November 26, 2015

Nov 26, 2015 | Fukushima Accident Updates

  • The European Union will end radiation screening for most Fukushima foods. The monitoring requirement began after the nuke accident of March, 2011. The change follows the EU analyzing some Fukushima foods for radiation levels, and finding them safe for marketing. Screening certificates will no longer be needed for vegetables, fruits other than persimmons, and livestock products. In addition, monitoring requirements for foods from Aomori and Saitama Prefectures will be lifted without exception. The executive committee of the EU is expected to make the change official before the end of the year. This move flies in the face of South Korea’s ban of some seafood products and Taiwan’s toughening of import monitoring requirements. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/11/26/national/eu-exempt-fukushima-foods-radiation-checks/#.Vlb0q5DosdU
  • The sea-side impermeable wall at F. Daiichi has developed a slight lean. The 780 meter long wall runs to a depth of 30 meters into the earth. Tepco inspectors have found that since closing the last opening in the barrier, it has leaned about eight inches from being vertical. The reason is probably the buildup of groundwater in the inland side of the wall. The wall’s slight movement has caused surface cracks to develop in the wall’s pavement, but its ability to stop groundwater flow to the sea has not been compromised. Tepco will have staff reinforce the sea-side of the barrier, as a precaution against further leaning. http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/nuclear.html
  • Rural contaminated waste disposal is a growing problem. A total of 166,000 tons of materials, including incineration residue and rice straw, has accumulated in 12 prefectures. Tokyo wants each prefecture to dispose of their generated waste separately, but attempts to run environmental studies in Miyagi Prefecture have been stymied by local residents. At the proposed Kami site, fearful residents have blocked the roads leading into the site, keeping researchers from doing their jobs. While the fundamental cause of the problem is the decades-old notion of NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard), local residents and officials have tried to come up with other objections to deflect public understanding from the truth. On Kami resident says, “The site is located in the middle of landslide-prone areas and it should not qualify as a location for such a facility. We demand the government calls off the project.” Another said, “What is causing our anxiety is that it remains unclear who will take ultimate responsibility in solving this problem and how.” Tokyo has had the bagged materials stored temporarily at numerous locations in Miyagi for two to three years, and the property owners want the stuff removed. One such site is in in Tome with 194 tons of contaminated rice straws stashed in polyvinyl houses. The owner rents the storage to the city office, but has issues with prolonged use of his land; now well-beyond the two year period promised by the government. He says, “I was made to agree to extend the lease after the initial two-year period promised by the government expired. The new contract no longer specifies a deadline.” http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201511240005
  • There will be no more Japanese nuke restarts until 2016. The only two possibilities for resumption of operation before the New Year have been Takahama units 3&4. Kansai Electric Company had hoped to refuel and at least achieve criticality before the end of December, but that is not going to happen. The new schedule, submitted to the Nuclear Regulation Authority on Wednesday calls for the restart of unit #3 in late January, followed by unit #4 in late February. Fuel loadings are scheduled for three weeks prior to each restart. Kansai President Makoto Yagi lamented, “There is nothing much I can say. We will carry out the pre-service inspection sincerely and do our utmost for the swift restart of the plant.” This latest delay is partially due to the process of final, pre-operational inspections, which have not kept up with the old schedule. However, these checks are now completed. Kansai Electric now awaits the outcome of their appeal of a Fukui Court injunction blocking operation of the Takahama facility. Also, local approval for restart has yet to be garnered.  http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20151125_34.html — http://www.jaif.or.jp/en/takahama-3-to-be-restarted-as-soon-as-possible/