Update # 30 – July 11, 2011
by Nelle Maxey
Most of the articles at NHK today fall in the "Captain Obvious" category. One assumes TEPCO's releases are the result of domestic and international criticism regarding the handling of the crisis.
Makeshift equipment at Fukushima hit by problems
"The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has been struggling for months to bring the plant's troubled reactors under control using makeshift equipment….
The company says it is necessary to make the plant's makeshift equipment more durable, as it is expected to take some time to bring the reactors under control.
It says the makeshift hosing, in particular, requires more elaborate measures, as it carries highly contaminated water." Monday, July 11, 2011 13:13 +0900 (JST)
Long-term response needed for radioactive water
"The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is struggling to deal with radioactive water that is pooling in reactor buildings as the crisis goes into its 5th month.
Water being injected to cool reactors is becoming highly radioactive and accumulating in the basements of reactor buildings. In some facilities, contaminated water is just 20 centimeters [8 inches] from filling the basement…." Monday, July 11, 2011 05:42 +0900 (JST)"
High level contamination in reactor building found
"The operator of the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant says it has detected airborne radioactive materials up to 65 times above the government's standard inside the No. 2 reactor building.
Tokyo Electric Power Company has been conducting an investigation inside the 3 reactor buildings and in areas surrounding the buildings since early this month.
On Monday, the plant operator said robots have detected airborne cesium-134 inside the No.2 reactor building ranging from 40 to 65 times above the government's standard…."
Monday, July 11, 2011 21:52 +0900 (JST)"
Cesium found in hay fed to cattle
"Radioactive cesium far exceeding the legal limit has been detected in hay that was fed to cattle at a farm in Fukushima Prefecture. The prefecture has been investigating why the cattle were contaminated with the radioactive substance.
On Sunday, officials took samples of feed and well water at the farm located in Minamisoma City within the planned evacuation zone.
They say 75,000 becquerels per kilogram of cesium has been detected in the feed. This far exceeds the government's safety limit of 300 becquerels per kilogram [by 300%].
The farmer says the cattle had been kept inside but were fed with hay left outdoors after the March nuclear accident…." Monday, July 11, 2011 12:50 +0900 (JST)"
Expert: contaminated beef poses no problem
"An expert on nuclear medicine says eating meat contaminated with the radioactive substance cesium on a few occasions will not cause health problems…." Monday, July 11, 2011 21:31 +0900 (JST)
Minamisōma is about 25 kilometres (16 miles) north of Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant. Much of the city lies within the mandated evacuation zone near the plant, and thus most of the residents were forced to leave. Approximately a week after the earthquake Minamisōma was in the news again as the town's mayor Katsunobu Sakarai asserts his people have been ‘abandoned', in the wake of orders for all remaining residents to stay in their homes inside the exclusion zone around the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant. In July beef from Minamisoma was found to be contaminated with radioactive cesium above the legal limit, according to the Daily Yomiuri
Minami-soma starts internal radiation checks
"Minami-soma City in Fukushima Prefecture has begun checking the internal radiation levels of its residents….Minami-soma City says it will give priority to checking children as well as adults in the highly contaminated areas. About 7,000 people will undergo the checks by the end of next March."
Monday, July 11, 2011 15:10 +0900 (JST)
Fukui still opposed to restarting reactors
"An official from the prefecture with the most reactors in Japan says he cannot yet comment on the central government's disclosure on Monday….Ishizuka said unless the government gives Fukui a reply, the prefecture will not reactivate its reactors…." Monday, July 11, 2011 19:35 +0900 (JST)
Saga governor welcomes govt stress test plan
"The governor of Saga Prefecture has welcomed the government's announcement, although he has yet to give approval for restarting two reactors at the Genkai nuclear power plant in southwestern Japan…." Monday, July 11, 2011 17:31 +0900 (JST)"
If you want to know what actually happened at Fukushima watch this latest video released by Fairewinds and Associates:
Why Fukushima Can Happen Here: What the NRC and Nuclear Industry Dont Want You to Know