- As of this morning, 594 fuel bundles have been safely transferred out of unit #4 fuel pool. There are now less than 1,000 of the original 1533 fuel bundles remaining in the #4 spent fuel pool. http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/decommision/index-e.html
- Tepco has revealed the new head of the Fukushima decommissioning company. He is Naohiro Masuda and is now in charge of the “Fukushima Daiichi Decontamination and Decommissioning (D & D) Engineering Company”. Masuda was the station manager at Fukushima Daini at the time of the 3/11/11 Great east Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Tepco says his decisive actions at F. Daini prevented a nuclear accident after the site was struck by a nine meter-high tsunami. Upon accepting the position, Masuda said, “I take this role with full awareness of the great responsibility we have to the people of Fukushima, Japan, and the world to pursue this work diligently and safely through to its conclusion, no matter how long it may take.” He added that solving the wastewater problems at F. Daiichi will be his first priority and he will seek input from “both international and domestic experts”. Masuda added that he will address concerns about contractors and subcontractors. http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/2014/1235345_5892.html
- Tepco has formally agreed to all local Fishery requirements for groundwater discharge. The agreement includes clear standards for discharge and operation, independent verification of data, broad public communication on discharge safety, and compensation for fishermen who may be harmed by rumors. For example, the company says released water will have less than 1 Becquerel per liter of Cesium-134, which is a tenth the international drinking water standard. Tepco president Naomi Hirose said, “This is an important agreement that demonstrates our commitment to working with the Fukushima community, and the fishermen in particular, to move forward together in an environmentally responsible way.” American Fukushima consultant Dale Klein says, “It is gratifying to see the fishermen and TEPCO reach agreement on this important step, which will protect the environment, ease the stress on water storage, and lay the groundwork for important improvements in water management at Fukushima.” By discharging groundwater before it comes in contact with contaminated basements, Tepco believes that in-seepage to the buildings will drop from 400 tons/day down to 300 tons/day. http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/2014/1235388_5892.html (This link includes another link explaining the bypass system to be used.)
- Tepco says they will nearly double their wastewater storage capacity by next March. This will be a year sooner than originally planned. The capacity will be expanded from the current 480,000 tons to 800,000 tons. The accelerated plan is said to be possible because tanks are now prefabricated at the manufacturing sites and carried to F. Daiichi by ship. Tepco also feels they have devised more efficient ways to build tanks inside the compound when needed. The company adds that they expect the amount of contaminated water will be less than the maximum storage capacity by 2016. NHK World; TEPCO to add more water storage tanks by March 31; April 5, 2014
- Tokyo will designated at least two universities to research F. Daiichi decommissioning. Students and staff from the schools will work out of a base facility at F. Daiichi beginning in 2015. The International Research Institute for Nuclear Decommissioning (IRID) will lead the research on recovery of melted fuel from reactors 1 through 3 by remote control and how to dismantle the technology. The plans include accommodations for researchers to stay overnight when needed. There has been a noticeable decline in applications for nuclear courses in Japan since the Fukushima accident and Tokyo hopes this new program will reverse the trend. An Education, Science and Technology Minister says, “By gathering the knowledge and wisdom of plant operators, manufacturers and universities, we hope to accomplish the decommissioning work successfully.” http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0001189927
- Japan’s ruling coalition has approved Japan’s new energy policy. Thursday’s announcement marks Japan’s first official energy strategy since 3/11/11. The policy calls for renewables to account for about 20% of the nation’s electricity generation by 2030. In addition, the policy confirms that nuclear will remain an important power source for the near future. However, much of Japan’s news media doubts that the current regime in Tokyo will actually make the move away from nuclear. http://japandailypress.com/japans-ruling-coalition-agree-to-draft-of-energy-policy-0546853/
- Futaba town reopened school for resident children today, albeit in the city of Iwate. Junior High and elementary students from Futaba may now return to school with their evacuee classmates for the first time since the mandated evacuation in the spring of 2011. Only 11 of the more than 600 possible Futaba students attended on opening day: one kindergartener, four elementary and six junior high students. The low attendance is attributed to parents concerned about the effects of long-term low level radiation exposure and ongoing problems at F. Daiichi broadcast by the popular Press. Also today, Furumichi Elementary in Tamura City reopened for the first time since 2011’s evacuation. 61 of 151 possible students attended on the first day, including four from the Miyakogi district which had all living restrictions removed about a week ago. Local residents held a banner saying “welcome back”. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/04/07/national/futaba-school-ceremonies-restarted-2/#.U0KYjaNOUdU — http://japandailypress.com/fukushima-elementary-school-opens-as-radiation-evacuation-order-is-lifted-for-the-first-time-0746913/
- The Reconstruction Agency has bought land for 3,741 evacuee housing units. This is a major portion of a project totaling nearly 4,900 units. The remaining land for nearly 1,500 units is expected to be purchased by September. The money will come from community revival subsidies through the Agency. The new homes will be built in Iwaki and Fukushima Cities for evacuees who have filed applications for permanent relocation. http://www.fukushimaminponews.com/news.html?id=329
- 83% of Fukushima residents doubt that the government will ever dispose of rural radioactive waste outside the prefecture. 72% say legislation should be passed to ensure that Tokyo’s promises will be carried out. On the other hand, 5% said they were not concerned about the government meeting its commitment. Tokyo has designated Okuma and Futaba communities for temporary storage of rural low level wastes, promising to have it all moved to a permanent location elsewhere in Japan within 30 years. It seems the majority of Fukushima residents don’t think this will happen and want the government to be legally bound to their promises. http://www.fukushimaminponews.com/news.html?id=328
- No problems with anti-quake and tsunami measures have been found with the Sendai station. Sendai has two Pressurized Water Reactor units in Kagoshima Prefecture, on the southern tip of Kyushu Island and more than 400 kilometers south of Tokyo. The two-unit station has been prioritized by the Nuclear Regulation Authority as the first to be fully screened for restart. NRA Commissioner Kunihiko Shimazaki and his 14 member team inspected the Kyushu Electric Power Company plant on Thursday. They looked at the geology under the station and inspected the barriers under construction to protect against a worst-case tsunami. The team found nothing that would cause a change in the NRA’s initial assessment that the station meets the new regulations. After the NRA approves Kyushu Electric’s request for restart, the agency will seek hold local public hearings. NHK World; No problem found with Sendai nuclear plant; April 5, 2014
- Tokyo says they will investigate into development of domestic, high-temperature gas-cooled reactors. Potential advantages over the current fleet of light water reactors include use of heat-resistant ceramic fuel pellets which are thought to make them less susceptible to meltdowns. Japan began research into gas-cooled reactors in the 1990s and built a test facility in Oarai, Ibaraki Prefecture. Tokyo says the plants could be built inland rather than on the seacoasts because Helium is used as a cooling medium instead of water. This would eliminate tsunami risks. http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0001182327
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