- The Tokyo government has set new tsunami protection standards for nukes. Formerly, the standards were based on wave height that could reasonably be anticipated. Now, the wave heights include those that would be considered rare, but not impossible. The “reasonable” wave height for Fukushima Daiichi was set at ~5.7 meters. But, it was a rare, but not impossible 9 meters high wave hit Fukushima Daiichi. The new standards also incorporate dynamics such as greater water volume, pressure and added impacts from debris carried by the wave(s) due to a worst-case tsunami. (NHK World)
- Late Friday, another leak was discovered in the F. Daiichi waste water clean-up system. The leak came from a desalination device (reverse osmosis unit). A total of ~35 liters escaped the system. However, all leakage was totally contained with plastic bags and absorbent material. None of the leaked waters left the building housing the equipment. Samples taken of the leaked water showed no detectable Iodine (of course), total cesium at 3.6 Becquerels per cubic centimeter, total gamma decay rate at 49 Bq/cc, and total beta activity at 5.4X104 Bq/cc. (Tepco) comment – This marks the first time Tepco has reported the radiological content of a leak along with the announcement of the leak itself. Good job, Tepco!
- Some essential staff at F. Daiichi that exceeded their annual radiation exposure limit, continue to work at the power complex. The sixteen employees were found to be above 100 millisieverts for the year, but below the 250 mSv emergency exposure limits. The 100 mSv limit begins the first of May, replacing the pre-existent 250 mSv standard. The employees will be assigned to work in the anti-seismic Technical Support Center near the four damaged units. Adding lead shielding to ceilings and floors in the TSC has dropped the exposure level from 1.6 down to 0.7 microsieverts per hour. The lower exposure rate will total a maximum of 7mSv per year to their existing exposure levels, but will be much less than half that total since they will not be working around the clock, every day. (Yomiuri Shimbun)
- Officials from Tokyo’s Industry Ministry feel they made progress with Oi Town residents relative to the safety and need of restarting Oi units #3 & 4. The ~550 residents who attended Thursday’s meeting was about 10% of the town’s registered voters, but was considered representative. “My personal opinion is that while some people who asked questions were opposed to restarting the two units, the general atmosphere was not one of strong opposition,” said Mitsuyoshi Yanagisawa, senior vice minister at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, immediately after the meeting. Yanagisawa also met with Oi town officials before the meeting. They gave him a list of compensation demands for lost jobs and business earnings due to the current moratorium on nukes. Many meeting attendees said they hope for early resumption of Oi operations due to economic factors. Akihiko Isomura, who was one of the youngest at the meeting, said, “If the reactors are really safe, I’m in favor of having them restarted.” Local anti-nukes held a door-to-door poll of residents during the meeting. The poll showed 41% fear a nuclear accident if the reactors are restarted, while only 31% pointed to local economy as their no.1 concern. “We in Oi have lived with nuclear power for 40 years. We want people to understand the difficult position we’re in,” said Kinya Shintani, who heads the Oi Municipal Assembly. (Japan Times)
- Dozens of local officials from across Japan have banded together to end all nuclear energy production. Sixty-four municipal heads from 35 prefectures attended a meeting on Saturday to begin creating a time-table for forming a “nuclear free Japan”. The group passed a resolution demanding the Oi nukes not be restarted until more in-depth studies on the Fukushima accident are completed. The resolution also demands that Japan eventually have “zero nuclear power plants”. Tatsuya Murakami, mayor of Tokai Village, said, “It is difficult to maintain nuclear plants in Japan. We should switch [to other sources of electricity]”. His statement is important because he is the only group member from a community hosting a nuke power station. Katsunobu Sakurai, mayor of Minamisoma in the 20km evacuation zone, said, “The head of a local government will be pushed into a tough situation to protect its residents [once a nuclear disaster occurs]. I want to convey a need to switch to a new energy policy.” It should be noted that the 64 group members represent less than 10% of the more than 770 municipal heads holding office in Japan. (Asahi Shimbun)
- Prime Minister Noda’s cabinet’s popularity has plummeted due to a staggering economy and the nuke restart issue. A Kyodo news poll showed Noda’s public support factor was 31% in March, but now stands at 26%. The Poll indicated a strong correlation between Noda’s poor rating and nuke restarts because 27% said they supported restarting Oi units #3 & 4. Kyodo News says the restart issue and the economic downturn associated with de-facto moratorium on operating nuclear plants is destroying Noda’s credibility with Japanese voters. (Japan Times)
- It seems touring of the Tohoku region’s tsunami disaster areas are becoming popular tourist attractions. This past weekend marked the beginning of the national spring holiday week, called “Golden Week”. Many tourists are heading toward the Tohoku region to bolster local economies and try to help in tsunami recovery. (News on Japan) Last year at this time, tourism to the region plummeted by 90% due to misinformation and rumors. However, major tourism companies say this year’s reservations are 7% higher than two years ago and 10 times more than last year. Newly launched tours focusing specifically on sites in Fukushima Prefecture (not the evacuated zones) have sold very well. (Yomiuri Shimbun)
