@M.I.A. will read through that later. I am thinking we can likely assemble all of this into a clear picture of what is up. It makes all the drama in DC make lots more sense.
by lillymunster 12/13/2011 7:57:03 PM
Death Penalty Opposition
EU Set to Ban Export of Drug Used in US Executionswww.spiegel.deStates in the US have long been having difficulty gaining access to a drug used in lethal injection cocktails. A new European Union regulation will make it even harder. As of the end of this week, EU pharmaceutical companies will no longer be allowed to export thiopental for use in executions.
Ever since January, when the Illinois-based pharmaceutical company Hospira elected to stop making a key ingredient in the lethal injection cocktail used by several US states to execute death-row inmates, the United States has been searching for alternative suppliers. As of Friday, obtaining the drug from the European Union will become much more difficult.
....
Just two weeks ago, the Swiss pharmaceutical company Naari AG, which produces sodium thiopental in India, complained that Nebraska had illegitimately obtained a supply via a middleman. Naari CEO Prithi Kochhar wrote a letter to Nebraska's Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Heavican as well as to the state attorney general saying he is opposed to the use of the drug in lethal injections.
"I am shocked and appalled by this news," Kochar wrote in the letter, which was first reported on by the Lincoln Journal Star. "I am writing to request that the thiopental which was wrongfully diverted ... to the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services be returned immediately to its rightful owners, that is, that it be returned to us at Naari."
In April, Indian pharmaceutical company Kayem Pharmaceutical Pvt. Ltd. halted sales of the drug for use in death penalty cocktails. The Danish company Lundbeck followed suit in June.
by Edano 12/13/2011 8:35:39 PM
@VesaVA do you know what units those are in? uSv, mSv etc?
by lillymunster 12/13/2011 9:16:35 PM
@M.I.A. who is translating? Is APR translating these now or did TEPCO finally decide to translate videos?
by lillymunster 12/13/2011 9:29:46 PM
additional documents for the NRC new rules. This is september and seems to be the first round of more concrete things after the July report
pbadupws.nrc.govby lillymunster 12/13/2011 9:41:24 PM
@M.I.A. sounds like they are not going to let them run the duct taped together system forever. :-) The workers have complained about it lots. Some of the early photos of leaks showed things like white PVC fittings and thin hoses.
by lillymunster 12/13/2011 9:49:24 PM
@M.I.A. that is a lot of water. I am guessing TEPCO's asking to dump by March means things are worse than running out in March.
by lillymunster 12/13/2011 9:51:49 PM
These two paragraphs from the Oct 13th NRC document clarify what they mean by coping with a SBO. These would be quite hard to weasel out of:
NTTF Recommendation 4.1 states that rulemaking should be initiated to revise 10 CFR 50.63 to
require each operating and new reactor licensee to: “(1) establish a minimum coping time of
8 hours for a total loss of AC power; (2) establish the equipment, procedures, and training
necessary to implement an ‘extended loss of all AC coping time of 72 hours for core and spent
fuel pool cooling and for reactor coolant system and containment integrity as needed; and (3)
preplan and pre-stage offsite resources to support uninterrupted core and spent fuel pool
cooling, and reactor coolant system and containment integrity as needed, including the ability to
deliver the equipment to the site in the time period allowed for extended coping under conditions
involving significant degradation of offsite transportation infrastructure associated with
significant natural disasters.”
There is general agreement that rulemaking should be initiated to strengthen SBO mitigation
capability at all operating and new reactors for design-basis and beyond-design-basis external
events by extending the coping period and expanding the functional requirements to include
cooling of the spent fuel pools and maintaining RCS integrity. At issue, however, is whether this
objective can be best achieved through requirement of specific coping times for each stage of
the event (8 hours, 72 hours, and beyond), or through a performance-based rule that accounts
for site-specific considerations.
by lillymunster 12/13/2011 9:56:24 PM
@M.I.A. pick whatever is lower. I will have to keep an eye out for these videos. All had been in JP only before
by lillymunster 12/13/2011 9:57:20 PM
@M.I.A. now add to that, most of these plants are really old and already on license extensions as they try to suck the last dollars out of them. If they have a pile of upgrades needed they can't pawn them off on someone else.
by lillymunster 12/13/2011 10:01:00 PM
Another tidbit from the Oct 13th NRC paper.
Available plant data indicate that the primary containment pressures in Fukushima Dai-ichi Units 1, 2, and 3 substantially exceeded the design pressure for the containments. Although these plants had hardened wetwell vents, operators had great difficulty in trying to use the venting
systems to reduce pressure in the containments. All U.S. BWRs with Mark I containments and three of the eight U.S. BWRs with Mark II containments have installed hardened vents [1]. Current NRC regulations do not require hardened vents or specify their functional capabilities. Installation of the vents was done on a voluntary basis under the provisions of 10 CFR 50.59
subsequent to staff’s issuance of Generic Letter 89-16, “Installation of a Hardened Wetwell Vent,” on September 1, 1989. The designs of these vents vary from plant to plant, and many are dependent on AC power. The Fukushima event has demonstrated the need for reliable hardened vents with valves that can be readily accessed and operated under extended SBO
conditions
by lillymunster 12/13/2011 10:02:52 PM
What that says to me is that the vents in the US are likely junk or of questionable functionality in a real accident. The NRC also mentioned that shared vents may no longer be allowed. There was a nuke worker whistle blower months ago in the US that said many of these vent systems likely would not work in an accident since installation was voluntary operators cut corners and did the bare minimum to pass NRC's request. The initial requirement of these vents was a big stinky mess and the operators all fought it. Now if they were mandated to put functional vents, 1 per unit in all these way old units that are already past their life spans?
by lillymunster 12/13/2011 10:05:30 PM
This is one of the warnings about the vent systems
www.startribune.comThis mentions the quakes may have damaged venting systems at Fuku in some units.
www.nytimes.comby lillymunster 12/13/2011 10:08:22 PM
I am seeing about 20 worldwide Mark II containment reactors. 9 in the US with a handful of Mark 3 containments.
en.wikipedia.orgby lillymunster 12/13/2011 10:20:13 PM
Found another implication in the NRC documents:
As a defense-in-depth measure, NTTF Recommendation 6 should be
expanded to include a requirement for BWR plants with Mark I and Mark II containments to implement combustible gas control measures in the reactor buildings functionally akin to those provided in the Mark III reactor buildings.
They would be required to install hydrogen management systems for the reactor building beyond the current inerting/negative pressure system.
by lillymunster 12/13/2011 10:40:38 PM
TEPCO warned against radioactive water leakRadioactive water leaking from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant has earned the operator a reprimand. It was the second seepage from the plant's desalination equipment in less than 10 days.
Tokyo Electric Power Company says the amount was about 30 liters but remained inside the facility housing the machine. The outflow was stopped after valves were tightened.
The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency warned TEPCO against using the equipment. The agency also asked the company to investigate the cause and take measures to prevent another occurrence.
Earlier this month, about 150 liters of water containing radioactive strontium leaked from the same equipment into the ocean.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 04:36 +0900 (JST)
www3.nhk.or.jp by Edano 12/13/2011 11:00:01 PM
edano's getting upset.
by Edano 12/13/2011 11:01:21 PM
i can imagine that the magical machines wear out. they cannot hold forever, and tepco makes no effort for a permanent system.
by Edano 12/13/2011 11:04:29 PM
@Edano Both systems were slap together jobs. TEPCO is trying to cut costs everywhere. The mindset to pay for a new system that will cost lots of money isn't going to be there. Edano will have to force them to do it.
by lillymunster 12/13/2011 11:06:07 PM
@lillymunster they need a system for the next 20 years. nearly a nuke life span. they won't get it for free.
by Edano 12/13/2011 11:08:46 PM
Going through all of the NRC documents that outline the short term and near term new rules being suggested and making a clear list in plain language. I will post it when done, it may take me a while to get it all organized and together. My $.02 on this is there is good reason for the operators to be in panic mode. If all of these were to happen it would likely put the BWR units all out of business. It would just not be cost effective to do all this to these plants and I don't think some of them would be capable of doing all the changes on these old wonky reactors. The non design specific changes are going to be costly. Just setting up offsite emergency equipment to meet the proof requirement talked about would not be cheap. Heavy equipment, fire trucks, generator trucks, possibly helicopters in some places.
by lillymunster 12/13/2011 11:19:30 PM
This is the compiled list of all the original and additional suggestions of the task force and NRC staff. This doesn't mean they will DO all of these, this is just the total l
List of total potential suggestions or new rules:
Reevaluate seismic risk and design basis for reactors, update safety to protect against new findings
Tier1
Reevaluate flood hazards including tsunami & storms,update safety to protect against new findings. Tier1
Seismic & flood walkdowns, have watertight barriers and seals short term while long term changes are determined Tier 1
Station blackout (total power loss) updated action plans, training & equipment. Communications equipment, ERDS systems and other equipment to handle a SBO. Would be determined by NRC on a “Performance based criteria” as in the changes would have to be proven to work, not just statements these issues have been handled by operator. Expedited Tier 1
Reliable hardened vents for Mark 1 & Mark II containment reactors, evaluation for possible hardened vents at other containment designs. This would be mandatory, no longer voluntary and would have to prove the venting system would work. - Tier 1
Review and changes to shared ventilation systems and shared vent stacks on multi-unit sites. - Tier 1
Emergency preparedness: command & control strategies to implement, qualification and training for people in charge during an emergency. Strengthening and integration of emergency operating procedures, severe accident management guidelines, and extensive damage mitigation guidelines, enough trained staff with authority for multi-unit disaster to man all stations, updated training for extended SBO & multiunit disasters. Update or add emergency equipment & facilities to handle multiunit or extended SBO. Communications equipment with power source(s) for on site & off site during a disaster. Fire response procedures. Proper protective equipment for emergency responders – Tier 1
8 hours of back up for loss of all AC power (generators or battery). Training and equipment to supply power for 72 hours to reactor, spent fuel pool cooling, reactor cooling systems and primary containment.
Reactor and containment instrumentation should be enhanced to withstand beyond-design-basis accident conditions – Tier 2
NRC licensing that requires CAP containment accident pressure credit suspended until post – Fukushima issues are fully understood.
Pre-plan and pre-stage offsite equipment & supplies to provide core, reactor, spent fuel pool cooling and “containment integrity”. This includes the ability to deliver equipment to the plant quickly after a major disaster that could include major damage to roads, rail, river etc. transit. The “competing priorities” for responses would also be taken into account.
Back up dedicated power (generator, batteries) for the spent fuel pool make up water system and spent fuel pool instruments. This includes reactors no longer operating that have spent fuel on site. Install a quake proof system to spray water into the spent fuel pool that includes an outside connection to hook up a portable pump or pumper fire truck. – Tier 1
Update EP to handle multiunit events including personnel, dose assessment equipment, training, equipment and facilities. Provide reasonable protection for current equipment from design basis “external events”. Add equipment as needed to address multiunit events as requirements are updated.
Install in control room instruments resistant to natural phenomena to monitor spent fuel pool water level, temperature and radiation level. -Tier 1
Hydrogen control & gas handling systems installed for containment, reactor buildings and “other buildings” for all BWR Mark 1 and Mark II containments. – Tier 1
Determine alternative way to transmit ERDS data that does not use hard wired telecom systems that would be out during a disaster. Satellite is suggested.
Study the efficacy of real-time radiation monitoring onsite and within the EPZs (including consideration of ac independence and real-time availability on the Internet).
Tier 1 & 2 – suggests set dates and move ahead
ist of everything so far they are considering:
by lillymunster 12/14/2011 12:40:10 AM
Increased whaling outlay allowed under quake reconstruction budgetTOKYO, Dec. 14, Kyodo
The Japanese Fisheries Agency has won a larger-than-usual 2.3 billion yen budget for its contentious whaling program as part of an extra budget that passed parliament last month to fund reconstruction from the March earthquake and tsunami.
Although agency officials said the outlay for research whaling will lead to reconstruction of tsunami-devastated Ishinomaki city in Miyagi Prefecture, where one of the country's several whaling bases is located, conservation groups are protesting the move.
Combined with the initial fiscal 2011 budget of about 700 million yen, the whaling budget for the year ending March comes to about 3 billion, compared with previous annual outlays of about 500 million to 900 million yen, according to the officials.
It will be used to make up for an income plunge at the Institute of Cetacean Research, which conducts what the government calls research whaling in the Antarctic Ocean under state subsidies, they said.
The institute could catch and sell less whale meat after obstructions by the antiwhaling group Sea Shepherd Conservation Society forced it to shorten the annual program in February, they said.
The budget also covers measures against such antiwhaling activities, including expenses for a guard ship and gear for Japan Coast Guard officers boarding it, but not work to rebuild infrastructure in disaster-hit areas, the officials said.
''Even if infrastructure is rebuilt, (the local industry) won't be able to produce processed food without whale meat. Enabling local processing factories and restaurants to use whale meat and eventually reviving commercial whaling will lead to reconstruction,'' said an official of the agency's International Affairs Division.
In Ishinomaki, however, none of the several local processing firms have so far reopened their disaster-damaged factories, and a whaling company is barely continuing coastal whaling by partly repairing its ship and
slaughterhouse washed away by the tsunami [very good!], the city office said.
Speaking on the part of conservation groups, Nanami Kurasawa, executive director of Iruka & Kujira (Dolphin & Whale) Action Network, said, ''It is well known that excess whale meat is left in stock in bulk, and no new supply is believed necessary at the moment.''
''I think it is more a matter of face-saving as it would mean they succumbed to obstructive activities if they stop the program,'' he said. ''It is a big question if all-embracing (the institute's) negative earnings and getting insignificant amounts of whale meat will lead to reconstruction.''
On Dec. 6, Japanese whaling vessels left Shimonoseki Port in Yamaguchi Prefecture for the 2011-2012 season of research whaling in the Antarctic, accompanied by a Fisheries Agency guard boat as obstructive actions by Sea Shepherd are anticipated.
On Thursday, the research institute and Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha Ltd., which owns the whaling ships, filed a lawsuit with a U.S. federal court against U.S.-based Sea Shepherd and its founder Paul Watson, demanding they be ordered to cease disrupting its whaling activities.
==Kyodo
english.kyodonews.jp by Edano 12/14/2011 12:46:08 AM
so what's that bs ??? research or whale meat trade ?????
by Edano 12/14/2011 12:47:01 AM
@Edano I have never heard what this research supposedly is or any paper etc based on it. So either I missed it or it is a convenient rewording
by lillymunster 12/14/2011 12:49:13 AM
@lillymunster they clearly talk of whale meat and whale meat processing factories and restaurants. this has nothing to do with research whaling. this is cinical bullshit.
by Edano 12/14/2011 12:51:30 AM
@Edano They keep calling it "research" so has anyone told them to pony up this "research"?
by lillymunster 12/14/2011 12:52:10 AM
i hope their ships get destroyed immediately.
by Edano 12/14/2011 12:54:08 AM
U.S. should keep nuclear plants on lesson from Fukushima: dailyWASHINGTON, Dec. 13, Kyodo
The United States should continue operating its nuclear power plants by improving their safety, learning a lesson from the accident at the Fukushima plant in Japan, the USA Today newspaper said Tuesday.
''The Japanese disaster showed that it's crucial to try to imagine the unimaginable,'' the paper said in its editorial titled, ''Japan's nuke meltdown shouldn't close U.S. plants.''
While Germany responded to the Fukushima Daiichi disaster by moving to phase out nuclear power generation, the United States should not follow suit, it said.
The daily said nuclear power remains ''an indispensable part of the U.S. energy mix,'' providing about 20 percent of the nation's electricity with ''little to none of the greenhouse gas emissions generated by competitors such as coal, oil and natural gas.''
Learning from the disaster at the Tokyo Electric Power Co. plant, the daily said, ''Japanese regulators apparently never thought that a tsunami would knock out the plant's emergency electric supply.''
The newspaper then said the designers of a nuclear power plant in central Virginia in eastern United States, where big temblors are rare, apparently never envisioned an earthquake as big as the one that struck the area in August, which caused the temporary suspension of some reactors.
''Luckily, the plant rode it out with no serious damage,'' it said.
The daily also took issue with the fact that U.S. nuclear power plants ''typically have just four hours of backup power,'' although some have ways to keep electricity going for 14 to 16 hours, saying, ''The Fukushima disaster serves as a reminder that, in nuclear power, there's zero margin for major error.''
==Kyodo
english.kyodonews.jp by Edano 12/14/2011 12:56:08 AM
The Angels Shiga rescue crew had an early start today. They had a team meeting at 4:30 am to discuss strategy, prepare food and traps for the animals. They also applied for additional permits yesterday within Fukushima to explore more cities within the 20km zone for animals, all permits were APPROVED. They enter the zone in 9 minutes and 37 seconds from the time of this post. We hope they rescue many today. We will keep you all informed on developments as they unfold.
by lillymunster 12/14/2011 12:56:11 AM
Noda to declare cold shutdown at Fukushima plantThe Japanese government will soon declare that a state of cold shutdown has been achieved for all the reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
The announcement scheduled for Friday will mean the achievement of the second phase of the timetable to bring the plant under control. The timetable, revised in October, aims to achieve this phase by the year-end.
The government has now confirmed that all the conditions have been met.
It says temperatures at the bottom of the reactor pressure vessels and inside the containment vessels have basically fallen below 100 degrees Celsius.
The amount of radioactive materials emitted has also dropped, with radiation levels on the compound's border falling below one millisievert per year.
The government says stable circulatory cooling of the reactors can be achieved with contaminated water,
as alternative methods have been secured against malfunctions or accidents.Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda will make the official declaration that the reactors are in a stable condition at a news conference on Friday.
The government will launch a new body to oversee the completion of the process. It will be led by a Cabinet minister and the president of Tokyo Electric Power Company, the plant operator.
It will also release a medium-to-long term timetable for the Daiichi plant, which includes its decommissioning, while helping residents to return home.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 08:43 +0900 (JST)
www3.nhk.or.jp by Edano 12/14/2011 12:59:50 AM
back in a bit...by M.I.A. 12/13/2011 7:56:05 PM
Report: Famous Japanese women blogging about mysterious bruises (PHOTOS) enenews.comby Majj 12/14/2011 1:15:20 AM
hudebnik
alblee
UKVal
Oliver (ScribbleLive)
Jonathan Keebler
Matt (ScribbleLive)
kaykodh
PKelley
Markfm
dean
Angie
Deb
Mid Valley
George Gibb
elainekirk
bo
IanGoddard