- Estimated F. Daiichi groundwater outflow drops to 10 tons per day. Previously, 300-400 tons per day were assumed to be seeping into the barricaded inner port (quay). The reason for the significant drop is completion of the near-shore impermeable shield wall. Construction of the massive 780 meter-long wall began in 2012. It is made of 594 steel sheet-pilings (pipes) that extend 30 meters underground. The last piling was driven into the ground on September 22nd. Since then, the small spaces between the pilings have been filled with a cement sealer. The sealing of the wall is now complete. Tepco will closely monitor groundwater buildup on the land side of the wall and pump out contaminated liquids as needed. The waters will then go into storage to be decontaminated in the multi-stage purification system. 99% of the pilings were in place for more than a year, but Tokyo’s nuke regulator (NRA) delayed permission to install the remaining nine. The NRA was concerned about possible water buildup behind the impermeable structure, and eventually overflowing it sending detectibly contaminated water into the barricaded inner port (quay). Tepco’s subdrain system was set up and pumps water out of the ground at a rate greater than groundwater flow. The sub drains have dropped groundwater flows into the damaged building basements from 300 tons per day down to about 150 tons/day. The decrease of inflow would only be possible if the subdrain system was removing groundwater faster than it was being replenished. Tepco says they will continue its intensive port and open sea monitoring program, even though the impermeable wall is finished. While this seals the sea side of the four damaged units, the NRA continues to withhold permission to begin freezing the soils on the three inland sides of the basements. The equipment installation for the ice wall was completed more than a month ago, but cannot begin operation until the NRA gives its consent. An NRA official explained that Tepco has not yet convinced the agency on how it will control water levels inside the four unit facility facility once freezing prevents continued groundwater seepage into the contaminated basements. http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/nuclear.html — http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/2015/1262806_6844.html — http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/10/26/national/tepco-completes-sea-wall-keep-toxic-fukushima-no-1-water-reaching-sea/#.Vi4eFJDosdV A detailed handout of the covering the sea-side impermeable wall, subdrain system, installed ice wall technology, water purification system, and pre-discharge radioactive isotopic criteria, can be found here… http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/handouts/2015/images/handouts_150902_01-e.pdf
- Another exclusion zone rice harvest. Rice crops designated for commercial sales have been reaped in the town Namie, most of remains under a full evacuation order by Tokyo. Namie Mayor Tomatsu Baba said, “The revival of the (town’s) agricultural sector will build momentum toward residents’ permanent return home.” Baba joined with farmer Kiyoto Matsumoto during some of the harvesting. The rice will (of course) be tested for contained radioactivity to insure that it meets Japan’s severe standards for sale. A 2014 crop was used to test for contained radiation, and found to be well below the 100 Becquerels per kilogram limit. As a result, this year’s crop is intended for shipment to the Futaba Agricultural Group for marketing. The Namie crop is the second one to be harvested inside the exclusion zone this month, with Tomioka being the first some four weeks ago. http://www.fukushimaminponews.com/news.html?id=581
- Radiation exposures to safety forces during the 20km Fukushima evacuation were less than 10% of their 100 millisievert limit. In fact, more than 60% received less than 1 mSv. The cohort included 2,800 police, firefighters, and Self Defense Force (SDF) personnel. Their tasks included guiding evacuees, performing search and rescue operations resulting from the 3/11/11 quake and trsunami, and transporting injured people. Since they all wore full body suits and masks, their exposures were entirely external. Exposure levels were measured by individual personnel dosimeters. The highest exposure was with an SDF person who received 10.8 mSv. 12% of the police firefighters got more than one mSv, with a maximum of 2.2 mSv. Their exposure period covered the last three weeks of March, 2011. http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20151026p2a00m0na014000c.html
- A Nippon.com news article about Naraha repopulation reveals a disturbing reality. Naraha was reopened for unrestricted habitation last month, but only 200-300 or the pre-nuke accident population of more than 7,000 has returned home. The reason is a mortal fear of radiation exacerbated by the belief that children are especially susceptible to its negative health effects. The Guardian has interviewed several of the souls who have returned to their homes, most of which are retirees. Even in this limited demographic, fear of radiation remains. Kohei Yamaguchi says, “Our children told us never to come back to this place. We’re too old to be worried about getting cancer from radiation exposure. I expect a lot of older people will return, but not their children or grandchildren. It’s going to be difficult to raise children here.” Another resident who commutes from Iwaki, Seijun Watanabe, says, “You see lots of people milling around, but they’re all construction workers, not the people I used to live alongside before the disaster. It’s impossible to know what the future holds, but I don’t think this place will ever be the same again. Lots of residents are in their 70s and 80s – no one in their 30s and 40s, especially parents of young children, is interested in coming back.” One former resident who is staying in Iwaki shares a widespread distrust of the government, saying, “I don’t trust the authorities when they say the water is safe to drink… I’d rather stay where I am.” The estimated average radiation exposure for the town is just 3 millisieverts per year, roughly the same as that of Colorado Plateau residents due to natural background. The unquestioned safety of such exposure makes little or no difference. The parents and prospective parents of children have been frightened by a constant reminder of children being in increased hypothetical danger by activists and the Press. http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/oct/12/safe-at-last-view-from-naraha-the-first-fukushima-community-declared-fit-for-humans
- All political hurdles for Ikata #3 restart have been cleared. Ehime Prefecture’s Governor Tokihiro Nakamura approved restart today. He made his decision known during a public meeting with Shikoku Electric’s President Hayato Saeki. Nakamura handed Saeki a nine-point list of requests to insure the safety of his constituency. Nakamura said, “Today, as governor of Ehime Prefecture, I decided to accept advance consultations (over the reactivation) after making a comprehensive judgment based on the national government’s views, Shikoku Electric Power Co.’s approach, and discussions among locals.” He added that the decision “entails a very heavy responsibility. I managed to make every request imaginable to the national government and Shikoku Electric Power Co.” After the meeting, the governor traveled to Tokyo to make his decision known to Industry Minister Motoo Hayashi. Meanwhile, 30-40 protesters demonstrated outside the meeting place, saying the governor should not have approved restart. Local antinuclear leader Taukasa Wada said, “The governor had kept saying he was undecided over a decision on reactivation, but in fact he considered no alternatives.” Other demonstrators complained that the governor’s promise to consider all factors must be questioned because he did not do what the antinuclear public wanted. On the other hand, most residents of host community Ikata Town were happy because it means there will be more jobs available. http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0002519881 — http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20151026p2a00m0na022000c.html — http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20151026_23.html
- A Tokyo High Court orders antinukes to remove their tents from the property of the Industry and Economy Ministry. Activists erected a small tent town on the METI property soon after the March, 2011, accident. Many have been removed over the past four years, but three have remained. Late in 2012, a lower court ordered the tents to be removed, but the two antinuclear leaders at the site refused and appealed to the higher court. Now, the activists say they will appeal the High Court orde5r. The three tents have been a national base of operation for live online programs, including a staging a hunger strike and forming a human chain around the METI offices. http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2015/10/381111.html
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