Japan Earthquake

Japan Earthquake | Page 1842

@elainekirk No, have not seen the compensation details. Link anywhere?

The deal with #4, I have known it has issues but what they said is really concerning. Do we have any explanation for the low water yet? Anything out of TEPCO?
by lillymunster 7/6/2011 12:03:28 PM

@lillymunster nothing on tepco there is a report on the water system as a whole in the japanese press releases but I couldnt gather enough from it to validate posting it though you might being more techi tham me .
The compo details are in the rockhopper post below
by elainekirk 7/6/2011 12:07:42 PM

@elainekirk I am trying to figure a way we can confirm that information in the tweets or how to convey it.
by lillymunster 7/6/2011 12:15:09 PM

Fukushima nuclear crisis an exhibition of panic by the elite mdn.mainichi.jp
by lillymunster 7/6/2011 12:16:33 PM

@lillymunster we cant @lilly really such is the lack of real news in Japan it seems to be that the media do not present news to the public rather they wait until the public demand that they authenticate the news they have become aware of by other means.
If people would rather I waited for official confirmation I will but as in the case of #4 & #1 being close to collapse the tweeters gave us the info long before the official channels
I always make clear that they are unvalidated
the possible worker death gained credence with me because it essentially blamed the worker and I think only tepco would actually be so uncouth as to do that so thought there is a fair chance that it is coming from the workers I checked the original Japanese tweeting tweeter out and it how do I put it - he is not a tweeter of the runour/alarmist variety just a tweeter of snippets
by elainekirk 7/6/2011 12:23:45 PM

@elainekirk I absolutely think the tweets are important and we need to be passing them on to others. My concern was in an attempt to compile a story to do a post. There are comments coming from multiple directions saying things about 4. I may do some emailing today and see what I can get. I wonder if we could get either of the tweeters to talk to one of us if we promise anonymity?

by lillymunster 7/6/2011 12:29:20 PM

@All / Various, couple of things... I have a pool, I suck dirt out, I don't Scoop it. If their is radioactive debris in the bottom of the pool, Have they done water samples?.. Why are they cleaning the radioactive pool? Arer they going to send the kids swimming? No protective gear could well mean a Safety Harness for High Work Or Rubber gloves for electrical work, not neccessarily nuclear protective measures. Microbes can eat or attract radioactive materials (fact), but training them to climb out of the dirt and bag themselves for disposal can be time consuming!
by RBeaner 7/6/2011 12:33:25 PM

The U.S. has 23 GE Mark 1 reactors like the Fukushima Daiichi Unit 1 which exploded and released radiation over the weekend — including the Monticello plant here in Minnesota.

The Heritage Foundation sent around an e-mail today claiming that the events unfolding in Japan should have no impact on plans to expand nuclear power in the U.S.

“The Nuclear Regulatory Commission does not need to regulate more in response to this,“ the Foundation said in Morning Bell: Nuclear Facts to Remember While Following Japan. “We need to remember that nuke plants are privately owned and that their owners have every incentive to maintain safe operations. The government’s role should simply be to set and enforce fair, efficient, and effective safety and environmental standards and allow private industry to meet them.”

“The plant in trouble in Japan is over 40 years old.” the foundation said. “Today’s designs are far more advanced.”

Reuters, however, reports that there are there are 23 GE Mark 1 reactors operating in the U.S. now and five of them are at least 40 years old.

Reactor Location Size (MW) Year
Browns Ferry 1 Decatur, AL 1065 1974
Browns Ferry 2 Decatur, AL 1104 1975
Browns Ferry 3 Decatur, AL 1105 1977
Brunswick 1 Southport, NC 938 1976
Brunswick 2 Southport, NC 920 1975
Cooper Nebraska City, NE 770 1974
Dresden 2 Morris, IL 867 1970
Dresden 3 Morris, IL 867 1971
Duane Arnold Cedar Rapids, IA 580 1975
Hatch 1 Baxley, GA 876 1975
Hatch 2 Baxley, GA 883 1979
Fermi 2 Monroe, MI 1122 1988
Hope Creek Hancock’s Brdg, NJ 1161 1986
Fitzpatrick Oswego, NY 854 1976
Monticello Monticello, MN 572 1971
Nine Mile Point 1 Oswego, NY 621 1969
Oyster Creek Toms River, NJ 615 1969
Peach Bottom 2 Lancaster, PA 1112 1974
Peach Bottom 3 Lancaster, PA 1112 1974
Pilgrim Plymouth, MA 685 1972
Quad Cities 1 Moline, IL 867 1972
Quad Cities 2 Moline, IL 867 1972
Vermont Yankee Vernon, VT 620 1972
by dean 7/6/2011 12:34:44 PM

information for @lilly
by dean 7/6/2011 12:35:07 PM

www.newsmax.com more information about the usa MARK 1 reactors and the MARK ii... @ lilly
by dean 7/6/2011 12:37:30 PM

#4 SFP water level... It makes sense to keep it as low as possible while strengthening support below, relieves stress and tension on materials. If they aren't doing work above (they aren't currently AFIK) then the reduced radiation shielding above doesn't matter. After concrete poured and sets, they can safely add water to reduce the radiation levels for work above. Sound process. Rememberr radiation and radioactivity/contamination release are not the same thing.
by RBeaner 7/6/2011 12:37:44 PM

good morning to all.. I'm off to the office and will come on line there
by dean 7/6/2011 12:38:08 PM

hi RBeaner good seeing you
by dean 7/6/2011 12:38:15 PM

be back
by dean 7/6/2011 12:38:18 PM

@dean Had to take a Fuku vacation, too much frustration and stress.
by RBeaner 7/6/2011 12:38:53 PM

@RBeaner I think the "scooping" dirt out had to do with the language translation. Nobody seemed to bother asking if they are water testing or allowing students to use the outdoor pools.
by lillymunster 7/6/2011 12:42:44 PM

@lillymunster The next big "surprise" will be that household vaccum bags are rad hot, then AC filters, then drinking water filtering systems (read Brita). Do the general Japonese public and their local leaders not understand what the term "Concentrater" means?
by RBeaner 7/6/2011 12:49:37 PM

@lillymunster How come I am the only one with an Avatar?
by RBeaner 7/6/2011 12:50:15 PM

@RBeaner They have been disapearing since my time yesterday morning.......
by Angie 7/6/2011 12:53:20 PM

@RBeaner actually no, most people probably don't understand that contamination gets concentrated. Nobody is telling them.

So far everyone looks avatar'ed to me.
by lillymunster 7/6/2011 12:53:57 PM

A tweet I saw, I think Elaine already mentioned this. Sounds like they are bringing in workers from other countries, paying them low. I guess they have run out of Japanese to exploit already?

RT @ Parc_Jp : Accept the primary business of the 6,000 trainees from Vietnam. Japan business company, I'm was working in harsh environments and training large numbers of foreigners before. bit.ly in the primary "participants" at risk of exposure as workers will be used.
by lillymunster 7/6/2011 12:55:26 PM

Oh hi guys!!! just stopping by.......Oh I have to do a little more digging but my next door neighbour is in Japan! He flew over 2 weeks ago......he is a builder as far as I know (only moved in at xmas) so I think he is helping with housing....his wife is coming over for coffee soon so I will see what I can find out......
by Angie 7/6/2011 12:58:56 PM

@lillymunster Makes sense to use many relatively cheap and low skilled workers. Here (US) it takes a week to qualify someone to wear a dosimeter and Anti-Contamination clothing. Whether it be a laborer or a pipe fitter. Another day for respirator use in contaminated areas. For general, non-contaminated, access, just dosimeter, takes 2-3 days.
by RBeaner 7/6/2011 12:59:53 PM

@all, if anyone is lurking and looking for a way to help out. Dean posted a list below of all the Mark 1 reactors in the US. We need to search and try to find blueprints, design drawings or written documents that talk about upgrades or changes made to these power plants. They need Google searches. If you find something please post it with a link that goes directly to the document, ask a mod to pin it for you. Things to search for:
Google image searches:
"blueprint ___insert name of nuclear plant___"
"drawing ___insert name of nuclear plant___"
"schematic ___insert name of nuclear plant___"

Google searches (regular web page searches)
"upgrade ___insert name of nuclear plant___"
"safety ___insert name of nuclear plant___"
"change ___insert name of nuclear plant___"
by lillymunster 7/6/2011 1:02:05 PM

What is so 'distasteful' about tepco training the 6000 is that it is so they can go back home and operate their new Japanese built nuke station - which begs the question how are they gonna learn nuke station operation at fuku???
by Elaine Kirk 7/6/2011 1:03:30 PM

@Angie - great, hope she has some good info. Hope her hubby stays safe.

@Ralph, using less skilled labor to do tasks when the high skilled workers are in limited supply is understandable. TEPCO is again systematically abusing these workers. They are gettting paid very low wages according to Irockhopper and being given the most dangerous jobs.
by lillymunster 7/6/2011 1:04:26 PM

There are many news articles talking about how the quake caused many immigrant workers to leave the country. Japan was using foreign workers for underpaid unpleasant jobs.
by lillymunster 7/6/2011 1:06:29 PM

@lillymunster yeah I think it will be very interesting to hear from someone who really has no idea of what has gone on or is going on......I mention rad and she had no idea.......he has 6-8 weeks left over there.
by Angie 7/6/2011 1:07:10 PM

@lillymunster I am all for giving the workers the Facts and realities associated with the work, both nuclear and industrial. I hope by now there are enough eyes watching to ensure proper training and informing is occurring, but these people are accepting the wage, so I don't know how "low" it is.
by RBeaner 7/6/2011 1:07:26 PM

@lillymunster Many countries use both legal and illegal foriegn workers for unpleasant tasks, and pay them as little as they can get away with. I don't consider it abuse when giving a wage to a vonuntary worker, AS LONG AS they are informed of risks and hazards assiociated with the work.
by RBeaner 7/6/2011 1:10:17 PM

@Angie ...I mention rad and she had no idea... Prehaps he did not inform her of the hazards to prevent worry. It would be foolish of him to go without some understanding of the situation at his destination.
by RBeaner 7/6/2011 1:12:19 PM

@RBeaner " AS LONG AS they are informed of risks and hazards assiociated with the work."
foriegn workers who understand neither Japanese nor English are in no way going to be fully informed/
by Elaine Kirk 7/6/2011 1:12:28 PM

@RBeaner It really has not been mentioned here until the 60mins story the other night.......unless they watch it they wouldnt know........they would be like most I know here and think it blew and now its fine.
by Angie 7/6/2011 1:14:03 PM

@angie hopefully through you they will become better informed
by Elaine Kirk 7/6/2011 1:14:03 PM

@RBeaner from the same twitter

The system: a company pays 148,300 yen / mo / worker plus some fees to IMDO and then, IMDO pay 80,000 yen to a worker. This is very low. Even a contract day worker at nuclear plants earns about 9,000 yen / d. But, the low wage is justified under the name of 'training.'
by lillymunster 7/6/2011 1:14:08 PM

@Elaine Kirk Then they simply Should Not Go. I assume they recieve training in their language. I assume that because they Agreed to a contract. Then again Stupid is as Stupid does
by RBeaner 7/6/2011 1:14:20 PM

@Elaine Kirk yes coffe when we get the chance shall be interesting!
by Angie 7/6/2011 1:15:02 PM

@RBeaner They are lured with promises of job training and good working conditions, opportunity. They get there and get something quite different. This seems to be a standard scam in Japan to exploit workers.
by lillymunster 7/6/2011 1:15:13 PM

There are also some well documented cases of Japanese workers being hired through employment agencies or contractors. They are told one thing of a low risk job using a skill they have. They get there and are used as jumpers on tasks not in their skill set. There has been lots of bait and switch documented by the media.
by lillymunster 7/6/2011 1:17:08 PM

@lillymunster 80,000 Yen = 984 dollars, Looks very low, but what is the wage and working conditions where they are coming from? Are they rice field workers, combatting snakes and crocs on a regular basis? What are the costs of raising their families back home and were they being met before they got this job? For them, it may be great pay.
by RBeaner 7/6/2011 1:18:26 PM

@lillymunster I completely dissagree with bait and switch, or taking advantage of ill informed or ignorant workers, lawsuits and worker compensation lawsuits should be available (they are in the US)!! But when properly informed and trained, I have no problem offering a job to someone and a voluntary acceptance of it by the worker. Does Japan have organizations (not specifically unions) and laws that protect all workers?
by RBeaner 7/6/2011 1:27:41 PM

@RBeaner if those workers go home and impregnate their partners with sperm that has been corrupted by radiation and this results in a child being borm with handicaps or genetic /immunity problems then that worker has paid a very heavy price
by Elaine Kirk 7/6/2011 1:28:31 PM

@RBeaner No Japan does not have a universal union type system. They do have unions and there are some calls from related unions to assure worker rights at the plant. My understanding from what I have read is labor laws in Japan are similar to the US in that they exist but are rarely or easily enforced.
by lillymunster 7/6/2011 1:30:15 PM

@RBeaner your not going to convince me it is ok to exploit workers, even if their home country sucks or has low wages.
by lillymunster 7/6/2011 1:31:15 PM