Fukushima 112

August 24, 2017

On Tuesday, Tepco began the process of freezing the final section of the F. Daiichi ice wall. Eleven valves were opened and minus-30^OC refrigerant began to flow through the in-ground pipes. The remaining seven-meter-wide unfrozen stretch could take two months to solidify. Tepco says the influx of water will lessen because groundwater from mountain side will be decreased and the level around reactor buildings will be controlled. A company official said, "We want to carefully freeze [the wall] by monitoring water levels both inside and outside the reactor buildings." The last section could not be closed until the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) gave its consent. Instead of months, it has taken nearly a year-and-a-half to complete the freezing. Many Japanese news outlets blame the delay on Tepco. Others have placed culpability on NRA officials. Total cost of the wall has been just under $320 million (USD). It should be noted that once the wall is fully solidified, Tepco can also assess the effectiveness of the Landside Impermeable Wall that stretches nearly a kilometer along the shoreline. http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/handouts/2017/images/handouts_170822_01-e.pdf -- https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20170822_19/ -- http://www.jaif.or.jp/en/nra-approves-full-water-shielding-wall-at-fukushima-daiichi-npps/ -- https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20170822/p2g/00m/0dm/053000c
All fish within 20 kilometers of F. Daiichi are below Japan’s limit of 100 Becquerels per kilogram. This includes those caught inside the break-wall of the station’s port. One of the 104 fish sampled outside the break-wall has detectible Cesium-134 activity – the “fingerprint” isotope for nuclear accident contamination. Only one caught inside the break-wall had detectible Cs-134. https://www4.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/f1/smp/2017/images/fish02_170817-e.pdf -- https://www4.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/f1/smp/2017/images/fish01_170817-e.pdf
Fukushima will expand rice and peach shipments to Malaysia in 2017. Fukushima Governor Masao Uchibori announced the prefecture had reached agreement with Malaysian wholesalers to increase exports of both commodities. The exports resumed in 2015, with 12 tons of rice shipped to Malaysia. This year, the volume of rice has increased to 29 tons, with expectations of 100 tons by the end of fiscal 2017. There were 7.3 tons of peaches shipped last year, with 15 tons expected for this year. https://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2017082301198
Ken Buessler of Woods Hole Oceanographic gives his opinion on releasing tritiated water to the sea. He wants slow discharge over several years, “If it’s all released on one day, that’s a very different scenario for the oceans than if it’s released sequentially over the course of several years.” Buessler believes that Tritium is one of the less dangerous radioactive isotopes, although it is actually biologically innocuous in concentrations many orders of magnitude greater than anything now stored in tanks at Fukushima Daiichi. (See - http://www.hiroshimasyndrome.com/background-information-on-tritium.html) Buessler is also concerned about detectible levels of other isotopes that might be in the ALPS-purified waters, so he wants each tank analyzed before it is drained to the sea. https://www.voanews.com/a/japan-fukushim-tritium-contaminated-water-into-pacific/3995414.html
Futaba announces plans for recovery and reconstruction. It is a co-host to the F. Daiichi station, along with Okuma. On August 2^nd, the municipal assembly announced that a 555 hectare (~1,370 acre) block of land has been identified to establish “specified reconstruction footholds” that will be used to coordinate lifting of all “difficult to return” zones in the block by 2022. A “new downtown zone” will be set up on the west side of Joban Line’s Futaba Station where houses for townspeople and workers are to be built. There will be an “urban rebirth zone” on the east side where a shopping street and a base for exchanges among residents will be created. Two areas on the north side will be zones for “the use of renewable energy” and for “the revitalization of agriculture.” If the plan is approved by the prefecture, decontamination efforts and road reconstruction will begin, paid for by Tokyo. This is the first of the seven remaining communities with difficult-to-return zones to create a plan for repopulation and revitalization. http://www.fukushimaminponews.com/news.html?id=849 (Comment – Once again, Japan’s popular Press ignores good news with respect to Fukushima. The August 2^nd announcement was only covered by Fukushima Minpo three weeks after it was announced.)
Three more Japanese nukes file restart documents. Kansai Electric Power Co. and Kyushu Electric Power Co. have filed restart-related documents with Tokyo’s NRA for Ohi 3 and 4, and Genkai 3. Each unit is a pressurized water reactor system with a 1,180 MWe generating capacity. It should be noted that Ohi 3&4 were restarted in July, 2012, to avoid a probable summer regional power shortage. Both continually operated at 100% power without incident until September, 2013. https://www.nei.org/News-Media/News/Japan-Nuclear-Update
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission begins a series of postings intended to educate the public about controversial nuclear energy issues. CNSC will explain some touchier concepts through infographics and videos everyone should be able to understand. The group has begun its “RadFacts campaign” with an excellent, no-nonsense infographic on used (irradiated) nuclear fuel safety. http://nuclearsafety.gc.ca/eng/resources/infographics/rad-facts-rayons-dinfo/ifb-pcu.cfm
Tepco faces yet another expensive American lawsuit over Fukushima. The company says a $5 billion suit has been filed in a Southern California court. There are 157 plaintiffs listed in the suit demanding a compensation fund be set up to cover costs of medical tests and treatment needed as a result of their efforts to support recovery of the nuke accident. It is not known if the new suit is related to the existing one filed by a group of sailors from the USS Ronald Reagan. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tepco-fukushima-lawsuit-idUSKCN1B40TG

August 17, 2017

Tokyo has (finally) approved closing the “ice wall” around Fukushima Daiichi units #1 through #4. The agonizingly slow activation of the wall has been due to skittishness on the part of the Nuclear Regulation Authority, fearing the level of groundwater outside the basement walls will drop below the level inside and allow highly radioactive water to seep out. The freezing of the wall has progressed sections since March, 2016, with portions frozen, followed by a long waiting period to see if the groundwater level changes. So far, each section’s freezing has not caused a drop in groundwater level. The last 7.5 meter section of the wall is all that remains to be frozen, and Tepco says they will begin the process next Tuesday. The company is confident the completion of the wall will not cause the NRA’s fears to manifest, but they are prepared to deal with it if it happens. Before the wall had begun freezing the soil down to 30 meters, Tepco estimated that 400 tons of groundwater flowed into the turbine building basements each day. The influx is currently estimated to be about 140 tons per day. Tepco says once the last section is frozen, the in-flow should drop to below 100 tons per day, further reducing the rate of wastewater buildup and storage. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20170815_24/ -- http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201708160032.html
Work slowly progresses on combatting wild animals in repopulating zones. One of the difficulties with restrictions being lifted is wild animals that have infested the evacuated communities. One particularly problematic species is wild boars. There are limits on how many can be exterminated due to a relatively small number of hunters, many of whom are over 60 years old. Thus, some repopulated residences have been surrounded by sturdy four-foot high fences. One returning resident of Namie said, "Putting humans in cages sounds like a joke, but I'm happy for the fences if they can keep wild boars out. Wild boars appear basically every night.” Most of the boars have lived in the evacuated communities for what amounts to their whole lives, so encouraging them to move into the wild is difficult. Also, smaller animals like civets and raccoons have moved into the ceilings and attics of empty houses, further exacerbating the situation. The Mainichi Shimbun says the critters are “thought to be one cause of the still very low evacuee return rate (of ~20%). https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20170817/p2a/00m/0na/011000c

August 10, 2017

The European Union considers lifting restrictions on Fukushima rice. EU President Jean-Claude Juncker said, "I would like to congratulate Prime Minister Abe on the remarkable progress Japan has made on making products from the Fukushima region safe, following the 2011 accident." He will argue for the EU’s removal of restrictions after the summer holiday. The move should promote the relief of Fukushima rice from unfounded fears and rumors. http://www.jaif.or.jp/en/eu-expected-to-lift-import-restrictions-on-fukushima-rice/ (Comment - The JAIF link contains charts that show Japan’s limits on contamination are as much as 100 times lower than the EU and/or International Standards.)
Local Fisheries find 75% of Japan’s consumers are “ready to buy (Fukushima fish)… without doubt”. A survey of consumers and wholesalers revealed that the positive responses are predicated on displaying the level of radioactive substances in the fish. Surprisingly, only 69% said they were aware that all fish currently being caught by the fisheries are tested for radioactivity. In addition, 70% said they will allow family members under the age of 18 to eat the seafood, but 26% said they will not. The federation issues examination certificates for wholesalers in order to dispel rumors, hoping to "will urge shops and other retail outlets outside Fukushima to display examination certificates." http://www.fukushimaminponews.com/news.html?id=848
The Asahi Shimbun continues to post dismal reports on the status of Fukushima fishermen. It says fish hauls have been small and there is an increasing number of people leaving the fishing industry. One fisherman is quoted as saying, “Even if we can catch fish, we might be unable to sell them because of harmful rumors.” Tetsu Nozaki, chair of the Fukushima Prefectural Federation of Fisheries Co-operative Associations, says, “We might face damage from harmful rumors in auctions, but if we’re scared of that and don’t increase our hauls, Fukushima Prefecture’s ocean and fishing industry will never return to what it was before. We want to keep moving toward full-scale operations.” The Asahi says many fishermen still rely on Tepco compensation payments to make ends meet, but fails to mention the substantial amount that each Tokyo-mandated evacuee has received…more than $500,000 for each and every man, woman, and child. http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0003840041
Japan’s plutonium inventory drops due to nuke restarts. The Cabinet Office announced that Japan had a total of 46.9 tons of plutonium at the end of 2016, held domestically and abroad. This was down about a ton from the end of 2015. The reason was the loading of some MOX fuel bundles, containing recycled reactor plutonium, into Takahama units #3 & #4. Full power operation of the two units reduced the nation’s recycled plutonium inventory. http://www.jaif.or.jp/en/japans-total-plutonium-holdings-decrease-thanks-to-npp-restarts/
Tepco says unchecked “tainted” cars left Fukushima Daiichi the first week of the accident. The company reports that hundreds of detectibly contaminated privately-vehicles came and went without being scanned for radioactivity. Tepco began an investigation in 2012 and found that there were more than 450 cars that left the plant compound. By 2015, they identified all but two of them, scanned each, and found that 190 still had detectible contamination. A few of the cars had levels greater than the upper limit of the spot-check monitors, which is about ten times the official standard. On-site scans of vehicles did not begin until 12 days after 3/11/11. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20170809_01/
An unexploded WWII bomb near F. Daiichi makes headlines around the world. The device was found about 300 meters from the nuclear station’s perimeter at a parking lot construction site. The area where the bomb was found was an airfield for the WWII Imperial Japanese military, and was bombed near the end of the war. The device was found this morning (Thursday), and removed by a Self Defense Force disposal team in the afternoon. Decommissioning work at F. Daiichi was conducted as usual, without interruption. Aside – International Press coverage provides the usual elaboration, exaggeration, and fabrication. Fukushima-phobia is good for business. – End aside. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20170810_28/ -- https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20170810_35/ -- http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-40886169 -- http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/breaking-world-war-two-bomb-10961825

August 3, 2017

Tepco says corium from unit #3 did not burn through the RPV’s bottom head. The company’s computer-based assumption of the bottom head of the Reactor Pressure Vessel experiencing a catastrophic “melt-through” seems to have been disproven by last week’s robotic investigation. Rather, it now appears that the loss of corium was through the stub tubes that hold the Control Rod Drive Mechanisms (CRDM). Tepco spokesman Takahiro Kimoto said the images of the RPV underside show that the bottom head itself withstood the heat of molten corium, “We do not presume that the vessel, which is 14 cm thick, melted and collapsed together with the fuel, but that part of the fuel instead made its way down through holes [for the CRDMs].” http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/07/30/national/footage-reactor-3-may-force-rewrite-fukushima-road-map-officials-say/#.WX3XjaMUkdU
A government body has compiled a draft blueprint for removal of nuclear accident fuel debris. The Nuclear Damage Compensation and Decommissioning Facilitation Corp. (NDF) intends to have a robot arm installed through the primary containment (PCV) wall to scoop up fuel debris (corium) inside the reactor vessel’s pedestal. The NDF revealed its plan in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, on Monday. The “blueprint” in based on the images inside the unit #3 PCV and pedestal captured by the “little sunfish” submersible robot. It is assumed the location and condition of the unit #1 corium is essentially the same as unit #3. Whether or not there is any corium within the unit #2 pedestal remains to be seen, but the NDF assumes there is less than with the other two units. Two corium removal concepts were considered, both of which depend on robotic technology. One idea was to fill the entire PCV with water and remove everything from above. However, this method would require a robotic arm of more than 30 meters, while exacerbating the waste water problem. In addition, it is assumed that the PCVs are leaking, so the sources of the leaks would have to be found and stoppered. Plus, transfer of used fuel bundles from the SFPs would have to be completed before beginning corium removal construction. However, the side-ways concept does not need to have the PCV flooded. A maintenance access hatch could be modified to facilitate access. However, this “airborne method”, would require maintaining the inner volume of the PCV below atmospheric pressure. Aside – would not the assumed PCV leaks also keep the PCV from desired depressurization? – End aside. Another reason for the “airborne” option is fears that the Massive steel-reinforced concrete PCVs might have been weakened by hydrogen explosions and collapse under the weight of the water. http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0003852307 -- http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201708010022.html (Comment - The referenced articles add that corium removal under water might trigger recriticality, which was allegedly a concern of some NDF officials. If so, the NDF has a modicum of ignorance in its ranks. First, any corium on the floors of the PCVs is already under water! Also, the corium’s admixture of fuel with boron from the control rods makes recriticality effectively impossible.)
NRA Chair Tanaka says the “dry removal” method for corium will be “far from easy”. The chief of the Nuclear Regulation Authority spoke to reporters on Wednesday in response to questions posed by the NDF plan for removal of fuel debris from the three damaged RPVs and PCVs. Tanaka questioned the idea that “dry removal” would be safer than filling the PCV with water to block the high radiation levels emitted by the corium. Some NDF officials feared a wet removal runs the risk of recriticality, but the NRA Chair countered that it is common for nuclear fuel to be stored and transported underwater to block radiation. He added that once nuclear fuel is removed from water, area radiation levels soar, adding to the difficulties for safe handling. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20170802_28/
Host community Futaba plans on partial lifting of evacuation orders by 2022. The municipal government concluded the radiation levels for about 10% of the residential areas will be opened for repopulation. The rest of the town will remain designated as difficult-to-return because of allegedly high radiation levels unsuitable for human habitation. The reopened areas will be used as a “hub” for local recovery. https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20170803/p2a/00m/0na/012000c -- http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201708030040.html (Comment - Earlier this year, actual radiation exposure levels measured with monitoring devices revealed that most, if not all of Futaba was less than 200 millisieverts per year, This is much less than the people of Ramsar, Iran, that receive roughly 250 mSv/yr from natural background sources, with literally no adverse health effects. Tokyo and the Futaba government should learn from Mother Nature and reopen the entire town now!)
Tepco has posted pictures of the installation of the first part of the unit #3 dome. The prefabricated structure is intended to enclose the top of the unit #3 reactor building to allow for the safe transfer of used nuclear fuel from the pool (SFP) on the top floor to the ground-level spent fuel storage facility. There are 566 fuel bundles in the storage pool that will be removed from the pool. Two of the eight sections of the dome are in place, giving us an idea of how the full structure will look. When completed, the dome will be about 17 meters high, 60 meters in length, and weigh nearly 300 tons. The structure will protect workers and fuel handling equipment from severe weather, as well as accommodate Japan’s radiophobic demographic that fears the possibility of radiological dust being released during the transfer. http://photo.tepco.co.jp/en/date/2017/201707-e/170731-01e.html -- http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/handouts/2017/images/handouts_170802_01-e.pdf -- http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201708020046.html
Japan’s 2018 energy outlook sees five more nuclear plant restarts, and perhaps 12. There are now five that have restarted and achieved the status of being “commercial” (qualified to charge customers for the electricity being produced). The Institute for Energy Economics (IEEJ) says as many as twelve, and as few as none of the unit now prohibited from operation could restart by the end of 2018. However, the most-likely number of restarts will probably be five, bringing the total of operating nukes to ten by the end of 2018. http://www.jaif.or.jp/en/ieej-releases-2018-economic-and-energy-outlook-pace-of-npp-restarts-affects-improvement-of-3es/
More than half of Japan is suited to host a deep geological repository. On Friday, Tokyo posted a “map of scientific characteristics” depicting possible sites for deep burial of high-level radioactive waste from used nuclear fuel. All municipalities were made aware of the map's release before it was shared with the Press. 30% of Japan’s land area is considered “most suitable” for a facility to remain safe for 100,000 years. Another 40% is labeled as locations where favorable characteristics being confirmed is likely. This includes all or part of about 900 municipalities; more than half of all municipalities in Japan. However, the map does not identify specific sites favored for final disposal, the selection of which needs detailed surveys. Tokyo plans to hold briefings on the candidate sites beginning in autumn, most of which are located in coastal areas to accommodate possible sea shipping. The government is submitting requests to the relevant municipalities for their understanding and cooperation with investigations. The map was compiled by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry. Minister Hiroshige Seko said, “The release of this map is an important step to realize final disposal (of high-level radioactive waste). It is the first step on the long road.” METI hopes the posting of the map and subsequent public briefings will allow municipalities to show interest sufficient to have detailed scientific surveys. http://www.jaif.or.jp/en/commentary-on-publication-of-national-map-of-scientific-characteristics-regarding-geological-disposal-of-hlw/ -- http://www.jaif.or.jp/en/anre-publishes-map-of-scientific-characteristics-moving-one-step-closer-to-geological-hlw-disposal/ (detailed map here) -- http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2017072801006 -- http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201707290027.html

July 27, 2017

Possible formerly molten fuel debris (corium) has been discovered inside unit #3. The finding was made during Friday’s second visual examination of the underside of F. Daiichi’s unit #3 Reactor vessel (RPV). It shows what appear to be dark masses, some shaped like icicles, hanging from a few of the control rod drive mechanisms (CRDM). There are also orange-colored globs on the CRDMs and the walls of the PCV atop what might be corium. As a result of the discoveries, another excursion inside the RPV’s supporting pedestal was scheduled. On Saturday, images of locations on and below the maintenance platform (carousel) were obtained. One shows that most of the platform is indeed gone, and has dropped to the floor of the PCV, several meters below. Two of the Saturday images (#1 & #3) show debris that has collected in the bottom of the PCV, atop the base-mat. Tepco says most of the nuclear fuel is believed to have melted and fallen through the pressurized vessel, although none of the images have a gaping hole on the bottom head of the RPV. Industry Minister Hirosage Seko said, "Valuable information has been obtained from a survey inside the reactor [pedestal] using a submersible robot. At the current stage, we will proceed with the decommissioning in line with the road map." On related note, the usually-reliable NHK World seems confused. It posted that “…structural components and other material is piling up at its [the PCV’s] bottom.” This makes it sound as if the material continues to fall from the underside of the RPV, however the accumulation has clearly stopped. http://www.jaif.or.jp/en/fuel-debris-at-fukushima-daiichi-unit-3-apparently-located-under-pressure-vessel-and-at-bottom-of-pcv/ -- https://www4.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/handouts/2017/images/handouts_170721_01-e.pdf (Friday’s handout) -- https://www4.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/handouts/2017/images/handouts_170722_01-e.pdf (Saturday’s handout) -- https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2017/07/adadf7591673-govt-to-decide-in-sept-debris-extraction-method-at-fukushima-unit.html -- https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20170723_01/
Muon imaging of unit #3 reveals little corium remains in the Reactor Vessel. The image produced with unit #3 has been compared to the one made with unit #2. The unit #2 image posted last July 28th strongly indicated that some of the corium (9-23%) remains at the bottom of the bottom of the core barrel, and possibly all of the rest collected in the hemispherical bottom head of the RPV. On the other hand, Tepco’s unit #3 image indicates that only a small fraction of the corium remains “in the core and at the lower area of the RPV…” The Tepco handout says, “The evaluation at present shows the possibility that some fuel debris remain(s) inside the RPV, but massive and high density material has not been found.” The company feels the greatest amount of corium that exited an RPV was unit #1, with unit #3 the second-most, and unit #2 the least (if any at all). Tepco stresses that detailed evaluation of the unit #3 imaging continues. http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/handouts/2016/images/handouts_160728_01-e.pdf (unit #2 muon imaging results) -- https://www4.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/handouts/2017/images/handouts_170727_01-e.pdf (unit #3 preliminary muon imaging results)
Unit #2 radiation levels are actually 2-3 times lower than initial estimates. When unit #2 estimated radiation levels were first reported in late January, the numbers seemed incredible. It was reported that “light flickers” on the imaging from a robotic probe indicated a localized radiation field of 530 grays per hour, and a subsequent localized field estimate of 650 Gy/hr on a second robotic probe. However, reassessment of the situation reveals the actual levels were 170 Gy/hr and 180 Gy/hr, respectively. The initial high estimates did not take into account the amount of “noise” caused by the radiation on the visual monitors. The February 16^th robotic probe carried an actual radiation monitor, and registered a localized hotspot of 210 Gy/hr, but it was not calibrated for the primary source isotope, Cesium 137. After compensating for the calibration factor, that reading was actually 70 Gy/hr. [A gray is of radiation is equivalent to a Sievert of exposure.) https://www4.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/handouts/2017/images/handouts_170727_03-e.pdf
Robotic images for unit #1 are “sharpened”, and show no fuel debris external to the RPV pedestal. Because of the clearer images from the four main vantage points on the grating in the PCV, external to the RPV pedestal, “it is considered that there is no fuel debris or very little even if it exists.” Like unit #2, the dose estimates have been considered using Cs-137 as the calibration isotope, but it seems to have had little or no effect on the originally-reported values. https://www4.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/handouts/2017/images/handouts_170727_02-e.pdf
Fukushima’s main train system to reopen October 21^st. The East Japan Railway Company made the announcement on July 19^th, but none of Japan’s popular Press saw fit to report it. Regardless, only one section of the system, between Okuma and Futaba, will remain closed. The reopened section runs between Tomioka and Naraha Towns. The Tomioka station was heavily damaged by the tsunami of 2011, and the rail line between the towns was distorted by the earthquake. Restoration work was delayed until June, 2016, after decontamination work was completed. The company plans to have eleven round trips per day from Namie to Sendai City. This is a major infrastructural improvement for the entire region. http://www.jaif.or.jp/en/entire-joban-train-line-in-fukushima-prefecture-to-be-reopened-by-march-2020/
Another request by antinuclear activists to shut down a nuke is denied. Matsuyama resident’s had filed a legal demand with the Hiroshima District Court to have Ikata unit #3 shuttered. The residents who filed the case alleged that Shikoku Electric Company had underestimated the worst-possible earthquake for the plant, and also that evacuation plans for the area are inadequate. To the contrary, the court found the company’s seismic protection adequate and the emergency plans in accord with national standards. As usual, the plaintiffs plan to file an appeal with a higher court. A lawyer for the plaintiffs said, "It was a disappointing decision. We will continue to fight to stop the reactor at any court." Three other injunction requests against the nuke are pending in Hiroshima, Oita, and Yamaguchi Prefectures. Ikata #3 has been in full, uneventful operation since August of 2016. https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20170721/p2g/00m/0dm/060000c
Kashiwazaki mayor says two K-K units may be restarted if all others are permanently shuttered. Mayor Masahiro Sakurai said he will agree to restarts of units #6&#7 at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa station, if and only if Tepco “presents a plan to decommission the remaining five in two years.” Tepco President Tomoaki Kobayakawa responded, “We should exchange opinions further.” All five units began operation between 1985 and 1994, so none of them will be subject to the essentially arbitrary 40 year licensing limit. Regardless, Mayor Sakurai explained his bold demand, “The No. 1 to No. 5 reactors are old, and some of them have remained offline since the Niigata Chuetsu-oki Earthquake (of July, 2007).” The mayor was elected to office on a campaign promising to support restarts “with conditions”. http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201707260037.html

July 20, 2017

Tepco posted a Press handout concerning their submersible robot's (ROV) initial probe inside the Fukushima Daiichi unit #3 RPV pedestal. The device literally swims under the surface of the 6.4 meters deep water in the bottom of the Primary Containment (PCV). The robot entered the pedestal through the opening for replacement of Control Rod Drive Mechanisms, staying near the opening. The handout says, “The ROV took photographs of the conditions inside the PCV around the pedestal opening and enabled us to achieve the objective of the exploration, which was to examine conditions inside the pedestal.” The robot's twin propulsion propellers stirred up sediment, limiting visibility on and around the personnel grating below the reactor's CRDMs. Regardless, some intact CRDM supporting clamps below the Reactor Pressure Vessel are clearly visible, and the bottom of a CRDM is also quite clear. Tepco reports, “Today’s exploration revealed damage to multiple structures inside the pedestal and also that some of the support fittings for the CRD housing have fallen.” Last week, Tepco said it will keep the robot docked in the outer PCV until Friday’s investigation. One thing they have to ponder is how to get the ROV back through the pedestal opening without stirring up more sediment. NHK World reports a Tepco official saying that the maintenance platform (a.k.a. carousel) under the RPV appears to be gone, which seems to be confirmed by one of the handout images (i.e. “Platform condition”). The Asahi Shimbun speculates, “It is highly likely that melted nuclear fuel fell through the pressure vessel and weakened the scaffolding, leading to its collapse.” The Associated press says "the images contained no obvious sign of the melted nuclear fuel that researchers hope to locate..." and that unit #3 has more damage than unit #2. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20170720_01/ -- http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/handouts/2017/images/handouts_170719_01-e.pdf -- http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201707200046.html -- http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/swim-robot-probes-fukushima-reactor-find-melted-fuel-48719330
Tepco’s chairman says F. Daiichi’s purified waste water will be released when the NRA allows it. All radioactive isotopes have been removed from the waters, except for biologically-innocuous Tritium. Widespread unfounded fear about radiation (radiophobia) has kept the harmless water from being released to the sea. Company Chairman Takashi Kawamura said, “The decision has already been made,” and stressed that the company cannot do it until the Nuclear Regulation Authority gives them the go-ahead. The NRA has had a panel studying the situation for many months, examining several possibilities. But, only a controlled release to the sea makes any real sense. NRA Chairman Shunichi Tanaka has previously expressed support for an ocean release, which Kawamura acknowledged, "Technically, we fully support the chairman's proposal. [But] I think we should have acted sooner. ... We should start moving faster." Not unexpected, Japanese antinuclear activists condemn it. Green Action Japan antinuclear campaigner Aileen Mioko-Smith said, “The accident happened more than six years ago and the authorities should have been able to devise a way to remove the tritium instead of simply announcing that they are going to dump it in the ocean.” She then exaggerated to the extreme, “They say that it will be safe because the ocean is large so it will be diluted, but that sets a precedent that can be copied, essentially permitting anyone to dump nuclear waste into our seas." http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/07/14/national/science-health/tepco-says-decision-already-made-release-radioactive-low-toxic-tritium-sea-fishermen-irate/#.WWi6GKMUkdU -- http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2017/07/13/tepco-chair-nuclear-plant-must-release-contaminated-water.html -- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/07/14/fishermen-express-fury-fukushima-plant-set-release-radioactive/
Japan’s reconstruction minister Masayoshi Yoshino says he opposes the alleged release. Why? Because groundless rumors that will hurt the Fukushima fishermen. He said there would “certainly be [perception] damage due to unfounded rumors.” He urged Tepco “not to create fresh concerns for fishermen and those running fishing operations in Fukushima Prefecture." Yoshino added that releasing the essentially harmless water to the ocean could drive the fishermen “further towards the edge”. In response, Tepco said its chairman meant to say there is "no problem [with the release] according to state guidelines based on scientific and technological standpoints." https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20170715/p2g/00m/0dm/064000c -- http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/07/15/national/tepco-backpedals-disaster-reconstruction-chief-knocks-plan-dump-tritiated-water-sea/#.WWoL5KMUkdU
Fukushima fishermen protest the Tepco president’s misinterpreted remark. Tepco Chair Takashi Kawamura was accused by the Press of saying the company had decided to release the Tritium-laced waste waters into the sea. On Wednesday, Kawamura met with the head of Japan’s fisheries federation, Hiroshi Kishi, to deny the media-sourced claim. Kawamura said the news media misunderstood him and apologized for the worry it caused the fishermen. Regardless, Kishi urged Tepco to refrain from a release without the consent of fishermen and the public. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20170720_02/
Fukushima’s most popular beach reopens after a seven year hiatus. Usuiso beach, Iwaki City, closed at the end of the summer season of 2010. The Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami pounded the Iwaki shoreline, killing more than 100 people and making the beaches uninhabitable. The closure of Usuiso beach was prolonged due to detectible levels of radiation and fears of contamination. On Saturday July 15^th, some 1,800 people came to the reopening. Prefectural officials say the radation levels have dropped to pre-2011 levels. https://japantoday.com/category/national/fukushima%E2%80%99s-most-popular-beach-reopens-for-first-time-since-march-2011-disaster
Wild boar hide is used to make leather in Fukushima Prefecture. A leather workshop in Date is making baby shoes and key fobs out of it. The products have become so popular that production cannot keep up with demand. The boars are captured by hunters, but the meat cannot be sold due to a 2011 Tokyo mandate. The hides have proven to be free of contamination, so they have been used to make the leather products since 2015. The boar population in Date continues to grow and causes considerable damage to crops, thus hunters are used to cull the population. Roughly 1,800 have been captured in the city since March, 2011. http://www.fukushimaminponews.com/news.html?id=845
Fukui politicians ask Defense Minister Inada to beef up nuclear station protection against missile attacks. There are three stations on the north shore of the prefecture, containing a total of 15 units. Governor Issei Nishikawa and six mayors presented a formal request to the minister, saying (in part), “Ignoring international criticism, North Korea repeatedly launches missiles and conducts nuclear tests. On July 4, it launched a new type of missile, one that fell inside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. The danger of an armed attack on Fukui’s 15 reactors in the south of the prefecture, the largest number in Japan, is rising. In order to deter a missile attack, and in order to secure peace of mind of local residents, we ask that Self-Defense Forces be dispatched to the southern part of the prefecture.” http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/07/20/national/politics-diplomacy/fukui-governor-mayors-ask-inada-added-protection-reactors-north-korea-attacks/#.WXCVUKMUkdU (Comment – The news report failed to mention that the three nuke stations are Tsuruga, Mihama, and Ohi, plus that none of the fifteen units are currently operating. Further, only two of the units at Ohi have operated in the last six years.)

July 13, 2017

Tepco posts plans for next week’s unit #3 underwater investigation. The investigation will occur over a three day period, March 19-21, 2017. The underwater ROV (Remote Operated Vehicle) will pass through the Primary Containment Vessel wall via existing piping that was modified to accommodate the robot on July 11^th. It will then move underwater on a path parallel to the Control Rod Drive Mechanism replacement rail, then swim into the inside of the Reactor Pressure Vessel pedestal. Unlike units #1&2, the water level in the bottom of the unit #3 PCV is high enough to allow the ROV to make its search entirely submerged. The first day will provide images of the physical conditions inside the pedestal, in and around the CRDMs. On the second day, the Tepco staff will review the images of the first day and map out a plan of attack for the third day’s excursion. The three-day strategy has been dictated by the possibility “of damage inside the pedestal including dropped grating and cut TIP guide pipe”, based on what was seen inside the unit #2 pedestal. The ROV will be “moored” just inside the PCV penetration pipe during the second day, awaiting the review of the day #1 images and modification of “the priority order of investigation.” By swimming into the pedestal, the ROV should not encounter the debris problems that hampered the robot excursion into unit #2. Being submerged, the ROV should not experience the high radiation exposures that limited the operation of the prior robotic investigations, because water itself is an effective radiation shield. It remains to be seen if the unit #2 water is murky, as with unit #1. https://www4.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/handouts/2017/images/handouts_170713_02-e.pdf
A Harvard University instructor says fear is more dangerous than radiation. David Ropiek writes that fear of radiation is “deeply ingrained in the public psyche”, so much so that it is believed any exposure, no matter how tiny, is unacceptably dangerous. He continues, “The truth, however, is that the health risk posed by ionizing radiation is nowhere near as great as commonly assumed. Instead, our excessive fear of radiation – our radiophobia – does more harm to public health than ionizing radiation itself.” He concludes, “Our fear of radiation is deep, but we should really be afraid of fear instead.” https://aeon.co/ideas/fear-of-radiation-is-more-dangerous-than-radiation-itself
The main road through Namie will open in the fall. It is the most direct highway between Namie and Fukushima City. It will shorten the time to go from the capital to nuclear host community Futaba by at least 30 minutes. Local residents and “designated parties” are currently allowed to use the thoroughfare during the day, but not at night. When the restrictions are lifted, the highway will improve traffic flow to the coast and accelerate reconstruction. Most of the highway runs through Namie’s remaining “difficult to return” zone. It will happen only if the prefectural and local governments agree to unrestricted use of the road. Namie Mayor Tamotsu Baba said, “We'd like to realize open transit along Route 114 and thus hasten reconstruction.” http://www.fukushimaminponews.com/news.html?id=843
NRA chairman Shunichi Tanaka makes a verbal blunder, and is castigated by the Press. The head of the Nuclear Regulation Authority was speaking to a group of about 30 anxious Takahama residents concerning the restarts of two nuclear units. He was asked what would happen if a North Korean nuclear-tipped missile hit the power station. They feared it would cause a nuclear catastrophe worse than the missile alone. He responded, “I do not know if North Korea's technology has the level of precision that can land a missile at a small reactor. If I were in charge, I would believe that targeting the middle of Tokyo would be a lot better idea.” When the attending Press took umbrage with what Tanaka said, he apologized for the offhand comment and said he used an inappropriate example. https://japantoday.com/category/national/nuclear-authority-chief-draws-flak-over-n.-korea-missile-gaffe
The NRA chides Tepco for a lack of initiative with Fukushima Daiichi decommissioning. NRA Chair Tanaka says, “I feel a sense of danger” because it seems Tepco does “not have a will to take initiative. An operator lacking will to take initiative does not have the right to resume operation of nuclear reactors." The admonishment was specific to treatment of the increasing volume of contaminated water and removal of melted fuel at the plant. This reproach was made at a meeting with the company concerning the possibility of restarting two Kashiwazaki-Kariwa units. Tepco chair Takashi Kawamura replied, "There are citizens who believe nuclear power is necessary. Operating reactors is our responsibility." He added that there is only enough space at the nuke station for two more years of additional decontaminated water storage, implying that the NRA needs to do something pro-active to resolve the problem. Tanaka responded that the NRA feels it has not received sufficient information on F. Daiichi decommissioning, and “[Tepco] which caused the [Fukushima] accident, is not [treated as] an ordinary operator.” https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20170710_21/ -- https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20170711/p2g/00m/0dm/028000c (Comment – Every time Tepco takes initiative, the NRA puts up roadblocks to impede progress. So, who is to blame for the so-called lack of initiative? The NRA needs to look at itself!)

July 6, 2017

Takahama station restarts result in 3.15% rate reduction for Kansai Electric Co. customers. The utility submitted its plan to cut its household consumer electricity costs to the Industry Ministry, effective August 1^st. The reduction reflects the recent restart of two units at the Takahama nuclear station in Fukui Prefecture. The reason is that nuclear fuel costs less than fossil fuels for the production of electricity. http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=ind&k=2017070600656
The Japanese Press’ obsession with mixed oxide nuclear fuel continues. A shipment of recycled (MOX) fuel left Cherbourg, France, on Wednesday, destined for Takahama unit #4. MOX is fabricated from the Uranium and Plutonium isotopes that exist in abundance in used nuclear fuel bundles. Kansai Electric Co. says the sea-going route of the shipment is being withheld for at least two weeks due to security concerns. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20170706_17/
The much ballyhooed criminal retrial of three Tepco executives starts as a news media circus. The three are former Tokyo Electric Power Company Chairman Tsunehisa Katsumata and former Vice Presidents Ichiro Takekuro and Sakae Muto, all of whom were in office on March 11, 2011. In 2013, Tokyo prosecutors rejected the allegations that the three were criminally negligent with respect to the Fukushima accident. However, the plaintiffs who were rebuffed in 2013 persisted in their efforts to get a citizen’s tribunal to reverse the court’s decision. They were finally successful last February when court appointed lawyers, acting as prosecutors, moved to indict the executives. All three plead not guilty when the trial opened on Friday. Former Chair Katsumata said it was impossible to predict the massive tsunami that spawned the nuke accident. The plaintiffs argued that an internal Tepco investigation in 2008 found that a tsunami capable of swamping the nuke station was possible. Plaintiffs insist that the 44 hospital patients who died in the chaotic evacuation and ten Tepco employees injured during the effort to stop the three-unit meltdown, were entirely avoidable, "They [Tepco] should have suspended the operations of the reactors until they have taken measures [to protect the plant] such as by building seawalls, making reactor buildings watertight, or moving reactors to higher ground." The prosecutors said the “astounding” tsunami predicted in 2008 resulted in a blueprint for upgrading the emergency electrical systems being drawn up and presented to Mr. Muto and Mr. Takekuro. The prosecutors alleged that the Tepco Chairman attended the decision-making meeting, but Mr. Katsumata said he had no recollection of it. The head of the plaintiff group said, “I hope we will get to know the truth [through the trial].” https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20170630_16/ - http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0003794390 - http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201706300043.html - https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2017/06/7502f1b1b6c3-update1-ex-tepco-execs-go-on-trial-over-fukushima-nuclear-disaster.html and etc.
Ikata unit #1 is the latest to be approved for decommissioning. This is the sixth unit to have its dismantling permitted by the Nuclear Regulation Authority; the other five are Tsuruga #1, Genkai #1, Mihama #1 & #2, and Shimane #1. All are relatively small units with outputs less than 600 MWe, where the cost of meeting Japan’s new safety standards would cost more than the operation of the units could generate over a 20 year period. http://www.jaif.or.jp/en/japans-nra-approves-ikata-1-decommissioning-plan/

(next page - http://www.hiroshimasyndrome.com/fukushima-111-5-18-2017.html )