Japan: Trying To Restart Nuclear Reactors
Channel: rumorecurioso
Date: 2014-03-13

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

POPULATION DECLINE CONTINUES IN DISASTER-HIT AREAS

The populations of the 3 Japanese prefectures hardest hit by the 2011 disaster continued to decline.

 NHK analyzed the population changes in Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures between March first, 2011 and February first, 2014.

 The total population dropped by more than 132,000 during the 3 years.

 In the first year after the disaster, the population declined by about 85,000, as many people died or were evacuated.

 In the second year, the number fell by 29,000, and the third year by 17,000.

 Of the 3 prefectures, Fukushima saw the largest population decline -- more than 79,000 -- apparently due to the nuclear accident.

 The numbers indicate that, given the slow progress in reconstruction projects, many residents are giving up on the hope of rebuilding their lives in their hometowns.

 About 30,000 new homes are planned for those affected by the disaster, but only 3 percent of them were complete as of the end of February.

 Progress in projects to relocate tsunami-stricken communities has also been slow. Only 10 percent of the areas planned for relocated communities had been developed as of the end of January.

 But the populations began rising recently in some stricken areas, such as Iwanuma in Miyagi, due to progress in community relocation projects. Populations are also increasing in urban and inland areas such as Sendai and Morioka.

Mar. 11, 2014 - Updated 12:08 UTC

TEPCO SURVEYING FAULTS UNDER KASHIWAZAKI PLANT
  
Tokyo Electric Power Company has begun an additional survey of geological faults under a nuclear power plant in Niigata on the Sea of Japan. Confirmation that the faults are not active is one of the requirements for restarting the plant's idle reactors.

 TEPCO last year applied for safety screenings by the Nuclear Regulation Authority of the numbers 6 and 7 reactors at its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant. The reactors are currently offline for regular inspections. The NRA asked the utility to conduct further underground studies of the 23 faults that lie under its reactor buildings and other parts of the complex.

 On Monday, TEPCO began drilling operations to check the hardness of the strata. The work was shown to the media at one place a little over a kilometer from the plant.

 TEPCO plans to dig observation pits 4 meters in diameter and up to 50 meters deep at 4 locations near the reactor buildings. The utility will also conduct drilling surveys in 7 other places in and outside the plant complex. The company says it will take up to 6 months to complete the survey.

 TEPCO's latest 10-year business plan, approved by the government in January, assumes a restart of reactors at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa in or after July of this year. But the nuclear regulator's safety screening may take longer, depending on the progress of the survey.

 Masayoshi Shimada, the plant's deputy chief, says the planned schedule for the restarts is only provisional. He said priority will be placed on safety while the survey is being conducted.

Mar. 10, 2014 - Updated 06:52 UTC

HUNDREDS SUE OPERATOR OF FUKUSHIMA PLANT AND GOVT
  
More people affected by the Fukushima nuclear accident are suing Tokyo Electric Power Company and the government for damages.

 Groups totaling about 750 plaintiffs filed lawsuits at 8 district courts across Japan on Monday, ahead of the 3rd anniversary of the accident on Tuesday.

 Two of the groups filed suits in Tokyo. One is made up of some 40 people from parts of Tamura City, Fukushima Prefecture, located within the 30-kilometer evacuation zone around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

 The plaintiffs are seeking combined damages of 13 million dollars, saying they haven't received enough compensation for their disrupted lives.

 The other group consists of 230 people from parts of Tamura that are outside the 30-kilometer zone as well as residents of adjacent Tochigi Prefecture. They are demanding redress of 46 million dollars.

 The statute of limitations on seeking damages from TEPCO over the nuclear accident has been extended from 3 years to 10 years.

 But defense layers say the statute of limitations for suing the government may become a point of contention.

 TEPCO says it will look into the details of the suits and deal with the matter sincerely.

 The government's Nuclear Regulation Authority declined to comment.

Mar. 10, 2014 - Updated 09:50 UTC