Fukushima 125... 3/20/2020-6/12/2020

June 12, 2020

There are no impediments to removing used nuclear fuel bundles from the unit #2 SFP. On Wednesday and Thursday, Tepco used its new robotic, remote-controlled submersible to look inside the Spent Fuel Pool for the first time. All of the fuel bundles and their storage racks are intact and undamaged. There is no debris from the March, 2011, nuke accident atop any of the bundles. There appears to be a thin coating of white sediment on the racks which was probably the result of nine years of being immersed is salty water. Seawater was used to cool the pool after fresh water supplies ran out during the accident. Similar sediment was found atop the racks in Units #3 & #4 SFPs when they were inspected before their stored fuel bundles were removed (without incident). Both of those SFPs had considerable loose debris scattered about the tops of their fuel bundles due to their respective hydrogen explosion in 2011. There was no hydrogen explosion with respect to unit #2, so the lack of debris in the SFP should have been no surprise to anyone. Tepco says the inspection went smoothly, so much so that it was completed ahead of schedule. There are 615 fuel bundles in the pool, the overwhelming majority of which are used (spent). The construction of an adjacent building to facilitate the removal of the bundles and load them into transfer canisters has been delayed until the pool itself could be visually inspected. The structure can now be erected. Bundle removal and transfer to the ground-level storage building is scheduled for some time between 2024 and 2026. https://www.tepco.co.jp/en/hd/decommission/information/newsrelease/reference/pdf/2020/reference_20200611_01-e.pdf -- https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/06/17d23c757314-tepco-finds-no-obstacles-to-removing-fuel-rods-from-fukushima-reactor.html -- https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/06/11/national/fuel-rods-fukushima-no-2/#.XuJpndVKiUl
A temporary protective barrier has been placed atop the F. Daiichi Unit #1 Spent Fuel Pool. The device is called a ”sheet”. It is designed to prevent any falling debris or machinery from damaging the used and unused fuel bundles stored in the pool during the removal of the loose material strewn around the deck. The loose material is the result of the March 12, 2011 hydrogen explosion. The sheet measures six meters by eleven meters, and is 50 centimeters thick. It will be filled with concrete to increase its protective ability. The company hopes to begin removal of the debris around the pool by the end of the month. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200612_02/
The United Nations cautions Japan to not rush to the discharge of treated wastewater from F. Daiichi. Although Tokyo has transmitted repeated communications about the possibility of a ridiculously prolonged release of the diluted liquid to the sea over the past few years, four UN human rights “experts” are acting like nothing of the sort ever happened! The “experts” press release said, "We are deeply concerned by reports that the Government of Japan has accelerated its timeline for the release of radioactive wastewater into the ocean without time or opportunity for meaningful consultations." The statement said the Coronavirus pandemic needs to be contained before Japan can move on the issue. The next round of consultations with the public and neighboring governments was planned for after the Olympic Games, but will instead begin next Monday since the games have been postponed due to the pandemic. The rapporteur statement chided Japan, saying, "COVID-19 must be not be used as a sleight of hand to distract from decisions that will have profound implications for people and the planet for generations to come." https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/06/6f6afd14d6a4-un-experts-urge-japan-not-to-rush-discharge-of-radioactive-water.html
Japan’s NRA Oks mandated changes to its High-Temperature Test Reactor, located in Oarai Town, Ibaraki Prefecture. The owner, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), applied to the Nuclear Regulation Authority for approval under the new regulations in November, 2014. The safety review by NRA has confirmed that the changes satisfy the New Regulatory Requirements, and that no fuel damage would occur in the event of a beyond design basis accident (BDBA). The 30 MW unit has an outlet temperature of up to 950 degreesCelsius, vice the typical power reactor with an outlet temperature of ~300^oC. Another difference is that Helium is used as the coolant instead of highly-purified water, and the core is Graphite-based. The HTTR was used to test for hydrogen generation, desalinization, and low level local power generation, before the de-facto nuclear moratorium was invoked across Japan in 2012. It began operation in 1999. With NRA approval, implementation of the design changes can finally begin! https://www.jaif.or.jp/en/nra-grants-permission-to-make-changes-to-reactor-installation-at-httr-under-new-regulatory-standards/ -- https://www.jaea.go.jp/english/news/press/2020/060301/

June 5, 2020

Quake/tsunami memorial museum opens in Iwaki. The Iwaki 3.11 Memorial and Revitalization Museum opened May 30^th, intended to provide remembrance of the March 2011 catastrophe. Displays include a blackboard, power distribution board, time clock and other items from the old Toyoma Junior High School, as well as stories related by survivors. There are also panels depicting reconstruction, in chronological order. Mayor Toshio Shimizu said, "We'll use it (the museum) as a base to cultivate awareness for disaster prevention in order to develop a community that will be strong enough to overcome disasters." About 470 residents of the city died as a result of the multiple calamities. https://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2020053000295 -- http://www.fukushimaminponews.com/news.html?id=1008
Tokyo passes a bill to keep the Reconstruction Agency operating until at least 2030. The position of Reconstruction Minister, heading the agency, will also be continued until 2030. The Agency was created in 2012, with a planned lifetime of eight years. https://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2020060500485
The Asahi Shimbun reports local evacuation orders could be lifted before decontamination is complete. This assertion comes from unnamed sources. Evacuation orders were ordered if area radiation levels were higher than 20 millisieverts per year. Decontamination efforts have dropped exposure levels below that in many communities. Localized orders remain in diverse locations within seven communities. For evacuation mandates to be relaxed before planned decontamination is complete in all areas, several requirements must be met. For example, the area would not be residential, and/or the municipal government would have to decide that decontamination is not necessary. When exposures would be less than 20 mSv/yr., two other conditions must be met: local infrastructure must be restored and local governments must agree to relaxing the order. However, the Environment Ministry is considering ending evacuation orders for locations where natural radioactive decay and/or weathering have already dropped exposures below the 20 mSv threshold. Iitate Village requested the lifting of the order because of these conditions in February. The town says the new conditions will exist beginning in 2023. Other yet-unnamed districts are considering the same thing. http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13426557
Japan Atomic Power Co. (JAPC) admits making unauthorized alterations to a research paper about a fault line under Tsuruga Unit #2. JAPC told the NRA that the modifications were made to reflect the latest information, with relatively minor impact on the document. For example, the word “unconsolidated” was changed into “consolidated” 55 times, and vice-versa 25 times. The terms refer to whether or not the fault had moved in the past. The NRA scolded JAPC for rewriting scientific “raw data” without permission and further delayed considering the company’s desire to have the safety screening process for restarting the unit. JAPC appliedfor the safety screening in 2015. http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13432865
Nuclear weapon abolitionists want the Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant’s construction to be terminated. They argue that the slow restarting process with Japan’s nukes makes the need for recycled nuclear fuel questionable. The recycled fuel is called MOX; a mixture of unused Uranium and Plutonium generated while fuel bundles are in the core of an operating nuclear power plant. Rokkasho began to be built in 1993, but has been hamstrung by nuclear weapon opponent’s concerns that the plutonium could be used to make bombs, and new safety requirements following the accident at F. Daiichi in March of 2011. Anti-nuke weapons opponent Dr. Suzuki Tatsujiro, Vice Director at Nagasaki University’s Research Center for Nuclear Weapons Abolition says the ever-increasing cost of the plant, along with ever-present security issues, outweigh the benefits. He adds, “Some Western countries have abandoned their reprocessing programs, and I can’t think of convincing reasons for Japan to continue.” https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/1119/

May 29, 2020

An American Appeals Court rejected damages for US servicemen exposed to low level radiation due to the Fukushima accident. A lawsuit filed in a California Federal Court demanded that Tepco and General Electric be held responsible for alleged radiation damage that occurred during US Navy assistance with humanitarian relief following the March, 2011 quake and tsunami catastrophe in Japan. GE argued that only Tepco could be held legally responsible, and Tepco argued that the California Court lacked legal jurisdiction to hear the case. Both motions were upheld by the court, but the plaintiffs filed an appeal anyway. Hopefully, this will put an end to the issue! https://www.jurist.org/news/2020/05/federal-appeals-court-upholds-dismissal-of-fukushima-nuclear-disaster-claims/#
On Monday, Japan ended its national COVID-19 state of emergency. Tokyo had been sequentially relaxing restrictions for more than two weeks, but PM Shinzo Abe wanted to officially end “stay-at-home” policies after all 47 prefectures had met the national standards. The final prefectures were Hokkaido, Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa. The PM said on Monday, "Today the government will lift the state of emergency across the nation. We've set some of the most strict (sic) criteria in the world to lift the declaration, and we concluded that prefectures across the country have met that standard." He added, "We exhibited the strength of the Japan model," because Japan was able to contain the epidemic in less than two months. Abe also explained that the nation’s economy will be re-booted in phases, "Our businesses and daily routines will be completely disrupted if we continue with strict curbs on social and economic activity. From now on, it's important to think about how we can conduct business and live our lives while still controlling the risk of infection.” Currently, the government allows concerts, exhibitions and other events to take place drawing up to 100 people indoors and 200 people outdoors. Events drawing as many as 1,000 people can be held after June 19. The decision was met with mixed public reactions. Some feel the re-booting may be premature because a second wave of infection is said to be probable. With respect to F. Daiichi, there are presently no plans to repopulate the workforce, which was downsized more than six weeks ago due to the pandemic. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200525_34/ -- https://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2020052500753 -- https://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2020052500946
The World Health Organization calls Japan’s effort at containment a success. Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that Japan peaked at 700 new cases a day more than a month ago, but that has plummeted to less than 40 per day now. WHO Executive Director for Emergency Programs Michael Ryan cautioned that outbreaks might may recur in many countries, including Japan. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200526_06/
Fukushima farmers start a new project to promote consumption of local produce and livestock products. There has been a significant drop in demand since Tokyo declared the COVID-19 state of emergency six weeks ago. A blog has been developed to promote new menus created by cooking professionals, researchers, and housewives. The recipes will focus on locally produced beef, cucumbers, tomatoes, peaches and pears. Fukushima farm products have seen prices plummet with reduced demand caused by COVID-19 restaurant shutdowns. Consumers have been asked to respect the “three Cs” by avoiding confined, crowded and closed environments. One Fukushima official said, “The trend of eating at home is gaining momentum in the wake of voluntarily refraining from dining out. We would like to send out information widely on the attractiveness of prefectural food ingredients and raise the level of their consumption.” The Blog is only accessible in Japanese. http://www.fukushimaminponews.com/news.html?id=1006
A Fukushima hospital is using COVID-19 guidelines created by a medical school in New York. Two New York and Fukushima university hospitals have been involved in exchange activities since the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. The guidelines were communicated to Fukushima Medical University by Icahn Professor Takahiro Yanagisawa. The professor was also involved with disaster victim support following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York. https://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2020052400210

May 22, 2020

The NRA hopes to enhance the investigation of F. Daiichi’s Unit #3 explosion. This time, using local television footage to suggest the amount of hydrogen involved and the size the detonation. The inquiry was re-opened last year after the Nuclear Regulation Authority made a first-hand investigation. The footage comes from the archives of the Fukushima Central Television Company, home-based in Koriyama. https://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0006560947
A majority in Japan feel Donald Trump’s re-election would have a negative impact on the world. A recent NHK World survey with 2,100 respondents resulted in 57% saying a second term for America’s current president would not be good for Japan, while only 10% feel the impact would be positive. 32% said it would have no bearing! Keio University professor Nakayama Toshihiro, an expert on US politics, says the main reason is Trump’s unpredictability because he has pulled America out of numerous international agreements. Nakayama says, “I think most people feel that international cooperation is important so it's difficult for them to accept Trump's vision of America First. There's relative consensus on the idea that America is Japan's most important and effective partner in dealing with this situation (e.g. China).” He adds, “I think the election will be more of a referendum on Trump's handling of the (COVID19) crisis. It's going to be, in some ways, the coronavirus election." https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/1096/
Kyushu Electric Co. shutters Sendai Unit #2 and extends the outage to meet NRA mandates. Specifically, Kyushu Electric will not be able to meet the government deadline for finishing the remote operation deemed necessary to mitigate acts of terror and aircraft crashes. NRA regulations, invoked in 2013, give the utilities five years to complete the facilities after construction plans have been approved. The regulator says its predecessor did not set clear deadlines for safety improvements, thus failing to prevent the F. Daiichi accident. The Unit was already scheduled for a periodic refueling and planned maintenance outage, but will extend it because the five year deadline will fall before the outage ends. Unit #1 was already shuttered for the same reason on March 15^th. Both units restarted in August 2015 (Unit #1) and October 2015 (Unit #2). Unit #2 is expected to finish the remote facility and subsequently restart in February, 2021. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200520_13/ -- https://www.jaif.or.jp/en/sendai-2-starts-periodic-inspection-with-due-date-imminent-to-install-specific-safety-facilities/

May 15, 2020

Tepco will use a Submersible Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) to prepare for Unit #2 used fuel removal. Removal is scheduled to occur between fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2026. Use of the ROV will allow Tepco staff to understand whether or not there are obstructions in the Spent Fuel Pool (SFP) that should be removed before any used fuel bundles are removed and transferred to the ground-level st0orage facility. Initial training with an actual ROV has occurred between Wednesday and today in a Minamisoma City mock-up pool, similar to what should be the case with the Unit #2 SFP. The actual ROV investigation of the SFP is scheduled for the middle of June. It is noteworthy that none of Japan’s popular Press outlets have seen fit to announce this! https://www.tepco.co.jp/en/hd/decommission/information/newsrelease/reference/pdf/2020/reference_20200512_01-e.pdf -- (more photos) https://photo.tepco.co.jp/en/date/2020-e/202005-e/200513-01e.html
The NRA approves a draft report on the safety of Rokkasho used (spent) fuel reprocessing facility in Aomori. Nuclear Regulation Authority chair Totoshi Fuketa said, "We believe the facility's designing ensures high safety margins” and "The faults near the facility were sufficiently examined and the screening was conducted adequately." The facility will produce MOX (mixed oxide) nuclear fuel for power plants. MOX is a mixture of recycled Uranium and reactor-grade Plutonium. Now begins a 30 day period for public comments before a final decision on whether or not the facility will be licensed for operation. Construction began in 1993, but a series of niggling problems kept it from being completed before the 2011 nuke accident at F. Daiichi. The main issue was Japan’s inexperience with recycling used nuclear fuel. Mr. Fuketa explained, "It's like being first at bat, but also the only one at bat. When considering accidents at power plants, for example, we can look at Three Mile Island or of course Fukushima. But with fuel reprocessing plants, there is no precedent." Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited, the facility owner, says they want to begin operation between April and September of 2021. Currently four nukes are using MOX fuel, but many more will be added to the mix once they clear the NRA’s strict safety requirements. https://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2020051300562 -- https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20200513/p2g/00m/0na/064000c -- http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13373093
American rice is being turned into Sake by a Fukushima Brewery. The rice was grown by Koda Farms, California, and shipped to the Ninki Shuzo Brewery in Nihonmatsu. The Koda Farms owner is Ross Koda, whose grandfather is from Nihonmatsu. The rice comes from two organic California “breeds”: Kakuho Rose and Calhikari. http://www.fukushimaminponews.com/news.html?id=1005

May 8, 2020

The Environment Ministry will soon begin a trial project to demonstrate the safety of using decontaminated soil for growing crops. The problem with doing this sooner has been abject fear of radiation (radiophobia), even with substances where radioactive contamination has been removed. The fear is that the cleansed soil has been forever “tainted”. Over the past month, public comments on the ministry’s proposal have been collected, with most strongly objecting to cultivation with the decontaminated soil. Regardless, the ministry is moving forward with its plans. Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi explained, “I strongly recognize the fact that there are people who are opposing (the reuse of decontaminated soil). We will provide detailed explanations to seek understanding for our willingness to take a step forward even if it’s just a small one.” Repeated tests have shown that “the soil was safe enough (to be used for growing crops).” The soils have previously been used for flowers and crops used for biomass power generation. But, using the cleansed soil for consumption crops and construction projects has become a major point of public angst. A successful test in Nagadoro District of Iitate uses decontaminated soil 50 centimeters thick to cover a contaminated embankment. There have been no problems other than unfounded local fears. http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13355472
F. Daiichi units #1&2 exhaust stack is capped. The top half of the stack was removed because its integrity had deteriorated since the quake/tsunami of March 11, 2011. A “lid” was placed atop the 10 meter high chimney on May 1^st, marking the completion of the task performed by remote technology. A step by step progression has been compiled by Tepco, including new pictures of the stack’s capping. https://www.tepco.co.jp/en/hd/decommission/information/newsrelease/reference/pdf/2020/reference_20200501_01-e.pdf

May 1, 2020

The tedious process of removing the top half of the F. Daiichi units #1&2 exhaust stack is completed. The upper 61 meters of the 120 meter chimney has been cut off and lowered to ground level for disposal. The lower remaining section is 59 meters high. The job was finished by a local firm… Able Company. Able’s Isamu Okai said, “I think there are still many things left that local companies can do. We want to continue our involvement in the decommissioning of the plant by making use of the expertise we gained from the dismantling work.” The Chimney was internally contaminated due to radioactive vapors being released during the March, 2011 accident. The cutting of the metal stack was performed by remote-control to keep worker exposure to a minimum. The first month of work was troubled by the blades of the cutting device not working properly. However, once the problem was resolved, the remote-operated tool has worked smoothly since January. A photo montage and video of the final work is supplied by Tepco. http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13339580 -- https://photo.tepco.co.jp/en/date/2020-e/202004-e/200429-01e.html
The Nuclear Regulation Authority has completed its safety assessment of damaged F. Daiichi buildings. Ten of the roughly 580 buildings surveyed are considered to be in bad condition and a safety risk for workers. The damage was caused by the earthquake and tsunami of 3/11/11, and the three subsequent hydrogen explosions. The NRA cautions that these most-damaged structures could collapse with a severe-enough quake. Tepco says it will announce its countermeasures by the end of May. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200427_24/

April 24, 2020

Tepco’s newest plans for decommissioning F. Daiichi include local business involvement. The company says it will make public how much construction material needs to be ordered and the technology needed for the work, which should make it easier for local businesses to get involved. Many firms have complained they aren’t sure if they can get orders for the decommissioning project because the specifics have not been widely promulgated. It is expected that the company will spend between 20 and 30 billion yen per year on decommissioning. In the towns of Naraha and Tomioka, a local construction association and city development companies are being created to facilitate local participation in decommissioning F.Daini. Naraha Mayor Yukiei Matsumoto says, “It’s essential for Tepco and local companies where the nuclear power plants are located to cooperate with each other in making sure the plants will be decommissioned as planned.” http://www.fukushimaminponews.com/news.html?id=1003
Reopening of Namie’s Ukedo fish market stimulates the local economy. On April 8^th, about 2 tons of seafood were caught by local fishermen and auctioned by 9am that day. While the prices were below pre-tsunami levels, the business was welcomed after nine years of dormany. Most of the catch was bought by Tokyo restaurant bidders, but some was sold to the Aeon Namie supermarket. Aeon has seven Fukushima outlet stores. Port and market facilities were completely washed away by the March, 2011 tsunami. Tokyo’s evacuation order was rescinded in March, 2017, and fishing operations were under limited test conditions, until recently. Local wholesaler president Koichi Shiba spoke at the market’s reopening, saying, "Today, we took a real first step forward." Another board member said he was moved to tears. http://www.fukushimaminponews.com/news.html?id=1001
A government panel says a deep-sea mega-quake could spawn a tsunami that might overwhelm F. Daiichi. The water surge could be as high as about 14 meters at Futaba town... co-host to the nuke station. An 11 meter high anti tsunami wall, currently under construction, might not be adequate protection. To form the devastating in-surge, a quake of more than 9 on the Richter scale would have to strike an undersea trough, located 50 kilometers off-shore. A Tepco spokesman said, "TEPCO will examine the latest projections and analyze the impact on the ongoing preventive measures against tsunamis that the company has been taking." The fear is an uncontrolled release of Tritium-laced wastewater stored in tanks at F. Daiichi. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200422_03/ -- https://japantoday.com/category/national/japan's-tepco-weighs-options-over-projected-tsunami-threat-to-fukushima-plant

April 17, 2020

Please provide a donation! This is a seven day per week job... no days off in over nine years! We need your support! Please scroll down the verticle menu at the left of any page on the Hiroshima Syndrome site, and click on the “donate” button. Thank you!

The IAEA has issued a report about the handling of purified F. Daiichi waste water. It is actually a report on a submittal to the International Atomic Energy Agency by Japan’s Agency for Natural Resources (ANRE) which is part of the Economy Ministry. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kenji Wakamiya handed the committee report to IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi in February. Contaminated water Fukushima Daiichi is being purified using the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS). The purified water contains tritium, which ALPS cannot remove. Although tritium is biologically innocuous, since it is an emitter of super-weak Beta radiation causes anxiety in much of Japan’s population, is a deterrent to the fishing industry, and a source of radiophobic concerns across eastern Asia! The real problem is the proliferation of unfounded fears! The IAEA finds that controlled release to the sea is feasible, from a safety standpoint! Since April 6^th, ANRE has been hearing the opinions of concerned parties. Governor Masao Uchibori was at the hearing, along with municipal heads and representatives of various Fukushima industries. The governor addressed reconstruction of the fishing industry, devastated by then March 2011 tsunami and subsequent false rumors of product contamination. He also talked about gaps between National prices and those with respect to Fukushima products, caused by radiophobic anxieties, “Tenacious activities are essential over a long period to eliminate unfounded fears and rumors,” and that information on present conditions in Fukushima and accurate understanding of radiation “are not being properly disseminated.” Many negative concerns, all grounded in radiophobia, were also voiced by Fukushima officials. https://www.jaif.or.jp/en/iaea-issues-report-reviewing-treated-contaminated-water-at-fukushima-daiichi-npps-praising-earlier-anre-report/ -- https://www.jaif.or.jp/en/anre-begins-hearing-from-concerned-parties-on-handling-of-treated-contaminated-water-at-fukushima-daiichi-npps/
The new Integrated Regulatory Review Service report has also been posted. The report is a joint effort by the IAEA and Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority. The IRRS review addressed all facilities and activities regulated by the NRA. The IRRS team commended the positive progress that Japan has made since the first IRRS visit in 2016. Japan’s commitment to nuclear safety was stressed, including an improved inspection program, staff qualification and training, regulatory review, emergency response preparedness, and decommissioning requirements. The NRA is encouraged to expand inspection programs and ensure preparedness for emergency situations. IRRS acknowledged that full cooperation from the NRA was a constant during the review. https://www.nsr.go.jp/data/000305662.pdf
A new robotics R&D base opens in Minamisoma. The Fukushima Robot Test Field is a government-funded facility, in conjunction with one in Namie. Research and development will focus on robots and drones needed for disaster management. Specifics will include unmanned aircraft, undersea/sea-surface robots, infrastructure inspection/disaster response, and fundamental development for on-shore and offshore scenarios. http://www.fukushimaminponews.com/news.html?id=1000
Nuke restarts contributed to Japan’s CO2 emissions dropping 4.6% in 2018. Much of the decrease was due to the country’s total energy consumption going down by 2.7%. Energy caused CO2 reductions have occurred for five straight years, but 2018 had the biggest drop. https://www.jaif.or.jp/en/japans-co2-emissions-fall-4-6-percent-in-fy18-thanks-in-part-to-restart-of-nuclear-power-plants/
The Coronavirus causes the Fukushima decommissioning work force to be downsized. The staff reduction was announced Thursday, soon after Prime Minister Abe declared a nation-wide state of emergency. About 3,000 Tepco employees and partner company staff work at F. Daiichi. The number of employees affected is not yet known. A prolonged state of emergency will delay the decommissioning process. A sufficient staff will be maintained at F. Daiichi to ensure safe management. https://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0006494729

April 10, 2020

The Namie fish market reopens after being closed for nine years. The Ukedo regional wholesale market is the first marketplace to reopen in a former “no-go zone”. Ichiro Takano, director of the local fishermen's cooperative, said, "Nine years were long, and I'm so happy I'm in tears. “ Fisherman Keiji Sato added, "Sales are lower than usual due to the effects of the novel coronavirus, but I've been waiting for the market to reopen." https://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2020040800552
The Fukushima City mayor proposes a novel way to solve the F. Daiichi wastewater problem. He wants to fill large tankers with the purified liquid and release it far away from Fukushima! At a recent press conference in the City, Mayor Hiroshi Kohata said, "I want the water to be released into the ocean at a location that does not include 'Fukushima' in its name. If it's released near the prefecture, it will certainly cause it to suffer harmful rumors. The water should be carried in a giant tanker and dumped in a place where it will cause as small an effect as possible.” He added that if this would not be allowed by Tokyo, then the tanker should sail to Tokyo Bay and dump it there! Why? "It makes sense to dispose of it at a place that has benefited from the power generation at the Fukushima No. 1 plant," he said. Tokyo got most of the F. Daiichi-produced power before the quake/tsunami-induced accident. https://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2020040900821
Tepco runs a waste-water release simulation. The assumption was that the release would follow the ridiculously-stringent restrictions recently posted by Tokyo. It would produce a plume with a bit more than one Becquerel per liter of Tritium. The plume would be 2 kilometers wide and stretch 30 kilometers north of F. Daiichi. The Wastewater itself would be diluted to well-below Japan’s drinking water limit before release. At maximum-allowable out-flow, the release would be no more than 100 trillion Becquerels per year. Regardless of the obvious safety of such a release, it drew opposition from local fishermen and paranoiac residents. This past Monday, the first official public meeting to hear local concerns was held in Fukushima City. The main complaint was with the damage caused by rumors. Others said that if the release is so safe, why doesn’t the government make this public knowledge? Still more alleged that Tokyo is jumping to a conclusion when public knowledge is “not very deep!” The minority that favored a release added the caveat that compensation for groundless rumors be made available. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200406_03/ -- https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200406_39/
The disposal of large bags of contaminated Fukushima soil is covered by NHK World. The video piece is about as objective as an Japanese news report might be, considering the nation-wide radiophobia that plagues Japan. We suggest you take the two minutes to view it. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/ataglance/872/
Though not specifically about Fukushima, it should be noted that a considerable amount of Press has been posted about a wildfire inside the nearly 1000 square kilometer exclusion zone surrounding Chernobyl. The reportage focused on radiation levels inside the exclusion zone, inside the fire itself. Levels were no more than 16 times “normal”. One official, Yegor Firsov, said, "There is bad news— in the center of the fire, radiation is above normal." But, outside the exclusion zone, radiation levels were “normal”. Normal for the exclusion zone is said to be 0.14 millisieverts per hour, and lower beyond the zone. The radiation “spike” in the center of the fire was at 2.3 mSv/hr. https://www.newsweek.com/chernobyl-exclusion-zone-area-spike-radiation-16-times-higher-normal-forest-fire-1496287 -- https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2020/04/06/Wildfire-near-Chernobyl-releases-spike-in-radiation/6671586174766/
A Fukushima mother’s radiation monitoring laboratory continues as a mostly radiophobic clearing house. It was established in Iwaki November, 2011, 50 kilometers south of F. Daiichi. The initial10 mothers have shared the duty of checking on radiation in foodstuffs and soil because they feared that effects of low level radiation are especially hazardous to their children. Now, the staff has expanded to 18. They have recording data for 8½ years. Most of the women consider their efforts a matter of life and death. One mother, Kaori Suzuki, says, "If the risks of nuclear power had been thoroughly verified by the previous generations, I think the disaster would not have happened. But since it did occur, what we must do now is record our measurements and changes in the environment so we won't make the same mistake. Passing down something that will be useful when major decisions must be made is the only thing we can do." They scan such things as dust in vacuum cleaners, vegetables from home gardens, seasonal mountain mushrooms, and soil from parks. They post results monthly on their website. On the other hand, a few like Noriko Tanaka, have a less-fearful, more objective rationale. Tanaka says, “You don't need to fear everything, randomly. Rather than worrying about everything and being stressed out by that, measuring and seeing the data make you relieved to find that some things are safer than you presumed.” Regardless, she lets the data decide where to go and what to eat. https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20200410/p2g/00m/0fe/089000c

April 3, 2020

For the third year in a row, Japan’s public opinion on nuclear improves a bit. Nearly half of the people favor discontinuing nuclear energy gradually (49%) and a significant minority said they don’t know (23%). The gradual discontinuance percentage decreased slightly for the fourth year in a row. 11.3% support the atomic option and 11.2% want it stopped immediately… the first time that open support surpassed ending nuclear energy straightaway. Interestingly, 50% said the public still doesn’t understand the need for nuclear, while only 26% said resumptions are needed for a stable electricity supply. Nearly 15% said they don’t approve of restarts even if all new safety regulations are followed! The most commonly used descriptive terms for nukes are “dangerous” and “anxiety”. https://www.jaif.or.jp/en/japanese-opinion-poll-finds-that-views-on-nuclear-power-turn-slightly-positive/
Tepco posts its F. Daiichi plans for the next ten years. It is entitled Decommissioning Midterm Action Plan 2020. It covers the removal of spent fuel from the three remaining used fuel pools, the start of the removal of the fuel debris, and dealing with wastewater stored on-site. President Akira Ono of the Fukushima Daiichi Decontamination & Decommissioning Engineering Company emphasized that the plan will be implemented “safely and steadily”. He added that wastewater disposal might not begin for two more years to “prepare equipment and materials, obtaining approvals, and other matters.” He explained that the company is also trying to avoid additional unfounded rumors and fears. https://www.jaif.or.jp/en/tepco-presents-ten-year-decommissioning-midterm-action-plan-for-fukushima-daiichi-nps/
Nuclear plant delays literally hamstring Japan’s effort to reduce greenhouse emissions nationally. This includes meeting safety regulations for restart and shuttering restarted plants to finish emergency remote control facilities. While discussions are ongoing within the Tokyo government, Japan keeps falling short in its goals for emission reduction. Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said, “What’s important is not the deadline, but that we don’t pour cold water on the current trend.” He means that Japan’s increases in inherently unreliable solar and wind are positives and should be continued, but not reduced in favor of profits and/or nuclear energy. Shinjiro is the son of former Prime Minister, and current antinuclear fanatic, Junichiro Koizumi. https://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0006452282
Tepco estimates the cost of F. Daiichi corium removal and disposal will be $12.6 billion. Also, it is estimated that the process will take more than 12 years. This is only for units #2n & #3 because an estimate for unit #1 is the most difficult to establish, so the company has made no prediction. Annual costs during the corium removal will be written off as a special loss for each year of the process. http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13259804
Three more nuke restarts are delayed up to 4 months to finish regulatory-mandated construction. All three units are owned by Kansai Electric Company. The three units are Takahama #1 & #2, and Mihama #3. The Takahama delays will push restarts back to no sooner than September 2020 for unit #1, and April 2021 for unit #2. The Mihama unit is now expected to restart in September, 2020. https://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2020033101066

March 27, 2020

The Fukushima evacuee compensation figures continue to rise. The numbers through March, 2020, are found here... https://www.hiroshimasyndrome.com/fukushima-evacuee-compensation-payments.html
Tepco posts its plan for the agonizingly slow release of purified F. Daiichi waste water. The company’s draft subcommittee report says they will use raw seawater to dilute the liquid and bleed it out to the sea over a thirty year period. Further, the dilution will have an activity limit of 1,500 Becquerels per liter, which is one-fortieth of Japan’s regulatory limit for Tritium in seawater (60,000 Bq/l). For comparison, the World Health Organization limit for Tritium in drinking water is 10,000 Bq/l. (For the actual risk posed by Tritium, see… https://www.hiroshimasyndrome.com/background-information-on-tritium.html) For residual radioisotopes remaining in a fraction of the tanks that have a concentration of more than 100 times Japan’s regulatory limit, secondary retreatment. Secondary treatment includes Strontium removal by adsorption, followed by re-running the water through ALPS (the Advanced Liquid Processing System). Precautions to limit reputational damage, local communication initiatives to possibly preclude damaging rumors, and a policy statement on future countermeasures to dispel persistent rumors, are included in the draft. The references appendix posts a reasonable explanation of the essentially harmless nature of Tritium’s exceedingly weak beta radiation emission. For example, nearly all other betas pass through a thin piece of paper, but not Tritium’s. The piece of paper attenuates Tritium’s beta completely! Technically, Tepco has yet to formally decide between dilution/release and evaporation for eliminating the wastewater build-up at F. Daiichi. Tepco officer Junichi Matsumoto explains, "We haven't (officially) decided whether to release the water into the sea or atmosphere," while admitting that sea release is the better option. Meanwhile, the die-hard antinuclear Press outlet, Asahi Shimbun”, continues its nine-year-long process of F. Daiichi disinformation and blatant obfuscation. For example, it states that essentially harmless Tritium is “a particularly nasty substance” that might be safe to release only because the affected area “…would be limited to around the nuclear plant”! https://www7.tepco.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/handouts_200324_01-e.pdf -- https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200324_42/ -- https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20200325/p2a/00m/0na/012000c -- http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13243911
Fukushima’s governor vows to enrich the prefecture’s future. Governor Masao Uchibori says he is determined to "work together to build a vibrant and appealing future for Fukushima" with "Fukushima pride". He is convinced that Fukushima’s work with respect to reconstruction will lead the way in regional “restoration and rebirth”. He added, "We want to thank everyone who has supported Fukushima and everyone who keeps us in their thoughts. We wish for people all over the world to see Fukushima shining with the light of hope as we move forward toward revitalization, one step at a time." http://www.fukushimaminponews.com/news.html?id=998

March 20, 2020

Tepco and Japan’s Atomic Energy agency will co-open a fuel debris laboratory in 2024. The joint analytical venture will be located on the F. Daiichi station’s property. The plan is to get corium samples monthly. Corium is the resolidified admixture of fuel and structural materials that were liquefied during the meltdowns in March, 2011. Tepco anticipates the first debris removal will occur next year from unit #2. Any material retrieved before the facility is completed will be analyzed at Tepco’s Ibaraki facility. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200318_03/
Japan’s main Pacific Coast train line fully reopens. The Joban Line was suspended by the 2011 quake-tsunami catastrophe. Its reopening has been long-delayed because of extensive decontamination efforts inside the Fukushima exclusion zone. Relatively few people have returned since living restrictions were lifted in Tomioka, Okuma, and Futaba. So far, fewer than 2,000 of the original 34,000 residents have returned home. The Joban line was the public’s main form of transportation along the Pacific coast before 2011. The Joban system is the last disaster-hit train line to fully reopen. Fukushima officials have long-argued that revitalization of the Pacific coast depended on reopening the Joban train line. Detractors say this will make little difference since most local residents have been using their cars for several years. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200314_15/ -- https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/03/a1246b526271-last-train-line-suspended-by-2011-triple-disaster-fully-reopens.html
Fukushima Prefecture plans to prevent large bags of contaminated rural debris being swept away by spring rains. Last year, hundreds of them were lost to torrential rains during Typhoon no. 19 in October. Of the more than 700 temporary storage sites remaining in the prefecture, about a dozen are considered at-risk for worst-case run-off. Officials say preventative measures include adding fencing and/or moving the bags to less susceptible locations. The sites at risk are: one in Namie, four in Kawauchi, one in Kawamata, and two each in Iwaki, Nihonmatsu and Date. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200317_44/ -- http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13225077
Sendai unit #1 is the first nuke to experience an extended operational delay due to new anti-terrorist back-fitting rules. The regulations approved in 2013 require each nuclear unit to have remote operating capabilities during acts of terror, such as the intentional crashing of a jetliner. The Nuclear Regulation Authority has forced plant owners to build the facilities within five years of construction plans being approved for them. Kyushu Electric, Sendai’s owner, believes the remote facility will be ready to go in December. None of the other nukes under the same NRA ruling are expected to meet their respective deadlines, either. Extended outages in order to finish the facilities will place a considerable financial strain on the companies owning the nukes. NRA Chairman Toyoshi Fuketa scolded the utilities, saying they should not expect to get their way by merely submitting formal requests. The utilities have also come under fire from the NRA for overly optimistic construction timetables and over-reliance on government support. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200316_35/ -- https://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0006424709 -- http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13221568

Prior page - https://www.hiroshimasyndrome.com/fukushima-124-3-10-2020.html