Japan Earthquake | Page 1840
Italian journalist takes on the media www.asahi.comby lillymunster 7/6/2011 2:40:02 AM- Shuffling water to the mega float www.tepco.co.jpby lillymunster 7/6/2011 2:55:29 AM
@all Hello!by smoss 7/6/2011 3:10:54 AM
@smoss hi thereby bo 7/6/2011 3:14:49 AM- @smoss Hi!by lillymunster 7/6/2011 3:18:18 AM
- 17,020 Becquerels/Kg Cesium in Dirt Cleaned Out from Elementary School Swimming Pool in Ibaraki Prefecture
And who did the cleaning? Children.
ex-skf.blogspot.comby bo 7/6/2011 3:21:18 AM - @lillymunster @bo Hi! Just hanging around, translating documents...still holding on to the idea that Tepco is hiding something with reguard to its use of mixed oxide fuelby smoss 7/6/2011 3:22:51 AM
- @bo !!!!! yikes. Wouldn't the water be likely contaminated then also? Do they run school year around in Japan?by lillymunster 7/6/2011 3:25:54 AM
- @smoss I found a batch of past due inspections while mining METI for MOX inspections at Kashiwazaki. I am up to 2007 for proof the rods were still there. The safety cameras installed to keep an eye on the mox rods caught the quake and pool water spilling.by lillymunster 7/6/2011 3:27:26 AM
- @lillymunster I think I caught a glimpse of that pool footage...my gut is still telling me that Tepco has more MOX floating around their NPPs than they are letting on. Last night I had to remind myself that MOX reloading (fuel cycle) is 18 months. Do you know what the fuel cycle is for LEU?by smoss 7/6/2011 3:33:54 AM
- @smoss same time frame. I think the key would be determining if they have to get govt. permission to import mox from outside Japan. I still find it odd that reporting was easy to find initially for Kashiwazaki MOX inspections and then they just sort of went away.by lillymunster 7/6/2011 3:38:43 AM
- @lillymunster yes they do. There is a vacation from mid-Aug through the end of Sept. and then one from mid-Feb through to the end of March.by bo 7/6/2011 3:42:16 AM
- Off for my cesium bento. Be back in a few.by bo 7/6/2011 3:42:57 AM
- @lillymunster I think ultimately importing MOX does require much more documentation, crossing international borders and all (coupled with fear of hijacking for terroristic purposes). Once it's in country, however, I think it's completely plausable to consider transfer of MOX materials w/o public knowledge, given that the Nuclear Industry and GOJ seem so intertwined on so many levels.by smoss 7/6/2011 3:52:09 AM
- @smoss So far I have not found anything explaining domestic rules beyond the in plant security and inspections. I have not exhausted everything yet though. If (or when) I finally solve this I will probably start jumping up and down like a little kid. Sure hope I am not at Starbucks when I find it. ;-)by lillymunster 7/6/2011 3:57:28 AM
- nite all!by lillymunster 7/6/2011 4:05:31 AM
- @lillymunster I'll definately be doing cart-wheels with you! (I remember reading somewhere about Japanese FOI, that basically said, if the GOJ believes that the information will upset the public, then it reserves the right to withhold such information) Good Night!by smoss 7/6/2011 4:06:35 AM
Good evening , just wanted to let you know that a link was put on the other board about a wildfire at the Nevada national security site. www.nv.doe.govby Jo 7/6/2011 4:09:57 AM
Hi all! I'm just popping in for a sec...noticed this headline, couldn't find more details yet.......URGENT: Fire breaks out, extinguished soon at nuclear plant in Ibaraki
TOKYO, July 6, Kyodo
english.kyodonews.jpby LM 7/6/2011 4:37:20 AM- @LM more details (not many):
"Ibaraki+ (AP) - TOKYO, July 6 (Kyodo)—A fire broke out and was extinguished soon at a waste disposal facility for the Tokai No. 2 nuclear power plant of the Japan Atomic Power Co. in Tokai, Ibaraki Prefecture, Wednesday morning, the prefectural government said.
The government said no radioactive materials have been released."by bo 7/6/2011 4:43:01 AM - @Bo Thanks! It seems like a Three Stooges movie sometimes...by LM 7/6/2011 4:45:23 AM
- @LM yes, except those are funny.by bo 7/6/2011 4:53:47 AM
- @all Although on paper it is separate, the Tokai-2 NPP shares the same front gate as the Tokai-mura Plutonium Fuel Production Facility.by smoss 7/6/2011 4:55:38 AM
- @Bo So true! Night all!by LM 7/6/2011 4:56:09 AM
- @LM Good night! I'm off too...by smoss 7/6/2011 4:57:29 AM
- @LM good night!by bo 7/6/2011 4:58:57 AM
TEPCO says reactor cooling on target at 80 percent
Tokyo Electric Power Company says its system for recycling highly-radioactive water at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant is operating slightly below target at 80 percent capacity.
The company says it will try to stabilize operation at 80 percent, rather than raising the target to 90 percent as planned.
The process of decontaminating and re-circulating wastewater to cool the damaged reactors began on June 27th.
It was disrupted 3 times last week, partly due to human error. Filtering of wastewater was just 55 percent of capacity at the start. The power company must stabilize the cooling system to get the nuclear crisis under control.
Wednesday, July 06, 2011 12:41 +0900 (JST)
www3.nhk.or.jpby Edano 7/6/2011 5:08:08 AM- i don't quite understand. 80% is not slightly below 100%. and they always talked about low radiated water before.by Edano edited by Edano 7/6/2011 5:09:52 AM
- Background on nuclear stress tests
The so-called "stress tests" on nuclear reactors were introduced by the European Union following the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant.
Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency says the tests are designed to determine how well nuclear power facilities can withstand earthquakes and tsunami.
The tests involve simulated quakes and tsunami whose strength is gradually raised to check their effects on the plant and its functions.
The goal is to identify a facility's weakness so countermeasures can be taken to prevent another nuclear disaster.
In the EU, the quake simulation is carried out by electric power companies, followed by checks by each country's nuclear safety regulators. The results are then evaluated by experts from other countries.
The tests began in June for all of 143 nuclear reactors in operation in the EU. The evaluations will be completed by April next year.
At a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency last month, ministers agreed that the tests should be carried out at all reactors around the world.
Wednesday, July 06, 2011 12:27 +0900 (JST)
www3.nhk.or.jpby Edano 7/6/2011 5:12:00 AM - Radioactive strontium to be closely monitored
Japan's science and technology ministry says tests have found no radioactive strontium in the seabed off the northern Pacific coast.
The test follows last month's detection of the radioactive material in the seabed near the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. The operator of the plant took samples 3 kilometers off the coast at 2 locations -- 20 kilometers south and north of the plant. Radioactive strontium can cause cancer as it accumulates in bones if inhaled.
No radioactive strontium was found this time in samples taken at 6 locations between 10 and 30 kilometers off a section of the Pacific coast that includes Fukushima Prefecture and two prefectures to the south and north.
The Nuclear Safety Commission, an independent body advising the ministry, says more evidence is needed to prove that no strontium has reached these locations.
The current system cannot detect amounts below 0.8 becquerels of strontium per kilogram of soil. It has advised the ministry to use a method that can detect smaller amounts of the radioactive substance.
The fisheries ministry is also testing marine products caught off Ibaraki and Chiba prefectures, near Tokyo, but found no strontium.
Wednesday, July 06, 2011 08:33 +0900 (JST)
www3.nhk.or.jpby Edano 7/6/2011 5:14:21 AM - Gov't plans additional nuclear safety tests
Japan's industry minister Banri Kaieda says the ministry will do stress tests at nuclear power plants to assure local residents they are safe.
Kaieda was speaking to reporters on Wednesday. The additional stress testing is in response to concerns expressed by residents around nuclear plants that are still not operating after regular inspections, following the nuclear accident in Fukushima.
They include Kyushu Electric Power Company's Genkai plant in southwestern Japan.
Kaieda said he is convinced the Genkai plant is safe but additional testing for nuclear stress will be done with the help of the Nuclear Safety Commission.
The minister said the testing will refer to the experience of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and he hopes it will be done soon.
He said all the nuclear plants will be tested, with priority on those already undergoing routine checks. He said he aims to accelerate the scheduling of this work.
Municipalities could oppose restarting nuclear plants in their areas until details about the tests are clarified. This could affect electricity supply during the summer months.
Kaieda said the government will deal with the issue responsibly, to prevent disruptions in power supply.
Wednesday, July 06, 2011 11:58 +0900 (JST)
www3.nhk.or.jpby Edano 7/6/2011 5:17:32 AM - "Kaieda said he is convinced the Genkai plant is safe"
"to prevent disruptions in power supply"
so what do they need stress tests for ?by Edano 7/6/2011 5:20:22 AM - Overseas media on Matsumoto resignation
Overseas media were quick to report Matsumoto's resignation, reflecting strong interest in the news worldwide.
The AP news agency of the United States said Matsumoto's remarks in the disaster-hit areas were regarded as arrogant and uncaring, angering local residents and politicians.
It reported that the resignation is a new blow to Prime Minister Naoto Kan who faces what it called lackluster ratings in public opinion polls.
South Korea's Yonhap news agency said the resignation has dealt a blow to how the prime minister runs the government.
It said that the minister may have decided to resign to avoid becoming a burden on the Kan government as the opposition camp was set to grill him in the Diet.
BBC television said that Matsumoto was under mounting criticism over his arrogant and aggressive behavior. It noted that the minister's short temper led to his resignation.
Tuesday, July 05, 2011 15:50 +0900 (JST)
www3.nhk.or.jp
oh, this darned blood type !by Edano 7/6/2011 5:22:52 AM 
Atmospheric Response to Fukushima Daiichi NPP (Japan) Accident Reviled by Satellite and Ground observations arxiv.org Immediately after the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan we started to continuously survey the Outgoing Long-wavelength Radiation (OLR, 10-13 microns) from NOAA/AVHRR. Our preliminary results show the presence of hot spots on the top of the atmosphere over the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) and due to their persistence over the same region they are most likely not of meteorological origin. On March 14 and 21 we detected a significant increase in radiation (14 W/m2) at the top of the atmosphere which also coincides with a reported radioactivity gas leaks from the FDNPP. After March 21 the intensity of OLR started to decline, which has been confirmed by ground radiometer network. We hypothesize that this increase in OLR was a result of the radioactive leaks released in atmosphere from the FDNPP. This energy triggers ionization of the air near the ground and lead to release of latent heat energy due to change of air humidity and temperature. Our early results demonstrate the potential of the latest development in atmospheric sciences and space-borne observations for monitoring nuclear accidents. Find link to eight (8) page pdf is in upper right hand corner.by Mid Valley 7/6/2011 5:24:26 AM- this is the longest article i have ever seen on Kyodo ....
"Quake-hit 'cat island' launches reconstruction project
ISHINOMAKI, Japan, July 6, Kyodo
A small island in northeastern Japan that attracted tourists and known as ''cat island'' now seeks support for its reconstruction from the March quake and tsunami by making use of its name.
...."
english.kyodonews.jpby Edano 7/6/2011 5:30:21 AM - Japan to conduct nuclear plant stress tests amid safety concerns
TOKYO, July 6, Kyodo
Japan plans to conduct safety assessments called ''stress tests'' of all its nuclear power plants to assure the public of their safety, industry minister Banri Kaieda said Wednesday, as the government struggles to resume operation of reactors that are suspended for regular checkups.
Referring to two nuclear reactors at the Genkai plant in Saga Prefecture which are seeing a delay in their restart, Kaieda told reporters, ''The safety of the Genkai plant has been confirmed...but I think we need to quickly conduct stress tests to offer a sense of assurance by drawing on the European Union's experience.''
On Kaieda's remarks, Saga Gov. Yasushi Furukawa said, ''It is appropriate to wait for the test result'' before deciding whether to approve the resumption of the Genkai reactors.
english.kyodonews.jp
a good response, Furukawa-san ! :)by Edano edited by Edano 7/6/2011 5:33:33 AM - Fire breaks out, extinguished soon at nuclear plant in Ibaraki
MITO, Japan, July 6, Kyodo
A fire broke out and was extinguished soon at a waste disposal facility for the Tokai No. 2 nuclear power plant of the Japan Atomic Power Co. in Tokai, Ibaraki Prefecture, Wednesday morning, the prefectural government said.
The government said no radioactive materials have been released in the 10 a.m. fire.
Waste materials caught fire when workers at the plant tried to drop them into a melting furnace from a container, prompting the workers to put it out by immediately pouring water and report the incident to a local fire department, according to the local government.
english.kyodonews.jpby Edano edited by Edano 7/6/2011 6:51:58 AM - @bo : the girls will love it :)by Edano 7/6/2011 6:58:39 AM
- @Edano field day! I had been thinking of traveling to Fukushima City to begin to do some preliminary work on the social impact there, but maybe I'll wait a few months now.by bo 7/6/2011 6:59:28 AM
- @bo : better before the pool goes down .....by Edano 7/6/2011 7:00:38 AM
- @Edano if there IS an after, I won't go at all.by bo 7/6/2011 7:01:02 AM
- In fact, that may be permanent departure timeby bo 7/6/2011 7:01:23 AM
- that's why better not wait or you can forget the social impact. :)by Edano 7/6/2011 7:02:30 AM
- Well, the social impact has long half lives too, even if it is in accounting for the impact of millions fleeing and resettling. Just don't want to be there when the shit goes down. Literally.by bo 7/6/2011 7:04:51 AM
- i have no idea how it could be made more stable, and they cannot remove the shit, so this will be a long term threat ...by Edano 7/6/2011 7:09:30 AM
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