2013 Radiactive Pacific
Channel: OTWTE
Date: 11/08/2013

300 TONS OF NUCLEAR WATER LEAKS TO SEA DAILY

Japan's industry ministry estimates that about 300 tons of radiation-tainted water leaks from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the sea daily.

 The ministry says some 1,000 tons of groundwater flows from a mountainside into the plant premises every day.

 Of the volume, 300 tons is tainted with radioactive substances when it flows through an area near wells before leaking into the sea. High levels of radioactive materials have been detected in the wells.

 Some 400 of the remaining 700 tons flows into the basements of the plant's No.1 to No.4 reactor buildings. 300 tons of untainted water flows into the sea.

 The plant's operator Tokyo Electric Power Company has been solidifying an embankment of ground at the plant to prevent contaminated water leakage into the sea.

 It is also paving the ground surface with asphalt to keep out rainwater.

 The ministry expects some 60 tons of tainted water to continue leaking into the sea even after these steps.

 It says the figures are based on water table data offered by the utility, not detailed analyses of various data.

 The ministry also says it cannot rule out the possibility that contaminated groundwater started leaking into the sea just after the nuclear accident at the plant.

Aug. 7, 2013 - Updated 10:30 UTC

LEAK FROM FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI HALTS TEST FISHING

A fisheries cooperative in Fukushima Prefecture has decided to stop test fishing there due to continued leakage of radioactive water into the sea from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

 Local fishermen suspended commercial operations after the nuclear accident at the plant in March 2011.

 The Soma-Futaba Fisheries Cooperative had test fished north of the prefecture since June last year, to prepare for a resumption of commercial fishing.

 Radioactive levels of marine samples from the area are far below government-set allowable levels. But it decided to stop, saying consumers would doubt that its catch was safe due to the leakage.

 The cooperative said it hopes the plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company, will take appropriate measures to stop the leakage as soon as possible.

Aug. 9, 2013 - Updated 06:39 UTC

LEVELS OF RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCE ON SEABED SURVEYED

Researchers say the concentration levels of a radioactive substance are very high in the seabed near the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant that had an accident in 2011.

 The researchers are from the University of Tokyo's Institute of Industrial Science. They spent a year, ending in July, measuring the concentration levels of radioactive cesium 137 in the mud in the seabed for 400 kilometers off Fukushima Prefecture.

 They found that within 20 kilometers of the nuclear plant the radioactive cesium levels at 40 locations were more than 5 times the surrounding areas.

 The researchers explain that these locations coincide with dips in the seabed.

 They also say radioactive cesium levels near the mouth of the Abukuma River in Miyagi Prefecture, about 70 kilometers from the plant, were more than twice those of surrounding areas.

 Researchers note radioactive cesium discharged by the nuclear plant disaster probably flowed into the river and was carried into the sea.

 Project Associate Professor Blair Thornton at the Institute of Industrial Science says the researchers have been able to identify places where radioactive substances are likely to build up.

Aug. 7, 2013 - Updated 09:46 UTC

FISHERMEN FILE PROTEST AGAINST TEPCO OVER LEAKS

The head of a national federation of fisheries cooperatives has lodged a protest against the operator of the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant after revelations that contaminated groundwater has leaked into the sea.

 Federation chief Hiroshi Kishi visited the headquarters of Tokyo Electric Power Company on Thursday.

 Kishi handed a letter of protest to TEPCO president Naomi Hirose. He said the federation has repeatedly asked the utility to ensure that no radioactive water reaches the sea. He accused TEPCO of betraying fishermen's trust.

 Kishi demanded that TEPCO outlines how it will contain tainted water accumulating in the complex. He said TEPCO must take immediate measures to stop the water leaking into the sea.

 He also urged the power company to increase its monitoring for radioactive substances in waters near the plant.

 Hirose said he would work to comply with the requests.

 A representative of a fisheries cooperative in Fukushima accompanied Kishi. He said he wants TEPCO to know that the leaks of radioactive water are the worst mistake since the nuclear accident.

 High concentrations of radioactive substances have been detected in monitoring wells near the shore at the plant as well as in adjacent waters. TEPCO admitted the leaks on Monday.

Jul. 25, 2013 - Updated 04:12 UTC

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