August 25, 2014

Aug 25, 2014 | Fukushima Accident Updates

  • Tepco gets more evacuee compensation money from Tokyo. The Nuclear Damage Compensation and Decommissioning Facilitation Corporation (NDF) has sent another $175 million (USD) to the company, making the total extended to-date to nearly $2.7 billion. This will allow Tepco to meet all mandated pay-outs through the end of September. http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/2014/1240945_5892.html  As of today, the amount paid out to evacuees for personal and property compensation stands at $42.08 billion. http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/comp/images/jisseki-e.pdf
  • Meetings concerning rural radioactive waste storage in Futaba and Okuma are on-going. On August 8th, Tokyo said they would pay some $3 billion to the towns for local decontamination, repopulation preparations, and building of temporary waste storage facilities. The critical caveat was that the communities agree to host the waste storage units. The government has explained the plan to the prefectural assembly. On Tuesday, the plans will be shared with both town assemblies. On Wednesday, representatives of Futaba and Okuma residents will be briefed at two locations in Fukushima Prefecture. Senior officials of the Environment Ministry will explain how the subsidy will be used to restore living conditions for repopulation, including child care and restoration of jobs. The ministry hopes the decision of the two towns will be made before Prime Minister Abe’s planned cabinet reformation of September 3rd. NHK World; Issue of temporary storage entering final stage; 8/22/14
  • The number of Fukushima children with confirmed or suspected thyroid cancer stands at 104. 57 cases are listed as “definitive”, one tumor is considered benign, and 46 are “suspected” because of lumps measuring between 5 and 41 millimeters across. These results come from the 300,000 Fukushima Prefecture children being monitored. Prefecture officials say there is no link between the tumescent growths and the 2011 nuke accident. The Asahi Shimbun maintains that “experts” are divided over whether the cases should be linked to the 2011 nuclear accident. Yoshio Hosoi of Tohoku University says, “Many people are being diagnosed with cancer at this time, thanks to the high-precision tests. We must continue closely examining the people’s health in order to determine the impact of radiation exposure on causing thyroid tumors.” The Asahi takes this to mean that the discovered cancers could be due to the accident’s atmospheric releases. However, Hokuto Hoshi, who chairs a panel that discusses matters related to the issue, said, “In order to scientifically compare the results of the development rates of each region, we must take into account age and other characteristics (of the 104 people).” http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201408240011
  • Fukushima fishermen are briefed on groundwater drainage. Tepco met prefectural fisheries’ representatives to announce the latest situation with groundwater pumped out of service sumps, and run through the hi-tech water treatment system (ALPS). The company says tests of the water run through ALPS shows results actually lower in radioactivity then the groundwater taken from the “bypass” system and released to the sea. Union members opposed releasing the treated water, regardless of its level of purity because it could spawn negative rumors that might hurt business. They want Tepco to provide more details about the new groundwater system. Union official Tetsu Nozaki says they want confirmation that releasing the treated water will not contaminate the sea before supporting Tepco’s plans. NHK World; Fukushima fishermen briefed on new drainage system; 8/25/14
  • South Korea wants to link their electrical grid with Japan. Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco) wants to run a 200 kilometer undersea cable from Busan the Fukuoka, and a 105km feed from Jindo to Tsushima Island. Korea has an electricity-supply surplus which could be used to alleviate the Japanese shortage caused by the nuclear moratorium. A Kepco official said, “Softbank Chairman Masayoshi Son has shown interest in participating in the submarine power cable project. Recently Kepco management and Chairman Son held a meeting where we reached an agreement on this issue.” Son wants to eventually interconnect Korea, China, Japan, Russia and Mongolia’s power grids. The Kepco official explained, “The submarine cable connecting Korea and Japan will be the first step for Son’s Asia Super Grid vision. Depending on the geopolitical situation, this project could also draw in the participation of North Korea.” http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=2993919
  • Japan’s nuke watchdog (NRA) wants to cut the budget for a controversial computer forecasting system (SPEEDI). Due to the 3/11/11 blackout, SPEEDI could not receive any radioactive release data from Fukushima Prefecture, causing then-PM Naoto Kan to ignore the system’s projections based on real-time meteorology. Due to criticism following the nuke accident, the NRA downgraded SPEEDI to “reference material” in 2013. About $10 billion was budgeted for SPEEDI for 2014, but it will be reduced to $4.8 billion in 2015. The diverted money will be used for in-place radiation monitors around nuclear plants that can operate during blackouts. It is felt that actual readings can facilitate quicker, more appropriate decisions should another nuke accident occur. It is hoped that monitors will be posted at intervals of five kilometers, depending on the local topography. Some local governments say they want to continue using SPEEDI because it gives them ample insight into public protective actions. http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201408250028
  • Ex-PM Naoto Kan is taking his antinuclear crusade to Australia. He calls for Australia to “wean” the world off uranium instead of increasing exports. Kan told the Australian Broadcasting Corp., “I hope that Australia can be exporting not uranium … but electricity created through renewable sources. All countries including Australia should be making efforts to do what can be done to reduce such dependence on nuclear power.” Kan arrived in Darwin on Friday and planned on visiting the mine from which F. Daiichi’s fuel was extracted. After that, he will confer with the Australian Greens Party to speak with the Northern Territory’s parliament, meet with the aboriginal Mirrar people who oppose the mining, and visit a local wave-activated power station. Australia is believed to hold 1/3 of the world’s Uranium deposits and is the third-largest producer of uranium for nuclear power plants. http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20140823p2g00m0dm091000c.html