(This post is by Christine McCann)
Here’s the latest news from the ongoing crisis at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
State of Nuclear Politics in Japan
Japan will announce a new energy policy in March, which will set the stage for the country’s outlook on fossil and renewable fuels, greenhouse gasses, and how it will deal with nuclear power through 2030. Some experts have raised concerns that this will delay research into renewable energy sources.
Because of uncertainty about the country’s energy policy in coming years, Japan is cutting 80 to 90% of funding for the Monju fast-breeder reactor, though it will still spend JY20 million on maintenance costs. The lost funds will affect research and development.
The Mikinohara City Assembly has voted to close down Chubu Electric’s Hamaoka nuclear power plant, citing earthquake concerns as well as worries about the safety of residents. Meanwhile, in an unrelated development, researchers at the University of Tokyo’s Earthquake Research Institute announced that the Hamaoka plant is highly susceptible to a tsunami because of its geographic location. The plant is currently in shutdown status. Operator Chubu Electric is building a sea wall to protect the plant, but it will not be completed until December 2012.
Residents of Kaminoseki, in Yamaguchi Prefecture, re-elected Shigemi Kashiwabara, an outspoken proponent of nuclear power, as mayor of the town. Kashiwabara defeated the head of an anti-nuclear citizens’ group. The governor of the prefecture, Sekinari Nii, said he will watch closely whether the central government will allow the building new plants.
NISA admitted that the backup generator at the Fukushima Daiichi off-site emergency response center failed after the March earthquake because no one had thought to make sure it was earthquake resistant, and current laws about seismic preparedness do not apply to off-site generators. Because the site had no power, officials were forced to relocate, and were subsequently unable to use videoconferencing equipment to communicate with government entities. Technicians could not use equipment to monitor conditions within the plant. The government panel reviewing the Fukushima disaster is investigating the situation.
In order to encourage tourism and dispel concerns about radiation in Japanese food and other imports, Japan is holding seminars in China for members of the media, government officials, and corporate executives. However, some participants said that the explanations were not sufficient.
TEPCO
Yukio Edano, the head of the Ministry of Economy, Technology, and Industry (METI) said that the salary of Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO)’s president should be substantially reduced, bringing it in line with executives whose companies are forced to contend with competition. TEPCO is under pressure to raise funds to compensate those affected by the Fukushima disaster.
Status of the Fukushima Daiichi Reactors
TEPCO discovered hydrogen in pipes at Reactor 1 last week, but insists there’s no risk of an explosion in ‘the immediate future.’ Risk of explosion occurs when air contains at least 4% hydrogen and 5% oxygen. Immediately after the March earthquake, hydrogen explosions occurred in Reactors 1, 3, and 4. Hydrogen levels in the pipe in question measured at least 1%, which is the upper limit of the measuring equipment; TEPCO admits the value could be greater. Alarmed by the findings, Japan’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) has ordered the company to check pipes in Reactors 2, and 3 for hydrogen.
TEPCO is struggling to deal with groundwater that is seeping into reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, raising concerns that contaminated water will overflow during rainstorms. The company estimates between 200 and 500 tons of groundwater per day is seeping in through cracks in containment vessels. TEPCO said it is monitoring the situation. In addition, the water decontamination system experienced more problems this week, working at only 46% capacity—down 37% from last week.
Contamination (Including Human Exposure)
High levels of radioactive iodine-131 were discovered in approximately 400 soil samples collected northwest of the Fukushima plant in June and July. Iodine-131 was also found south of the plants, but in different concentrations. Experts say this suggests that radioactivity was released at different times.
Japan’s Environment Ministry announced that radioactive ash measuring more than 100,000 Bq/kg can be buried, as long as the ash is contained in cement and the burial facility is impermeable to groundwater. However, residents are refusing to allow its disposal within their communities, and the ash is piling up.Japan’s central government has yet to come up with a solution to the growing problem.
Experts estimate that decontaminating Fukushima Prefecture will require removal of up to 28 million cubic meters of radioactive soil, which will subsequently need to be disposed of. The calculations are based on removing soil receiving 5 or more millisieverts of radiation per year. The country currently has no plan for permanent disposal of the contaminated soil. Former Prime Minister Kan had pushed for disposal in areas near the Fukushima Daiichi plant, but local officials refused his request.
Starting in October, Japan will begin checking liquor for radiation. Over 1,000 distillers and wineries within a 150 km radius of the Fukushima Daiichi plant will be affected; in addition, up to 40% of additional producers will be subjected to testing.
Scientists in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, plan to study the effects of freshwater on contaminated sea life, as well as the effects of radioactive water on uncontaminated fish. They hope to determine how long it takes to reduce cesium in ocean waters, in order to rejuvenate the fishing industry in Fukushima.
Rice Crisis
Cesium measuring 500 Bq/kg was detected in rice harvested from Nihonmatsu in Fukushima Prefecture this week, prompting officials to declare the town a ‘priority test area’ and increase monitoring. Five hundred Bq/kg is right on the cusp of government- allowed levels of radiation. If another sample exceeding that limit is found, shipments from the city will be banned.
Evacuation
As expected, Fukushima Prefecture will lift the evacuation advisory on Friday for the towns of Hirono, Naraha, Kawauchi, Tamura, and Minamisoma, all of which are located between 20 and 30 kilometers from the Fukushima Daiichi plant. Under the advisory, residents were warned to stay indoors and be prepared to evacuate immediately in case of another nuclear accident.
Compensation
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Minister Yukio Edano has criticized TEPCO for creating a complicated and confusing compensation process. Edano, who is a lawyer, said that some procedures are so complicated that even he could not understand them. TEPCO is refusing to simplify the required paperwork, saying that change in the middle of the process would be confusing, but has pledged flexibility. Currently, each applicant is required to fill out a 60-page form, which is accompanied by a 160-page guide. By contrast, one of the company’s nuclear accident manuals is three pages in length. Another is six pages long.
The government panel tasked with establishing guidelines for compensation to victims of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, as well as mediating any disputes that arise between TEPCO and victims, has come under fire after it was discovered that two members of the nine-person panel have taken payments from a think-tank closely allied to the nuclear industry. The research entity, called the Japan Energy Law Institute (JELI), is funded almost entirely by the Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI). CRIEPI receives almost all of its funding from power companies; 26% of that money comes directly from TEPCO.
Other Nuclear News
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon urged international cooperation and greater attention to safety after meeting with 60 heads of state to discuss nuclear issues last week. Ki-Moon said that the UN will investigate the Fukushima disaster and monitor the health of those who lived near the plant.