May 11, 2015

May 11, 2015 | Fukushima Accident Updates

  • High radiation was detected in Tokyo household garbage. A metal box was picked up by a trash collector for Kita Ward. As with all trash since 3/11/11, it was checked for contamination at the recycling center. Although not contaminated by Fukushima isotopes, it did register 4.15 microsieverts per hour; more than 16 times the ward’s limit for disposal. The box is about 8 inches by 12 in. From the size of the box, officials assume it contains a home Radon generator. The ward is trying to find out where the box was collected and investigating into proper disposal. A ward official said, “We will decide how to dispose of it at an early date by contacting concerned organizations.” http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20150508p2a00m0na002000c.html
  • Tepco’s new policy of releasing all radiation data is criticized by the Press. The decision was made in response to criticism that it had failed to share rainwater radioactivity in a drainage ditch. Beginning April 1st, Tepco increased its monthly output from 30,000 data points to 70,000. However, the release of the new data often requires professional expertise to decipher meaning. Tepco decided to hold explanatory Press briefings when abnormal readings occur. However, some Japanese media complained that atypical changes would be overlooked by them. Japan’s Atomic Industrial Forum takes the Press to task, saying, “The media say they might ‘overlook’ something. The entire situation is bizarre and chaotic. After incessantly demanding information disclosure, the media themselves now illustrate the simple truth that such information is meaningless without the ability to analyze and understand it.” http://www.jaif.or.jp/en/tepco-changes-course-and-will-release-all-available-radiation-data/
  • A new research report says one used fuel bundle might be damaged at F. Daiichi. The paper compared measured Spent Fuel Pool water activities with those predicted for units #1 through #4. Specifically, the levels of radioactive Cesium in the pools. The result is “only very minor” fuel damage occurred, thus the bulk of the releases into the environment originated from the damaged fuel cores inside the reactor vessels of units #1 through #3. The researchers say that all of the measurable cesium in the SFPs of units #1, #3, and #4 was due to “fallout” from the three meltdowns, with #4 contamination coming from an interconnection to tandem unit #3. However, unit #2 data indicates that damage may be the case with one of the fuel bundles in the unit #2 SFP. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002954931400404X (behind pay wall) — http://fukushimainform.ca/2015/05/08/status-of-the-spent-fuel-at-fukushima-dai-ichi-how-much-was-released-to-the-environment/comment-page-1/#comment-910 (summation from Fukushima InFORM)
  • Japan’s universities struggle to give practical training during the nuke moratorium. The new nuclear regulations do not differentiate between power plant and academic reactors with respect to safety requirements. The NRA says they cannot change the rules for university reactors, and schools say that without them they cannot properly train future nuclear operators and engineers. While a few collegiate reactors have outputs measured in kilowatts, most are in the 1-100 watt range. Colleges argue that the worst-possible accident at these low-power facilities would not require local evacuation, thus the regulations should reflect this. The NRA counters that the collegiate reactors must meet the same safety equipment requirements as commercial reactors having outputs in the millions of kilowatts. NRA Chairman Shunichi Tanaka said, “These are important facilities for education,” but chief inspector Shinzo Kuromura said there will be no compromise on safety. Many universities are now forced to send students overseas for hands-on training, at great expense. http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20150511p2a00m0na012000c.html
  • Tokyo government experts say a fault under the Mihama nuclear station is not active. An expert panel within the Nuclear Regulation Authority released a draft of its finding of the decision, which says there is no evidence of movement over the past 130,000 years, thus it is “highly likely to be inactive”. But, the panel fell short of saying the fault will never move. The report states, “Even though there are no data that clearly rule out this [earthquake] possibility, there are no data that suggest it either.” The investigation was part of a restart request submitted for unit #3 at the Fukui Prefecture station. Owner Kansai Electric has also filed for an extension to the operating license since the unit is 38 years old. Post-Fukushima NRA regulations have the initial license limited to 40m years. The extension will be for another 20 years. http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/nuclear.html — http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2015050800430
  • Nearly a thousand F. Daiichi workers topped 20 millisieverts exposure for 2014. There were 992 above the 20 mSv/yr guideline. This is a significant increase over 2013 which had 660 surpass 20 mSv. 11 of the cohort were Tepco employees and the rest were contractor-supplied workers. The highest exposure for a Tepco employee was 29.5 mSv, and for the contractors it was 39.85 mSv. The total number of workers with measurable exposure for 2014 was 20,695, which was up from 14,746 in 2013. The 2014 average exposure was 5 mSv, down from the 5.25 mSv average for 2013. http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2015050900243