- Fukushima’s nuke host towns jump on the rainwater run-off bandwagon. The four host communities for F. Daiichi and F. Daini have lodged a formal protest for failure to disclose that radioactive rainwater run-off has been detected for nearly a year. Naraha Town Mayor Yukiei Matsumoto, representative of the 4 towns, submitted the complaint to Tepco on Thursday. It didn’t matter that the mildly-contaminated rainwater flow had no impact on the ocean or the surrounding environment. Matsumoto said the situation has seriously undermined trust within the local communities. http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20150305_29.html (Comment – Undermined the trust of the local communities? The historical record shows that the local communities have never trusted Tepco following the nuke accident in 2011. How can a history of distrust be undermined?)
- Most Fukushima residents are unhappy with Tokyo’s handling of the F. Daiichi situation. The Asahi Shimbun says 71% of a survey’s respondents are dissatisfied with government efforts. Only 14% expressed satisfaction. This is the fourth-such accident anniversary survey. All have shown the rate of dissatisfaction at between 70-80%. Concerning the recent rainwater run-off hullabaloo, 80% said it is a “major problem” while 16% said “it was somewhat of a problem”. On a more positive note, about 50% either highly or somewhat valued (appraised) rural decontamination efforts. This is nearly a 10% improvement over the previous surveys. http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201503040063
- Tokyo and Tepco extend business compensation pay-outs. It had been planned to end compensation for damages to business owners who lost income due to the mandated evacuation in February, 2016. However, many business operators will not be able to continue if compensation payments stop. As of January, about $4.5 billion had been paid out. In addition, the compensation period for businesses outside the evacuation zone due to harmful rumors will also be extended. The harmful rumor compensation has totaled about $13 billion. An official with the Industry Ministry said, “The guidelines for the government’s Dispute Reconciliation Committee for Nuclear Damage Compensation stipulate that there is a ‘certain limit’ to the compensation period. Paying damages for an extended period of time will not lead to reconstruction.” The prior end-date for compensation met with furious opposition from the business community which said that business operators will suffer loss of income well into the future. The above figures are not part of the evacuee compensation pay outs that have totaled about $47 billion, nor the additional $1,000 per month given to each evacuee for mental anguish or “incapacity” to work. The “incapacity” damages were ended in February and the mental anguish pay-outs are to end when evacuation orders are lifted in each community. http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20150303p2a00m0na009000c.html — http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2015030300837
- The NRA has created new nuke evacuation guidelines. Although the NRA has not yet publicly posted, NHK World reports that the new strategies account for the fact that many Fukushima evacuees lived more than 30 kilometers from F. Daiichi. Existing guidelines call for emergency planning within 30 km of a nuke station. It is believed that the strategies will address if and when distant residents need to stay indoors (sheltering). The decisions will be based on radiation monitoring data and meteorology. Any sheltering order may be lifted after the radioactive plume has passed. http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20150304_21.html
- A brief update on the Muon Tomography project. Muon Tomography technology was set up in early February to find where the melted fuel is located in units #1 and #2. A team member from the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) said, “We are gathering data, and it’s going well. We believe we can produce results by the end of March.” http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2015030300734
- The target date for waste water purification has been deferred another year. Instead of removing all radioactive isotopes except Tritium by the end of March, Tepco now says it will probably take until May, 2016. The company says that about 200,000 tons of water has yet to be fully purified. More than 300,000 tons have been run through ALPS, but will also have to be run through the Strontium-stripping system so that all radioisotopic concentrations are below Tepco’s self-imposed limits. However, because there will be tiny detectible levels of some isotopes remaining after full purification, Tepco says they may have to re-run the purified water through ALPS and the strontium removal processes a second time. http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20150303p2a00m0na003000c.html — http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/betu15_e/images/150227e0101.pdf
- Many Tsuruga residents believe nuke restarts are a necessity. The city of Tsuruga has taken a severe economic downturn since the government’s nuke moratorium began. Tsuruga is the largest municipality on the Wasaka Gulf Coast; home to fourteen nuclear units. One resident says, “Money doesn’t circulate when the reactors aren’t in operation. It’s suffocating.” Many new businesses that opened in the last two years have been forced to shut down. Antinuclear Tsuruga assemblywoman Harumi Kondaiji admits the moratorium has damaged the local economy. She says the upcoming local elections will probably see restart-supporters win, yet “People are worried about their livelihoods, so even if they question (the wisdom of reactivating reactors), that’s probably not reflected in how they vote.” http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20150304p2a00m0na003000c.html
- The Japanese courts are the last hope for antinukes to bar restarts. Historically, courts have been hesitant to get involved with business and industry issues, however the strong public sentiment against nuke restarts may cause a judicial policy shift. Numerous suits have been filed across Japan over the past two years. Several may be decided in March due to the impending restarts at Sendai and Takahama stations. Antinuke lawyer Yuichi Kaido says, “Now that we are drawing closer to restarts, there is no other entity but the judiciary to realistically stop it.” Kaido represents the plaintiffs in cases against Sendai and Takahama. The suits allege that earthquake risks have been underestimated, the plant owners have not met Japan’s new safety regulations, and emergency evacuation plans have not been completed. Kaido’s team of lawyers plan to file injunctions with every plant approved for restart by the NRA. He says, “Judges must know that their decision could stop the next nuclear accident.” Last year, A Fukui court ruled against restart of any of the Ohi station units. Kaido said, “I am hopeful that the Sendai judge will feel the same.” Former Industry Ministry official Akihiro Sawa feels one pending suit might be successful, “I think residents could win the (Takahama) shutdown in Fukui District Court.” On the other hand, owner Kansai Electric Co. believes it is likely the suit will be dismissed. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/03/05/national/court-battles-are-sole-remaining-obstacle-to-nuclear-restarts/#.VPhUW6McQdU
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