#Fukushima I Nuke Plant RO Leak Caused by Over-Tightening the Flow Meter Cap

Contaminated water leak from the Reverse Osmosis apparatus found yesterday was probably caused by over-tightening the cap of the flow meter attached to the apparatus, TEPCO says.

I think the lack of skilled workers at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant has started to show more conspicuously in the past few months.

According to TEPCO, they disassembled the flow meter on June 20 to clean the window of the meter. When they reassembled it, they over-tightened the cap, causing it to deform and crack. But the leak didn't happen immediately because of the rubber gasket.

TEPCO's solution is to replace the entire flow meter the next time the window gets dirty, and not bother trying to clean the window.

From TEPCO's handout 6/21/2013 (Japanese only for now; English labels by me):

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#Nuclear Japan: Minister of Economy Declares (Again) Nuke Plant Researt in Fall, NRA Self-Congratulates on Its "World Toughest Safety Standard"

The minister who also ordered Fukushima decommissioning to be done "ahead of schedule" says nuclear power plants will be restarted in fall, and that it will be up to the NRA to decide. He said the same thing back in April. I guess he subscribes to the idea that if you keep repeating it it will happen.

How a group of paltry 80 people at Japan's Nuclear Regulatory Authority/Agency can adequately assess the safety of nuclear power plants in less than 3 months is a mystery to me. One of the NRA's commissioners said it will take about six months (even that looks short), but he was thinking of inspecting only a few nuclear plants.

Nuke plant operators are set to flood the NRA with requests for restart. Here's Hokkaido Electric Power Company submitting restart requests for all three reactors. Good luck, NRA. You asked for it.

Jiji Tsushin (6/20/2013) reports:

原発再稼働「今秋にも」＝茂木経産相

Minister of Economy Motegi says nuclear plant restart will be as early as this fall

茂木敏充経済産業相は20日夜、BS―TBSの番組収録で、7月8日に施行される新たな規制基準に基づく原発の再稼働時期について「一番早ければあり得るのは秋になる。冬になるかもしれないし、原子力規制委員会の判断だ」と述べ、最短で今秋の再稼働があり得るとの認識を改めて示した。　

Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Toshimitsu Motegi said in the evening of June 20 during the recording of a BS-TBS TV program that the restart of nuclear power plants under the new regulatory standard that will become effective on July 8 will be "in the fall at the earliest. It could be in winter. It's up to the NRA to decide." The earliest restart may be this fall, according to him.

I just can't help laughing at the station name. I know "BS" stands for "broadcast satellite", but to me "BS" stands for "BS", you know. (It is not Bachelor of Science either.)

By the way, NRA is very proud that it has managed to create, at least in their minds, the toughest safety standard for nuclear power plants in the world, in less than 10 months since the establishment of the organization. I don't know what basis the chairman and commissioners claim their standard to be the world toughest. I guess non-experts like us are supposed to take their words for it.

From Jiji (6//19/2013):

新基準「狙い通りできた」＝規制委の田中委員長

New standard "exactly what we intended", says NRA chairman Tanaka

原子力規制委員会の田中俊一委員長は１９日の定例会見で、同日決定した原発の新たな規制基準について「世界でも一番厳しい基準づくりに取り組んできたが、狙い通りのものができた。これから具体的に適用していく段階で基準の真価が問われる」と述べた。

NRA Chairman Shunichi Tanaka said during the regular press conference on June 19 that the new regulatory standard for nuclear power plant that was decided on that day was "exactly what we intended, as we have been doing our best to come up with the toughest standard in the world. The true test of the new standard will come when we actually apply it."

田中委員長は「世界の人から見ると、紙に書いた基準だけでなく、一番足りないのは安全文化だと言われる」と指摘。「安全文化の問題は一朝一夕でできるものではないが、今までと違う厳しい規制をする中で、事業者が『これは自分たちの考え通りにはいかない』とか『安全とはこういうものだ』と体験して身に付けていくのではないか」と期待した。

Chairman Tanaka said, "We are told by people around the world that what's missing most [in Japan] is not just standards written down on paper but the safety culture." "The safety culture cannot be built overnight, but as the tough new standard is being enforced, I hope nuclear plant operators will learn that things may not work out the way they want, and they will experience what it is to be safe", Tanaka said.

Good luck with your "hope", Dr. Tanaka. Don't you know "hope" has been a dirty 4-letter word? Besides, I thought all Japan had before the Fukushima I Nuke Plant accident was the safety culture - plant operators, regulators, and nuclear experts felt so safe that they decided not to think about anything bad, like a nuclear accident or 10-meter high tsunami.

The "world toughest safety standard" for nuclear power plants in Japan will become effective as of July 8, 2013, "ahead of schedule". The original schedule was July 18, 2013. To officially have this new standard 10 days earlier than planned is for some unknown reason considered a good thing.

Ever since LDP took back power under the prime minister with chronic stomach ailment, "ahead of schedule" seems to be in vogue.

So that they can all run to the toilet, I suppose, with Prime Minister Abe at the head of the pack.

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#Fukushima I Nuke Plant RO Leak: All-Beta 26,000 Bq/cm3

From TEPCO's latest email update for the press (6/21/2013):

Cesium 134 ：5.7×10^-1［Bq/cm3］
Cesium 137 ：1.7×10^0 ［Bq/cm3］
Cobalt 60 ：1.4×10^-1［Bq/cm3］
Antimony 125：1.5×10^1 [Bq/cm3］
All-Beta：2.6×10^4 ［Bq/cm3］

In the previous update, TEPCO said the leak was about 360 liters.

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Abundant Shale Oil/Gas Is What's Killing Nuclear Energy (Or At Least Killing Deals for Japan's PM Abe)

Despite the top sell by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Poland has announced it is postponing the construction of two nuclear reactors because of domestic shale gas development, according to NHK.

Just recently (June 10, 2013), the US Energy Information Administration released a report detailing the shale oil and shale gas resources in the world. Looking at the map below, not just Poland but the entire central Europe all the way down to Turkey doesn't seem to need nuclear power as long as they can develop their shale oil/gas resources. No nuclear needs in three Baltic nations either.

Puff... goes Abe's dream of "growth strategy" by exporting Japan's nuclear power plants...

(Click to enlarge)

From the same US EIA report,

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#Fukushima I Nuke Plant: TEPCO Says Another ALPS Tank Has a Pinhole in the Weld

Just as I was wondering in my previous post, TEPCO confirmed they found a pinhole in the other Batch Treatment Tank of the same line (Line A) of ALPS, multi-nuclide removal system contracted by Toshiba.

There are three lines (A, B and C) in ALPS, and each line has two Batch Treatment Tanks which receive contaminated water which has been treated by SARRY (cesium absorption).

From Jiji Tsushin (6/20/2013):

別タンクにも微細な穴＝放射能低減装置－福島第１

Minute hole in a different tank in ALPS system, at Fukushima I Nuke Plant

　東京電力福島第１原発で汚染水の放射性物質を除去する「多核種除去装置（アルプス）」のタンクから微量の汚染水が漏れた問題で、東電は２０日、同じ系統の別のタンクでも溶接部に微細な穴（ピンホール）が１カ所見つかったと発表した。水漏れは確認されていないという。

Concerning the small leak of contaminated water from a tank in ALPS multi-nuclide removal system at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant, TEPCO announced on June 20 that the other tank in the same line had a pinhole in the weld. According to TEPCO, there is no leak from the hole.

　東電によると、アルプスは３系統に汚染水を入れるタンクが二つずつ設置されている。水漏れ発覚で同系統のタンクを調べたところ、最初に穴が見つかったタンクと同様、溶接したつなぎ目部分にピンホールがあった。

According to TEPCO, there are two tanks each in the three lines of ALPS to store contaminated water. After the discovery of the leak in one tank, TEPCO inspected the other tank and found a pinhole in the weld, just like the first tank.

　この系統は試験運転中だったが、水漏れで運転を停止しており、新たなピンホールが見つかったタンクに汚染水は入っていないという。

This line [A] was conducting the test run, but since stopped after the discovery of the leak. There is no contaminated water in the tank where a pinhole was discovered this time, according to TEPCO.

TEPCO at least has some wits about them to inspect the other tank. What a surprise. Now, how about the same tanks in other two lines? What about other tanks and vessels that are all welded?

I'm sure the Nuclear Regulatory Authority, very proud of their "world toughest safety standard" they managed to come up with in less than 10 months, will make sure every weld is done properly.

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#Fukushima I Nuke Plant: Reverse Osmosis (Desalination) System Leak

(UPDATE) TEPCO says the leak is about 360 liters.

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Another day, another leak at Fukushima I Nuke Plant.

Details unknown, but TEPCO's email alert for the press (6/21/2013), via TEPCO Nuclear's tweet, says:

本日（６月21日）午前２時58分頃、ジャバラハウス内の淡水化装置３（逆浸透膜式：ＲＯ－３）の漏えい検知器が作動していることを発見しました。

Today (June 21) at about 2:58AM, we found that the leak detector for the Reverse Osmosis (desalination) system) No.3 was activated.

午前３時３分に協力企業作業員が水漏れを発見し、ＲＯ－３を停止しました。

A worker from our affiliate company discovered the leak at 3:03AM, and RO-3 was stopped.

漏れた水は全てジャバラハウス内の堰内に留まっており、ハウスの外部には出ておりません。

The leaked water is all inside the barrier of the building that houses RO-3, and there is no leak outside the building.

現在、詳細を確認しており、調査結果については、分かり次第お知らせします。

We are investigating the situation right now, and will let you know as soon as

なお、モニタリングポストの値に有意な変動はありません。

There is no significant change in radiation levels measured at monitoring posts.

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#Fukushima I Nuke Plant: Two Pinholes in the Bad Weld on ALPS Batch Treatment Tank Found, Says TEPCO

Additional information (or stating the obvious) on the leak from one of the ALPS (multi-nuclide removal system) tanks Fukushima I Nuke Plant.

From Jiji Tsushin (6/18/2013):

タンク溶接部に微細な穴＝放射能低減装置水漏れで－福島第１

Pinholes found in the weld on the tank for ALPS at Fukushima I Nuke Plant

東京電力は１８日、福島第１原発敷地内で汚染水の放射性物質を除去する「多核種除去装置（アルプス）」のタンクから、微量の汚染水が漏れた問題で、タンク下部の溶接部分に２カ所の微細な穴（ピンホール）が見つかったと発表した。同社はここから水が漏れたとみており、内部にカメラを入れ、原因調査を進める。

TEPCO announced on June 18 that two pinholes were found in the weld at the bottom of the tank used in the multi-nuclide removal system ALPS at Fukushima I Nuke Plant, where a small leak of contaminated water was found. The company thinks the water leaked from these holes, and plans to insert a camera inside the tank to further investigate the cause [of the pinholes].

東電によると、ピンホールはタンク下部の溶接したつなぎ目部分に約３０センチの間隔で開いていた。直径１ミリに満たず、通常の目視では確認できないため、色の付いた溶剤を塗る検査で判明した。

According to TEPCO, two pinholes were found at the weld, about 30 centimeters apart. They are less than 1 millimeter in diameter and couldn't be found by visual inspection. TEPCO applied colored solvent [on the weld] to find the holes.

Cause of the pinholes? Bad weld, bad inspection, I can't think of anything else.

Looking at the diagram that TEPCO provided the other day, there are total 6 Batch Treatment Tanks in ALPS, two each in the three lines. There are numerous other tanks and vessels to absorb radioactive materials, and they are all welded. I wonder if they are properly inspected - i.e. each and every one of the tanks and vessels inspected by professionals and regulatory officials, instead of copying the data of a good weld.

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Bernanke Speaks, US Bond Spikes Like JGBs, Stock Market Goes South

Bernanke thinks Fed's commitment to having a flexible policy of adjusting the bond purchase as needs arise should be a good enough signal to the financial markets. The markets don't seem to agree.

10-year bond yield:

Dow:

Live press conference:



Streaming video by Ustream

There was a reporter from Japan's Nikkei Shinbun, who asked Chairman Bernanke, "What do you think of Bank of Japan under Kuroda? Do you support Kuroda?"

I was embarrassed for him.

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#Radioactive Japan: "Eat and Support" Fukushima Rice, Without Knowing and Without Choice

From rice to be grown and harvested in 2013, the national government is buying up 250,000 tonnes for the government's rice reserve; of that, 40,000 tonnes, or 16%, may come from Fukushima Prefecture. The Fukushima prefectural government is encouraging farmers to participate in the government bidding if they fear "baseless rumors" driving down the price for their rice in the open market.

Once it is purchased by the national government, Fukushima rice becomes just "rice".

The reserve rice will be released to the market a few years later as the need arises (shortage of rice, request from food companies) and as part of the regular inventory control. The consumers won't be able to tell it is rice from Fukushima, or the products (rice crackers, miso, shochu, etc.) is made with rice from Fukushima.

This year, farmers in some of the areas that weren't planted because of the nuclear accident (i.e. former evacuation zones) are happily growing rice with full intention of selling to consumers as long as it is judged "safe" (i.e. testing below the national government's safety standard of 100 Bq/kg of radioactive cesium).

From an article on January 24 this year that appeared in a Fukushima local paper (Fukushima Minpo, the link already expired), archived at this blog:

政府が農家や集荷業者から買い上げる平成２５年産の「備蓄米」２５万トンのうち、県は全国最多の４万トンの配分枠を申請し、認められた。県内の前年の契約実績２１４トンの約２００倍。備蓄米は入札で価格が決まるため、東京電力福島第一原発事故に伴う風評被害の影響がない。県内では作付け再開地域を中心に価格下落への懸念があり、県は不安を抱く農家に備蓄米制度の活用を呼び掛ける。

Of the 250,000 tonnes of 2013 rice that the national government plans to buy from farmers and distributors for its rice reserve, Fukushima prefecture has asked for 40,000 tonnes allocated for Fukushima, the largest amount in the country, and the request has been approved. The amount is about 200 times more than 214 tonnes in 2012 that were actually purchased by the government. Since the price of rice for the rice reserve is determined by auctions, it won't be affected by baseless rumors after the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant accident. Farmers in the areas set to resume rice-growing fear the price drop. The prefectural government will encourage these farmers to utilize the rice reserve system.

県などが２３日に福島市のパルセいいざかで開いた２５年産米作付けに関する説明会で各市町村の担当者らに示した。

The prefectural government explained to municipal officials in a meeting regarding the rice growing in 2013 on January 23 in Fukushima City.

農林水産省によると、入札は一般競争入札方式で、作付け前の１～６月までに数回行われる。審査登録した農家や集荷業者などが参加でき、一番安い価格から落札される。本県の場合、配分枠の４万トンに達するまで応札できる。

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the bidding is done by open bidding. There will be several biddings from January to June, before the planting. Farmers and distributors registered [with the Ministry] can participate, and the lowest bid will be successful. In case of Fukushima Prefecture, farmers and distributors can bid until the allocated 40,000 tonnes are bought by the government.

入札予定価格は全国一律で、２４年産米の平均落札価格は６０キロ当たり１万３４０６円だった。市場流通米と比べ、農水省は「輸送費や販売促進費を除いた価格と同水準」としているが、入札は収穫前のため、市場価格と開きが出ることもある。

The purchase price by the government will apply to all rice, and the average price for the 2012 rice was 13,406 yen per 60-kilo bag. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the price is "equivalent to the market price when transportation costs and sales and promotion expenses are deducted". However, since the bidding is done before the harvest, it is possible that the price will be different from the market price.

応札増加を目指し、都道府県別の入札予定枠は、２５年産米から拡大された。県は風評対策を含め、「農家の希望に応えられる数量」として４万トンに設定。一定の収入を確実に見込める利点などを示しながら生産者らに活用を呼び掛ける。

In order to encourage more bids, the bidding allocations for prefectures have expanded for the 2013 rice. Fukushima Prefecture applied for 40,000-tonne allocation in order to "meet the demand from farmers" as a countermeasure against baseless rumors. The prefectural government will encourage farmers to utilize the system by pointing out the merit that a certain level of income is guaranteed under the system.

県によると、本県の２４年産米の収量は約３６万トンだった。

According to the prefectural government, Fukushima had 360,000 tonnes of rice harvested in 2012.

So, Fukushima Prefecture is planning on selling over 11% of this year's harvest to the national government, who buys up rice using taxpayers' money.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture (February 2013), Koshihikari rice grown and harvested in "Nakadori" in Fukushima (including cities like Date, Fukushima, with high soil contamination) in 2012 was selling for 15,034 yen per 60 kg bag in the open market as of December 2012, which was about the same price level as rice from other prefectures.

And that was the lowest-priced rice from Fukushima. Go figure.

The latest auction results announced by the Ministry of Agriculture (5/28/2013) shows 11,000 tonnes of rice from Fukushima Prefecture have been purchased by the national government in 8 auctions.

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(UPDATED) TEPCO's Press Conference on High Tritium and Strontium in Groundwater Sampled Near Reactor 2 Turbine Building

(UPDATE) TEPCO's handout at today's press conference shows that even if they didn't have the exact measurement of strontium, they had all-beta measurement that included strontium of the May 24, 2013 sample.

Compared to the December 8, 2012 sample that had 150 Bq/liter of all-beta, the May 24, 2013 sample had 1,900 Bq/liter of all-beta, one order of magnitude more. The amount of tritium also jumped by one order of magnitude. At that point, TEPCO could have said something. Instead, they again withheld the information until they had the strontium amount correct.

From TEPCO's handout for the press (6/19/2013), red rectangles added, to show the observation pit in question (No.1):

During the meeting of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority on June 19, 2013, Commissioner Shimazaki raised the issue of this tardy reporting by TEPCO, finding it problematic. But the NRA chairman Tanaka put in some kind words for TEPCO saying it would take about a month to fix the amount of strontium.

Yomiuri Shinbun (6/19/2013) reports that TEPCO was in possession of the May 24, 2013 data disclosed today (see above) as early as June 3, 2013.

TEPCO being TEPCO. Same old story that never seems to end.

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500,000 Bq/liter of tritium from the water sample from May 2013, one order of magnitude higher than the sample taken in December last year (29,000 Bq/liter).

Location: Between Reactor 1's turbine building and Reactor 2's turbine building. (Compared to two other observation holes on the east side of the turbine buildings, this one shows consistently higher levels of tritium and all beta.)

1,000 Bq/liter of strontium.

Very low concentration of radioactive cesium.

(So, TEPCO has known this since late May.)

Source of contamination: past leak from Reactor 2 screen pump room. The contaminated water leak from April 2011 at Reactor 2 water intake.

Soil amendment along the east side (ocean side) of the turbine buildings, fill the gap underground.

(So, these trenches are still filled with contaminated water... All TEPCO did was to plug the exit.)

Sankei Shinbun reporter is asking, "If tritium, strontium have been discovered in the groundwater which naturally flows into the ocean, is it safe to assume this contaminated water has been flowing into the ocean?"

TEPCO obfuscates.

Did you disclose the discoveries in May and early June, he asks.

TEPCO says it was only yesterday they got the strontium data.


Press conference live feed: http://www.tepco.co.jp/tepconews/streaming/index-j.html

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(UPDATED) Just In, from TEPCO's Tweet: High Levels of Strontium, Tritium in Groundwater Sampled Near Reactor 2 Turbine Building at #Fukushima I Nuke Plant

Notes from the press conference in my latest post.

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(UPDATE 4) It is per liter, confirms Kino. Phew. It is still very high for groundwater, supposedly not contaminated (at least not by much at all).

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(UPDATE 3) Jiji Tsushin says the unit is per liter, not per cubic centimeter.

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(UPDATE 2) Independent journalist Ryuichi Kino's tweet:

東電から会見メール。タービン建屋の海側の観測孔から高濃度の放射性物質が出たと。濃度はストロンチウムが１立方センチあたり１０の３乗。トリチウムが１０の５乗レベル。１０時から臨時会見。

— 木野龍逸 (Ryuichi KINO) (@kinoryuichi) June 19, 2013

Strontium at a level of 10^3 (in thousands) per cubic centimeter, tritium at a level of 10^5 (in hundred thousands) per cubic centimeter. (Update from Kino, it is per liter.)

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(UPDATE) "Higher than normal", says Jiji Tsushin.

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Details to be discussed in the ad hoc press conference at 10AM, June 19, 2013 (Japan Standard Time).

TEPCO　Nuclear's tweet, about 30 minutes ago:

■お知らせ■本日（6/19）午前10時から本店本館3階において会見を開催し、２号機タービン建屋東側の観測孔でトリチウムおよびストロンチウムが高い値で検出されたことをご説明させていただきます。臨時会見はライブ配信でご覧いただけます。http://t.co/icHWTJJncR

— 東京電力　（原子力） (@TEPCO_Nuclear) June 18, 2013

We will hold a press conference at 10AM today (June 19) on the third floor of our headquarters building [in Tokyo] to explain about high levels of tritium and strontium [from the groundwater sampled] from one of the observation holes on the east side of Reactor 2 turbine building. This ad hoc press conference can be viewed via live stream.

TEPCO's live stream video page is here: http://www.tepco.co.jp/tepconews/streaming/index-j.html

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#Radioactive Japan: LDP's Policy Chief Sanae Takaichi Declars "No One Has Died from Fukushima Nuclear Accident, We Have No Choice But Use Nuclear Plants"

That's how Asahi Shinbun reports. It is hard to tell for certain without the full context, but I think she meant "no one died from acute radiation sickness caused by the nuclear accident", just like many foreign experts including former NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko (though now a changed man, it seems, after having visited Fukushima in 2012) have said over the past two years.

People in Japan who read the Asahi article are outraged. Several workers have died at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant while working to contain the accident. There are people who committed suicide after the nuclear accident because of radiation contamination ruining their crops and cattle. There are people who died of hunger and thirst inside the 20 kilometer evacuation zone, as officials, being bureaucratic officials, prohibited the family members from entering the zone to rescue their parents, siblings, relatives. (Why these people nonetheless followed the officials' orders is another issue.) That zone wouldn't have been set if there had been no nuclear accident. There are people who died on the way to distant shelters, who died at shelters for lack of food and heat, and who wouldn't have needed to be taken to the shelters, spending 10 or more hours on an uncomfortable bus, if there had been no nuclear accident.

But they certainly did not die from acute radiation sickness, for sure.

From Asahi Shinbun (6/17/2013):

「原発事故による死亡者は出てない」自民・高市政調会長

"No one has died from the nuclear accident", says LDP's Policy Bureau Chief Takeichi

自民党の高市早苗政調会長は１７日、神戸市の党兵庫県連の会合で、「事故を起こした東京電力福島第一原発を含めて、事故によって死亡者が出ている状況ではない。安全性を最大限確保しながら活用するしかない」と原発再稼働を目指す考えを強調した。

Sanae Takaichi, Policy Bureau Chief of LDP, said in a meeting of Hyogo Prefecture LDP in Kobe City on June 17, "It is not that there has been a death from the nuclear accident, including at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant. We have no choice but utilize nuclear power plants as long as we secure maximum safety", emphasizing her (the party's) intention to restart nuclear power plants.

　原発事故により多くの避難者が出ている現状で「死亡者が出ていない」との理由を挙げて、再稼働方針を強調する姿勢には、批判が出る可能性もある。

Emphasizing the policy to restart nuke plants because "no one has died" may draw criticism, when there are many people displaced because of the nuclear accident.

　自民党は参院選公約の最終案で、再稼働について「地元自治体の理解を得られるよう最大限の努力をする」と推進する考えを盛り込んでいる。高市氏は産業競争力の維持には電力の安定供給が不可欠としたうえで、「原発は廃炉まで考えると莫大（ばくだい）なお金がかかるが、稼働している間のコストは比較的安い」と語った。

The final draft of LDP's campaign promise for the coming Upper House election includes the push for restart of nuclear power plants by saying the party will "make maximum effort to win the understanding of local municipalities". Ms. Takaichi said the stable supply of power is indispensable for maintaining the competitiveness of industries, and that "a nuclear power plant costs enormous amount of money if we think about the cost of decommissioning, but while it is operating the cost is relatively cheap."

Her boss, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, has been busy peddling Japanese nuclear power technologies and plants in Asia and central Europe, saying his country has learned the lessons from Fukushima and the country's nuclear technology is better than ever.

In other words, après moi, le déluge.

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#Fukushima I Nuke Plant: TEPCO's PR Shouts At Italian Journalist, "If You Cannot Follow My Orders, Go Back!"

On June 13, 2013, TEPCO invited foreign correspondents to Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant to show them the progress that's been made at the plant.

Mr. Pio d'Emilia is the Far East correspondent for SkyTG24, an Italian news TV, who went on the tour, only to be solded down by an agitated TEPCO employee for asking to see the "cage" (steel frame structure over the Reactor 4 building that TEPCO has just recently completed).

As Mr. d'Emilia says, the whole purpose of the tour was to show the "cage" over the Reactor 4 building...

He sarcastically writes, "This was worse than North Korea!"

From Daily NO BORDER entry (6/17/2013; part) by Pio d"Emilia, (original in Japanese, my English translation):

東電の広報室の人たちというのは、じつに奇妙奇天烈だ。自分たちから報道陣を呼んでおきながら、仕事を妨害し、終始怒鳴り続ける。ざるのごとく汚染水が漏れ続けているにもかかわらず、福島第一原発は「きちんと管理」され、現在は「安全な」状況にあり、収束作業は「予定通り」進んでいると我々に思い込ませようと必死のあまり、報道陣から一瞬たりとも目を離さない。「皆さんの安全を第一に考えて」というもっともらしい言い訳のもと、立ち止まることも許さず、レンズの前に手を置いて撮影を制止する。これではまるで北朝鮮の警備兵より酷いです。

TEPCO's PR people are a really weird bunch. They are the ones who invited journalists to the plant. But they obstruct our work, and shout at us non-stop. Contaminated water has been leaking like sieves, but they do their utmost best to convince us that Fukushima I Nuke Plant is "properly managed", and it is in "safe" condition, and work is proceeding "according to schedule". So they keep an eye on us all the time. Under the pretext of "we consider your safety first", they don't allow us even to stop for a moment, they put their hands on our camera lenses to stop us from taking pictures. This is worse than a North Korean armed guard.

彼らはいったい何を恐れているのか。安全を脅かされること？　だが、安全なんてどこにあるのか。そもそも、適格な能力もないくせに、無責任にも原子力発電所を建設し、運営し続けることによって、公共の安全を著しく侵害したのは、東電ではなかったのか。

What are they afraid of? Having safety threatened? But where is that safety? Wasn't it TEPCO to start with, who built nuclear power plants irresponsibly, without qualified competence, who continued to operate the plants and by doing so severely harmed public safety?

(Full article at the link)

In the video Mr. d'Emilia links, a TEPCO PR person is shouting with agitated gesture with his arms, his anger totally out of proportion. I have no idea why he should be angry to begin with. (Dialog in Japanese, my translation):

d'Emilia: "I would like to see the new "cage"."

TEPCO PR: "100 meters ahead!"

d'Emilia: "I would like to see that."

TEPCO PR: "We're going to walk there! Keep calm! You hear me? If you cannot follow my orders, go back! Understand?"

d'Emilia: "Wow wait a minute. I'm just asking questions..."

TEPCO's PR person was having a bad full-face mask day, I suppose.

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#Fukushima I Nuke Plant: Photographs of Bad Weld in ALPS Batch Treatment Tank That Leaked

(UPDATE 6/19/2013) TEPCO found two pinholes in the weld, says it will investigate why these pinholes are there.

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TEPCO released the photographs of the weld that leaked highly radioactive water that was going to the Line A of ALPS multi-radionuclide removal system at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant.

The photographs are not big enough to see the details of the weld clearly, but it looks like a poor weld. Another rush job, I suppose.

From TEPCO's Photos and Videos page, 6/17/2013:

Overview of ALPS by TEPCO, here.

ALPS stands for "Advanced Liquid Processing System", developed by Energy Solutions in Salt Lake City, Utah.

I wonder which subcontractors of Toshiba did the welding of these tanks being used in the ALPS system. The weld in the photos above sure doesn't look like a "nuclear power plant" grade.

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#Fukushima I Nuke Plant: Highly Radioactive Water Leak (6,700 Bq/cm3 All Beta) from ALPS, Hot Run Halted

The leak is apparently from the weld. Either they can't weld, or they can't test the weld. Or both.

The water that leaked is after the treatment by SARRY, also a Toshiba system, to remove radioactive cesium.

If you recall, SARRY, Toshiba's cesium absorption system, had a leak in February 2012 from what was clearly a defective weld of a pipe connected to the cesium absorption tank.

From Asahi Shinbun (6/17/2013):

高濃度汚染水漏れか　福島原発、放射性物質除去装置停止

Highly contaminated water leak at Fukushima I Nuke Plant, multi-nuclide removal system (ALPS) stopped

　東京電力は１６日、福島第一原発で３月末に試験運転を始めた放射性物質除去装置「ＡＬＰＳ（アルプス）」のタンクから、処理前の高濃度汚染水が漏れた疑いがあると発表した。タンク表面の溶接部の放射線量は毎時０・２ミリシーベルトと高い。東電は原因を調べるために試験運転を止めた。

TEPCO announced on June 16 that a leak was suspected from one of the tanks at "ALPS", multi-nuclide removal system in Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant that TEPCO had started to test at the end of March. Highly contaminated water before the treatment by ALPS may have leaked. The surface radiation at the weld of the tank is high, at 0.2 millisievert/hour. TEPCO has stopped the test run to investigate the cause of the leak.

　４月に誤操作で停止したことはあるが、トラブル調査で止めるのは初という。

It is the first time to stop ALPS due to trouble, TEPCO says, although the system stopped in April because of human error.

　東電によると、タンクは高さ約６メートル、直径約３メートルの円柱形で、汚染水約２５トンが入っていた。１５日午後１１時ごろ、タンクの結露を調べていた社員が、タンクの受け皿部分で茶色の水滴の跡を見つけた。タンク表面にある溶接部の線量が周辺より高いため、溶接部から汚染水が漏れたとみている。

According to TEPCO, the cylindrical tank of 6 meters high and 3 meters in diameter contained about 25 tonnes of contaminated water. At 11PM on June 15, a TEPCO employee who was inspecting the condensation on the tank found dried water spots in brown color on the saucer (receptacle) of the tank. The weld on the surface of the tank was found with higher radiation, and it is assumed that the contaminated water leaked from the weld.

　ＡＬＰＳは、高濃度の汚染水からストロンチウムなど６２種類の放射性物質を取り除くことを目指して導入する装置。汚染水の漏れが確認されれば、タンクの交換などで７月末を目指していた試験運転の完了がその分遅れる。

ALPS is being introduced to remove 62 types of radionuclides including strontium from the highly contaminated water. If the leak is confirmed, the tank will have to be replaced, which will delay the completion of the test run scheduled to run till the end of July.

　Ａ、Ｂ、Ｃの三つの系統があり、止めるのは３月３０日から試験運転中のＡ系統。Ｂ系統は今月１３日に試験運転に入ったばかりで、Ｃ系統はまだ試験運転を始めていない。

There are three lines, A, B and C, in ALPS. The A line, which has been on a test run since March 30, will be stopped because of this leak. The line B has been on a test run since June 13, and the line C hasn't been tested yet.

TEPCO says in their latest email notice to the media (6/17/2013) that they tested the water they collected in a bucket. Beta is high:

　当該タンク下に滴下水を受けるためのバケツを設置しておりましたが、昨日（６月16日）から約16時間バケツで受けた滴下した結露水（370ml）の核種分析を行った結果、以下の通りでした。

We placed a bucket under the tank to collect the drips. We tested the water (370 milliliters) collected over 16 hours since yesterday (June 16), and the results are as follows:

【バケツに受けた水の核種分析結果】
　・セシウム134 ：1.9×10^0［Bq/cm3］
　・セシウム137 ：3.9×10^0［Bq/cm3］
　・全ベータ核種：6.7×10^3［Bq/cm3］

Cesium-134: 1.9×10^0［Bq/cm3］ (or 1.9 Bq/cm3)
Cesium-137: 3.9×10^0［Bq/cm3］ (or 3.9 Bq/cm3)
All beta: 6.7×10^3［Bq/cm3］ (or 6,700 Bq/cm3)

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