News From The Meltdowns: Another Leak At Fukushima; Decontamination Status - FAIL!
Channel: onthewaytoextinction
Date: 2013-06-18

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/

DECONTAMINATION DEVICE LEAKING AT FUKUSHIMA PLANT

Workers at the disabled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant have found contaminated water leaking from a newly-installed filtering system.

Tokyo Electric Power Company officials say the leak was discovered on Saturday during an inspection of the Advanced Liquid Processing System.

The system can filter almost all types of radioactive material. The utility has been testing the system since March.

The officials say the leak occurred at a welded part of a storage tank for radioactive water. They say water has dripped into a pan below and has not leaked outside of the system.

The officials say they are unable to determine the exact amount of water that leaked as it is mixed with condensation from the surface of the tank.

The radiation level of gamma and beta rays in water on the surface of the welded part was 0.18 millisieverts per hour.

TEPCO has halted the test-run of the system and is investigating the cause of the leak. The officials say faulty welds may be the cause of the problem.

Jun. 17, 2013 - Updated 10:29 UTC

GOVT. TO SET UP PANEL ON FUKUSHIMA WASTE STORAGE

The Environment Ministry says it will set up expert panels to assess the safety of sites where contaminated waste may be stored in Fukushima Prefecture.

The government is trying to secure disposal sites for soil and debris with high concentrations of radioactive substances as decontamination work proceeds in Fukushima.

The move is in response to local opposition to hosting the sites in addition to the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

The Ministry plans to construct intermediate storage sites in the towns of Futaba, Okuma and Naraha close to the nuclear plant. Radioactive waste will be kept there until final disposal sites are built.

Some residents are up in arms over the plan as the waste contains materials with high levels of radiation exceeding 100,000 becquerels or more.

One of panels will be made up of radiologists and geologists to check the stability of the ground where the sites would be built. They will also give advice on the structure of the storage facilities as well as safety measures.

The Ministry will also set up another panel to oversee conservation of the environment around the facilities.

The panels will hold their first meetings on June 28th. The ministry says it hopes to gain the understanding of local residents through discussions in these panels.

Jun. 17, 2013 - Updated 02:02 UTC

NO CLEAR GOALS IN MOST DECONTAMINATION CONTRACTS

Work to remove radioactive substances from the land and surfaces of buildings has been underway across Fukushima Prefecture more than 2 years following the nuclear accident.

But NHK has learned that there are no decontamination numerical targets in most of the contracts cleaning companies signed with the central government and Fukushima municipalities.

NHK obtained the information on the contracts signed through April through freedom-of-information requests as well as questionnaires to the government and 32 local authorities.

It found that contracts with the government and nearly 90 percent of the municipalities did not specify to how much radiation should be lowered.

Officials say they cannot be sure to what extent the decontamination work is effective as it is unprecedented in Japan. This makes it difficult for them to set targets for cleaning firms.

Decontamination workers told NHK that some employees are doing sloppy work due to lack of numerical targets.

Keio University Professor Takero Doi says decontamination work can only be called effective when it reduces the radiation levels. He stresses the need for targets for workers.

Environment Ministry officials say they are carrying out surprise inspections in decontamination areas and that they will make efforts to prevent insufficient work.

Jun. 13, 2013 - Updated 21:04 UTC

RESTRICTIONS TO EASE ON FUKUSHIMA ROADS
Authorities will ease traffic restrictions on 2 main routes in a zone designated uninhabitable near the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. The changes will take effect from Monday next week.
Since the disaster, the government has listed areas with radiation levels of over 50 millisieverts per year as uninhabitable. Parts of the No.6 and No.288 national highways have been restricted to only vehicles engaged in decontamination and reconstruction efforts.
The government decided to ease the restrictions to reduce the burden on locals, who have had to make detours to avoid the highways.
From next Monday, people will become able to use the roads if they are traveling to their workplace or to hospitals. They will still need to apply in advance to the local government for permission.
To control the zone, authorities are placing barricades at 312 locations, including crossings and entrances to residential areas.
Jun. 11, 2013 - Updated 06:39 UTC