Toward Post-Fukushima No. 3

3. An American's Perspective of the Recent Eventin Japan and at the Fukushima Nuclear StationMorris Branch
Consultant, USAFirst I would like to express my deepest sorrows

It is my understanding that Japan has very little

as to what has happened to both your people andnatural source for power production and has toyour country.

import coal and oil for the conventional power
plants. Up until this recent accident, JapansThe accident at your nuclear facility was wellnuclear oversight program appeared to be on thebeyond standard accepted design basis in that bothright track to facilitate improvements in plant

the tsunami and the earthquake were larger thanoperations. I am sure that the confidence of thedesigned for. This type of event is hard to imagine

regulator and the public has been shaken but theand it appears that the operator’s response to flood

Japanese people are very resilient.

the core with sea water as a last resort is exactly
what the response to this beyond design basis

In the late 1980s & early 1990s, the NRC

event would dictate in the US as well. The Sever

realized that shutting down a power plant overAccident Management (SAM) Guidelines wereminor compliance issues may not be in the bestdeveloped in the US for just this type event.

interest of protecting the health and safety of thepublic it served. For example, in extreme climate

My civilian nuclear career (Senior Resident

conditions, forcing a possible “Black-Out” (totalInspector) began after the Three Mile Island (TMI)

loss of the electrical grid in areas) or a “Brown-Out”

accident in the US. The Nuclear Regulatory(severe restriction on electrical usage in an area)

Commission

federalcould result in the loss of heating or cooling, traffic

employee be stationed at all of the reactor sites tolights, transportation needs, and other emergency

monitor day to day operations. There was a public

services

outcry about the safety of the nuclear power

hardships. Then NRC may use a process known asstation operation and many improvements wereenforcement discretion, which had to be supported

maderegulatory

by a risk assessment of how the degraded condition

program. However, the NRC worked through theof the power plant would not result in undue risk toissues and held many news conferences to help thethe public.

to(NRC)

strengthenrequiredthethatexistingaandthepublic

maysuffer

severepublic to understand what occurred and how the“Defense-in Depth” features worked to mitigate theHopefully your country will do a thorough review

consequence of the accident. Remember that theof the problem areas pointed out by this accident

TMI accident was a design basis event and all ACand make significant improvement in the plant’s

power was not lost as it was at Fukushima.

ability1towithstandthesetypesofevents.

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Toward Post-Fukushima No. 3

Remember that one’s past can predict one’s future.
I believe that we can reflect on how far Japan has
come after WWII. Japan is a very resourceful andresilient nation. I believe that nuclear power has
helped your country become the great power you
are today and should continue to be considered as
one option for your power generation needs.
Sincerely, Your American Friend
August 2011

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