Japanese Earthquake, Tsunami, and Nuclear Reactors

[dorispulaski]

Morning June 10, from TEPCO:

- At 6:26 pm on June 5, transfer of accumulated water in the Unit 3 turbine building to condenser was initiated. At 10:44 am on June 9, the transfer was completed.

- At 1:42 pm on June 9, freshwater injection to Unit 3 spent fuel pool using fuel pool cooling and filtering system was initiated(from 1:45 pm to 2:40 pm, hydrazine was also injected). Injection was completed at 3:31 pm.
- At 9:00 am on June 9, transfer of accumulated water in Unit 6 turbine building underground was resumed. - From 11:47 am to 12:14 pm on June 9, TEPCO employees entered into Unit 3 reactor building and conducted radiation dose survey by Γ camera as a preparation for the nitrogen injection into the PCV.

- On June 9, using a concrete pumping vehicle, we have been spraying dust inhibitor, which prevents the radioactive materials from dispersing, to the roof and the wall of Unit 1 and 3 turbine building. On June 9, workers have been spraying the dust inhibitor near the main gate.
- At 10:30 on June 9, water flow test of circulating seawater purification facility located in the Unit 2 and 3 screen area was initiated. The test was completed at 3:00 pm.

- At 9:00 am on June 9, transfer of accumulated water in Unit 6 turbine building underground was resumed. At 6:00 am on June 10, the transfer was completed.

- On June 9, using a concrete pumping vehicle, we have been spraying approx. 6,400m2 of dust inhibitor, which prevents the radioactive materials from dispersing, to the roof and the wall of Unit 1 and 3 turbine building. On June 9, workers have been spraying approx. 8,750m2 of dust inhibitor near the main gate.

NHK

Saga Gov. noncommittal about reactor resumption

The governor of Saga Prefecture has ducked questions on whether he supports or rejects the restarting of nuclear reactors in his constituency.

All eyes are on Yasushi Furukawa as the central government tries to resume operations of 2 reactors at the Genkai plant. The reactors were off-line for regular safety checks at the time of the March disaster, and have been suspended since.

On Thursday, Governor Furukawa met with visiting Industry Ministry officials who assured him that unlike the damaged Fukushima Daiichi plant, the Genkai plant has been strengthened to withstand tsunami.

Governor Furukawa said that in making a decision, nuclear safety takes precedence over the national need to generate electricity.

The governor also said he will analyze technical data in consultation with specialists.

However, the mayor of Genkai town has indicated he wants the restarting of the reactors in his town.

On Thursday, Mayor Hideo Kishimoto visited the power plant and inspected an emergency mobile generator.

Kishimoto said he felt all safety measures for an emergency have been taken.

Japan has 54 nuclear reactors, but 35 are currently off line. Genkai is the first community host to agree to a resumption of operations.

Thursday, June 09, 2011 18:53 +0900 (JST)

The following may be a motivator to resume operations, in places where safety concerns have been satisfied:

High-temperature warnings to prevent heatstroke

Japanese weather officials will begin issuing high-temperature advisories from mid-July to prevent heatstroke.

The Meteorological Agency decided to take the step as the power shortages that followed the Fukushima nuclear plant accident have increased the risk of people developing heatstroke this summer.

The high-temperature advisories will be issued for all areas of Japan, except for Hokkaido and Okinawa, where power shortages are not expected. They will be issued for each prefecture and region when the temperatures for the next 2 days are forecast to be 35 degrees Celsius or higher.

In Miyagi and Aomori prefectures, advisories will be issued if temperatures are forecast to rise beyond 33 degrees, because temperatures in these 2 prefectures are usually lower than in other parts of Japan.

The Environment Ministry says the number of heatstroke cases increases when the temperature is above 30 degrees. It says the health risk becomes more severe when the temperature rises above 35 degrees. Last summer, more than 1,600 people died of heatstroke in Japan between July and September.

When issuing advisories, the Meteorological Agency will also caution people to take enough water and salt and to use air-conditioning properly. The head of the Agency's Office of Weather Disaster Prevention, Hiroyuki Uchida, says temperatures usually rise rapidly after the rainy season. He says that when an advisory is issued, room temperatures need to be lowered with air-conditioners and special care should be taken for the elderly.

Friday, June 10, 2011 14:12 +0900 (JST)

Steaming hot weather, combined with rolling blackouts, is a bad combination.

TEPCO plans for possible rolling blackouts

Tokyo Electric Power Company has released a plan to conduct rolling blackouts this summer if energy saving measures alone are not enough to prevent a sudden, total blackout.

The contingency plan announced on Thursday divides the 9 prefectures being served by the utility into five groups. Each group would experience one 2-hour blackout a day.

When TEPCO conducted similar planned outages in the aftermath of the March 11th disaster, consumers complained since some groups were subjected to blackouts twice a day, each lasting about 3 hours.

The company says the summer plan would involve more than 16 million households in total - about 3 million more than in March. The blackouts will help secure electricity for railways and emergency hospitals.

The Japanese government has been asking businesses and households in the areas serviced by Tokyo Electric and Tohoku Electric to curb electricity use by 15 percent this summer compared to last year. The government's idea is to keep demand low enough to make rolling blackouts unnecessary.

Thursday, June 09, 2011 19:15 +0900 (JST)

And large aftershocks continue to be a possibility, and not limited to the area affected by the big quake:

Panel: Aftershocks of over magnitude 7 may occur

A government panel of seismologists says major aftershocks from the March 11th earthquake could still occur in the sea off the coast of northeastern Japan.

At a meeting on Thursday, the government's Earthquake Research Committee examined the impact of the March quake on seismic activities in the country.

The panel said that magnitude-7 aftershocks or stronger could hit sea areas off the Pacific coast of northeastern Japan.

It said that in some sea areas close to the Japan Trench, major quakes accompanied by tsunami could occur.

The panel said the risk of earthquakes from some active faults in inland areas is higher than before. One fault straddles Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures. Two others are the fault between the western part of Tokyo and neighboring Saitama Prefecture, and the one that runs through Nagano Prefecture.

The panel chief, Katsuyuki Abe, called for continued caution, saying that although the number of tremors is declining nearly 3 months since the March disaster, aftershocks may occur anywhere.

Thursday, June 09, 2011 22:55 +0900 (JST)

Map of faults where earthquakes may occur:

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/.../09_38_v_s.jpg

It will be a tense, difficult summer, by the sound of it.

[Olympia]

Aftershocks still? Oh, no. That plus the extra heat from curtailed air conditioning doesn't make for a good summer.

Thanks for explaining the article Let's Talk found. Context is everything!

Yeah, I don't see who would want to look at a movie like the one you described, but people are strange. I remember after September 2001, watching Return of the King on video. To make the movie more graphic than Tolkien's novel, Peter Jackson depicted a lot of large scale demolition of the towers of the city of Gondor, and I realized I just couldn't look at that part. But a lot of people don't make the connection in the same way, or they kind of enjoy the adrenaline rush when it's not happening to them. I remember at the time reading about someone who reacted as I did to the events, and he said that he only wanted to watch the House and Gardening channel, because it didn't have plot lines. I got really involved in watching Project Runway at some point after that, and I suspect it was for the same reason.

[dorispulaski]

So did I get into Project Runway! I really got interested in the projects, and I really liked some of the contestants, too. And some were so wacky, even if you didn't like their work, you just wanted to see what they were going to do next. I miss the old version of PR.

I really have to do a long updated post on Cesium though...

[let`s talk]

Thanks for explaining the article Let's Talk found. Context is everything!

Thanks, Doris.

Have no idea about the dates. But some train lines, that used to keep the adjusted after the quake schedules without the "expiry" date, currently do have dates, something like "this schedule is valid till September 29th" or somesuch. Dates are different, but all around September. It could be nothing actually. But seeing at least any dates makes me feel better.

[Olympia]

One thing that has continued to distress me is seeing the kids in the shelters. I know that teachers must be among the volunteers going to the shelters, but it can't be easy for the youngsters to concentrate on their schooling. Does anyone have any information on how organized the efforts have been to keep the school year going on a sustained pace?

[dorispulaski]

I'm particularly concerned about students who are in shelters who must take entrance or exit exams of any sort. I can't imagine studying in such a difficult environment.

Let's talk, I'm so glad to hear the trains are starting to have schedules. I hope they have some air conditioning too.

[dorispulaski]

NEI has a June 10th update:

Test Run Begins for Water Filtration System at Fukushima Daiichi
Update as of 3:30 p.m. EDT, Friday, June 10

Plant Status

Starting Friday, June 10, Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) will begin a weeklong test run of the new water filtration system it intends to use to decontaminate and reuse the 105,000 tons of highly radioactive water that has flooded the facilities at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The system is expected to reduce concentrations of radioactive materials in the water by a factor of up to 1 million. Oil and salt will be also removed. Contaminated water is accumulating at a rate of 500 tons per day as cooling water is injected into the reactors. The system is expected to treat 1,200 tons of water a day and should aid TEPCO's efforts to control water management issues at the plant. There are growing fears that the contaminated water could otherwise start overflowing the plant basements by late June.

TEPCO reports that two of its workers have received radiation doses exceeding the company's limit of 25 rem. The results of analyses showed the workers' total doses were above 60 rem, accompanied by elevated thyroid iodine-131 levels. TEPCO anticipates no acute health effects for the workers, who have been transferred to the Fukushima Daini site. A third TEPCO worker is being evaluated after elevated thyroid radioiodine levels were reported.

The company is again using a concrete pumping truck to spray dust inhibitor on the roof and walls of the turbine buildings of reactors 1 and 2. The dust inhibitor is a synthetic resin that prevents the dispersion of radioactive materials.

TEPCO reports that as summer temperatures climb, the company is improving working conditions for recovery workers at the Fukushima Daiichi site. Eight air-conditioned rest areas are now in operation on-site where workers can temporarily remove their protective gear during rest periods. Four more rest areas are under construction.

Industry/Regulatory/Political Issues
TEPCO is setting up two accident investigation committees, one internal to the company and the other composed of outside experts from Japanese universities, the Tohoku radiological science center and a consumer agency. Both committees are expected to be established by June 11.

About 8,000 schoolchildren in Date City in Fukushima prefecture will be given personal dosimeters to monitor their radiation exposure. Thirty-eight miles from Fukushima Daiichi, the city is currently outside the evacuation zone. However, earlier this month estimated radiation levels at three locations exceeded the government's evacuation level of 2 rem per year. The town's mayor decided to take the measure when local parents expressed concerns about their children's radiation exposure. The Japanese government promised to consider local people's wishes when deciding to order further evacuations.

The Japanese government's emergency task force published its preliminary report on lessons learned from the Fukushima accident. Among its recommendations is to establish the independence of Japan's nuclear regulator, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The report will be presented at a high-level ministerial conference on nuclear safety at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna June 20.

A forum of G8 and OECD Nuclear Energy Agency members this week published their post-Fukushima recommendations for national nuclear regulators. Their report will also be presented at the June 20 IAEA ministerial conference.

Media Highlights
A dozen reporters, including journalists with The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg business wire and National Geographic magazine attended the news conference that NEI organized Thursday to announce the formation of a leadership structure among electric sector organizations to coordinate and oversee the industry's response to the Fukushima Daiichi accident. For more information on the press conference, see The Times' blog coverage of the press event.

NEI's chief nuclear officer, Tony Pietrangelo, participated this week in a taped, 30-minute panel discussion on Fukushima implications that will air on public television in July. he "Ideas in Action" program is hosted by one of Washington's more thoughtful commentators, Jim Glassman. An exact air date is not yet known.

New Products
NEI's report on the new electric-sector leadership structure to coordinate the industry's response to Fukushima, "The Way Forward: U.S. Industry Leadership in Response to the Accidents at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant," has been posted on the NEI website.

Upcoming Events
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is holding a June 15 briefing on the progress of the task force reviewing NRC processes and regulations the events in Japan. The event will be webcast live.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a June 16 oversight hearing on preliminary results of the NRC's nuclear safety review in the United States following the emergency at Fukushima Daiichi. Witnesses are to include all five NRC commissioners.

[dorispulaski]

Evening June 10th news. TEPCO:

Press Release (Jun 10,2011)
<Exposure dose of those two employees> A:678.08 mSv (external exposure: 88.08 mSv, internal exposure 590 mSv) B:643.07 mSv (external exposure: 103.07 mSv, internal exposure 540 mSv) *Above amount does not include the exposure dose from the stay in the main anti earthquake resistant building and from the transfer in the site as those exposures are still under evaluation. These will be added once the evaluation is done.


Status of improvement on working environment of workers in Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

We have been making best effort to settling down the status of affairs
after the accident occurred on March 11, also have been making effort
to improvement of working environment of workers towards earliest
termination.

Currently we are sequentially setting Rest Area for workers throughout
the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, and installing water
feeding machine and introducing Cool Vest as a countermeasure against
heat disorder in summertime.

Also we will conduct improvement of life circumstances in gymnastic
hall of Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Station in conjunction with
those measures.

We will continuously make best effort to improve working environment
and life circumstance.

Little news here, but it shows how difficult the situation is. The above TEPCO reports details some of their efforts to deal with the bad working environment.

Many challenges at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant
Three months after the breakdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, there is still a huge number of obstacles to getting the plant under control.

The plant operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company, has revealed that fuel meltdowns are likely to have occurred in reactors Number 1, 2, and 3.

TEPCO is cooling the reactors and trying to contain radioactive leakage. It has installed a circulatory cooling system for the spent nuclear fuel pool at reactor No. 2.

But highly radioactive water continues to accumulate in the turbine buildings and underground tunnels because TEPCO is injecting water into the reactors to cool them.
Decontaminating the water is vital for stabilizing the reactors and preventing more radioactive leakage from the plant.

On Friday, TEPCO postponed a test run of a water decontamination system because of a malfunction.

The health and labor ministry says plant workers are getting unhealthy and that at least 12 have been diagnosed with heatstroke.

TEPCO spokesman Junichi Matsumoto told a press conference on Friday that the company will do its utmost to make progress in the difficult work to get the plant under control.
Saturday, June 11, 2011 07:57 +0900 (JST)

TEPCO to install cooling system at No. 4 reactor spent fuel pool
The operator of the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant is preparing to install a circulatory cooling system for a spent nuclear fuel pool in the plant's Number 4 reactor building.

The Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, has been using a vehicle to try to cool the pool, which contains 1,535 fuel rods, the most among the plant's 6 reactors. The rods continue to generate high heat, raising temperatures in the pool above 80 degrees Celsius.

TEPCO plans to start operating the cooling system as early as July to pump water out of the pool to a heat exchanger and return the water to the pool as coolant.

On Friday, workers entered the 4th floor of the building for the first time since a hydrogen blast on March 15th severely destroyed the building and damaged water pipes connected to the pool.

The workers checked the pipes and monitored radiation levels. Data on these matters is to be used to study routes for injecting water into the pool.

TEPCO began operating a similar circulatory cooling system at the plant's Number 2 reactor on May 31st.
Friday, June 10, 2011 19:45 +0900 (JST)

These are the same 2 workers we have been discussing this week, who were in the 3/4 control room when the Unit 1 hydrogen explosion occurred. Most of their dose is internal-due to radioactive materials either inhaled or eaten. A third worker is being tested.

Fukushima workers' exposure tops 650mSV
Detailed tests have found that 2 workers who were exposed to radiation at the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant received doses of more than twice the government-mandated emergency limit.

The men in their 30s and 40s were each found in early June to have been exposed to over 250 millisieverts -- the new higher limit for exposure that the government introduced after problems began at the Fukushima Daiichi plant.

The National Institute of Radiological Sciences conducted 2 more rounds of detailed tests to measure the amount of radioactive iodine and cesium the 2 men could have inhaled.

After analyzing the men's work shifts since the March 11th disaster, the Institute concluded that the man in his 30s was exposed to 678 millisieverts, and the man in his 40s, 643 millisieverts. Internal exposure accounted for more than 80 percent of the figures.

The 2 men were on duty in the central control rooms of reactors No.3 and No.4. They have told the health and labor ministry that they don't remember whether they wore protective masks or not when a hydrogen explosion occurred at the No.1 reactor on March 12th.

The Institute said separately that it is conducting detailed tests on another Fukushima worker in his 50s, who could have received a radiation dose above the emergency limit.
Friday, June 10, 2011 19:45 +0900 (JST)

Radiation in No. 3 reactor still too high for work
The operator of the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant says radiation levels in one of the reactor buildings remain too high for workers to do their jobs.

Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, sent 9 workers into the No.3 reactor building for about 20 minutes on Thursday, in a bid to start stabilizing the reactor.

The utility plans to inject nitrogen gas into the containment vessel to prevent accumulated hydrogen from causing an explosion. It also intends to install a system to cool the reactor with circulating water.

The workers withdrew after measuring radiation of 100 millisieverts per hour near the reactor's containment vessel.

TEPCO says it intended to limit the workers' exposure to below 5 millisieverts per hour. But as all 9 received higher doses, it has suspended work while considering a course of action.
Friday, June 10, 2011 20:23 +0900 (JST)

It's hard for me to absorb the sheer size of this tragedy.

More than 8,000 still missing after quake
The National Police Agency says 8,095 people are still missing three months after the March 11th earthquake and tsunami.

Of the 15,405 people who have been confirmed dead, about 2,000 have not yet been identified. Police say they are attempting to identify the bodies using DNA samples collected from people searching for their family members.

More than 2,000 police officers continue search operations in Miyagi, Iwate, and Fukushima prefectures in northeastern Japan.

Personnel from the Japanese Coast Guard and Self-Defense Forces are also searching local waters for the missing. More than 1,300 divers are taking part in the operations.
Saturday, June 11, 2011 07:57 +0900 (JST)

And this is still a tragedy, too. The debris referred to is from the quake and the tsunami.:

More than 90,000 still in evacuation centers

Three months after the March 11th earthquake and tsunami, more than 90,000 people in Japan are still living in evacuation centers.

The government plans to build a total of 52,000 temporary homes for the evacuees, but only about 28,000 have been completed.

Many evacuees have declined to move into the temporary housing, citing insufficient support services compared to those at shelters.

One of the reasons for the slow progress has been the massive amount of debris that needs to be cleared in the disaster-hit prefectures. Debris removal has not even begun in the evacuation zones near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

The earthquake caused nearly 120,000 people in Miyagi, Iwate and Fukushima prefectures to lose their jobs. The number of job offers for residents in the area stands at 49,000.

Children in the disaster-hit area also face serious difficulties. As of Thursday, 201 children in the 3 northeastern prefectures were confirmed to have lost their parents in the quake and tsunami.
Saturday, June 11, 2011 07:57 +0900 (JST)

In the Clue Game of finding the E. Coli, NHK says its the Organic Bean Sprouts in the Dining Room With The Fork.

E.coli detected in bean sprouts in Germany
Authorities in Germany announced on Friday that they had detected the deadly O-104 E. coli strain in bean sprouts. The central government had earlier identified sprouts grown at a farm in the northern part of the country as the source of the outbreak that has killed dozens of people.

Officials in North Rhine-Westphalia said the sprouts were found in an opened package that had been discarded in a trash can at a private home. Some members of the family living in the home had eaten the sprouts and been infected with the O-104 E. coli strain.

Earlier in the day, the government said the most likely source of the outbreak was from bean sprouts grown at a farm in the state of Lower Saxony.

The E. coli outbreak has spread to 16 countries and caused the deaths of 30 Germans. One Swede who traveled to Germany also died.

All the victims died of kidney failure caused by hemolytic-uremic syndrome. The number of E. coli patients now exceeds 3,000.
Saturday, June 11, 2011 07:57 +0900 (JST)

I love hearing about the ritual continuities of ordinary life.

Plum-picking ritual untroubled by quake

A garden park in Mito, north of Tokyo, has begun its annual plum harvest. The park suffered partial damage in the March 11th earthquake, but thousands of plum trees survived intact.

The ritual harvest began at the Kairakuen garden on Friday. The park boasts some 3,000 plum trees of 100 varieties. The fruit is picked now to encourage the trees to blossom more fully next year.

About 50 workers using 5-meter bamboo poles shook the trees to make the fruit drop onto sheets spread below.
They expect to harvest 6 tons of plums, the same amount as last year.

The head of the garden, Minoru Akiyama says he is happy the event could be held as usual, since many people have been calling the park worried about the plum trees.

The March earthquake caused a 120-meter crack to open on the garden's southern slope, and one third of the area remains off-limits.

The harvesting continues until Sunday. Selected plums will be sold at the park this weekend for around 4 dollars per 5 kilograms.
Friday, June 10, 2011 19:45 +0900 (JST)

[dorispulaski]

In the 3:00 PM JST status from TEPCO:

- At 12:42 pm on June 11, we started to operate local exhausters in order to improve inside environment of Unit 2 Reactor Building.

The above is necessary to make the environment in Unit 2 enough better that workmen can install nitrogen injection and heat exchangers to cool the reactor, and the spent fuel pool.

-At 3:30 pm on June 11, we started to transfer accumulated water in the basement of Unit 3 turbine building to Centralized Radiation Waste Treatment Facility (Process Main Building).

-At 10:00 am on June 11, we resumed transferring the accumulated water in the basement of Unit 6 turbine building to temporary tanks. At 3:00 pm on the same day, we finished transfer.

-On June 11, dust inhibitor is being sprayed to the area including the observation point.

It appears that NISA did indeed allow them to put more water in the Centralized Radiation Waste Treatment Facility. All leaks must have been successfully plugged in it.
http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp...s/110611e6.pdf
Still nothing but tiny amounts of plutonium 238, similar to after the atomic tests.

The same samples that had insignificant amounts (or undetectable amounts) of plutonium had plenty of other radioactive materials, found the easy way by gamma ray analysis.

Bequerels per kilogram, found in wet soil. There were three samples, all taken on May 26th. The short lived isotopes are disappearing.

http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp...s/110611e7.pdf

The largest amount of each isotope found:
Iodine 131 29,000 bq/kg, but as low as 480 bq/kg at one site) (Surprising how much there was, considering its half life is eight days) It will take about 5 months or so for it to decay to where you can't detect it at that site.
Iodine 132 NONE

Cesium 134 Most 1,260,000 bq/kg. Least 1,300 bq/kg.
Cesium 136 Most 7,300 bq/kg, (none in one sample)
Cesium 137 Most 1,300,000 bq/kg but least is 1,300 bq, kg (blasts were very directional)

Tellurium 129 metastable 230,000 bq/kg (none in one of the samples, which is interesting, to the west of the reactors.
Tellurium 132 NONE

Barium 140 NONE

Niobium 95 1400 bq/kg (one site had none)

Ruthenium 106 NONE

Molybdenum 99 NONE

Technetium 99 metastable NONE

Lanthanum 140 NONE

Beryllium 7 NONE

Silver 110 metastable 2,400 bq/kg at one site, none at 2 sites

http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp...s/110611e8.pdf
Four Other Samples were taken on April 11 and April 25, and analyzed for americium and curium and uranium & plutonium:

Units becquerels per kilogram in Dry Soil

Americium 241 (used in smoke detectors), not found at two sites, most found 0.0251 becquerels / kilogram
Since it has a long half life, it is a good thing that there is not much of it.

Curium 242 14 becquerels per kilogram at most, not found at one site.

Curium 243/Curium 244 Most 0.075 becquerels per kilogram, not found at one site


NHK News

No.2 reactor air filter starts running
The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant has begun running air-filtering equipment at the Number 2 reactor building on Saturday to remove airborne radioactive material. Intense radioactivity and high humidity inside the building have been hampering work to restore the reactor's cooling system.Humidity inside the reactor building is as high as 99.9 percent due to moisture that is believed to have come from a spent nuclear fuel storage pool and the basement. Workers cannot remain in the building for a long time even with protective gear and masks.

Tokyo Electric Power Company had set up 2 air-filtering units at a building adjacent to the reactor building. The devices will filter radioactive materials out of air pumped from the reactor building through a duct. The cleaned air will be fed back into the reactor building.

TEPCO says it plans to run the devices for about 3 days and check internal radiation levels before opening up the doors of the reactor building.
Saturday, June 11, 2011 12:59 +0900 (JST)

Is 2,400 people considered a big rally in Japan? In the US, you wouldn't even get TV coverage for something that small, but perhaps protest rallies do not happen as often in Japan?

Japanese hold anti-nuclear rallies
A series of anti-nuclear demonstrations were held across Japan on Saturday. The rallies coincided with the 3 month anniversary of the March 11th earthquake and tsunami that resulted in the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

About 2,400 protesters took part in a rally in central Tokyo. Gathering in Minato Ward, they called for the closure of nuclear power plants and a change in the government's energy policies.

A man from Fukushima Prefecture said the nuclear accident is a problem for all Japanese people. He said as long as the country continues to rely on nuclear power, another Fukushima-type accident could happen.

The protesters then marched to the headquarters of Tokyo Electric Power Company, the operator of the Fukushima plant.

They demanded that the people of Fukushima Prefecture be given back their lives.

A 39-year-old man said he fears radiation as it cannot be seen. He said each person must raise his or her voice to demand the closure of nuclear power plants.
Sunday, June 12, 2011 01:29 +0900 (JST)

The fear of not being able to see a threat coming is visceral & built into our genes.. It's why getting dosimeters to people in areas affected by Fukushima Daiichi, is important.

and this next article shows why real thought on energy policy, not just visceral reaction, is needed. When electrical power is inconsistent and unpredictably unavailable, it effects everything. For example, servers move, and the jobs involved with them move too. The same considerations are true in all industries. Jobs move when power is too expensive in an area, too.

Fujitsu servers being relocated
Amid growing concerns over power shortages, a major electronics maker has begun to relocate its servers from its laboratory near Tokyo to Toyama Prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast.

The Fujitsu servers in Kawasaki City contain a large amount of data, including those on product development. They run continuously and consume a large amount of electricity.

However, large-scale users of electricity in the area served by the Tokyo Electric Power Company are being required by law to limit the amount of consumption this summer in anticipation of power shortages.

In response, Fujitsu has dismantled its servers in its Kawasaki facility and has shipped them to its plant in Toyama Prefecture. The financial services industry will not be subject to the restrictions as they are viewed as essential for stable economic activity.

Fujitsu says 3,600 of about 10,000 servers located in the Kanto region will either be relocated or halted.
Sunday, June 12, 2011 01:29 +0900 (JST)

I find traditional farming techniques very beautiful, in their own way. It's nice to see them recognized.

Japanese farming methods noted by FAO
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization has chosen farming techniques from two Japanese regions to add to its list of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems.

The regions are Sado in Niigata Prefecture and Noto in Ishikawa Prefecture.

The GIAHS was introduced in 2002 to recognize ecologically friendly and traditional farming methods as well as community efforts to protect biodiversity.

The organization selected the 2 methods at a forum in Beijing this week. It is the first time Japanese farming techniques were selected to the designation.

Sado's rice-cultivating method limits the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides so as to help preserve an endangered bird species, the Crested Ibis, which has been designated a special natural treasure.

The Noto farming method involves growing rice on terrace paddies, and a ritual to give thanks for a good harvest that is still being held by local farmers.
Sunday, June 12, 2011 01:29 +0900 (JST)

Crested Ibis in flight
http://www.visitsado.com/en/00sp/0809/toki/lead1.jpg
Crested Ibis at rest
http://orientalbirdimages.org/images..._ibis_4_ba.jpg

Here's some traditional farming from my part of the world- Whit Davis of Stanton Davis Farm 's the last commercial salt hay harvester in Connecticut.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyzUSzlFBZ0
Whit Davis's accent is just like my Dad's was. Listening to him makes me tear up a bit.

[Olympia]

Thanks so much for the farming info, Doris. I'm fascinated by traditional methods, and many of them are still viable in a modern setting, at least on a small scale. As a corollary, I really like the greenmarket movement, which encourages local farmers to sell their products in the region. This encourages small family farms to continue to cultivate unusual and heirloom varieties of things like apples and tomatoes, which might not transport well over long distances. Keeping all those strains viable adds to biodiversity, which protects crops from succumbing to dangerous fungi and other attackers, because the at least some of the different varieties have a chance of being resistant to the pathogens.

The traditional farming methods shows the complexity of Japanese culture. It's one of the most ultramodern countries in the world, big on robots and the latest electronics, and yet it prizes traditional artisanship and production methods also. I love their system of choosing people who are called National Treasures, people who practice age-old art forms such as dollmaking and kabuki. We should do that here in the U.S. I bet we'd find more people like Whit Davis all over the place! (I know they have state programs to preserve and publicize certain traditional crafts, in for example Kentucky.)

[dorispulaski]

I haven't been posting the radiation counts as often, because they do not change as often, now that shorter lived isotopes have mostly decayed away. However, I will still post them from time to time. I always check them to be sure that no huge upward jump happens.

June 12th, 2:00 PM JST, wind in the East, weather is "fine".
Daini
Six peripheral measurement points ( 1.6, 1.3, 1.8, 1.5, 1.5, 1.5) microSieverts per hour
Manual point at 9:00 AM 1.0 microSievert per hour
Daiichi
Eight peripheral measurement points ( 5, 24,16, 15, 18, 39, 123, 103 ) microSieverts per hour
Main Office Building 353 microSieverts per hour
West Gate 14 microSieverts per hour
Cart near Main Gate 30.8 microSieverts per hour

-On June 10th, we completed the task to blockade 39 pits where the possibility of water leakage can't be denied, as the countermeasure against the leakage of accumulated water from screen pit.
-On June 11th, dust inhibitor was sprayed to the area surrounding the gymnasium with approximately 4,375m2 in size.

At 3:30 pm on June 11, we started transferring accumulated water from the basement of Unit 3 Turbine Building to Centralized Radiation Waste Treatment Facility (Process Main Building)

[JAIF]http://<br /> http://www.jaif.or.jp...307704081P.pdf
JAIF Report on Effects on the Environment.
This file includes the measurement map, showing the concentrations of cesium at various locations, and trend charts of radiation measured in the air in various locations.

Air measurements
Highest radioactivity outside of Fukushima prefecture: 　(0.097μSv/h observed at Mito city in Ibaragi Pref at 08:00 on June 5)

Radioactivity inside Fukushima prefecture Result of monitoring published by MEXT on 6/5 (μSv/hr) Inside a 30 km radius of the plants in (μSv/hr)
・Tamura (0.3-1.4), Katsurao(1.3-2.4), Kawauchi(0.2-1.1), Naimie (5.2-41.3) Hirono (0.2), Minamisoma(0.1-2.5), Naraha(0.5)

Beyond the 30 km radius: (μSv/hr)
・Iwaki(0.1-2.6)、Koriyama(0.7-0.8)、Soma(0.4-0.6)、Iitate(1.2-16.3)、Date(0.7-3.6)、Kawamata(0.8-3.3)、Nihonmatsu(0.7-1.2)、Fukushima(0.1-1.9)、Ono(0.2)

MEXT has implemented and strengthened various radiation monitoring surveys at schools in Fukushima prefecture, especially 52 schools, in which relatively high radiation had been monitored

Progress on developing the regional soil contamination map:

MEXT has done strontium measurements at 11 sites, and found very small amounts at all of them. The amount is below that that would be a risk to health. MEXt is planning to do more strontium measurements. The fact that there is not a lot of strontium is promising for remediation. It will only be cesium that is important, long term.

Restriction of farming: Rice planting has been restricted in the area where relatively high amount of Cs was detected.

R&D for decontaminating soil in farmland: MAFF is conducting experiments aimed at removing radioactive material from farmland.

Tap Water・No results exceeding the “Index values for infants (radioactive iodine)” was found in in the latest survey. (as of 6/8). Before that, there was still one site over the "value for infants".

Sludge at sewerage processing plant, Debris created after Earthquake and Tsunami
・Radioactive substances were found in sludge from sewerage processing plants and debris in many areas. NSC established guideline for dealing with contaminated waste (6/3)



NHK

When you have a situation like this, it's always the case that when you're up to your butt in alligators, it's hard to remember that your original goal was to drain the swamp.
In each case when TEPCO enters a part of the site, what they find is of course, not a pristine lovely place where pipes are just waiting to be hooked up.
They now have to formulate Plan B here.

TEPCO forced to review reactor 4 spent fuel pool cooling plan
The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has been forced to reconsider its plan to cool the spent fuel storage pool of the No.4 reactor.

Water injection from a special vehicle has not been intense enough to cool the water in the pool, allowing the temperature to remain at more than 80 degrees Celsius.

Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, aims to install a circulatory cooling system that will pump water out of the pool and return it there as coolant. The utility originally hoped to put the system in place next month.

On Friday, workers entered the 4th floor of the No.4 reactor building where the pool is located for the first time since the nuclear disaster took place.

They found a large hole in a wall created by the March 15th explosion. They also discovered that a nearby pipe necessary for the cooling system had been mangled.

TEPCO says the repair team found it hard to work near the pool as equipment had been destroyed and debris was scattered on the floor.

Fixing the damaged pipe is expected to be extremely difficult. In addition, it remains unclear if there is another pipe that can be used for the cooling system.
Sunday, June 12, 2011 05:07 +0900 (JST)

Here's a picture of the area adjacent to the Unit 4 spent fuel pool:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qmU3pM8cFg.../110611_05.jpg

A photo taken up through the hole in the building:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ER2rjHTec4.../110611_04.jpg

And there is a problem with the water decontamination system that is supposed to go on line on June 15th: This is why you test stuff. It sounds like 3 of the 4 units are working properly.

Radioactive water treatment likely to be delayed
Treatment of highly radioactive water at the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is likely to be delayed by a problem with the flow of water.

The system being installed at the plant includes a device to remove cesium using zeolite, as well as equipment that settles out radioactive substances using specialized chemicals.

Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, said on Sunday that it has found that water does not flow in one of the 4 units as expected.

TEPCO had planned to start a test-run of the device on Friday, but it was postponed after the firm found another problem, which needed repairing first.

The operator hopes that the system will lower the concentration of radioactivity and expects to treat 1,200 tons of radioactive water a day.

TEPCO is trying to identify the cause of the problem.
Sunday, June 12, 2011 15:08 +0900 (JST)

[dorispulaski]

And the business part of the government seems not to be on the same page as other parts of the government.

http://www.foxbusiness.com/industrie...#ixzz1P7PzrCQA

Energy
Japan's Kaieda: "Severe" Economic Impact If Nuclear Plants Don't Come Back OnlineBy Mitsuru Obe
Published June 09, 2011
| Dow Jones Newswires

TOKYO -(Dow Jones)- Japan's trade and industry minister said Friday that there would be a "severe impact" on the country's economy if nuclear power plants currently under maintenance are not allowed to restart before the summer peak power demand season.
"A sharp drop in supply (if the plants don't come back online) will increase the demand-supply gap," Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Banri Kaieda said at a regular press conference.

Utilities not directly affected by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami have chosen not to restart reactors that happened to be undergoing regular maintenance at the time of the Fukushima Daiichi accident, due to objections and concerns raised by local governments. As a result, only 17 of Japan's 54 reactors now are operating, raising the potential for power shortages across wider areas of the nation.

Earlier Friday, a local media report said that Kansai Electric Power Co. (9503.TO), which is based in western Japan, will likely ask businesses and households to voluntarily reduce their power usage this summer by 15%.

Kaieda said he was not aware of such a move by Kansai Electric.

Kaieda also said the government will attempt to submit legislation "at the earliest date" to help Tokyo Electric Power Co. (9501.TO) pay for compensation related to the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, suggesting that it may submit the bill as early as next week amid growing concerns over Tepco's finances.
Copyright © 2011 Dow Jones Newswires

[dorispulaski]

June 13th 9:00 PM JST , Weather fine (there has recently been rain), wind in Southwest
Daini
Six peripheral measurement points {1.6, 1.3, 1.8, 1.5, 1.5, 1.4 ) microSieverts per hour
Manual measurement 9:00 AM JST ( 1.0 microSieverts per hour )
Daiichi

Eight peripheral measurements ( 5, 24, 15, 15, 18, 39, 121, 102 ) microSieverts per hour
Main Office Building 355 microSieverts per hour
West Gate 14 microSieverts per hour
Monitoring cart near Main Gate 30.5 microSieverts per hour

TEPCO's afternoon status for June 13th:

·At 10:00 am on June 13, we started to transfer the accumulated water at the basement of the turbine building of Unit 6 to the temporary tank.

·On June 13, we are spraying dust inhibitor to areas including areas surrounding Main Gate. ·From 10:09 am to 11:48 am on June 13, we injected freshwater to the spent fuel pool of Unit 3 through Fuel Pool Cooling and Filtering System (From 10:13 am to 11:36 am, hydrazine [corrosion inhibitor] was also injected at the same time).

·At approximately 10:00 am on June 13, we started the operation of the circulating seawater purification facility installed at the screen area of Unit 2 and 3.

- At 3:30 pm on June 11th, we started to transfer the accumulated water at the basement of the turbine building of Unit 3 to Centralized Radiation Waste Treatment Facility (Process Main Building). At 5:01 pm on June 12th, we finished the transfer.

The seawater purification facility news is excellent!

TEPCO has another work assignment from NISA. The Unit 2 spent fuel pool is now recirculating, the Unit 4 pool is impossible, at least right now. NISA wants plans for Unit 3. I ask, why not Unit 1?

Today, we, TEPCO, had received a direction* from NISA in relation to the submission of the report of installation of alternative cooling and purification system of spent fuel pool of Unit 3 of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. In accordance with this direction, we, TEPCO, will, regarding the installation of the alternative cooling and purification system of spent fuel pool of Unit 3 of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, evaluate its effectiveness of stable cooling and safety of spent fuel in the spent fuel pool and report to NISA immediately.

And this is not good news. It indicates more leakage from at the very least, Unit 2:

- Strontium-89 and Strontium-90 were detected from sub-drains near the turbine building sampled on May 18th.

Here's what the subdrain data looks like. The Unit 1 contamination may partially come from Unit 2, or have contributions from both Units. Units 3 & 4 subdrains weren't tested.

Samples of water from the subdrains of Unit 1 and Unit 2 were taken on May 16 and analyzed for strontium. Strontium 89 is less of a concern, because it has a shorter half life. Strontium 90 has about the same half life as cesium. It takes 3 weeks for test for strontium. There's a lot of strontium at Unit 2's subdrain.



Unit 1:May 16
Iodine 131 1,200 becqurels per liter
Cesium 134 9,800 becaquerels per liter
Cesium 137 12,000 becquerels per liter
Strontium 89 78 becquerels per liter
Strontium 90 22 becquerels per liter

For comparison, Unit 1, June 10
Iodine 131 14 becquerels per liter
Cesium 134 7,100 becqurels per liter
Cesium 137 8,400 becqurels per liter



Unit 2:May 16
Iodine 131 30,000 becqurels per liter
Cesium 134 23,000 becaquerels per liter
Cesium 137 28,000 becquerels per liter
Strontium 89 19,000 becquerels per liter
Strontium 90 6,300 becquerels per liter

For comparison June 10
Iodine 131 1,200 becquerels per liter
Cesium 134 11,000 becquerels per liter
Cesium 137 13,000 becquerels per liter

NHK


Meanwhile some of the Unit 2 strontium has made it to the sea, according to NHK:. May I say it annoys me to death to have something referred to as x times the government limit? It does not tell you what you want to know without the government limit being listed. I have not yet found where this is reported on the TEPCO website. Some of the reason they have not found it before, is that it is difficult to test for, and they haven't really been looking for it very effectively.

Excessive levels of strontium detected in seawater

Radioactive strontium that exceeds the government-set safety level was detected for the first time in sea water in the inlet next to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, reported that strontinum-90, at a level 53 times higher than the safety standard was detected in samples taken from inside an inlet used exclusively by the nuclear plant, on May 16.

TEPCO also said that strontinum-90 was detected at a level 170 times higher than the standard in samples also taken on May 16, near the water intakes outside reactor number 2. At the reactor number 3 water intakes, the level was 240 times higher than the legal safety limit.

The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency says the result is not beyond their expectations because the substance was detected in an inlet used exclusively by the power plant. They say they will closely monitor the fish and shellfish in the affected area.

TEPCO announced that strontium-90 was also detected for the first time in ground water near the reactors' buildings.

A ground water sample taken on May 18, around reactor number 2, measured 6,300 becquerels per liter. And for reactor number one, the sample showed 22 becquerels.

TEPCO explained it usually takes about 3 weeks to analyze the samples.

With a comparatively long half-life of 29 years, radioactive strontium can accumulate in the bones if inhaled, and poses a risk of cancer.
Monday, June 13, 2011 06:03 +0900 (JST)

Very few people breathe seawater, and strontium 90 has actually not been found in the air at the few times they looked for it, but it is entirely true that strontium mimics calcium in the body and ends up in the bones, where it just accumulates, unlike cesium.

Fortunately, the seawater cleaning filter is now working. Zeolites, at least the correct zeolites, remove strontium as well as cesium. I have not read whether strontium is expected to be removed by this filtration system.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16442726


This is a good thing. I hope to see that areas that are not too bad will be identified, and that some evacuees will be able to go home.

Farmland in Fukushima evacuation zone to be inspected
The national and prefectural governments are to begin inspecting farmland in the no-entry zone around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant next month.

Fukushima Prefecture says rice planting has been suspended in all areas within the 30-kilometer radius from the power plant. Shipments of agricultural produce from within the 20-kilometer radius no-entry zone also remain halted.

State and prefectural authorities say they decided to study soil in paddies and farmland within the no-go zone in response to growing calls by the residents who say they want to know what's become of their farmland.
The authorities have been carrying out inspections of soil samples within the 30-kilometer zone, but have refrained from checking the soil within the no-entry zone.

Fukushima Prefecture says the results of the inspections will be utilized to determine whether farming can be resumed in these areas once the ongoing crisis at the power plant is contained.
Monday, June 13, 2011 15:53 +0900 (JST)

At the start of the NHK presentation, a picture is shown of a dosimeter reading about 3.5 microSieverts per hour. This is higher than any reading at Daini in the evacuation zone.

Joint survey of high radiation areas in Date
City authorities and the central government jointly checked radiation concentrations on Monday in an area of Date City, Fukushima Prefecture. The estimated levels of accumulated radiation have already exceeded state evacuation standards set in April in some areas of the city.

Date is about 60 kilometers from the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. The central government announced earlier this month that the accumulated radiation levels at 3 locations in the city's Ryozen area are estimated to exceed 20 millisieverts for the year that ends next March. People living in areas receiving this amount of radiation are urged to evacuate within a month. Date is not a designated evacuation zone, but some residents fearing high radiation levels have already left voluntarily.

The joint survey on Monday was conducted in response to a request from the city.

Officials conducted measurements in Kamioguni, a district of Ryozen, where high radiation levels had been discovered earlier. The new sampling covered about a 20 meter radius, one meter above the ground.

On Monday, the prefecture measured 2.91 microsieverts per hour in the district. If people stay in such an environment all day for 15 days, the radiation level exceeds 1 millisievert, the long-term annual limit for ordinary people, as recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection.

An official of Date said that as the city has been able to confirm locations of radiation and how to measure them, it will continue conducting surveys on its own to assess the situation fully.
Monday, June 13, 2011 17:11 +0900 (JST)

As more people are checked for internal dose, more people are being found with a problem with exposure

Six more workers test as having been exposed to more than 250 mSv of radiation.
The health and labor ministry says six other workers at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant may have received radiation doses above the allowable emergency level. Tokyo Electric Power Company reported to the health ministry on Monday on the results of the latest checks of workers at the power plant.The ministry says the provisional amount of radiation exposure was up to 497 millisieverts for each of six TEPCO male employees. The maximum allowable dose was formerly 100 millisieverts, but it was raised to 250 after the crisis started.

One of the men was working in the control center, while the other five were performing maintenance work.

Six additional workers received doses of between 200 and 250 millisieverts, and 88 were exposed to between 100 and 200 millisieverts.

The ministry has instructed the utility to have the workers undergo thorough examinations, saying it is regrettable that so many workers have received such high doses. In late May, two TEPCO employees on duty at Reactors No. 3 and 4 were confirmed as having received doses more than twice the emergency limit.
Monday, June 13, 2011 20:57 +0900 (JST)

Also there is a guy in his 60's who forgot to put a filter in his face mask.

Water treatment device fixed
The equipment failure that has delayed the test of a system to treat highly radioactive water at the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has apparently been resolved. Tokyo Electric Power Company says it will carry out a test-run after checking the equipment once more on Monday.The problem occurred with a device made by the US-based Kurion company that removes radioactive cesium.

The utility had planned to start the test run to check the device's performance on Sunday, 2 days behind the original schedule.But when the pumps were activated prior to the test run, one of the 4 systems that is designed to move 12 and a half tons of water per hour was found to be running very slowly.

The system ran normally when operating on its own.TEPCO suspects that a water-flow valve may have temporarily stopped functioning, and is investigating the cause.It will operate the 4 systems simultaneously on Monday, and will start the test run if no problems are found.

The problem is expected to delay by a few days the system's full-fledged operation, originally planned for June 15th.
Sunday, June 12, 2011 23:11 +0900 (JST)

Off-site nuclear disaster centers were unprepared
An NHK survey has found that most of the emergency response centers built near nuclear power plants are not properly equipped to take measures against nuclear contamination. More than 15 billion yen, or 190 million dollars, was spent to build these so-called "off-site centers" in the wake of a criticality accident at a nuclear fuel processing plant in Tokai Village in Ibaraki Prefecture.

They are meant to be places where central and local government officials as well as police can gather and respond to nuclear accidents.The off-site center that was built about 5 kilometers from the Fukushima Daiichi power plant was rendered nearly dysfunctional due to a rise in radiation levels after a power outage.The office was moved to another location within 4 days.

NHK contacted 14 off-site centers around the country, excluding those in Fukushima and Miyagi Prefectures, and asked them about their levels of preparedness.More than 90 percent said they did not have filtering equipment in place to prevent radioactive substances from entering the buildings, as required by law.

More than 70 percent said they did not have air-lock type double doors.Off-site centers are situated between 2 and 13 kilometers from their plants.The survey also found that, depending on the scale of a presumed accident, some may be affected by nuclear substances and not function properly.Although all the off-site centers have substitute facilities, 3 of these are in the same locations as the main ones, and 2 had no communications equipment installed.

The government's nuclear safety agency says it is regrettable that the off-site center in Fukushima did not function properly. It says it plans to conduct a review of how the off-site centers should be set up, based on the lessons learned from the Fukushima accident.
Sunday, June 12, 2011 23:11 +0900 (JST

TEPCO begins operating seawater treatment system
Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, has begun work to reduce the level of radioactivity in seawater near the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The company began full-fledged operation of 2 filtering devices on Monday after a series of test-runs. The devices are installed near the water intakes of the Number 2 and Number 3 reactors, where high radiation levels have been detected. The devices are designed to first pump up seawater and then absorb radioactive cesium using the mineral zeolite. The water is returned to the sea as the final step.

TEPCO says each device is capable of treating up to 30 tons of seawater per hour. Tests showed the machines reduced cesium levels by 20 to 30 percent. The company says it will find ways to increase filtering capability. The devices have been installed inside submerged fences set up near the intakes. The fences were installed in April to prevent radioactive water from spreading to the sea. However, radiation levels higher than government safety standards are being detected outside the fences.
Monday, June 13, 2011 17:11 +0900 (JST)

Tap water deemed safe by health minister panel
A health ministry panel studying radiation levels in tap water in Japan's northeast and areas near Tokyo has concluded that it contains no safety risks for the time being. The panel was launched after radioactive iodine, exceeding Japan's safety limit for infants, was detected in tap water in Fukushima and Ibaraki prefectures soon after the nuclear power plant accident in March. Since that time, tap water in those areas has remained within safety limits.

The panel, which includes doctors and radiation experts, agreed that the tap water is safe as long as the situation at the nuclear power plant does not dramatically change. But they noted that more radioactive materials from the power plant will fall during the ongoing annual rainy season and typhoon season that will follow.

They agreed that authorities should maintain their regular safety inspections for several more months.
Monday, June 13, 2011 18:39 +0900 (JST)

Robert Alvarez- I have seen this guy quoted a number of times as a nuclear expert. If you see anything where he is listed as an expert, my advice would be to distrust its content. He has a PhD in musical studies, a wife who is a paid anti-nuclear lobbyist, and a firing from the Dept. of Energy over an arrest for growing pot in his house.

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-618540.html
reprinted from the Washington Post

Plea Deal for Parents Turned In by Daughter; Probation Likely in Marijuana Case
Publication:
The Washington Post
Publish date:
November 20, 1999
Author:
Fern Shen

The Takoma Park couple whose teenage daughter turned them in to police for growing marijuana in the basement each will plead guilty to a single misdemeanor, according to a plea deal outlined in court records.
The agreement, which is scheduled to be reviewed in court next month, would mean probation and no jail time for Robert Jason Alvarez, 54, and his wife, Katherine Marie "Kitty" Tucker, 55.
But a number of issues remain unresolved for Alvarez, who lost a senior policy job at the U.S. Department of Energy over his August arrest, and Tucker, a nationally known anti-nuclear activist whose attorneys say she used the marijuana for medical purposes.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/13/wo...apan.html?_r=1

Meanwhile the NY Times describes the difficulties Kan had with relying for good nuclear advice on his advisors, who knew nothing about nuclear engineering, in the early days of the disaster.
Apparently, he directed TEPCO to stop injecting sea water, a directive the Daiichi plant manager ignored, a choice which the Times says, has made him an "unlikely hero."

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/13/wo...apan.html?_r=1

And the San Francisco Chronicle is seeming to endorse expanding WIPP, near Carlsbad, NM, to hold spent nuclear fuel, and credits the Obama administration with wanting to do that too. Carlsbad actively lobbied to get WIPP located there, and the local area continues to support the expansion of WIPP.

New Mexico site called model for nuclear waste disposal
By JONATHAN FAHEY and RAY HENRY, Associated Press
Associated Press June 12, 2011 09:01 PM
Sunday, June 12, 2011

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...a210144D00.DTL

[dorispulaski]

Good news! However, the Diet has to act on this next.

NHK:

Cabinet approves TEPCO aid bill

The Cabinet has approved a bill laying out the framework for the government to help Tokyo Electric Power Company compensate victims of the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

The key pillars of the bill approved on Tuesday are the establishment of a new body to oversee the disbursement of funds and the use of public money.

The bill enables the government to help TEPCO with a mix of public and private funds, and ensure it is able to provide a stable power supply while paying out tens of billions of dollars in compensation.

Other power companies which operate nuclear plants across the country are to contribute funds to the new organization.

The government will also issue special bonds to inject public funds into the body.

Through such public funds, the new organization will boost TEPCO's capital and extend loans to help the firm make compensation payments and capital investments.

A third-party panel of financial and monetary experts is to be set up in the organization to decide what assistance to extend to TEPCO.

The bill, however, does not include the specific amount of public funds to be injected into the body, as the total amount of compensation has yet to be determined.

The government plans to submit the bill to the current session of the Diet, and aims for an early enactment.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011 10:59 +0900 (JST)

This is not bad either: TEPCO expects to have the water treatment plant open Friday:

TEPCO begins testing cesium absorption device

The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has begun testing a device to process highly radioactive water, after a 4-day delay.

Early on Tuesday, Tokyo Electric Power Company began using the US-made equipment, which can absorb cesium, on low-level radioactive water.

Leaking pumps and a mistakenly closed valve delayed the start of the operation since last Friday.

Workers checked for signs of leakage during the 4-hour test-run on Tuesday morning.

The equipment is part of a planned water treatment facility that will also include an oil separator, a decontaminator and a desalination device.

More than 105,000 tons of highly radioactive water is building up within the nuclear plant, and TEPCO says it may run out of space to store it in about 2 weeks.

The utility is hoping to shorten the test-runs by one day and begin operating the treatment facility from Friday.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011 12:19 +0900 (JST)

When some water can be reduced to normal levels, it can be either used to cool the reactors and fuel pools another time.

and not so good news, either for household electric users, or for manufacturers.

Power fees to rise 20% if all nuclear plants close

A Japanese research institute says the monthly electricity bill per household would balloon by nearly 20 percent if Japan's 54 nuclear reactors were shut down.

The industry ministry-affiliated Institute of Energy Economics released a report on Monday.

It says that without nuclear power, the monthly electricity costs for an average household will increase by about 1,000 yen, or 12.5 dollars. That's a jump of 18 percent.

The data is based on a scenario of all nuclear power plants being closed by the end of fiscal 2011 and thermal energy generation being used in their place.

The report also estimates that the fuel sourcing costs of natural gas and petroleum will increase by about 43 billion dollars annually.

The Institute says that raising the power fees for households and industries will have a negative impact on the whole economy. It says discussion on whether to resume operations in the currently suspended nuclear power reactors is urgently needed.

35 reactors in Japan have been stopped for safety considerations since the Fukushima Daiichi plant accident. Japan has a total of 54 nuclear reactors.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011 12:52 +0900 (JST)

JAIF has more details on the testing of the workers at Daiichi:

TEPCO is examining 3,726 workers who have worked at the plant since March 11th for exposure to radiation. Of that number, 2,367 have undergone medical checkups. It revealed that 102 received radiation doses above 100 mSv. (100-200 mSv: 88 workers, 200-250 mSv:6 workers, 250 mSv-:8 workers)

Amount of doses that the 2 workers who received most are 643 mSv and 678 mSv..[6/13] *The allowable emergency limit for radiation doses: 250 millisieverts

Additionally, as expected, the Italian referendum on building new nuclear plants, was soundly defeated. Italy closed its nuclear plants after Chernobyl.

[dorispulaski]

TEPCO 3 PM JST wrap up

At 3:45 am on June 14, we started cesium adsorption unit of water treatment facility, on a trial basis, using low level contaminated water

·From 2:58 pm to 5:43 pm on June 13, we transferred accumulated water from the condenser of Unit 1 to the Turbine Building of the same Unit.

·From 3:33 pm to 3:53 pm on June 13, we sampled radioactive materials in the ambient air at the opening of the Reactor Building, Unit 3. We will analyze and evaluate.

·From 4:36 pm to 9:00 pm on June 13, we injected freshwater to Unit 4 spent fuel pool by concrete pumping vehicle (From 4:38 am to 7:15 pm, hydrazine [corrosion inhibitor] was also injected at the same time). ·From 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on June 13, we transferred accumulated water at the basement of the turbine building of Unit 6 to the temporary tank.

·On June 13, we sprayed dust inhibitor to areas including areas surrounding Main Gate. (approx. 8,750m2)

[/quote]

NHK
This is good news. That is a significantly large drop in cesium concentration.

TEPCO begins testing cesium removing device
The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant says a cesium absorption device that it has started testing is working well.

Tokyo Electric Power Company began using the US-made equipment early on Tuesday morning to process low-level radioactive water at its planned water treatment facility.

Suspending the work about 10 hours later to analyze the treated water, TEPCO found that levels of cesium-134 had been reduced to about one-2,900th, and cesium-137 to about one-3,300th.

More than 105,000 tons of highly radioactive water is building up within the plant, and the utility says it may run out of space to store it in about 2 weeks.

TEPCO also plans to begin using a French-made chemical agent for decontamination at the facility on Wednesday.

As the start of testing was delayed for 4 days due to a series of malfunctions, TEPCO says it will shorten the test-runs by one day, and begin treating highly radioactive water from Friday.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011 19:58 +0900 (JST)

Installation of such a device at large sludge treatment facilities would do the trick, I think. It only took a couple months to set this up, so it is definitely a feasible approach for larger municipalities.

Radioactive material in sludge at 16 prefectures
NHK has learned that 16 prefectures in Japan have detected radioactive material in sludge since the crisis began at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in March.

NHK has found through interviews that at least 22 of Japan's 47 prefectures have been testing sludge for radioactive material. 16 of them, ranging from Hokkaido to Osaka, have actually detected radioactive substances.

The level of radioactive cesium was highest in Fukushima city, at 447,000 becquerels per kilogram. This was followed by Tokyo at 55,000 becquerels and Maebashi, north of Tokyo, at 42,800 becquerels.

Rain-soaked soil containing radioactive substances has turned into contaminated sludge and is being stored at waste treatment plants.

Maebashi has designated area around its waste treatment plant a radiation danger zone, after radiation levels at 2 storage sites for incinerated sludge exceeded the government set-safety level.

Japan has had no safety guidelines for contaminated sludge, which is a new problem.

Last month, the government decided on an emergency measure to incinerate and store sludge that's been found to contain 100,000 becquerels or more of radioactive materials.

But the measure applies only within Fukushima Prefecture, prompting other prefectures and municipalities to demand that the government quickly set guidelines on how to handle contaminated sludge.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011 19:13 +0900 (JST)

Kaieda, Yosano react to Italian nuclear poll
Japan's economy and industry minister has stressed the importance of considering nuclear power generation in the context of Japan's energy needs.

Banri Kaieda told a news conference on Tuesday that he is aware of an Italian national referendum that showed overwhelming public opposition to building nuclear power plants.

He emphasized that in Japan, it is important to consider how to balance discarding nuclear power with securing enough energy. He said the Japanese economy and people's daily lives are already being affected by the present tight power supply.

Meanwhile, Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Kaoru Yosano had noted that the energy situation in Italy is different from that in Japan.

He said he thinks that trends in other countries should be considered seriously, but that Japan cannot simply follow others. He said Japan has to choose an energy policy that takes into account its own needs and the importance of electricity to the economy.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011 12:16 +0900 (JST)

Reaction to Italy's vote against nuclear energy
A Japanese business leader says that compared to Italy's energy policy, Japan's options are limited.

Yasuchika Hasegawa, chairman of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives, was referring to Italy's rejection of nuclear power in a national referendum. He was speaking at a news conference on Tuesday.

Hasegawa pointed out that Italy is buying electricity from Switzerland and France and can increase its supplies if necessary, but Japan must meet demand by itself.

NHK asked people on the streets of Shinbashi in downtown Tokyo what they think about Italy's referendum result.

A 23-year-old graduate said that in order to stably supply electricity, nuclear power plants should be continued, after taking safety measures.

Another 22-year-old female employee said that nuclear power plants should be abolished even if things get a little inconvenient.

A 41-year-old corporate worker said the result shows that denuclearizing energy sources is the global trend. He said that, considering safety, countries should aim to change to alternative energies in the long run.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011 19:13 +0900 (JST)

It also needs to be remembered that the Italians were choosing not to start building reactors, not to dismantle existing ones, since they currently have none.

They also are a big buyer of nuclear produced electricity from France.

China, who does not have Italy's options, has made the opposite choice, as has Lithuania recently.

China will stick to nuclear energy

China has stressed that it will continue to promote nuclear power to meet its energy needs.

In a weekend referendum, Italians overwhelming rejected a proposed nuclear power revival.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei did not refer directly to the voting results at the ministry's Tuesday news conference. But he noted that for many countries, nuclear power is a key option for dealing with global energy shortages and climate change.

China's state-run media have yet to report on the outcome of Italy's referendum, prompting speculations that the Chinese government is wary of the impact of Europe's anti-nuclear movement on the Chinese public.

The Chinese government has stuck to its policy of building more nuclear power plants despite the nuclear crisis in Fukushima, saying that nuclear energy is essential for the country's rapid economic growth.

China currently has 14 reactors in operation and 27 under construction.

The Chinese government has ordered new safety inspections for all nuclear plants, and has held briefings for local residents at planned construction sites to try and allay their fears.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011 19:36 +0900 (JST)

.