Tuesday, December 20, 2011

NRC's Jaczko Gives Blessings to "Cold Shutdown State" and "Completion of Step 2" at #Fukushima I Nuke Plant, Says "Tremendous Milestone"

As reported in NHK Japanese (12/20/2011):

日本を訪れているアメリカ原子力規制委員会のヤツコ委員長は、福島第一原子力発電所を事故後初めて視察したあと、都内で記者会見し、日本政府が「冷温停止状態」になったと発表したことについて、適切な判断だと評価したうえで、再発防止に向けて今回の事故を巡る国際的な情報の共有が重要だとの考えを示しました。

Chairman Jaczko of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission visited Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant for the first time since the accident started, and gave a press conference afterwards in Tokyo. He said the announcement of "a cold shutdown state" by the Japanese government was a proper decision and that it would be important to share the information regarding the accident with the international communities to prevent similar accidents from happening again.

アメリカの原子力発電所の規制・監督を担う原子力規制委員会のトップを務めるヤツコ委員長は、19日、事故後初めて福島第一原発を視察し、20日午後、都内のアメリカ大使館で記者会見しました。

Chairman Jaczko of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission visited Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant on December 19 for the fist time since the accident started, and held a press conference in the afternoon of December 20 at the US Embassy in Tokyo.

この中でヤツコ委員長は、福島第一原発では、事故後、不測の事態に備えた様々な対策が取られたと指摘したうえで、「原子炉内の温度は十分に下がった」と述べ、日本政府が「冷温停止状態」になり、事故の収束に向けた工程表の「ステップ2」の完了を宣言したことを適切な判断だと評価しました。

In the press conference, Chairman Jaczko pointed out to the various countermeasures against contingencies have been installed at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant after the accident, and said "The temperatures inside the reactors have gone down enough", indicating the declaration by the Japanese government of "a cold shutdown state" and the completion of the "Step 2" of the roadmap toward the restoration from the accident was a proper decision.

また、ヤツコ委員長は、原発の安全対策を巡る日米の協力関係について、「今回の事故によって、両国の協力関係はさらに強固なものになった」と指摘したうえで、「事故の情報共有をどのように進めていくか、国際社会が大きな関心を寄せている」と述べ、今回の事故を巡る国際的な情報の共有が重要だとの考えを示しました。

He then referred to the Japan-US cooperation regarding the safety countermeasures for nuclear power plants, and said "Because of the [Fukushima] accident, our relationship has gotten stronger". He also said "The international communities are very interested in how the accident information will be shared", indicating the importance of international information sharing of the accident.

And here's one from Bloomberg (12/20/2011):

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Gregory Jaczko said he’s satisfied with Tokyo Electric Power Co. (9501)’s efforts to end the crisis at the wrecked Fukushima atomic plant.

The melted fuel in the reactors at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant has cooled enough to prevent any further releases of radiation beyond the station, Jaczko told reporters today in Tokyo after a visit to the station.

He spoke four days after Japanese officials declared that the reactors, which were damaged by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, have been brought to a state known as cold shutdown. Some nuclear scientists disputed that the term accurately described conditions at the plant. Jaczko called the declaration a “tremendous milestone.”

“I feel very comfortable that they have completed really the requirements that are necessary to move on to the next stage,” he said. “There’s really no energy left in the reactor to have an off-site release of radiation.”

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'll do some translating for you, arevamirpal, in the political sense.

Jaczko is saying that it's a good thing that TEPCO decided to get off its ass and do SOMETHING to get the reactors under control, especially after the quake on the west coast. Lessons learned there is that 'issues' apparently exist with scrutiny by outsiders.

And Jaczko's list of safety improvements he wants installed on American nukes compared to TEPCO's hodgepodge of tinkerings to date at Fuku, well .. something's better than nothing.

'Cold shutdown' ? Well, w/e, 'issues' outstanding.

How's that ?

:)

http://www.simplyinfo.org/?p=4339

Anonymous said...

"There's really no energy left in the reactor to have an off-site release of radiation."
So, the airborne material still coming out of the various spots in the reactors and the liquids still leaking from wherever do not constitute "release of radiation" as per the official Cold Shutdown.
Is that the scrutiny by outsiders? Lessons learned? How to restart a unit with a 30 ft. crack in containment- Davis Besse. How to restart a unit sited on a fault, experienced a beyond design basis earthquake, without a very detailed inspection-North Anna.
We don't know what was said behind closed doors, but the public was given the confirmation of cold shutdown and no releases to the environment.
Pass the whitewash please, there a little 230 tonne leak still showing.

Atomfritz said...

He is a clever man.

He speaks of "The temperatures inside the reactors have gone down enough" to avoid using the term "cold shutdown".

And his leniency towards Japan's Govt and Tepco - it's for good reason.
If the USA hosts the next big NPP fireworks festival, he wants the others to be lenient.

Anonymous said...

This shows strong collusion between the 2 countries since no other international inspectors are around to verify things. Very convenient dog-and-pony show.

The rest as they said is Japan's problem. The NRC job is done!.

Anonymous said...

"And his leniency towards Japan's Govt and Tepco - it's for good reason. "

"This shows strong collusion between the 2 countries since no other international inspectors are around to verify things. Very convenient dog-and-pony show.
The rest as they said is Japan's problem. The NRC job is done!. "

The NRC's job as a rep of the U.S. govt. was to not hinder Treasuries and the F-35.
And the production of SDF nuclear weapons.

Any questions ?

Atomfritz said...

@ anon 4:03

Good points.
The jet fighter deal is well-known, the (alleged) nuke weapon program not.

I find it interesting that just a week ago this news was spread by the IAEA:

"Japan, IAEA discussing large amount of unaccounted-for nuke materials"
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20111215p2g00m0dm026000c.html

I think the Americans poked into Japan Govt's eye to coerce them to obey, and buy what the Americans want Japan to buy.

I think it was in principle a great idea to put aside nuclear-bomb material by storing it labeled as "radwaste" before the safeguards agreement was enacted.
Too bad that somebody got intelligence about that and ordered the IAEA to look into this secret storage.

The Japanese government is possibly being heavily blackmailed by some foreign interests.
At least I find it insane to trash billions by ordering "stealth fighters" like those that are grounded since long time because of technical problems (see F-22).

Anonymous said...

"The Japanese government is possibly being heavily blackmailed by some foreign interests. "

It appears to be assistance in circumventing their own legislation, in forms various.

And they appear to have neighbors who have no moments of life other than when a Western camera is pointed at them.

Circumventing their own legislation, how many times and in how many ways has ex-SKF commented on how absurd the decision making has become?

$153 million apiece for a plane that can't fly in the rain?
While refusing compensation claims for the Fukushima disaster.

When you have the wrong people in charge you get those kinds of results.

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