April 27, 2015

Apr 27, 2015 | Fukushima Accident Updates

  • A localized high level of radiation was found in Tokyo on Thursday. The discovery was made in a small Toshima Ward park near playground equipment. The reading at the ground level was 480 microsieverts per hour. The park was closed in order to investigate. The earth at the point of the highest reading was dug up on Friday and a “lump” of material measuring about 4 inches was found. When it was lifted from the ground, the radiation level rapidly dropped. Regardless, the park remained closed after the clump was removed. Kyodo News says the source could be Radium, but officials need to analyze the material for a firm determination. A nearby public healthcare center is offering health consultations for concerned citizens. An official at the center said the extent of the high radiation was very limited and that playing in the park should cause no health problems. http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20150424_35.html — http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20150424_42.html
  • The man who flew the drone atop PM Abe’s office roof was protesting nuke restarts. Yasuo Yamamoto of Obama, Fukui Prefecture, turned himself in to his local police on Friday. Fukui is home to the two Takahama units planned to restart later this year if a recent court injunction is reversed. Yamamoto’s blog said he got the radioactive Cesium by gathering sand from a public beach in Fukushima Prefecture. He put about 100 grams of the sand in a small bottle and attached it to the drone with a nuclear hazard sticker and a note reading, “Against restarting nuclear reactors”. The note was signed “Kantei Santa”. Kantei is the Japanese name of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet. The police say Yamamoto is probably the culprit because the bottle’s contents were not revealed to the Press. Yamamoto says he flew the remote-controlled drone over the PM’s office building property on April 9, lost control of it, and it crash-landed on the roof. He told police, “I was operating the drone around 3:30 in the morning on April 9 to express my opposition to nuclear power generation.” Yamamoto opened a blog last July. In it, Yamamoto wrote that he-alone planned the deed, writing, “I am a lone wolf.” Another of his blogs says, “In order to prevent the restarting of nuclear reactors, one can’t rule out terrorism.” When there was no mention of his act in the Press on April 9th, he bought another drone. His April 18th blog showed him preparing it, and he wrote, “I am steadily making preparations to fly the second arrow.” His final entry on April 24th was, “I am sad because the security at the Prime Minister’s office is incompetent.” However, the government is taking this circumstance very seriously. A full-fledged investigation was begun by Tokyo police on Saturday. Yamamoto could face up to three years in prison for obstructing business at the Prime Minister’s office. http://www.ibtimes.com/japan-arrests-yasuo-yamamoto-landing-radioactive-sand-laced-drone-shinzo-abes-office-1896688 — http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20150425p2g00m0dm009000c.html — http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201504250021 — http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2015042600018
  • Tepco says they have finished sealing the seabed inside the port at F. Daiichi. The quay (inner port) next to units #1 through #4 was sealed in 2012, along with the seabed adjacent to units #5 and #6. The rest of the port has had two types of coatings. The seabed between the already coated areas was a haven for sea slugs, so a double layer had to be formed. The first was bentonite slurry that covered the floor to prevent scattering of material. This was covered by layer of concrete for durability. The larger area out to the port entrance had no sea slugs, so only a double layer of concrete was needed. http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/handouts/2015/images/handouts_150423_01-e.pdf
  • A Chiba civic group seeks to block rural waste storage on Tepco property. Last week, the Tokyo government announced plans for storage of 3,700 tons of Tokyo-generated rural radioactive debris on Tepco’s property along Tokyo Bay. Presently, the bagged material is kept at numerous locations in the metropolitan area. The group from Ichihara City went to the Chiba Prefecture offices and delivered a petition to the governor opposing the government’s plans. The petition says the surrounding geology is rife with faults capable of powerful earthquakes which a low-level waste facility would not be able to survive. If such an accident happened, the sales of Tokyo Bay seaweed would be hurt. http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20150427_28.html
  • Tokyo projects that nuclear powered-electricity will cost less than thermal fuels through 2030. It is estimated that nuke electricity will cost 10.1 yen per kilowatt, an increase of 1.2 yen over last year’s projection. Liquefied natural gas-generated power will be 13.4 yen/kw (up 2.5 yen) and coal will be 12.9 yen/kw. Also, solar electricity is estimated to be 15.5 yean/kw. http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2015042700909