TEPCO To Build Real Sized Reactor Model To Determine Fuel Removal Plan
[Translate] TEPCO plans to build a mock reactor in Fukushima to work out issues related to removing fuel and dismantling the reactors. The facility will include a to scale model of the GE Mark 1 containment system used at Fukushima Daiichi. The facility will also be the basis for developing the robot technology needed to conduct the work. Both the government and TEPCO will be working on the project. NHK doesn’t say where it will be built but a worker at the plant hinted it may be in Nahara. This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team Join the conversation at chat.simplyinfo.org All content is copyright SimplyInfo.org. Content may also be copyright of other specific original authors or creators and was reproduced here with limited permission. While … Read entire article »
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TEPCO’s New Meltdown In Tokyo
[Translate] Last week TEPCO announced at a press conference that they would be unable to build the underground wall hoped to block some of the water infiltration and leaking at the plant. TEPCO’s current worry about the plan is that it would create a situation where the highly contaminated water in the reactor buildings could flow out. There was an earlier plan mentioned where they would create some sort of underground clay walls around the reactor buildings to stem the movement of water. It was not clear if this idea has also been ruled out. TEPCO commented at the press conference “We wish anyone could suggest any good idea in this discussion.“ The same week TEPCO makes the rather strange claim that the pond of highly radioactive water that was leaking considerably, … Read entire article »
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Miyagi Residents File Claim Radiation Exposure, The Data Behind The Issue
[Translate] Radiation doesn’t respect borders. People living in parts of Miyagi along the plume path from Fukushima Daiichi experienced worse conditions than many in Fukushima did but have been denied any assistance. Marumori Town and the Hippo district were among the areas where contamination was high. A group of people from the area have now filed a claim against TEPCO for compensation. The area in Miyagi received a significant plume on March 20th as we previously reported. There are also some known discrepancies with the monitoring stations in the area where many were placed too high up to be accurate representations of living conditions. A multitude of food products and soil have been showing as considerably contaminated in the area. Rice in the area was found to be double the government radiation … Read entire article »
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Fukushima & Nuclear News Roundup
[Translate] The head of the JAEA that runs the Monju reactor program has resigned after a massive string of failures and incompetence was uncovered by the NRA. Officials don’t see this as a solution to the problems at Monju that are far more widespread than the leadership. Kyodo News reports that NRA also discovered operational and management problems where there was an obsession with restarting the reactor and worker warnings were ignored. An in depth analysis by Asahi Shimbun shows how closing the Tsuruga #2 reactor for being over an active fault line could create a house of cards that would be a blow to all the power companies in Japan. Potential shutdown of other reactors suspected to be over fault lines could put all of Japan’s power companies into heavy debt. The Japanese Industry … Read entire article »
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Photo Of The Day; Tokyo No Nukes Protest May 18, 2013
[Translate] Photo taken at Tokyo No Nukes Rally May 18, 2013, Photo via @documentingian More of his work can be found here http://www.documentingian.com/ This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team Join the conversation at chat.simplyinfo.org All content is copyright SimplyInfo.org. Content may also be copyright of other specific original authors or creators and was reproduced here with limited permission. While we welcome the sharing of information or promoting our work, please do so with respect to the large amount of effort and time that goes into our research and analysis. Referring to something or a quote is great, copying it all or in substantial parts is not so great. If you wish to reproduce any of our content in full or in more than a phrase or quote, … Read entire article »
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US Nuclear Plant Cracks Reactor Vessel
[Translate] The Sharon Harris nuclear plant admitted to having a crack in the reactor vessel. The 1/4 crack did not penetrate all the way through the vessel steel. It was not reported how long or deep the crack was. The reactor ultrasound data was collected a year ago but the plant officials are only now going through it. This raises questions about why they were allowed to wait so long and also to restart before the review is conducted. The plant owners said the repair would need to be done with robots on the reactor head section of the reactor vessel due to the high radiation. The crack appeared on a weld for a control rod nozzle on the reactor head. The unit in question is a 3 loop PWR reactor, this … Read entire article »
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65 Microsievert Hot Spot At Fukushima City Train Station
[Translate] ZDF Asia Bureau Chief Johannes Hano discovered this hot spot at the Fukushima City train station. They initially told local authorities about the hot spot three months ago when they first discovered it. The local government did nothing. Hano said via twitter that they confronted the local authorities again urging them to do something about the hot spot. This time officials said they would “act immediately”. It remains to be seen if the local government will do anything. Hano also said the hot spot is near an area that many people including children walk past while using the train station. While the government is declaring everything back to normal, people are finding things that show otherwise. Fukushima City is about 50 miles away from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. Johannes Hano’s twitter page: https://twitter.com/JohannesHano This article … Read entire article »
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Fukushima & Nuclear News Roundup; May 16, 2013
[Translate] TEPCO conducted a “terror drill” at the Daini nuclear plant where they simulated an attack on a plant. This is the only time you will probably see TEPCO employees under arrest. A new paper shows how contamination has been moving through the waterways in Japan. This is something we predicted would happen in 2011. Contamination just like soil and other materials is transported along natural pathways. Japan’s NRA is urging the operator of the Oi nuclear plant to accept the determination that there are 3 active faults at the nuclear plant. KEPCO does not want to account for the 3 active faults when determining plant safety standards. Hot spots were found near a river in Chiba, local authorities blocked off the areas. Contamination is not just a problem in Fukushima. Santee Cooper power company … Read entire article »
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Radball To Be Used To Map Hot Spots In Fukushima Reactors
[Translate] A strange looking device will be used to map the radiation in the Fukushima reactors. The device can detect radiation levels and feed them to a computer that can make a detailed radiation level map. This could help pin point hot spots in the building to better understand the failure of each unit. It will also help identify dangerous spots that workers should avoid or require shielding to be put in place. The device was invented at the UK’s National Nuclear Lab. Lancashire Evening Press (photo credit: same) This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team Join the conversation at chat.simplyinfo.org All content is copyright SimplyInfo.org. Content may also be copyright of other specific original authors or creators and was reproduced here with limited permission. While we welcome … Read entire article »
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Two Reactors In Japan May Be Shut By NRA Actions
[Translate] Unit 2 at the Tsuruga nuclear plant was officially determined to be over an active fault, making it ineligible to operate. Japan’s nuclear regulator made the declaration at their recent meeting. The declaration would be impossible to overcome as Japan’s current laws forbid the operation of a reactor over an active fault line. The NRA also ordered the Monju fast breeder reactor to stay shut down for an indefinite period of time to deal with massive safety issues. More than 9800 safety violations were found at the plant and what the NRA determined to be a major lapse in safety culture. In a recent editorial Asahi Shimbun pointed out the long history and current cluelessness of the management at Monju. They seemed to have no plan to actually prepare for the restart … Read entire article »
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TEPCO Withholds “Black Box” Data About Fukushima Nuclear Disaster
[Translate] In April of 2010 TEPCO signed a contract with high tech security company Magna BSP to provide a sophisticated video and trespass detection system at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. This was the first installation of what was to be a series of similar installations at nuclear plants around Japan, coordinated between the government and nuclear operators. The system was installed at Fukushima Daiichi in 2010 Two TEPCO workers who were trained on the system weeks before the disaster were confirmed to have been among the Fukushima 50 who stayed at the plant during the worst of the disaster. To date TEPCO has not acknowledged the existence of the system or volunteered any of the video and data captured by the system to the public or the press. This data was never … Read entire article »
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NRA To Give Monju Fast Breeder Reactor Order To Stop Operations
[Translate] Japan’s NRA is expected to order the operators of the Monju Fast Breeder Reactor to stop operations. The reactor has been plagued with problems including a sodium fire, a coverup scandal and getting the fuel handling machine stuck in the reactor. Recent reviews of the plant discovered more than 9000 skipped safety inspections and this continued after the admission of the initial 9000 violations. The NRA will likely order Monju to stop operations until significant changes are made to assure proper safety procedures are adhered to. Sources: http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20130513_24.html http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2013/05/224488.html This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team Join the conversation at chat.simplyinfo.org All content is copyright SimplyInfo.org. Content may also be copyright of other specific original authors or creators and was reproduced here with limited permission. While we welcome the … Read entire article »
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83 Year Old Nun Who Broke Into Nuclear Facility Faces 20 Year Sentence
[Translate] The 83 year old nun that broke into Oak Ridge nuclear facility faces a 20 year sentence after being found guilty. If given the full sentence she would essentially serve the rest of her life in prison. The group who snuck into the facility and vandalized a building are waiting for the final sentencing phase of their trial. This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team Join the conversation at chat.simplyinfo.org All content is copyright SimplyInfo.org. Content may also be copyright of other specific original authors or creators and was reproduced here with limited permission. While we welcome the sharing of information or promoting our work, please do so with respect to the large amount of effort and time that goes into our research and analysis. … Read entire article »
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TEPCO To Remove Cover On Unit 1 This Fall
[Translate] TEPCO will remove the cover on unit 1 at Fukushima Daiichi this fall. The cover was hastily put over the unit in 2011 in an attempt to lower releases. TEPCO did not say why this work has suddenly been jumped ahead of other work. Most of the roadmap plans TEPCO has announced put unit 1 far down the list of priorities. To remove the spent fuel TEPCO will need to remove the cover, something they say will raise radiation levels. They will also need to remove the remains of the roof and the two cranes to do the work. It was not mentioned how much the radiation levels would rise during this work. Meanwhile the Japanese government has been pushing to reclassify more and more areas near the plant as being … Read entire article »
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TEPCO Begins Dumping Contaminated Water Into The Sea
[Translate] TEPCO has begun dumping groundwater pumped out of a set of wells inland from the reactors into the Pacific. TEPCO dumped 200 tons of groundwater yesterday as a test. They claim it has the same radiation level as nearby rivers but did not say what that level was or the actual substances in the water. Previous tests of the well water detected tritium and cesium but at low levels. TEPCO still needs to gain the approval of the government and local fishing groups before continued groundwater dumping can begin. TEPCO also admitted that the radiation levels at the edge of the plant grounds could go up. They cited the transfer of highly radioactive water in one of the leaking ponds as the source. The water is being moved to above ground metal tanks … Read entire article »
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Widespread Cesium Contamination Of Freshwater Fish In Eastern Japan
[Translate] A new study looked at the cesium contamination of freshwater fish in Fukushima and eastern Japan. The map to the left shows the average contamination levels of a non carnivorous fish called the ayu. The fish was found to be contaminated across a large section of the main island of Honshu. Freshwater fish across many prefectures and down past Tokyo were over the government intervention limit for food with most of the fish in Fukushima over 200 bq/kg. They also raised concerns about cesium concentration in certain river systems and cited irrigation canals and urban water systems as being particularly vulnerable. This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team Join the conversation at chat.simplyinfo.org All content is copyright SimplyInfo.org. Content may also be copyright of other specific original … Read entire article »
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To The Surprise Of Absolutely No One, Yakuza Involved In Decontamination Work
[Translate] Asahi Shimbun reports on the prolific problems of the Yakuza in the layers of contractors used to conduct decontamination work after the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Workers only see a portion of their pay as gang members siphon off the rest. Even legitimate contractors have been blamed for the massive waste in the system where each layer of subcontractors takes a cut of the pay. Journalist Tomohiko Suzuki has a very simple solution to both problems. Direct hire workers to do the decontamination work. Read all the details over at Asahi Shimbun http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201305060062 This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team Join the conversation at chat.simplyinfo.org All content is copyright SimplyInfo.org. Content may also be copyright of other specific original authors or creators and was reproduced here with limited permission. … Read entire article »
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Black Soot, Neutrons & Early Events At Fukushima Daiichi Get New Concern
[Translate] Fukushima Daiichi worker Happy11311 was recently interviewed by a Japanese newspaper. Ex-SKF provides a translation of the article here. One of the things Happy mentions is that he was outside when unit 3 exploded on March 14th at 11am. He describes being covered in black soot. The large mushroom cloud of unit 3′s explosion had a dark cast to it unlike the explosion at unit 1 or the initial part of the blast at unit 3. This of course raises questions about what was in that explosive release to make the dark soot. As part of this Ex-SKF raises the question about the neutron detection at the plant. The original unrevised monitoring data shows a pattern that correlates to the venting of unit 2 and having a north or partially north wind. Sandia … Read entire article »
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TEPCO Sells Off Real Estate, Still Loses 7 Billion USD
[Translate] TEPCO recently announced they lost about 7 billion dollars in 2012. As part of the restructuring of the company they were ordered to sell off assets. It appears that has been going on yet it didn’t make a considerable dent in the company hemorrhaging money. They have planned to sell of 247.2 billion yen in real estate in the 3 years following the disaster. This equals about 2,492,270,400.00 USD Sources: http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/gourika/index-e.html http://www.tepco.co.jp/gourika/baikyaku-j.html http://www.tepco.co.jp/gourika/12shisan1-j.html This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team Join the conversation at chat.simplyinfo.org All content is copyright SimplyInfo.org. Content may also be copyright of other specific original authors or creators and was reproduced here with limited permission. While we welcome the sharing of information or promoting our work, please do so with respect to the large amount of effort and … Read entire article »
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New Discoveries In The Fukushima “Black Stuff” Mystery
[Translate] Marco Kaltofan announced last week some new understanding of the strange radioactive black sand being found in Japan. The substance has been found in parking lots and street gutters in some far flung areas including Minamisoma, Fukushima City, Tokyo and various locations in and around the evacuation zone. The substance has an intense radiation reading in all instances if its discovery but details of exactly what it is has been more elusive. Marco was able to obtain a small sample from just outside the evacuation zone in Namie. The black sand like substance was tested using NaI-well gamma spectrometry. It was found to not contain any plant matter and was made up of mineral substances. Additional testing was done using “scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis.”. The substance measured 1.5 MBq per … Read entire article »
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