BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Sep 13 - 09:39 PM

"Charley, I said two years back I thought you were over-reacting. I also said I'd apologize if you proved to be right. You were righter than I knew and much more informed than I was on this, that's for sure.

999"

I only wish I had been over-reacting...

Good news! The owners of Vermont Yankee have voted to close down their old nuclear plant in 2014. The plant was one of the first "boiling water reactors" ever made operational and was the model for the Fukushima nuclear reactors. A few days before the Fukushima disaster began the NRC had voted to extend Vermont Yankee's license for another 20 years. The Vermont Legislature and the Government waged a fierce legal battle to overturn the NRC decision but lost at every level int he courts. The NRC still has the final word on health and safety issues relating to nuclear power, and they were not about to reconsider their decision.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: gnu
Date: 02 Sep 13 - 05:07 PM

"The owners of Vermont Yankee have voted to close down their old nuclear plant in 2014."

GREAT NEWS!

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: Jim Martin
Date: 03 Sep 13 - 08:21 AM

This sounds crazy! - surrounding the area with permafrost may work but how is it going to stop the contaminated water sinking BELOW the site & getting into aquifers etc?:

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/sep/03/japan-ice-wall-fukushima-water

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 03 Sep 13 - 11:50 AM

The Guardian and other reports say the method is untested.
How can it be kept frozen over time? Moreover the core will continue to be "hot."

Completion of the frozen "wall" is expected by March, 2015, according to the Japan Times.
Money is also allocated to develop more powerful filtering equipment.

300 tons of groundwater are contaminated every day, according to the article by a staff writer of the newspaper.

A senior official, Shinkawa, said "We are deeply sorry for causing an international stir over this contaminated water problem." [!!!!!]

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Sep 13 - 09:42 PM

I am cautiously pessimistic about the success of this proposed plan...

I'm happy to hear that Japan is now appealing for international help.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 04 Sep 13 - 05:10 AM

Radiation leaks now emit enough radiation to be fatal within hours.

Guardian report

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: gnu
Date: 12 Sep 13 - 11:42 AM

Another leak.

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 12 Sep 13 - 06:55 PM

The storage of contaminated water at Fukushima is not the only storage problem.

Contaminated soil from roads, farms, homes and woods in less contaminated areas- areas with annual doses of 50 millisieverts per year or less was promised by the end of fiscal 2013. The work is badly behind schedule. In the village of Iitate, only 3 percent of land scheduled for cleanup has been cleared.
There are no "mid-term" storage sites for the waste.

In an editorial in the Japanese daily, Mainichi, Sept. 12, 2913, it is recommended that methods other than decontamination be considered for the worst areas.

Current plans would permit people to return home if the dosage is 20 millisieverts or less per year, and to get the annual dose down to one millisievert per year level.

I have no idea as to whether these levels are safe.

http://mainichi.jp/english/english

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: Jim Martin
Date: 30 Sep 13 - 11:33 PM

Reactors 5 & 6 to be scrapped!

http://fukushimaupdate.com/

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: Jim Martin
Date: 30 Sep 13 - 11:38 PM

Pictures of contaminated soil taken off site:

https://www.google.ie/search?q=pictures+of+contaminated+soil+fukushima+taken+off+site&client=firefox-a&hs=DeX&rls=org.mozilla:en

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: Donuel
Date: 01 Oct 13 - 12:34 AM

I think I will patent and distribute * FUCKASHIMA WATER * as bottled water product.
A glow in the dark translucent bottle and cap feature a greenish brownish colored water while not dangerous, appears ghastly. Perhaps a open proof bottle could contain what appears to be a fish skeleton.

With some classic graphics of a Japanese tsunami on the label the product placement is for those who wish to give an ill will gift for their boss teacher or rival. Or it could just remind people of the catastrophe that will not stop for countless generations.

With a name like FUCKASHIMA its got to be good.


I'll get me coat.

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 01 Oct 13 - 02:53 AM

There is a new plan to stop the flow of contaminated water.
They are going to freeze the ground all around the site.

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: Jim Martin
Date: 01 Oct 13 - 09:33 PM

Latest from the 'Beeb':

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24332346

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: Jack Campin
Date: 06 Oct 13 - 07:09 PM

Near miss at a naval base in England:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-24421402

The same events must be possible anywhere that nuclear submarines are repaired.

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 Oct 13 - 01:48 PM

Jack-

I was reading about that near disaster aboard the British sub. Thinking "Nothing can go wrong" is not the right attitude when dealing with nuclear power plants. Most of the time things are boring but in those rare instances when things go wrong vigilance and skill is needed.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 07 Oct 13 - 08:55 PM

Japan's Ministry of the Environment estimates that 18-28 million cubic meters of radioactive waste will be produced as a result of decontamination work in Fukushima Prefecture. Plans as to where to store the waste are uncertain.
Mainichi News Oct. 7, 2013.
http://mainichi.jp/english/english/

A meeting Sept. 30 discussed the accumulating contaminated water from cooling operations at Fukushima. No decision was taken as to who has the lead in tackling the problem- TEPCO or the government.
Oct. 1, 2013; Mainichi News

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 09 Oct 13 - 05:44 AM

Two more incidents this week.

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: gnu
Date: 09 Oct 13 - 07:04 AM

Q... that a lotta litres! Pete... those are 6000 brave souls.

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 09 Oct 13 - 01:32 PM

gnu, the cubic meters of waste to which I referred are the estimates for cleanup of contaminated communities and fields. Neighboring prefectures to Fukushima are being pushed to allow temporary storage; of course they are resisting.

The waste water storage is a separate matter, which seems to be getting out of hand.

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Oct 13 - 04:32 PM

Q! I didn't read the link so thanks for that edification. Scary as it is.

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 15 Oct 13 - 11:39 AM

Some on the clean up, the workers and plummeting morale:


The true scale of the problems facing Fukushima workers


And how a fridge manufacturer's cartoon egg with an unfortunate name became the mascotte of the Fukushima disaster:

Meet Fukuppy, the inadvertent Fukushima mascot

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: Jim Martin
Date: 17 Oct 13 - 07:07 AM

Latest from The Guardian:

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/interactive/2013/oct/15/fukushima-daiichi-nuclear-power-plant-tsunami-cleanup-interactive

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/oct/15/fukushima-nuclear-power-plant-cleanup

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 17 Oct 13 - 12:38 PM

An editorial in Mainichi criticizes Prime Minister Abe's comments which show a lack of a sense of crisis over the contaminated water (not only leaks, but the amount is becoming unmanageable).
Unless the contaminated water situation is brought under control, it will be impossible to decommission and dismantle the crippled reactors.
(The forecast of 40 years to dismantle the reactors already is uncertain.

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: gnu
Date: 18 Oct 13 - 08:35 AM

The reality becomes more surreal.

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: Jim Martin
Date: 22 Oct 13 - 08:14 AM

43 ft waves - hope they're ready!

http://phys.org/news/2013-10-nasa-satellites-typhoon-francisco-japan.html

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: gnu
Date: 22 Oct 13 - 02:57 PM

Tether the chickens!

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: Jack Campin
Date: 28 Oct 13 - 02:31 PM

Meanwhile in South Korea - faked safety certificates:

http://www.newsdaily.com/article/86377ae2b18b923a2c7e94c6f818a245/update-1-stung-by-scandal-skorea-weighs-up-cost-of-curbing-nuclear-power

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 28 Oct 13 - 04:25 PM

New plants proposed for UK. Chinese will be minority shareholders.
Some 3000 Chinese workers will be employed to build the plants. EDF France involved in the design and building of the first of two plants at Hinkley Point, SE England.
BBC News, www,france24.com, etc.

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: Jim Martin
Date: 07 Nov 13 - 06:51 AM

BBC latest:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24847381

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: gnu
Date: 07 Nov 13 - 12:38 PM

It seems that the UK design review process has been extensive. 5 years, 27k manhours and $56M. Still, one has to wonder why a leader in nuclear tech would hire a foreign company to... oh, yeah, $ for the politicians and the rich men who pull their strings. EDF does have a lot of plants in France but I can't be arsed to look up their safety record. In any case, safety records are useless when yer playin catch with raw eggs.

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: Jim Martin
Date: 09 Nov 13 - 08:16 AM

"work to remove molten fuel from three neighbouring reactors that suffered meltdown won't begin for at least another six years."!

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/nov/07/fukushima-nuclear-cleanup-spent-fuel

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: gnu
Date: 13 Nov 13 - 10:29 AM

SC leak

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: Jim Martin
Date: 20 Feb 14 - 05:10 AM

Serious water leak:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-26254140

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: Ed T
Date: 20 Feb 14 - 05:58 AM

Keep an eye to the media on next Monday, on research monitoring of radioactive materials in Pacific Ocean waters.

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: Jim Martin
Date: 21 Feb 14 - 06:31 AM

Refresh!

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: gnu
Date: 22 Feb 14 - 02:33 PM

New Mexico.

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Feb 14 - 04:31 PM

Thanks for keeping this thread up to date, gnu.

Nuclear power mishaps are the gift that keeps giving for 10,000 years.

Charlie Ipcar

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: Ed T
Date: 25 Feb 14 - 06:45 PM

North American scientists track incoming Fukushima plume  

BBC

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 25 Feb 14 - 07:03 PM

Gnu, also in New Mexico, at Los Alamos National Laboratory, dumped material from experiments over the years is causing concern.
Recent reports cite a lack of money in the agencies that would do a clean-up.
The size of the problem is not fully known.

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: Greg F.
Date: 25 Feb 14 - 08:09 PM

Yup. Nuclear power - the gift that keeps on giving.

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: gnu
Date: 26 Feb 14 - 06:42 AM

Interesting article, Ed. Odd that the feds have no $ or inclination to assess the situation.

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: Ed T
Date: 26 Feb 14 - 07:19 AM

Gnu, the Cdn research is in place by " happenstance". Oceanographer, Dr Smith, has some 38 years in the job, and my guess he and his environmental research will end when he leaves. I suspect " the love of science" keeps him working. (Btw, nice to hear from you, I enjoy your insightful perspective to the site).

If you read the last part, it is clear that there is little US funding for this important environmental research either. It is sad tovsee scientists publically "beg for funds" to keep us healthy.

(On a related front,after 35 years in my current job, this is my last day at work. Fortunately, I have a replacement to "hand the torch to",a real luxury in today's downsizing climate. She is a very talented single mother in her mid twenties. It is rewarding and career-reflective to see the "enthusiasm for the job" in her eyes).

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 26 Feb 14 - 01:01 PM

The nuclear waste storage plant near Carlsbad, New Mexico, has been re-opened after a three-week closure to repair the leak.

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: gnu
Date: 27 Feb 14 - 07:00 AM

Congrats, Ed! I hope you enjoy retirement as much, or more, than the rest of us layabouts.

Thanks for the compliment and I return it equally, even though we may sometimes disagree to agree. >;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: GUEST,Ed T
Date: 27 Feb 14 - 07:53 AM

Thanks gnu, First real day of freedom from work since I was in my 20s. Unfortunately, I woke up at 5 am (I intended to sleep in:(

Yesterday, on my last day. I planned to keep a very low profile and just fade away. But, I was contacted by many past and current colleagues from all over the place. I admit, it was nice hearing from them. I strongly insisted on no "retiremet party". But, yesterday my boss (I guess she no longer is that) talked me into one into one for early March. I am still "iffy" about that?

Sometimes folks get into tussles (various levels) on mudcat (and like me. get carried away on the keyboard and send before thinking what I typed),for a variety of reasons. I suspect it is a given, considering the wide variation in participants and geography (combined with the nature of the keyboard. I trust that all of us could "go beyond that" and stay mudcat friends, at least at some level.

BTW, I even disagree with my cat each day - he normally wins. But< I am ok with that:)

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: gnu
Date: 27 Feb 14 - 03:38 PM

Let's try this. The linky no work....

http://rt.com/usa/workers-radiation-exposed-new-mexico-053/

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 10 Mar 14 - 02:53 PM

Fukushima operator may have to dump contaminated water into Pacific

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: gnu
Date: 10 Mar 14 - 04:55 PM

DRINK UP!

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: Jack Campin
Date: 10 Mar 14 - 10:02 PM

Anybody got some numbers on how much radiation they're thinking of dumping?

I assume that means bye-bye to at least all inshore fisheries on the northern Pacific coast of Japan? How much further?

Subject: RE: BS: Japan Nuclear plant disaster, 2011
From: Ebbie
Date: 11 Mar 14 - 03:36 AM

The other night on television a crew with a helicopter landed on an Alaskan beach and they walked a section of the debris that is steadily accumulating, everything from styrofoam to plastic jugs to just plain trash. They said that the entire sea coast of Alaska is affected, and that when the politicos said they had found but very few that had indubitably traveled from Japan it was because they counted only items that had actual Japanese characters and words on them. They said that, based on previous data, the trash today is almost entirely from the tsunami.

If the currents bring trash here, there is little doubt but that they also bring less visible things.

Oh, for the days when we thought the oceans limitless!