March 27, 2014

Mar 27, 2014 | Fukushima Accident Updates

  • The cask-lifting crane for fuel bundle transfer stopped. The cask had been filled with bundles and was about to be lifted out of spent fuel pool #4, when an alarm sounded and automatically stopped the crane. The cause of the incident is being investigated. It was also reported that the number of fuel bundles that have been transferred out of SFP #4 is now 550. NHK World; Trouble stops fuel removal at Fukushima plant; March 26,2014
  • A manga (comic book) artist has created a series about working at Fukushima Daiichi. Kazuto Tatsuta (pen name) worked at F. Daiichi from June to December of 2012 while still a struggling, unpublished artist.  He decided to base his first manga series on his experiences at “1F” (what the workers call F. Daiichi). Tatsuta explains that it is not really “hell on earth”, but rather a careful day-to-day routine ensuring they will be protected from contamination and it is really much like many other construction jobs in Japan. Tatsuta says he never felt a sense of physical danger and only stopped working there when he approached the 20 millisievert exposure limit set for all contract workers. The artist emphasizes that he doesn’t take sides on the nuclear energy issue. He also does not want to glorify plant workers. http://japandailypress.com/former-fukushima-worker-depicts-life-inside-crippled-nuclear-plant-in-manga-2646389/  The first chapter of the series can be read for free at https://www.facebook.com/ichiefu/posts/1415129962074416 . (Comment – I hope this comic book series becomes a success in Japan, but I am not optimistic. It has only been posted in English newspapers, and doesn’t seem to be in any of the major Japanese news media outlets…another example of the Japanese Press neglecting to report on something non-negative about F. Daiichi.)
  • The Fukushima fisheries have accepted Tepco’s plan to release uncontaminated groundwater. The Fukushima Prefectural Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations want radiation checks of water that will be released into the Pacific, and have measures taken to prevent and dispel harmful marketplace rumors. Federation chairman Tetsu Nozaki said, “We’ve made a tough decision. We acted in a responsible manner so that we can do our part to help move forward reactor decommissioning.” Futaba Fisheries Chairman Hiroyuki Sato also wants the government to insure that groundwater releases to the sea will not hamper ongoing fishing trials. http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2014032500437
  • The two ALPS water purification system units started Monday were shut down briefly on Tuesday. When flows resumed, leaks from a connection near a system tank were discovered. Both units were stopped and the packing material for the connection was replaced. Both streams were returned to service later that afternoon. Tepco estimates that about eight liters of water leaked from the system. http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0001156697  This morning, one of the two operating ALPS units was again shut down, but not because of a failure or leak in the system. The unit was shut off when a technician discovered that water entering the system was too cloudy. Since all waters to be purified by ALPS have already been run through the Cesium removal filters and desalination system, the inlet liquid is supposed to be clear…but not this time. Tepco is investigating the cause of the cloudy inlet water. Only one of the three ALPS units is now operating. http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2014032700684
  • F. Daiichi is in the midst of placing identification tags on 5,000 valves in the wastewater storage tank complex. This is being done in the effort to minimize chances of improper valve positioning, like the incident that occurred several weeks ago when a tank was over-filled. Tepco has tagged 3,500 of the valves, but that’s not good enough for the Japanese Press focusing on the remaining 1,500 un-tagged valves. The Asahi Shimbun says, “The discovery showed how lax the safety measures put up by plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co. are even after three years since the meltdown triggered by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.” However, a spokesperson from TEPCO explained that despite the apparent lack of tags, the company is “able to identify the valves that have to be operated based on piping drawings,” and, “It took time to identify valves”. They began labeling last autumn because “there was a need to lower the risk of erroneous operations.” http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201403260050  (comment – The tagging began at the end of October and was scheduled for completion by the end of June. However, it appears the job is actually ahead of schedule.)
  • Tokyo will investigate why Fukushima Prefecture’s disaster-related suicides have increased. The government will interview local officials and nonprofit organization workers who attend to 3/11/11 refugees. There were 23 disaster-related suicides in the prefecture last year, compared to ten in Miyagi and four in Iwate Prefectures. The number of Fukushima suicides has risen from 10 in 2011 and 13 in 2012. The three prefectures were, by far, the hardest hit by the quake and tsunami, but Fukushima also has the impact of the state-mandated nuclear evacuation which might contribute to the relatively high suicide rate. http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2014032500731
  • There was a delay in posting Fukushima evacuation zone radiation readings. Last September, dosimeters were placed in three areas – the Miyakoji district of Tamura, Kawauchi Town and Iitate Village – to find the actual radiation levels. Previously, posted radiation readings were extrapolated from monitors carried by aircraft flown above the area. The dosimeter data showed all readings were lower than the airborne estimates. The government’s Cabinet office decided to delay posting the new readings until they were confident of accuracy. However, some anonymous officials say the readings were withheld because it was feared the higher recorded levels would discourage residents from returning. Last October, the data showed between 0.2 and 0.7 millisieverts per year, significantly lower than the aerial surveys which ranged from 0.7 to 2.9 mSv/yr. But, some “experts” feel these numbers were intentionally lowered below what was actual. Atsuo Tamura of the Cabinet Office stated, “We wanted to show that the data for individual doses ranged in distribution, even within the same areas,” which aircraft readings could not provide. A college professor sounded surprised because the numbers were “exactly what were expected. There seems to be no particular problem. I don’t understand why they withheld the figures.” One potential returnee to Tamura’s Miyakogi district said, “We see radiation measurements being conducted everywhere, but hardly any results. They probably show only what’s convenient for them. I don’t think the measurements are conducted in order to protect us.” http://mainichi.jp/english/english/perspectives/news/20140327p2a00m0na009000c.html
  • The “outline” of Tepco’s future re-organization, and the creation of a new F. Daiichi holding company, has been posted. The name of the new entity will be “Fukushima Daiichi Decontamination & Decommissioning Engineering Company”. Mr. Naohiro Masuda will be the company president with the title “Chief Decommissioning Officer” (CDO). The new company will consist of three sections… (1) General Administration Dept. – Overall management of the whole company, establishment of support and operational infrastructure, and supporting of CDO on site, (2) Project Planning Dept. – Schemes of resolution policies and plans for issues related to decommissioning and contaminated water, and (3) Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station – Resolution and implementation of countermeasures against decommissioning and contaminated water. http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/2014/1235009_5892.html