November 7, 2013

Nov 7, 2013 | Fukushima Accident Updates

  • The removal of spent fuel from F. Daiichi #4’s pool has been delayed up to 2 weeks. The delay is due to Japan’s Nuclear Energy Safety Organization wanting a test run on removal of a shipping cask from the pool and transferring it to the on-ground common fuel storage facility. The agency also wants the test run inspected by foreign experts through the Tokyo-based International Research Institute for Nuclear Decommissioning. A massive crane has been installed inside the recently enclosed unit #4 reactor building to handle the heavy cask. Once lifted from the pool, the cask will be trucked to the common storage facility about 100 meters away. http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20131105p2g00m0dm035000c.html  Tepco has posted a series of videos depicting how the spent fuel removal and transport will occur, including footage of delivery of the massive casks to be used.  http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/news/library/movie-01e.html?bcpid=59368209002&bclid=347242463002&bctid=642054611002
  • Two IAEA marine monitoring experts are spending two days at F. Daiichi. They are overseeing the seawater testing and analysis program employed by Tepco. Both experts are from the Marine Environment Laboratories in Monaco. They plan to stay in Japan for a week and meet with Japan’s government to brief them on their findings. The experts have come as a result of a request by Tokyo to the IAEA. http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2013110600161  Today, one IAEA inspector said Tepco’s seawater testing is trustworthy. David Osborne, director of the IAEA Environment Laboratory in Monaco, said Tepco’s sampling program is comprehensive, trustworthy and transparent. He and colleague Hartmut Nies accompanied Tepco’s team as they sampled 7 of their 11 monitoring locations beyond the F. Daiichi outer break-wall, and seemed impressed. The tandem will also observe Tepco’s water analysis systems and procedures on Friday.  http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2013110700953
  • There has been a drop in the wastewater buildup at F. Daiichi. It seems to have gone un-noticed by the Press (perhaps they are intentionally ignoring it?). Regardless, the total amount of Cesium-stripped waters in storage tanks was 384,500 tons on October 22nd. On November 5th, the total 389,500 tons. Over a period of 14 days, the buildup was 5,000 tons. Previously, the buildup for that period was rather steady at 6,500 tons, dating back to early 2012. The reason for this decrease has not been posted by Tepco. The reason for the 100-ton-per-day drop would certainly be something positive for Tepco to share with the Press, and a much-needed “good news” story at a time when the company could use it.  http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/betu13_e/images/131023e0301.pdf — http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/betu13_e/images/131106e0101.pdf
  • Meanwhile, the prophets of nuclear energy doom are stirring the cauldron of fear. Former Japanese ambassador to Switzerland Mitsuhei Murata said, “It is urgently needed to set up an international task force to assist Japan by deploying all possible means to reduce the risks of the imminent first unloading of spent fuel from unit 4,” in a recent letter to America’s president. Long-time antinuke activist Harvey Wasserman says Tepco does not have the scientific, technical or financial resources to do the job on its own. He insists that the work “may be humankind’s most dangerous moment since the Cuban missile crisis. We are petitioning the United Nations and Obama to mobilize the global scientific community to take charge of the nuclear power plant and the job of moving these fuel roads to safety.” A petition by 17 international antinukes has been sent to the IAEA asking for monitoring by people independent of Tepco, Tokyo and the IAEA. An American on-line petition has been signed by over 12,000 people, which says the west coast of the United States is at risk. They also want “a detailed inspection of the (Fukushima No. 1) facility by a team of experts who are independent of the nuclear industry, as well as ongoing monitoring of West Coast and Hawaii water, air and food for radiation.” http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/11/05/national/tepco-feeling-heat-over-fuel-removal/#.UnkGIYEo4dV
  • Numerous fear-oriented news articles about the impending spent fuel removal at F. Daiichi have followed Tepco’s touring of news media through the fuel handling area on the fifth floor of unit #4. None of today’s postings are nearly as inflammatory as the above Japan Times piece, but all have downplayed the extraordinary precautions Tepco has taken to avert any mishap. The Japanese Press is clearly committed to the perpetuation of uncertainty and doubt. At least the following show a modicum of “balance”. http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201311070083 — http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20131107_03.html — http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/fukushima-plant-readies-for-dangerous-fuel-rod-removal?utm_campaign=jt_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_source=jt_newsletter_2013-11-07_PM — http://japandailypress.com/tepco-prepares-for-removal-of-fuel-rods-at-fukushima-reactor-no-4-0739213/
  • Tepco plans to restart two reactors in July. The two units are their newest BWRs (Boiling Water Reactors) at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa station in Niigata Prefecture. Applications for restart were filed with the Nuclear Regulation Authority in September, but review has been delayed because of the wastewater issues at F. Daiichi and NRA concerns of Tepco’s ability to safely run nukes. Tepco needs to turn its cash-flow situation around and operating the two nukes will certainly help. The NRA currently has 14 restart applications to review, including the two K-K units. http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2013/11/255032.html  In addition to gaining NRA restart approval for the K-K units, Tepco is also pursuing local approval. While the two host communities (Kashiwazaki and Kariwa) are in favor of the restarts, Niigata Prefecture’s governor has been in a state of disapproval. One measure being pursued by the company is a new report on the Fukushima accident prepared by independent American and Japanese nuclear experts. This is believed to be a counter to Niigata Prefecture’s current review of the upgraded K-K safety features. Governor Hirohiko Izumida has criticized and attempted to humiliate Tepco for quite a while. In late September, Izumida said he might reverse his position if Tepco agreed to not use filtered venting of the unit’s containments without prefectural approval. Tepco has not yet decided to comply with Izumida’s request, but their open sharing of information on the installation and operation of the venting technology seems to have softened Izumida’s stance. http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20131106_27.html
  • The US will advise Japan about assessing nuclear accident risks and their mitigation. The methodology is currently in place in America, but not in Japan. Japan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Shinsuke Sugiyama and US Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman met in Washington on Monday. The basic idea is to decide on the best path that will bring Japan’s nuclear risk assessment up to American standards. The US methodology includes worst-case natural disasters, unexpected equipment malfunctions and extreme human error. The advisement will include how to adapt the methodology to each individual nuclear station in Japan.  http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/nuclear.html
  • Tokyo continues to plan for assistance to Fukushima evacuees who may never return home. Industry Minister Toshimitsu Motegi pointed to the thousands who the government may not allow to go home due to too-high annual exposures. The announcement also suggests that even those allowed to go home, but refuse, may continue to receive their [now understood to be] generous compensation checks well into the future. Motegi said, “Of those who are unable to go home soon, a high percentage, of course, have yet to decide or have already decided not to return. Bearing this in mind, we hope to provide a number of options.” http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco