Fukushima Update: Fuel Rods to Be Removed from Pool at Nuclear Plant
TOKYO -- Japanese regulators on Wednesday gave final approval for the removal of fuel rods from an uncontained cooling pool at a damaged reactor building considered the highest risk at a crippled nuclear plant.
Removing the fuel rods from the Unit 4 cooling pool is the first major step in a decommissioning process that is expected to last decades at the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant, where three reactors melted down after the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
The Nuclear Regulation Authority said at its weekly meeting that the proposal by the plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co., is appropriate and that the removal can start in November as planned.
"It's a major step toward decommissioning," said Toyoshi Fuketa, one of the authority's five commissioners. "Moving the fuel rods out of Unit 4 can significantly reduce the risk at the plant."
The Unit 4 reactor was offline when the plant was hit by the disasters, but the building was damaged by hydrogen explosions and fire. Fuel rods in the pool, however, have since been properly cooled and are safe enough to remove, officials said.
TEPCO has reinforced the structure around the pool and says the Unit 4 building can survive a major earthquake, but the unenclosed pool on the unit's top floor, which contains 1,533 fuel rods, has caused international concern. About 200 of the rods that are unused and safer are expected to be the first to be removed.
The Unit 4 cooling pool has attracted international attention in part because early in the crisis it was suspected to have dried up, when in fact there was enough water to cover the rods, keeping them from melting. TEPCO last year plucked two unused fuel rod units out of the pool and said no major corrosion or damage was found in them.
More at: http://www.weather.com/news/science/environment/fukushima-fuel-rods-removed-20131030
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Yes, there is private science. And yes, some is secret by govt mandate.
But a vast proportion of science is academic, not private. The journals, many subscription only, are available to anybody who pays for subscription. That's not secret. Saying it is does not make it so.
There are two movements in science which may change this dynamic. First, is to open publish all government funded research. Second, is to establish peer reviewed journals that are freely available to everybody.
The Internet is helping with these efforts. The dead tree journals are undoubtedly having problems sustaining their printed media in the Internet age.
Those of us wishing science to be more open support such efforts because science works best when it's transparent.
But I accept your points, albeit with qualifications. Most science is published.
When it comes to things like Fukushima, openness is in everybody's best interest. What I've seen is that there are some sources which are open. I've also seen a lot of fear mongering based on rubbish. Openness is the solution to that, too.
Thank you for your responses.
Course I am only a 2nd Dan. He's lucky bastard to live in Japan. 
I despise the US.
I do hope it Fukishima goes well. But down deep I feel like I am watching a slow train wreck.
Like world bite your nails scary, One slip and all hell could break loose, A not so funny twist on Trick or Treat.
Thanks for posting this... It is important news. 
