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New Photos Of Unit 4, Reactor Cap Found
[Translate] TEPCO was kind enough to post some high resolution images of unit 4 from the recent press event. These included some good views of unit 4. From those images we were able to pull out some new details. The workers have done an incredible amount of work on unit 4 in recent months to prepare for the add on building that will allow fuel to be removed. Amid the concerns about the stability of unit 4, the extensive and complicated work being done on a daily basis has sometimes been missed. Details with each image. You can see all the new images including photos from around the nuclear plant at our Flickr Page. Images can be reused, please leave any watermarks in place and a link back here would be appreciated. South wall … Read entire article »
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Sorry Charlie, There’s Cesium-137 In Your Tuna
[Translate] The announcement yesterday that radioactive contamination from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster has been found in bluefin tuna spread widely in just over a day. The media accounts were frequently short on details making it very hard to understand what it all really means. Dr. Fisher of Stony Brook University, one of the authors of the study was kind enough to provide us with an advance copy of the paper, Pacific bluefin tuna transport Fukushima-derived radionuclides from Japan to California. The paper will come out on the PNAS website later this week. The bluefin tuna were caught in San Diego in August 2011, five months after the start of the Fukushima disaster. The fish are estimated to have been exposed for about 1 month before they migrated across the Pacific. Based on the age … Read entire article »
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Germany Produces 20 Nuclear Plants Worth Of Solar Energy, How Germany Is Debunking Energy Myths
[Translate] On Friday and Saturday Germany generated the equivalent electricity output of 20 nuclear power plants from their domestic solar power capacity. The bulk of Germany’s solar power is installed on residential buildings or in open areas. On Saturday this solar power met 50 percent of Germany’s total midday power needs. On Friday solar met 1/3 of Germany’s total need on a work day. Solar works on a bell curve, adding power to the grid during the times of peak use that happen to be middle of the day. Germany’s current power mix is about 20% renewable sources (mostly wind and solar). Germany also still plans to lower carbon emissions 40% by 2020. On low demand days Germany can produce 120% of their power needs and Spain can produce 72% of theirs. … Read entire article »
Filed under: German Energy, The Latest
Flawed MIT Study Used To Dismiss Need For Nuclear Disaster Evacuations
[Translate] MIT released a new study last week proclaiming that “the guidelines governments use to determine when to evacuate people following a nuclear accident may be too conservative. “ The study by Olipitz et al (aka: MIT mouse study) is being used to advocate for a sweeping downgrade of nuclear safety policy. This is based on a five week low dose external radiation exposure study of mice. (Werner Olipitz bio) The MIT promotional announcement of the study included these claims: “Current U.S. regulations require that residents of any area that reaches radiation levels eight times higher than background should be evacuated. However,the financial and emotional cost of such relocation may not be worthwhile, the researchers say.” ““There are no data that say that’s a dangerous level,” says Yanch, a senior lecturer in MIT’s Department of Nuclear Science … Read entire article »
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Unit 3 Robot Entry Video & New Enhanced Images
[Translate] TEPCO sent robot Quince 2 into unit 3 at Daiichi to inspect the TIPS room. Damage to some of the electrical panels, water on the floors were found. The door for the hallway into the TIPS room was blown into the hallway, door frame and all. The mangled door can be seen blocking the end of the TIPS room hallway. The door frame in pieces with on on the floor in the foreground. The holes in the door frame piece match the holes in the concrete door way. The video can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIzAXojFLA0&feature=youtu.be PDF document describing findings and radiation readings: handouts_120524_08-j 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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TEPCO Talking In Circles About Unit 4
[Translate] TEPCO has released yet another document on unit 4. Sadly, it contains no new information. The 19 page document repeats the same information and statements as previous reports given to the press. TEPCO still fails to release survey work data and non-destructive concrete testing data. They also continue to ignore questions about the crack in the south side facade. The hand out has a list of links on the last page but the cited documents are all known documents that do not contain any new information and do not answer the public’s concerns. 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 … Read entire article »
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Disaster Debris Standoff In Kitakyushu, 2 Arrested
[Translate] This started about 8 hours ago, late evening US time. Residents in Kitakyushu in Miyagi prefecture have blocked a delivery of contaminated disaster debris. The debris was intended to be burned in the incinerator at their town waste facility. The blockade started with about 30 people. They successfully stopped the trucks. Twitter updates show two people arrested so far. photo Yomiuri The blockade by local citizens started in the morning and appears to have been going on into the evening based on updates by EX-SKF and Ustream video showing night images of police still on the scene in the dark. Before dark last night people had crawled under the trucks to prevent them from moving. As this is being written the standoff continues. Police have showed up in large numbers and brought a … Read entire article »
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Updated Radiation Converters & Measurements Page
[Translate] Some updates have been done on our radiation converter & measurements page. This is a collection of radiation measurements and handy converter tools to help understand all the ways radiation readings and doses are expressed. Great for checking your math or converting a reading into a unit you are more familiar with. Explanations for various units of radiation measurements are included. Check out the page here: http://www.simplyinfo.org/?page_id=5675 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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TEPCO Tries To Alleviate Fears Of Unit 4
[Translate] TEPCO is planning another press tour of Fukushima Daiichi and has released another hand out claiming it explains the status of unit 4. While the hand out has more information than some of their other public statements on unit 4 it is still lacking. As TEPCO slowly releases small bits of information it becomes clear they are holding back information from the public. In the report TEPCO admits they have done survey work on the building. TEPCO frames it as being only work to see if the building is tilted as a whole. No actual data is included. More involved survey work would be needed to begin adding the fuel removal building. There is clearly considerable data on the building in TEPCO (or their contractors) possession. They need to release it … Read entire article »
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Oi Restarts Fuels By Political Rivalries
[Translate] A recent Japan Times story highlights the political strategies and tactics under the surface of the Oi reactor restarts. Kansai Electric and the government claims of power shortages may have more to do with trying to hammer the emerging political party in Osaka than actual energy policy. The new party lead by Osaka mayor Hashimoto has sweeping ambitions to take over seats in the national Diet. Restarts and threats of blackouts may have more to do with political tactics then actual energy needs. Read the entire thing here at Japan Times. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120516x3.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 … Read entire article »
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NISA Finds New Quake Risk Concerns At Oi & Tsuruga
[Translate] NISA has discovered that part of the slope near the Oi reactors could collapse in an earthquake. KEPCO says they will remove some of the soil in 2014. NISA intends to hold an expert meeting to discuss the issue. A landslide could drastically complicate an earthquake caused disaster at the plant. English translation of the original article at the end of the page. NISA will also begin a six month inspection to determine if faults under the Tsuruga nuclear plant are active. There are concerns that faults under the plant could move with a nearby known active fault. “Japan has regulations against building a nuclear plant on top of an active fault that has moved within the last 120,000 to 130,000 years, so the Tsuruga site could be declared unfit to host … Read entire article »
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TEPCO To Do Gamma Surveys Inside Units 1-3
[Translate] Denki Shimbun has reported that TEPCO will do robotic gamma camera surveys inside units 1-3. The survey has already begun and will look for radiation concentrations and possible containment leaks. 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 … Read entire article »
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Japan Radiation Readings Taken By Train
[Translate] These radiation readings taken by train recently showed up on Twitter. It wasn’t immediately clear who is doing the work but it appears to be highly detailed survey work with considerable documentation. The map can be seen here and the spreadsheet here. A couple of things found interesting on the map, one that dose rate goes up again north of Sendai and also that there is a notable radiation dose rate around Tokyo that suddenly drops off toward the west side of the city. 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 … Read entire article »
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California May Face Summer Power Shortages Due To San Onofre
[Translate] With San Onofre nuclear plant still down due to steam generator problems, the power supply in California is struggling to keep up. CAISO is predicting about 46,352 MW during summer 2012 will be available. The actual peak of 2011 was 45,429 MW. This leaves a very tight power supply. California plans to do a couple of things to lower demand: Calling back into service Huntington Beach Power Plant units previously slated for retirement. This not only adds 452 megawatts (MW) of capacity in the LA Basin, but it also enables 350 MW of additional imported power to transfer into San Diego. Accelerating completion of Barre-Ellis & Sunrise Powerlink transmission projects. Re-activating the 20/20 demand reduction program and Flex Alert TV and radio conservation campaign. Coordinating military and public agency conservation in key areas of Southern … Read entire article »
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Reactor Restarts Come Down To Money
[Translate] The local assembly of Oi town has voted to approve the restart of the Oi reactors. The assembly cited economic concerns such as employment. The $32 million in annual subsidies the city is given from Kansai electric is probably a considerable part of the decision. Some have described the subsidies as like a drug that causes the local municipality to become both dependent and complacent about fostering the economy independent of the power companies. This approval to restart the reactors is not shared by the other nearby towns. Eight of the eleven nearby towns do not want the reactors restarted. The power companies in Japan are heavily invested in nuclear. The plan to reform TEPCO hinges on the ability to restart the reactors at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa. The Japanese government has nationalized TEPCO, leaving … Read entire article »
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Fukushima Decontamination May Be Paid For By People Of Japan
[Translate] The current plan as expressed by minister Edano. Decontamination will be billed to TEPCO, TEPCO asks for money from the national government. The national government will then determine how to come up with this money likely through tax increases. This seems to be already the situation with most costs. TEPCO is largely out of money and borrowing from the national government. The national government obtains their funds through taxes. In the event of a nuclear disaster in the US, the Price-Anderson Act covers the first 12.6 billion dollars, the rest is the responsibility of the US government, aka: the US taxpayer. 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 … Read entire article »
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Japan Nuclear Disaster Inspires ChimPom
[Translate] Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert has a photo collection of the art collective Chimpom’s new exhibit ‘Turning Around’ at the Watarium Art Gallery in Tokyo, Japan. The group has been behind a number of well known art actions including the pointing man seen on camera at Fukushima Daiichi and their addition to the painting “Myth of Tomorrow” at the Shibuya train station. (ChimPom on the train station exhibit) Images from the new exhibit can be found on Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert’s website. ChimPom http://chimpom.jp Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert http://jeremysuttonhibbert.photoshelter.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 … Read entire article »
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SimplyInfo Releases Japan Travel Guidelines
[Translate] SimplyInfo.org has released their Japan Travel Guidelines. The guidelines include information to assist travelers in determining and understanding the potential radiation levels at a location within Japan. It also explains the risk factors for certain populations and some common sense safety steps people can use to lower their risk while in Japan. While many parts of Japan have very low or no additional radiation since the accident, some areas may require some minor cautionary steps for at risk populations. The guidelines also include some tips for safe food consumption. The lack of clear information has given many travelers apprehension. We hope our guidelines will allow people to educate themselves and reduce some of the anxiety about visiting Japan. The guidelines can be found here or under our Nuclear Safety section. http://www.simplyinfo.org/?page_id=6029 This article would not … Read entire article »
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NRC Whistleblowers Show Conflicts In Agency, Ft. Calhoun
[Translate] A letter sent by NRC employees in the Arlington, TX office blasting Troy Pruett, a regional deputy director at NRC is raising more worries about reactor safety. Employees at the regional offices in Texas claimed that Pruett undermined their efforts to report safety issues at plants and retaliated if employees would not downplay found issues. The whistle blowing employees are asking for an independent non-governmental company to come in an investigate, claiming the inspector general defers back to NRC management for problem resolution. One incident specifically cited in the fire last year at Ft. Calhoun station. Pruett pressured employees to downplay the issue and to not give a “red” finding. The revelations at the NRC’s regional offices raise even more questions about the true nature of Ft. Calhoun’s damage and safety oversight … Read entire article »
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Iowa Pre-Paid Nuclear Bill Runs Out Of Time In State Legislature
[Translate] The Iowa legislature has adjourned without passing a controversial bill that would “pre-pay” for a possible nuclear power plant. Iowa rate payers would have been required to pay an extra fee on their utility bill to give Mid American energy money they could use to potentially build a new nuclear power plant. If the plant was never built Mid American would just keep all the money. As expected the bill was extremely unpopular with Iowans who opposed it by more than 3/4 of those polled recently. Opposition included a rare mash up of environmental groups and AARP who opposed the bill on the grounds it would be a burden on senior citizens already trying to stretch limited incomes. Nuclear “cost recovery” bills have been enacted in Georgia, South Carolina and Florida. Some … Read entire article »
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