News From The Meltdowns: TEPCO Greed & Nuclear Waste; Jan 13-15 2014
Channel: rumorecurioso
Date: 2014-01-16

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/  

TEPCO REJECTS ARBITRATION BODY'S SETTLEMENT PLAN
 
The operator of the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant has reportedly rejected an arbitrator's proposal to settle compensation claims by evacuees over their health concerns.

 A group of evacuees from Iitate, a village located near the plant, told reporters on Wednesday that Tokyo Electric Power Company had told them it cannot accept the settlement.

 They quoted the utility as saying that the grounds for the settlement are not clear.

 About 180 former residents of the village's Nagadoro district filed claims with the Center for Settlement of Fukushima Nuclear Damage Claims, which was set up by the science ministry.

 They are seeking compensation for the anxiety they've experienced over potential health problems due to radiation exposure. They say they were exposed to radiation for longer than necessary because officials were late in issuing an evacuation order for the district.

 The arbitrator decided last year to recommend that the utility compensate the claimants. It began presenting specific settlement proposals to the villagers last month.

 Lawyers for the residents say TEPCO should accept the settlement because the utility earlier promised to respect the arbitrator's proposals.

 TEPCO replied that it is trying to confirm the center's views on the proposal and that it will take swift action based on the findings.

Jan. 15, 2014 - Updated 10:26 UTC

JAPAN TO ACCEPT IAEA NUCLEAR SECURITY ASSESSMENT

Japan's nuclear watchdog says it will allow a team from the International Atomic Energy Agency to assess security at the country's nuclear facilities.

 The decision came at a regular meeting of the Nuclear Regulation Authority on Wednesday. It is the first time the NRA has agreed to such a move.

 NRA member Kenzo Oshima said the Authority will listen to opinions from abroad to reinforce Japan's security measures and identify points for improvement.

 The decision comes amid growing global concerns about nuclear security, preparedness against terrorist attacks on nuclear facilities, and the theft of nuclear material.

 Those concerns increased after the September 11th 2001 attacks in the United States and the accident at Fukushima Daiichi plant in March 2011.

 The US and Britain are among several countries that have accepted IAEA assessments. The IAEA team may visit Japan from late this year or in early 2015.

 Experts have pointed to weaknesses in identification checks at Japanese nuclear plants. The NRA is studying how to improve the security arrangements.

Jan. 15, 2014 - Updated 16:41 UTC

NUKE WASTE STORAGE OPERATOR APPLIES FOR SAFETY CHECK
  
The operator of an intermediate nuclear waste storage facility being built in Japan has applied for safety screening ahead of its planned start of operations next year.

 Recyclable-Fuel Storage Company is owned by 2 nuclear power plant operators, Tokyo Electric Power Company and Japan Atomic Power Company.

 On Wednesday, Recyclable-Fuel Storage applied for safety screening with the Nuclear Regulation Authority.

 The company has been building the facility in Mutsu City, in the northern prefecture of Aomori, to take in spent nuclear fuel from plants run by its 2 parent firms.

 The operator plans to store a total of 3,000 tons of nuclear waste for a maximum of 50 years.

 Company officials say the facility proved safe when tested under new standards simulating tremors 30 percent stronger than what was initially simulated.

 The company hopes to start operating the facility in March next year.

Jan. 15, 2014 - Updated 12:59 UTC

NIIGATA GOVERNOR CRITICIZES TEPCO BUSINESS PLAN
 
The governor of Niigata Prefecture, which hosts a nuclear plant run by Tokyo Electric Power Company, has criticized the utility's 10-year business plan.

 Tokyo Electric, or TEPCO, says it hopes to revive itself as a profitable company. The firm must also deal with the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

 Under the plan, TEPCO hopes to resume operations of reactors at its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant in the prefecture on and after July.

 Niigata Governor Hirohiko Izumida said on Wednesday that the plan appears impossible to realize.

 He said a company that has yet to sum up the 2011 nuclear disaster at the Fukushima plant is unqualified to run nuclear reactors.

 Izumida said he plans to meet TEPCO President Naomi Hirose on Thursday.

 The governor said he will tell Hirose that the firm should fully verify the Fukushima plant accident. He also hinted that it's too early to discuss whether to restart nuclear reactors.

Jan. 15, 2014 - Updated 06:21 UTC