The Fukushima wastewater contamination issue is of concern to everyone. The following is the most recent data concerning groundwater, inner harbor, outer harbor, and open sea activity levels associated with Fukushima Daiichi. The links include the latest readings at all sampling points and graphics depicting sampling locations. We will post future updates on these readings as they become available.
Groundwater – http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/f1/smp/2013/images/tb-east_map-e.pdf
Inner Harbor (Quay) – http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/f1/smp/2013/images/2tb-east_map-e.pdf
Outer Harbor – http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/f1/smp/2013/images/intake_canal_map-e.pdf
Open Sea (near F. Daiichi break-walls) – http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/f1/smp/2013/images/seawater_map-e.pdf
Open Sea (out to 20 kilometers) – http://www.nsr.go.jp/english/data/131001.pdf
Now, for other Fukushima Updates…
- Power was briefly lost to the F. Daiichi unit #1 reactor cooling system this morning. Tepco says the cause was human error. An operator making routine system checks inadvertently hit the “stop” button for the cooling pump, but a backup pump automatically started within a few seconds of the error. Reactor vessel temperatures were unaffected. Tepco president Naomi Hirose says they will take more extreme actions to avoid human error in the future. Among the human-based upgrades will be measures to avoid worker exhaustion, a larger workforce, and the opening of more worker’s lounges. At a Press conference, Nuclear Regulation Authority Chair Shunichi Tanaka said that human-error mistakes will not reassure the public that reactors are safe to restart. In addition, Environment Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Tokyo cannot let Tepco go bankrupt because it will necessarily delay mitigation of the current wastewater crisis. http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20131007_21.html — http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20131007_31.html
- Towns adjacent to F. Daiichi are “generally accepting” plans for underground waste storage facilities. In February, 50 residents of Futaba, the northern-most town, said in writing that they would cooperate with Tokyo. District head Takashi Takehara commented, “Mountains of contaminated soil have built up in various areas of the prefecture, but there’s nowhere to take it besides Futaba. The young people who would’ve taken over the town in the future are starting new lives in other areas where they have evacuated. If we can get compensation, it could help elderly people rebuild their lives.” Last summer Okuma official Jin Kowata handed the Ministry of the Environment a petition signed by about 1,700 residents — over 10 percent of the town’s population — calling for the government to purchase land and construct a waste storage facility. Kowata said, “I imagine they don’t need to decontaminate areas where they’re going to build a storage facility. Restoration funds should go to residents.” Okuma Mayor Watanabe is remaining cautious, “I’d like to hear residents’ opinions in a briefing attended by a small number of people, and make a decision together with the town assembly.” On the other hand, Nahara Mayor Yukiei Matsumoto and the former Futaba mayor continue to be staunch opponents of Tokyo’s plans for local underground storage. However, Futaba’s new mayor, Shiro Izawa is supportive of the planning. http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20131007p2a00m0na015000c.html
- Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says Japan welcomes foreign assistance with Fukushima. Speaking at an international science conference in Kyoto, Abe said, “Our country needs your knowledge and expertise. We are wide open to receive the most advanced knowledge from overseas to contain the problem.” It appears this was in response to criticism of Abe’s statement last month that the crisis at Fukushima is “under control”, which led one Diet lawmaker to say that he lied. Abe has since acknowledged that there have been contaminated water spills at F. Daiichi, but that the contamination has been contained by the barricaded inner port at the station. Meanwhile, Abe’s political party, the LDP, is considering splitting Tokyo Electric Company into two operating entities. “We are discussing the idea of splitting Tepco into an entity in charge of all work related to the Fukushima No. 1 plant and another handling the rest of the firm’s operations,” said Yasuhisa Shiozaki, acting chairman of the party’s Policy Research Council.He added that international expertise would be utilized by the entity responsible for the nuke plant’s clean-up. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/10/06/national/abe-seeks-help-to-end-fukushima-water-crisis/#.UlFaGYHD8dU
- Fukushima farmers are selling their produce in London. A festival called “Japan Matsuri” was held in the city’s Trafalgar Square. About 50 Japanese vendors sold their foods, including Fukushima Prefecture’s rice, peaches, ramen noodles, and apple juice. All Fukushima products had labels clearly showing they met Japan’s stringent contamination limits. Vendor’s head Yoshio Mitsuyama says he is happy with how well the Fukushima products sold. “Trafalgar Square attracts tourists from around the world. We want to emphasize to the world from this place that agricultural products from Fukushima are safe,” he said. http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20131006_12.html — http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0000702892
- An education minister says Tepco facilities in Fukushima Prefecture should handle all contaminated waste. Minister Yoshitaka Sakurada said, “We should place it (waste) in TEPCO’s facilities in Fukushima which has become uninhabitable for people due to the nuclear accident.” He was speaking to a group of local politicians from Chiba Prefecture, some 250 kilometers south of F. Daiichi. One of the attending mayors wanted to know Sakurada’s plans for disposal of cesium-contaminated incinerator ash produced in Chiba. http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2013/10/250141.html
