Update #26: July 5, 2011
The first story at NHK this morning concerns the preparations to pump nitrogen into Unit 3. Note the comment by Nuclear Crisis Minister Hosono at the end of the story. Apparently the government continues in its stance that the evacuation zone around the plant can be reduced once the "threat" of hydrogen explosions is reduced. The high levels of contamination in many locations does not seem to be of concern in terms of "returning" evacuees to their homes. As you will see as you read the international press stories on contamination, this is totally unrealistic.
Robot to gauge radiation in No.3 reactor
The operator of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant says it will send a robot inside the No.3 reactor to measure radiation and determine if it is safe to begin injecting nitrogen. Tokyo Electric Power Company is rushing to implement the procedure, which has already been carried out in the No.1 and 2 reactors to prevent further hydrogen explosions….
Nuclear crisis minister Goshi Hosono said he wants to shrink the evacuation zone around the plant by that date, so attention is focused whether the plant operator can implement the operation as scheduled." Tuesday, July 05, 2011 13:37 +0900 (JST)
The radiation contamination surveys run by citizen's groups has created a huge stir. (See stories below.)
The government is responding as the following story explains by forming a "dedicated department to measure and evaluate contamination data.
Despite all the information on contamination figures that show the fallout does not contain itself to neat circles, but follows both wind patterns and topography, the government continues to use the 20km circle around the plant as a "no entry" zone and the the boundaries of the prefectures for the planned (that is, voluntary) evacuation areas and the areas under emergency evacuation preparation (in case of hydrogen explosions).
Govt plans detailed radiation monitoring
"The Japanese government will conduct a detailed survey of radiation levels in Fukushima and use the data to review existing evacuation orders and advisories…." Tuesday, July 05, 2011 10:41 +0900 (JST)
Stories in the international press concerning contamination levels follow.
Reuters carries this contamination story today:
Fukushima residents dump radiated soil in absence of plan
Tue Jul 5, 2011 1:33am GMT
By Antoni Slodkowski
FUKUSHIMA, Japan (Reuters) – They scoop up soil from their gardens and dump it in holes dug out in parks and nearby forests, scrub their roofs with soap and refuse to let their children play outside.
More than three months after a massive earthquake and tsunami triggered a nuclear meltdown at a nearby power plant, Fukushima residents are scrambling to cope with contamination on their own in the absence of a long-term plan from the government….
As increasingly panicked residents take matters into their own hands, experts warn that their do-it-yourself efforts to reduce contamination risk making matters worse by allowing radiation to spread without monitoring and by creating hotspots of high radioactivity where soil is piled high."
Agence France-Presse (AFP) carries this contamination story:
Japan groups alarmed by radioactive soil
"TOKYO – Soil radiation in a city 60 kilometres (40 miles) from Japan's stricken nuclear plant is above levels that prompted resettlement after the Chernobyl disaster, citizens' groups said Tuesday.
The survey of four locations in Fukushima city, outside the nuclear evacuation zone, showed that all soil samples contained caesium exceeding Japan's legal limit of 10,000 becquerels per kilogram (4,500 per pound), they said….
The citizens' groups — the Fukushima Network for Saving Children from Radiation and five other non-governmental organisations — have called for the evacuation of pregnant women and children from the town…."
Mainichi News (Japan) carries this story.
45% of kids in Fukushima survey had thyroid exposure to radiation
"TOKYO (Kyodo) — Around 45 percent of children in Fukushima Prefecture surveyed by the local and central governments in late March experienced thyroid exposure to radiation, although in all cases in trace amounts that did not warrant further examination, officials of the Nuclear Safety Commission said Tuesday….
The city, about 60 kilometers northwest of the crippled plant, does not fall within the 20-km no-entry zone or nearby evacuation areas…." (Mainichi Japan) July 5, 2011
Back at NHK, some local governments want to decommission nuclear plants in their prefectures.
4 local governments seek to scrap nuclear plants
"An NHK survey of local governments with nuclear power plants has found that 4 of 28 respondents are ready to break with nuclear energy….
Shizuoka Governor Heita Kawakatsu said the nuclear crisis in Fukushima has underscored the need for a fundamental review of Japan's energy policy. He said the country must make efforts to shift to new sources of energy.
Mayor Tatsuya Murakami of Tokai Village, where a criticality accident occurred in 1999, said it's become impossible to predict the extent of impact a nuclear disaster would have. He said Japan should take the global initiative in moving toward the abandonment of nuclear energy." Tuesday, July 05, 2011 19:08 +0900 (JST)
NHK reports the political dust-up as Minister of Reconstruction Matsumoto resigns with 3 short articles.
Governor on reconstruction minister resignation
Tuesday, July 05, 2011 17:34 +0900 (JST)
Survivors welcome Matsumoto resignation
Tuesday, July 05, 2011 11:46 +0900 (JST)
Hirano promoted to reconstruction minister
Tuesday, July 05, 2011 17:08 +0900 (JST)
A more complete account is available on Aljazeera