to other prefabricated temporary dwellings in the city, which can only accommodate 70% of those to be displaced. One of the refugees said, “If we residents are to be separated after giving it our “altogether”, what were the past three years for? I want the city to at least allow everyone to relocate to the same place.” http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20140520p2a00m0na011000c.html (Comment – If this sort of treatment happened to Fukushima evacuees, it would cause a national uproar tantamount to absolute hell.)
  • A British Broadcasting station reports that Fukushima radiation kills people’s souls. This outrageous statement comes from Professor Niwako Yawanami of Brigham Young University. She says, “When I think about that [the line that no-one has died from radiation-related illness], I kind of laugh. Nobody has died from the radiation, but it may actually have killed their souls.” Professor Yamawaki believes it is the ongoing fear of radiation and impossibility of returning home, as well as the triple impact of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident, have caused severe mental distress that damages residents. She found that the degree of mental duress found in Hirono residents is greater than what has been the case with “other similar events. She states, “In addition to the natural disaster, the people in Hirono also experienced manmade disaster, which is the nuclear plant. So they are fighting with an invisible threat.” The story was balanced by interviewing Professor Gerry Thomas of Imperial College, who said no-one is expected to die or become seriously ill due to Fukushima radiation exposure, “Japan did the right things [when Fukushima Dai-ichi power plant went into meltdown]. It was not perfect. There were mistakes, but everyone makes mistakes in these kinds of situations. Things they did like cutting the food chain, which it is important to do quickly, were effective.” The station also points out that The IAEA findings on Fukushima will cause no health effects other that mental stress and PTSD symptoms due to radiation fears. http://www.channel4.com/news/fukushima-radiation-mental-health-souls-killed-depression