KEPCO Can't Find Photos of Fault at Ooi Nuclear Power Plant, But NISA Says No Problem

We are supposed to take their word for it that it's not active and that the plant is is safe.

Fukui Shinbun reports that KEPCO, Ooi Plant operator, cannot find photographs of the crushed zone that runs through the plant compound, between Reactor 2 and Reactor 3 buildings.

Two university researchers have said publicly that the crushed zone could be active faults or that it could be activated by the active faults nearby.

From Fukui Shinbun (6/26/2012):

大飯原発の敷地内断層写真未提出　保安院要請に関西電力

KEPCO hasn't submitted the photos of faults at Ooi Nuke Plant despite the request from NISA

再稼働準備中の関西電力大飯原発（福井県おおい町）の敷地内を走る軟弱な断層（破砕帯）が、活断層と連動して地表をずらす危険性が指摘されている問題で、経済産業省原子力安全・保安院は２５日、関電に求めた破砕帯の写真が提出されていないことを明らかにした。

It has been pointed out by researchers that the crushed zone at the Ooi Nuclear Power Plant may cause the slippage of the ground surface when the active faults move. The plant is currently being prepared for the restart in Ooi-cho in Fukui Prefecture. The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency disclosed on June 25 that the photographs of the crushed zone that the agency had asked KEPCO to submit weren't submitted.

　保安院によると、要請には法的強制力はなく、関電は「写真を探しているが見つからない」としている。保安院は「データの要請は情報収集の一環」としており、大飯原発の破砕帯の活動性はないとの見解は変えていない。

According to NISA, the request was not legally binding. KEPCO says "We're looking for the photographs but we can't find them." NISA says the request for the photographs is part of the information gathering, and the agency hasn't changed its opinion that the crushed zone at Ooi Nuke Plant is not active.

　同日、参院議員会館で開催された市民団体などとの会合で保安院が明らかにした。

NISA disclosed this information during the meeting with citizens' groups held at the Office Building for the members of the House of Councilors (Upper House).

　保安院は、渡辺満久東洋大教授（変動地形学）らが今月初め、破砕帯がずれる危険性を指摘したのを受け、情報収集を始めた。１９８５年に関電が国に提出した大飯３、４号機の増設申請書に掲載された調査図面の原図と、破砕帯の写真を求めたが、原図しか提供されていないという。

NISA started collecting information after Professor Mitsuhisa Watanabe of Toyo University (tectonic geomorphology) had pointed out the danger of the crushed zone shifting, earlier this month. The agency requested the original survey map that was attached to the application submitted by KEPCO to the national government in 1985 to build Reactors 3 and 4 at Ooi Nuclear Power Plant, and the photographs of the crushed zone. NISA said KEPCO only submitted the original survey map.

　また、保安院専門家会議の委員のうち活断層に詳しい６人に非公式に見解を尋ねたところ、一部の委員からは「現地を調査するべきだ」との意見があったという。

NISA also said it had unofficially asked the agency's 6 expert commissioners who were knowledgeable about active faults, and some of them were of the opinion that a field survey should be carried out.

I have a feeling that KEPCO is looking all over the place for the photographs, in all locations where they know for sure they don't keep.

The Ooi plant is set to restart on July 1.

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