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Fukushima

Japan considers Chernobyl solution

Japanese engineers are considering the possibility they will have to bury some of the reactors, at the Fukushima Daiichi plant.  This was the final action taken by the Soviets with the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.

Sand and concrete would be the main ingredients. The Soviets also used boric acid.  South Korea has sent samples of boric acid to Japan to test for possible use on the reactors.  Japanese officials say they want to continue to attempt to cool down the reactors first.

Japan raised the level of seriousness of the disaster to 5 on the INES scale.  International observers had placed it at 6 last week.  Obviously there is a difference of opinion.  Three Mile Island is rated at 5.  Chernobyl is rated at 7, the highest, on the INES scale.

Fukushima, U.S.

U.S. Nuclear Power Plants NOT required to have disaster plans

In the 1980’s the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled 5-4 that there was no reason to require nuclear plants to create earthquake disaster plans.

In 2003, an earthquake in California, prompted the Diablo Canyon plant officials to come up with a plan.  But, for some unknown reason, they have yet to publish that plan. The plant operators were not required to include earthquakes in its emergency response plan, when the plant was first licensed.

In fact according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, nuclear plants in the U.S. are required to have only a general emergency response plan.  In other words they don’t plan for specific types of disasters.

Some officials say no planning is needed because the plants were supposedly built to withstand earthquakes.  Tell that to the Japanese.  Two workers at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, who survived the 9.0 quake/tsunami, say the plant was falling apart.  One of those workers said he was surprised because everyone had been told the plant was earthquake proof.

Fukushima

Fire Truck water spraying to begin

An attempt to hit reactor 3 with the water cannon of fire truck was successful.

Plans are to rotate 6 to 7 fire trucks to spray 50 tons of water per day, on reactor 3 of the Fukushima Daiichi plant.

The initial attempt using a fire truck, by the Japanese Self Defense Forces, demonstrated that the reactor can be hit.  Now the Tokyo Fire Department will take over operations.

Fukushima

High radiation at Fukushima Daiichi, Water dropping Ops not effective

On site radiation levels at 20 millisieverts (20,000 microsieverts) per hour.  This is why attempts to hook up outside electrical power has not taken place.

Tokyo Fire Department staging to take over cooling operations at the plant, when the JSDF has completed their cooling operations.

Officials confirming that water levels still falling in reactors 1, 2 & 3.  Reactor 3 has priority.  Overall situation has not changed from day before.  Indicates water dropping efforts not successful.

 

Fukushima

No progress at Fukushima Daiichi?

Latest press conference from Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano.

Officials still not sure about water levels at the reactors & spent fuel pools.  Deciding if radiation levels are low enough to fly recon aircraft over to take photos.

Officials still evaluating the effects of yesterday’s water dropping & spraying.

Workers still struggling to get new power lines hooked up to the plant.  Power panels on reactors need to be replaced. Radiation levels on site still a problem.

Priority and progress of work affected by number of workers, radiation levels, and other factors.

Help from the United States is appreciated, and specific requests have been made.  Reports say U.S. Secretary of State Clinton announced that coolant specifically for nuclear reactors is in short supply.  Japanese officials say they will have to continue using water  (which is not optimal).

Business/Economics, Fukushima, U.S.

GM joins Toyota in reducing U.S. production

General Motors (GM) has announced that due to auto parts shortages, caused by the disasters in Japan, they will have to shut down some production in the United States.

A GM plant in Louisiana is the first to be closed, for a week, as a result.

Toyota had announced that it would slow production in its U.S. factories. Officials say production will not be affected at their engine plants. Instead of closing plants altogether, Toyota has eliminated overtime work.

Ford says so far their U.S. operations are not affected, Honda said the same thing.

Fukushima

U.S. Military ready to evacuate military families from Japan

There are dozens of U.S. military bases on Honshu, with thousands of dependents.  At this point the evacuation order is voluntary, it’s called “military-assisted voluntary departure.”

The plan involves taking military dependents to Korea.  Because the it is a voluntary evacuation, commercial flights would be used.  There is a potential for thousands of people wanting out, in that case they will start using military transports.

Potassium Iodide pills are being shipping in, mainly for JSDF troops, and U.S. personnel involved in fighting to keep Fukushima Daiichi plant cool.

Fukushima

Hospitals in Tsunami area need Help, Shelters not prepared

Believe it or not, there are still hospitals full of patients, in the tsunami hit areas.

A doctor at one hospital said he is physically exhausted.  After struggling to survive the tsunami, he has been working non stop at the local hospital.  The first floor of his hospital is useless, being covered in mud.  Medications are running out.  Only now are rescue volunteers reaching his hospital.

In other areas, where people had to be taken out of their hospitals, there have been deaths, due to hypothermia.  Elderly patients, who were soaking wet from the flood, and cold, died in an emergency shelter (2 one the evacuation bus, 12 in the shelter).  Shelter officials say they could not keep them warm.  A chronic problem with the emergency shelters is that they do not have sufficient heating. It is apparent that they were relying on outside electrical power, which is gone. This is another example that contradicts the international belief in Japan being the best prepared for natural disaster.  Other “shelters” are nothing more than schools.

Shelter officials, and hospital personnel, say the most critical problem now is lack of medication, especially for people with chronic medical problems, like diabetes.

 

Fukushima

Reactor 3 at its Limits, Sea Water Damaged Pumps, Reactors 5 & 6 Pools heating

Earlier press conference it was disclosed that reactor 3, Fukushima Daiichi plant, had reached its “limits”.  Gamma radiation detected.

Officials have also stated that the use of sea water had damaged cooling pumps, which is why they had to replace them.

Reactors 5 & 6 spent fuel rod pools are showing increasing temperature. At the current rate of heat build up, they believe the pools could hit boiling within a week.  This is why they are trying to connect new power lines to the plant, in order to restart coolant pumps.