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In the NRC report from July. Going through the summary found this. It would require new seismic testing. I would guess these aging old reactors do not want to have to prove they can resist a quake since we know they probably can't.

• Initiate rulemaking to require licensees to confirm seismic hazards and flooding hazards
every 10 years and address any new and significant information. If necessary, update
the design basis for SSCs important to safety to protect against the updated hazards.
(Section 4.1.1—detailed recommendation 2.2)

@MaryW I missed it at first. Update on the October report of these seal deaths. No mention of testing them for radiation. There was a significant radiation dispersal in Russian waters within a month of the disaster. We talked about the possibility of this being some sort of radiation induced problem.

Mary, if you find more information on this please make sure I get it. I can check some Veterinary channels to see if more information is out there or contact the groups/people in charge to get more details and find out if any radiation related testing has been done. I really thought this would resolve itself by now and might have been one isolated group of seals.

UPDATE1: Panel sees nuclear power generation costs higher than 2004 estimate

TOKYO, Dec. 13, Kyodo

A government panel on Tuesday said in a draft report that nuclear power generation costs 8.9 yen per kilowatt hour when including expenses associated with nuclear accidents, higher than a 2004 projection of 5.9 yen per kwh.

The new estimate, calculated by considering the result of a nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant, showed that nuclear power is still one of the cheapest energy sources. But the report noted that 8.9 yen is the ''minimum'' cost of nuclear power as the total damage costs of a severe nuclear accident are yet unclear.

According to the draft report, the cost of electricity from coal-powered thermal plants is estimated at 9.5 yen per kwh and from liquefied natural gas-powered thermal plants at 10.7 yen per kwh, reflecting higher fuel prices. In the 2004 projection, the cost of electricity from coal-fed plants was pegged at 5.7 yen per kwh, and from LNG-fired plants at 6.2 yen per kwh.

As for renewable energy sources, costs of wind power generation on land are estimated at between 9.9 and 17.3 yen per kwh, and of household solar power at 33.4 yen to 38.3 yen per kwh.

In 2030, thermal power generation costs are expected to further increase, while the cost of wind and solar power generation are projected to drop to as low as 8.8 and 9.9 yen per kwh, respectively, amid expected market expansion. The cost of nuclear power generation is estimated to stay at 8.9 yen per kwh.

The calculation is part of the process of reviewing the country's energy policy following the Fukushima Daiichi plant disaster, the worst nuclear accident since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. The March catastrophe has made the Japanese people increasingly cautious about relying heavily on nuclear power.

Under the national energy plan endorsed in June 2010, the country's reliance on nuclear energy was projected to increase to 53 percent of total power supply by 2030, from about 30 percent before the Fukushima accident.

Based on the report to be issued by the panel later this month, the government is expected to come up with the best combination of power sources for the country, or what is known as the ''energy best mix.''

The latest estimate is different from the 2004 figures because it has counted in what the panel calls social expenses, in addition to capital, fuel and operation and maintenance costs.

Social expenses are included in costs for nuclear power generation in the form of accident risk costs, and for thermal power generation in the form of costs to deal with carbon dioxide emissions.

Nuclear accident risk costs are estimated at 0.5 yen per kwh, according to the draft report, which noted that expense could increase further depending on the value of damage caused by a severe nuclear accident.

So far, the panel estimates damage costs to be at least 5.8 trillion yen, drawing on the Fukushima accident, which erupted in the wake of the March 11 megaquake and tsunami. But that figure does not include, for example, expenses related to cleaning radiation-contaminated land around the plant.

The 2004 cost projections were calculated as 5 to 6 yen per kwh for nuclear power generation, 5 to 7 yen per kwh for coal-fired power generation, and 6 to 7 yen per kwh for LNG-fired plants, but the latest estimates revised the figures to 5.9 yen, 5.7 yen and 6.2 yen, respectively, to make them comparable.

==Kyodo english.kyodonews.jp

The NRC July report also talks of extensive new training to assure staff know and can implement new emergency procedures and equipment. Also new equipment, facilities and communications gear to deal with an extended SBO

blame it to the weather and the economical crisis.

Canada announces withdrawal from Kyoto Protocol

Canada says it is pulling out of the Kyoto Protocol, the first country to formally do so. The protocol mandates industrialized countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Canada's environment minister Peter Kent told reporters on Monday in Ottawa that the protocol doesn't cover the world's largest emitters, the United States and China, and therefore cannot work.

The news follows a deal struck at the UN climate conference, or COP17, in Durban, which closed on Sunday. The talks agreed to extend the protocol after its 2012 deadline while putting a new framework covering all major emitters into effect in 2020.

Canada was critical of the protocol during the talks, saying that Kyoto is the past.

Canada ratified the protocol in 2002 under the then Liberal government.

The current conservative government faces strong criticism from environmentalists for promoting the booming oil sand industry. Critics say the refining process produces huge amounts of greenhouse gases.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011 11:59 +0900 (JST)
www3.nhk.or.jp

if they cancel the kyoto treaty, they won't have to pay the mull for not reaching the reduction aim in 2012. this turns the kyoto protocol into senselessness. i bet japan will follow soon. before year's end. 10,000 bucks ;)

We need to find that NRC Oct 13 ACRS document. It may have hints about what the NRC is up to. I will start looking here in a few minutes. If anyone finds it first please let me know.

@Ian sorry must have forgot the link TEPCO doc www.tepco.co.jp

@Ian I think he was career at the NPPs not working in the offices in Tokyo. So he could have long career exposure. Someone mentioned he smoked or smokes. I am sure the stress of the last 9 months has not been great for his health either.

I'm starting to see why the US nuke industry is having a complete spaz. :-)

Maybe Exelon's attempt to split off their nukes was to try to get out of that liability before the new rules go into effect?

@M.I.A. I would assume performance based would mean a specific unit would have to prove ability to get a resource on site appropriately as a focus rather than "yea we can get it there in 24 hours". From reading NRC reports I see lots of operators trying to get away with giving unverified assurances for things like this.

Hmm wondering if I can get back to the office by 10am tomorrow to catch the NRC meeting. BTW they are NOT webcasting them. Just teleconference.