- The Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) is planning on “punching” a hole through the Fukushima Daiichi unit #1 containment (PCV) wall for inspection purposes. There is a piping penetration on the thick concrete wall that has metal plates covering the inner end. The “punching machine” will be attached to an external chamber mounted to the outer pipe cover. The chamber will have an internal “ball valve” to close off the opening once the punching machine has made a hole in the metal pipe covers. After the ball valve is closed, the punching machine will be removed. The three pipe covers are a total of three inches thick. The operation should be finished by October 2. An inspection of the inner PCV drywell that surrounds the reactor pressure vessel is planned for between October 9th and 11th, using a remote camera and radiation monitoring probe. Tepco also plans to take a sample of the water expected to be found covering the floor of the drywell. On October 13th, permanent monitoring equipment will be installed on the penetration. Tepco adds that the schedule is subject to change depending on the work’s progress. (Tepco Photo and Video Library)
- A Japanese power company is ready to resume construction at a partially-completed nuke. The Electric Power Development Company, known popularly as J-Power, has decided to resume building its nuclear plant in Ohma town, Aomori Prefecture. When Industry Minister Yukio Edano visited Governor Shingo Mimura on Spetember 15th, he said that the new government no-nukes policy would not apply to Ohma. J-Power plans to inform local municipalities of its decision next week. NRA chair Shunichi Tanaka says the company would be better off resuming construction after the new regulatory standards have been created, but he will not ask J-Power to wait. The company began construction in 2008 with plans to commence operations in 2014. However, they stopped construction when then-PM Naoto Kan invoked his de-facto nuclear moratorium a few months after 3/11/11. After they restart construction, the company will be able to estimate a new operational date. While Ohma town supports the J-Power decision, Hokkaido’s Hakodate City, 20 kilometers from Ohma, wants the project to be suspended indefinitely. Hakodate mayor Toshiki Kudo says the city will never approve the resumption of construction. He added that the city is considering legal action if building of the Ohma plant resumes. (NHK World)
- Industry Minister Yukio Edano is having a book published today arguing that all of Japan’s nukes should be run by the government. He says this will be the only way to insure that japan will have a nuclear-free society in the foreseeable future. Edano implies that Japan’s electric companies cannot be trusted to keep the government’s commitment to their no-nukes policy. He adds that nuclear business cannot be left up to private firms because of the huge compensation they may face when an accident occurs. The book, What I must say even if I were to be criticized, says “Practically speaking, I see no alternative but to have nuclear plants run by the state,” because the government would “have the unilateral power to decide on the operation of reactors and the timing of decommissioning them.” (Kyodo News)
- Japan continues to run into local opposition roadblocks with finding sites for the disposal of sewage sludge and incinerator ash contaminated with radioactive Cesium. Tokyo has taken full responsibility for establishing such sites, but is constantly confronted by strong local opposition fueled by radiation fears. Currently, some 42,000 tons of the material are stored at sewage plants and on waste incinerator properties. The wastes are all between 8,000 and 100,000 Becquerels per kilogram. The materials below 8,000 Bq/kg are already being buried in existing waste disposal landfills in and around the prefectures where they are generated. The latest outcry comes from Takahagi mayor Yoshio Kusama. Tokyo has suggested the national forest in Takahagi City might be the best location for the disposal site and the ministry will insure its utmost safety. However, Mayor Kusama says he’s opposed because Tokyo made an abrupt decision without consulting the city first. Because of this sudden local outcry, Tokyo says that they will no longer reveal candidate sites to avoid possible public confusion in the local communities. Regardless, the government continues to promise they will build the first such repository next summer. (NHK World) Ibaraki Governor Masaru Hashimoto says he will defer his decision on whether or not to oppose the proposed disposal site after conferring with residents. One issue may be the question of government subsidies as an incentive to the prefecture. Presently, Tokyo has no such plans, but Environment Minister Katsuhiko Yokomitsu says subsidies are possible if the prefecture makes the proper request. (Yomiuri Shimbun)
