NISA ordered TEPCO to simulate the tsunami. I found the request odd, since there are tsunami-studying groups in Japan better equipped to do this than TEPCO; however, TEPCO has filed their report.
Maximum height at Daiichi-13 meters
Maximum height at Daini-9 meters.
TEPCO 3:00 PM July 8th status report
There are still some issues with the desalination part of the water decontamination facility, but cooling is still going on properly.
-- At 8:20 am on July 8, we turned off the alternative cooling system for fuel pool cooling and filtering system of Unit 3 in accordance with the power cable relocation aimed to prevent the interference to the installation of reactor building cover and the installation of alternative cooling system for fuel pool cooling and filtering system of Unit 4.
From 9:56 am on June 22 to 3:10 pm on July 7, we transferred accumulated water from turbine building of Unit 2 to central waste treatment facility building.
-At 8:22 am on July 8, we started freshwater injection to reactor well and temporary storage pool of unit 4.
-At 3:10 pm on July 7, we stopped transfer of the accumulated water from the vertical shaft of T/B, Unit 2 to Centralized Radiation Waste Treatment Facility (Process Main Building) due to the water level of Process Building came close to O.P. 4,950 (target of stop transfer).
-At 10:30 am on July 7, we resumed transfer of the accumulated water at the basement of T/B, Unit 6 to the temporary tanks. At 4:30 pm on the same day, we stopped transfer.
-At 10:09 am on July 7, we resumed transfer of the low level radioactive accumulated water that we once transferred from T/B of Unit 6 to temporary tanks to Mega Float. At 5:00 pm on the same day, we stopped transfer.
-At 11:30 on July 7, we stopped operation of the desalination facility as the water level of the storage tank at the upstream of the desalination facility went down to the lower limit. At 2:45 on July 8, we restarted operation. At 4:44 on the same day, we stopped this operation as the water level went down to the lower limit again. The water injection to the reactor and accumulated water treatment are going.
And at Daini, the heat removal system was started again
-At 2:05 pm on July 7, we received a report as follows: "Workers from our subcontractor were checking the power board for the High Pressure Core Spray System located at B1, auxiliary building to R/B, Unit 1. They found sparks from a circuit breaker in that power board." At 2:30 pm on the same day, TEPCO employees checked the power board. At 5:37 pm on the same day, we stopped the Residual Heat Removal System Pump (B) due to check the power board. From 5:44 pm to 8:46 pm on the same day, we finished check of the power board. At 9:15 pm on the same day, we restarted the Residual Heat Removal System Pump (B)
http://www.tepco.co.jp/cc/press/betu11_j/images/110708b.pdf
TEPCO's simulation of the tsunami at Daiichi shows the depth at the turbine buildings as 5 to 6 meters, and the depth at the reactor buildings as 3 meters.
It shows the depth at Daini as 1 meter at reactor buildings 1, 2 & 3.
It's in Japanese, but scroll down for the maps. It's 6 pages long.
TEPCO is taking action on the mental health of workers:
In addition, TEPCO will take further care of mental health management.
1. NDMC Providers of mental health support Professors, associate professors and lecturers etc.
2. Start of mental health support by NDMC Sunday, July 10
3. Frequency of mental health support by NDMC Once a month, 2 to 4 days 4. Examination by NDMC (example)
(1) To confirm stress and mental health status of employees working at Fukushima Daiichi and Daini Nuclear Power Stations
(2) To provide personal counseling with those who have high risk of mental health disorder
(3) To inform them and their employers of cautions at work and introduce them to medical institutions etc., if needed
NHK news July 8th
TEPCO to send workers into No.3 reactor building
The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant will send personnel, instead of a robot, into one of the reactor buildings to take steps to prevent a hydrogen explosion. But the work is likely to face difficulty because of the high radiation levels.
Tokyo Electric Power Company plans to inject nitrogen into the No.3 reactor to prevent another hydrogen explosion.
The utility used a camera-mounted robot on Wednesday to examine the No.3 reactor building to determine if it can connect injection pipes to the containment vessel. But TEPCO was unable to assess the situation because the robot couldn't reach the area.
TEPCO says it will send workers inside the reactor building instead. A few more days will be needed for the government to confirm safety before nitrogen can be injected.
The company hopes to complete the injection by July 17th according to its schedule, but the prospects remain unclear. Removing the risk of hydrogen explosions and stably cooling down the reactors are the keys to bringing the situation under control.
Friday, July 08, 2011 13:06 +0900 (JST)
Nuclear stress tests trigger backlash
Prime Minister Naoto Kan's recent decision to conduct additional safety tests on all nuclear power plants in Japan has triggered a backlash from local governments.
The government announced the so-called "stress tests" on Wednesday. The decision has received support in some quarters because the tests will reassure the safety of people living near the plants.
But local governments hosting nuclear power facilities strongly criticized the abruptness of the announcement.
The decision also triggered confusion about the status of the Genkai nuclear plant in Saga Prefecture, western Japan. The central government last month asked local governments near the plant for permission to restart the reactors, saying they were safe. But this week, it suddenly decided on the additional tests. The announcement came just as Saga's governor, Yasushi Furukawa, was about to decide whether to approve the restart. On Thursday, the mayor of Genkai, Hideo Kishimoto, retracted his approval to restart the reactors.
Industry Minister Banri Kaieda suggested on the same day that he will resign to take responsibility for the government's contradictory moves.
Kaieda's comments came just 2 days after former reconstruction minister Ryu Matsumoto stepped down over his controversial remarks about disaster recovery efforts.
The central government says it intends to work out the details of the safety tests as soon as possible.
But observers say the latest developments have put additional pressure on Prime Minister Kan to resign immediately.
Friday, July 08, 2011 10:48 +0900 (JST)
Kan feels responsible: well, he should.
Kan apologizes for stress test confusion
Prime Minister Naoto Kan has apologized for causing confusion in local municipalities hosting nuclear power plants by abruptly deciding to conduct additional safety tests on all reactors in Japan.
Kan told a Cabinet meeting on Friday he was late in giving instructions on the stress tests, and feels responsible. The tests are designed to find out how well nuclear facilities can withstand earthquakes and tsunami.
Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission Kansei Nakano urged Kan and industry minister Banri Kaieda to unify their policies on the criteria for restarting nuclear reactors.
After the meeting, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said the government is now rushing to finalize a policy on resuming operations at the power plants.
Edano also apologized to Genkai town and Saga Prefecture, host of the Genkai nuclear plant in southwestern Japan.
The town's mayor had approved the restart of 2 idled reactors at the plant after the central government assured their safety. But he retracted his approval after the additional tests were announced.
Friday, July 08, 2011 13:06 +0900 (JST)
Here's the article about Kaieda being willing to resign after Kan pulled the rug out from under him over the Genkai restart.
Kaieda ready to resign over nuke policy handling
Japan's industry minister Banri Kaieda says he will step down at an appropriate time to take responsibility for the confusion over restarting the Genkai nuclear power plant.
Kaieda made the pledge at an Upper House committee meeting on Thursday.
The central government had asked local governments near the plant for permission to restart it but suddenly announced additional safety tests on Wednesday.
Kaieda told reporters on Thursday that he will resign in due course, adding that he has a lot of work to carry out first.
Kaieda's comments came 2 days after former reconstruction minister Ryu Matsumoto stepped down over a series of controversial remarks.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan has shrugged off the incidents, saying that his Cabinet is doing its best to help rebuild the disaster-hit northeast and bring the Fukushima Daiichi power plant under control.
But Kaieda's pledge to quit is likely to further shake the political footing of the Kan administration.
Thursday, July 07, 2011 21:15 +0900 (JST)
There have been several articles about this situation with Kyushu electric. It's an odd business. If everyone involved disclosed that they worked for Kyushu, I don't see the harm. It's not clear from the articles whether they did or did not disclose. In fact, as the workers probably all live in the prefecture, and probably in the town of Genkai, I don't see why they do not have a right to express their opinion, certainly as much right as anti-nuclear activists who don't live in the town and the prefecture.
There are statements that the workers were directed to write letters, but no one has quoted exactly how that was done. And there are two ways to do it:
Very wrong: "You must write a letter as a condition of employment."
I think OK: "You know our plants are safe, and so do I. I'm writing a letter. I hope you will too."
I don't see any difference between companies having a position on the safety of their plants and anti-corporatists and anti-nuclear groups having a position on the safety of their plants, as long as all groups disclose their affiliations. In fact, there have been several avowed anti-nuclear groups doing various projects and measurements in Japan without disclosing their affiliation and no one is shocked.
I hope more details will be forthcoming. It's a fact here at Indian Point and Millstone and Vermont Yankee nuclear plants that the workers all come to NRC meetings to advocate for the plants. For one thing, they want to keep their jobs. For another thing, they take pride in their work and resent claims by outsiders that they would risk their towns and families to do shoddy work. For a third, they did not cede their free speech rights just because they work at a nuclear plant, although in courtesy, they should disclose that fact.
So I am not understanding the situation in Japan entirely.
I also don't understand why Kaieda should resign because Kan has an inconsistent nuclear policy.
Explanations would be helpful.
Again, all these plants have regulars and temps. The temps (affilated workers) are even more likely to live in the area than the employees, who may be moved from site to site.
Systematic involvement suspected in Genkai scandal
Kyushu Electric Power Company says its nuclear energy division may have been involved in a systematic effort to manipulate public opinion to support the restarting of its Genkai nuclear power plant.
Last month, the government held a meeting to explain safety measures to local residents before restarting the No.2 and 3 reactors at the plant in Saga Prefecture.
The meeting was broadcast live on TV and the internet, and viewers were invited to submit their opinions by e-mail or fax.
It was learned on Friday that the 2 of the utility's executives, including a vice president in charge of the nuclear energy division, instructed their subordinates to help with the effort, referring to the meeting.
The company previously admitted that employees of the utility and 4 affiliated firms -- more than 1,500 people in total -- were instructed to send e-mails during the meeting in support of the reactors' restart.
The 2 reportedly felt that the meeting was important because it took place just prior to Kyushu Electric's general shareholders' meeting.
They were also reportedly interested in the opinions sent to the meeting.
Industry Minister Banri Kaieda said he was deeply disappointed at the utility's behavior in light of the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. He said he would like to prevent a recurrence of the scheme by keeping power utilities in check.
Friday, July 08, 2011 14:48 +0900 (JST)
Again, were they asked, or were they ordered, and is there a difference in Japan?
Kyushu Electric senior official ordered e-mails
A senior official with the operator of the Genkai nuclear power plant is now embroiled in the company's recent scandal.
Internal sources say the official instructed a manager to influence opinion on the restart of the plant's reactors. The manager then asked staff and affiliates to pose as citizens and send e-mails supporting the restart.
The sources say the official was in charge of construction and management of nuclear power plants, and admitted ordering the manager in the same division.
The plan was to send the e-mails to a government-hosted session for local residents.
The meeting was held in June in Saga City, near the plant. The purpose was to explain to local residents the restart operation of 2 reactors after inspections.
It was aired on cable TV, and viewers were invited to send e-mails and faxes with their opinions.
The sources also say the manager requested that staff working on nuclear power generation and others in 4 affiliate companies send the e-mails. The affiliate members had formerly worked in the division.
Reactor restart at Ikata nuclear plant postponed
The operator of the Ikata nuclear power plant in western Japan says it will postpone restarting one of the plant's reactors because of opposition from local residents.
Shikoku Electric Power Company said on Friday that it decided not to resume operations at the No.3 reactor on Sunday as originally scheduled.
The utility halted operations at the reactor for regular inspection on April 29th, but reloaded it with fuel rods in late June to prepare for the restart.
The company said it did all it could to ease the concerns of local residents in light of the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, including conducting detailed safety inspections of the reactor.
But it was still unable to gain the necessary support.
The utility says it plans to continue efforts to win the understanding of local municipalities and residents so that it can restart the reactor as soon as possible.
Friday, July 08, 2011 14:05 +0900 (JST)
More cesium in tea. It's puzzling how the limits are calculated. I understand that the limit is 500 becquerels per kg, the same as for meat. Limits are supposed to be set with "fence post man" in mind-that is a fellow who eats that same level of contamination in meat 365.25 days a year.
In which case for meat, the one kg would be about 5 meals, for a hearty meat eater, which is the kind of person fence post man is supposed to be-a guy out nf the limits of excess.
Meanwhile the other fence post man who drinks nothing but strong green tea: 1 kilogram of tea would make about 440 cups of strong tea (based on the amount in a standard Canadian tea bag). If fence post man drank that in 5 meals, he'd be dead of things other than radioactive cesium.
It seems to me the standard is very inconsistent. Tea is a dried, concentrated product. There is nothing magical about the kilogram; it's how the product is used.
Radioactive cesium detected from Tochigi tea
Radioactive cesium exceeding the government limit was detected in processed tea made in Tochigi City, about 160 kilometers from the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
The Tochigi Prefectural Government says 1,810 becquerels per kilogram of radioactive cesium was detected in tea processed from leaves harvested in the city in early July.
The level is more than 3 times the provisional government limit.
On Thursday, the prefecture requested that tea farmers in the city voluntarily stop shipments of their products.
Radioactive cesium has also been detected in other areas in the prefecture.
After the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, tea leaves and processed teas contaminated by radioactive substances have been found over wide areas near Tokyo. These include the prefectures of Chiba, Kanagawa and the country's largest tea production center, Shizuoka.
Friday, July 08, 2011 08:43 +0900 (JST)
and this is nice, and shows a good turn coming back to help the good deed doers:
Oyster farmers receive equipment from France
Oyster growers hit by the March 11th earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan have received oyster farming equipment from their French colleagues.
The more than 5 tons of buoys and ropes 0arrived in Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture, on Friday.
The equipment was sent to repay Miyagi farmers for sending larvae to French oyster growers when their farms were hit by an epidemic about 40 years ago. The support helped France overcome the crisis and rebuild the industry.
In Kesennuma, most oyster farming equipment was swept away by the tsunami, but farmers there partially resumed operations last week.
Oyster farmer Masanori Hatakeyama said he's thankful for the precious gift as it has not been easy to get such equipment since the disaster. He added that he will do his best to help rebuild the industry in Kesennuma.
Friday, July 08, 2011 15:59 +0900 (JST)
