- All fuel bundles have been removed from the unit #4 Spent Fuel Pool. The Press was allowed to observe the removal of the last four bundles, loading into the transfer cask, lifting of the cask to the hauling vehicle, and transport to the SFP in unit #6. A TEPCO representative commented, “We’d like to use this experience with reactor No. 4 as a model for the other reactors.” F. Daiichi Plant Manager Akira Ono said, “Completion of the removal work is a milestone and I feel deeply about it.” Tepco President Naomi Hirose said, “That it was done safely and without incident is a testimony to the skill and commitment of our engineers and workers at every level, and to the many other organizations, in Japan and from around the world, that contributed their knowledge and resources. I wish to express my personal gratitude, and that of our company, to all of them.” Unfortunately, most (but not all) of the Press outlets tempered this milestone with unnecessary rehashes of the F. Daiichi accident, reminders of used (spent) fuel worst-case scenario speculations, and predictions that the removal of used fuel from units #1&3 will possibly be more difficult due to higher ambient radiation levels. Tepco says they hope to begin the unit #3 fuel removal process in 2-15. http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20141220p2a00m0na014000c.html — http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/12/20/national/all-spent-fuel-removed-from-reactor-4-pool-at-fukushima-no-1-tepco-says/#.VJWXW3Dw — http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0001805644 — http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/2014/1246703_5892.html
- Quake/tsunami debris removal begins in Tomioka Town. The town lies between 7 and 10 kilometers south of F. Daiichi, and is one of the Fukushima Daini host communities. All residents remain evacuated by government mandate. The Environment Ministry says they will move 7,500 tons of tsunami remains by the end of March, and the remaining 26,500 tons over the following year. The debris will be moved to a temporary storage location in the town. The first action will be to search the material for items of sentimental value to the evacuees. http://www.fukushimaminponews.com/news.html?id=444
- Tokyo says the temporary storage of rural low-level wastes will not begin in January, as previously planned. The problem is slow negotiations with property owners in Futaba and Okuma, the two host communities for F. Daiichi and the designated locations for interim storage. The facilities will hold the material for no more than 30 years. http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2014/12/328463.html
- Tepco has posted numerous pictures of the interior of Unit #1. These pictures were taken during the time the roof of the temporary enclosure was open. Good stuff. http://photo.tepco.co.jp/en/date/2014/201412-e/141220-01e.html
- Japan Times reports that 6 tons of “tainted water” leaked at F. Daiichi. The water had been fully decontaminated by the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) and was being pumped to a storage tank when the leak was detected on Wednesday. Tepco says the water, containing an unspecified concentration of biologically innocuous Tritium, seeped into the ground. There was no release to the sea. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/12/18/national/six-tons-of-tainted-water-leak-at-fukushima-no-1-during-korean-safety-tour/#.VJSM0V4AKA (Comment – It seems that all waters at F. Daiichi are being dubbed “tainted” regardless of their purity. Whether or not the liquid is actually worthy of being called “tainted”, the term is continually applied. After ALPS treats the water, the outflow is essentially demineralized to laboratory purity. Does the “tainted” descriptive apply because of the residual Tritium? I’m afraid that even if the Tritium, which is entirely harmless, were also removed, the term would continue to be used.)
- Japan’s largest newspaper calls for an efficient safety screening process to expedite nuke restarts. The Yomiuri Shimbun points out that it has taken the Nuclear Regulation Authority nearly a year and one-half to review Kansai Electric’s (Kepco) application for safety review, which seems less than expeditious. As a result, Kepco has been forced to increase rates to their customers, with another looming on the horizon, to pay for expensive fossil fuel generation. The Yomiuri says, “We want the NRA to proceed with safety confirmation of the remaining nuclear reactors without delay.” It adds, “It is natural to put top priority on safety, but an efficient screening process is also important.” The Yomiuri also says that it is the government’s responsibility to insure safety, but at the same time it must work to relieve local anxieties and explain the need for restarts, “The government must work toward increasing public understanding of the need for restarting reactors as well as disaster prevention and response measures.” http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0001802331
- Tokyo has selected Onagawa Town to be the first to be subsidized for post-disaster revival. Onagawa is in Miyagi Prefecture, hosts the Onagawa nuke station, and was hit by tsunami wave heights similar to the one experienced by F. Daiichi. Reconstruction Minister Wataru Takeshita said the program will begin in March, providing subsidies for projects to revive shopping areas willing to include community facilities. The Ministry says it will pay 70% of the estimated $5.6 million cost of the commercial complex. (Aside – On 3/11/11, the tsunami swept one kilometer inland, destroying everything in its path, including the town center and 12 of the community’s 25 designated evacuation sites. More than 300 are confirmed dead and at least 1,000 are still listed as missing. Almost the entire population of nearly 7,000 was immediately homeless. Several hundred residents fled to the Onagawa nuke station to escape the black water torrent. All were safe because the station’s tsunami barrier was sufficient to hold back the waves. The Station survived relatively unscathed. – End aside) http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20141219_37.html
- Some 340 residents of Minamisoma are suing for more compensation money. The case was filed in Tokyo District Court. The plaintiffs are seeking a lump sum for damages to the tune of nearly $85,000 for mental anguish and monthly payments of $1,700 for three years. All mandated evacuees currently get a $1,700 monthly anguish pay-out, but the plaintiffs feel they deserve more. News reports are confused concerning the specifics surrounding the three-year compensation clause. The residents are from the Odaka area of Minamisoma, and had its own local government before the April, 2012 evacuation order. It has since been absorbed into Minamisoma City. Residents are now allowed to visit their homes, but are not permitted to live there. The residents initially filed a request for the additional compensation with Tepco, but were rebuffed. Former Mayor Isao Enei says, “We have been deprived of our hometown and families have been broken apart. I hope to return to our lives as they were before the accident as soon as possible.” http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/12/19/national/crime-legal/hundreds-of-fukushima-evacuees-sue-tepco-for-%c2%a56-billion/#.VJRWM3Dw — http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/344-displaced-residents-from-minamisoma-sue-tepco?utm_campaign=jt_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_source=jt_newsletter_2014-12-20_PM (Comment – It seems all the above residents will be allowed overnight stays for a thirty day period that began Saturday, December 20th. In fact, all of the evacuated portions of Minamisoma City, as well as the villages of Iitate, Kawamata and Katsurao will be granted this holiday gift. Nahara evacuees will be allowed overnights from December 24th through January 7th, and Kawauchi residents from December 27th until January 4th. There will be nearly 27,000 residents eligible, but how many actually do it remains to be seen.)
- The evacuation order for Minamisoma “hot spots” has been lifted. 152 households in the city outside the exclusion zone boundary had the advisories issued three years ago due to localized radiation levels of at least 20 millisieverts/year. All locations are now below that level. The hot spot advisory was planned to be removed by Tokyo in October, but residents opposed the move due to radiation fears. The homes have been decontaminated, but the inhabitants say radiation levels are still detectible and they want further decontamination. They fear the homes are not safe to live in. Dissenting residents said Tokyo is “not valuing human life” and the recommendations “should be lifted only from residences where the residents agree.” The local government agrees that the lifting of the advisory is understandable, but feel the residents should have further decontamination on their residences. They currently receive about $835 a month in stress and suffering compensation, which Tokyo says they will continue to get until March. http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/nuclear.html — http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20141222p2a00m0na008000c.html
- Japan’s Atomic Energy Agency says 75% of released radioactivity from F. Daiichi occurred after the first four days of the crisis. JAEA says the emissions continued from March 15 until the end of that month. The group analyzed the dispersal of contamination based on meteorological data and actual samples taken outside the station boundaries. In addition, it was determined that releases of March 21st and 22nd reached a wider area that previously thought, including the Kanto region containing the Tokyo Metropolis. JAEA estimates the total release was about 470,000 terabecquerels (tera = trillion) http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20141221_16.html It should be noted that Tepco estimates of total radioactive releases made in May, 2012, fits with the new JAEA numbers. The company estimated the total release was more than a million terabecquerels. The Tepco estimates included noble gasses which were about 500,000 teraBq, which it does not seem the JAEA estimates included. Tepco’s numbers for particulates other than noble gasses, was a little over 500,000 teraBq…essentially the same as the JAEA findings. http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/2012/1204659_1870.html
- Tokyo considers increasing local grants to governments that have nuke restarts. On the other hand, governments surrounding nukes that are not allowed to restart will see their existing grants reduced. The grants are based on operating unit capacity factor. The factor is calculated by taking the total MWe generated during a one year period and dividing it by the MWe that would be produced if the unit were at 100% power for the entire year. Prior to the F. Daiichi crisis, the grants were based on an average of 73%, which was actually lower than the capacity factors indicated. The yearly grants then totaled roughly $1 billion. However, the provision being considered would raise this to 81% for restarted units. For units that remain idled, the grant percentage will be dropped to 70%. The new grant-rate will apply to nukes as they are restarted. http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0001808217
This site requires a lot of work. We hope you find our efforts valuable and rewarding. Please consider offering your support. There is no minimum amount. Feel free to donate as you see fit, without restriction. Thank you...
