A Statement from U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz Regarding Fukushima

[bananas]

http://energy.gov/articles/statement-us-secretary-energy-ernest-moniz-regarding-fukushima

A Statement from U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz Regarding Fukushima

November 1, 2013 - 11:19am
NEWS MEDIA CONTACT
[phone]
Editors Note: This statement has been updated as of 12:55 PM on November 1, 2013

“On Friday, I made my first visit to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. It is stunning that one can see firsthand the destructive force of the tsunami even more than two and a half years after the tragic events. The words of President Obama following the incident still hold true today: ‘The Japanese people are not alone in this time of great trial and sorrow. Across the Pacific, they will find a hand of support extended from the United States as they get back on their feet.’ My colleagues from the Department of Energy and I are grateful for the cooperation and openness of our host, TEPCO President Hirose, and his dedicated staff. They face a daunting task in the cleanup and decommissioning of Fukushima Daiichi, one that will take decades and is being carried out under very challenging conditions. The TEPCO workforce is facing unprecedented challenges and is clearly focused on devising and implementing solutions.

“From the beginning, the United States has worked to support the Government of Japan in the immediate response efforts and in recovery, decommissioning, and cleanup activities. Within days of the accident, the Department of Energy sent a team of 34 experts and more than 17,000 pounds of equipment in support of efforts to manage the crisis. I was able to witness firsthand the continuing partnership between TEPCO and U.S. agencies and companies.

“The DOE, our national labs, and U.S. companies will continue to offer our experience and capabilities to assist the Japanese government and TEPCO, especially with regard to water contamination issues. On Thursday, we were able to meet with Prime Minister Abe, METI Minister Motegi, and other senior members of the Japanese government. Their commitment to advancing the Convention on Supplementing Compensation of Nuclear Liability is much appreciated, since this will facilitate the further engagement of U.S. and other companies in Fukushima cleanup.

“We also witnessed the progress being made on spent fuel removal activities in parallel with the water challenges. It appears that spent nuclear fuel will begin to be removed from Unit 4 as scheduled in mid-November. This will be significant milestone for TEPCO and the Japanese Government and in the process of decommissioning the site.

“As Japan continues to chart its sovereign path forward on the cleanup at the Fukushima site and works to determine the future of their energy economy, the United States stands ready to continue assisting our partners in this daunting yet indispensable task. The United States and Japan created the Bilateral Commission to strengthen our strategic and practical engagement on civil nuclear R&D, Fukushima cleanup, emergency response, nuclear safety regulatory matters, and nuclear security and nonproliferation, and we look forward to the commission meeting next week in Washington, D.C.”

[Bennyboy]

1. God I hate "Polispeak"....

What in the hell does he say here? Not a fucking thing. Press release timed perfectly due to the pressure created lately by people that are fucking scared shitless over this thing and the removal operation. He mentions no danger. This could go this way or that way.


Then there is this:

"The DOE, our national labs, and U.S. companies will continue to offer our experience and capabilities to assist the Japanese government and TEPCO, especially with regard to water contamination issues. On Thursday, we were able to meet with Prime Minister Abe, METI Minister Motegi, and other senior members of the Japanese government.

"Will Continue to offer our expertise and experience" (WITH A FUCKING NUCLEAR MELTDOWN UNSEEN IN WORLD HISTORY?)
How's that water contamination thing working out for you guys? Is there someone from your organization standing out on the point with a pair of binoculars going "well it is still pouring out"?

"WE WERE ABLE TO MEET"????????????????? What the fuck does that even fucking mean? Seems like you should be fucking meeting every fucking day for the past two fucking years.

Then there's this:

The United States and Japan created the Bilateral Commission to strengthen our strategic and practical engagement on civil nuclear R&D, Fukushima cleanup, emergency response, nuclear safety regulatory matters, and nuclear security and nonproliferation, and we look forward to the commission meeting next week in Washington, D.C.

Next FUCKING WEEK? they are gonna start the fuel rod removal project NEXT FUCKING WEEK. A fucking commission is meeting next week about what to fucking do about a two year old nuclear fucking meltdown? Notice no mention of any previous fucking meetings. A commission. They will make something happen once every fucking palm gets greased and the Corporations that will pay everyone on the commission in order to limit information and damages..............

Can they be honest? Can you tell a country the size of japan to start fucking swimming? it is obvious that the TEPCO nor the Japanese gov't are letting anyone in one this. Cleverly worded to make everyone think shit is hunnky fucking dory, but really it says they are going it alone.

[Control-Z]

2. This is the first I've heard about US involvement.

I've asked about it more than once since it happened (and got some pretty obnoxious responses from another DUer).

I'm glad to know Japan is getting help from us - and from any other country that might be willing to help. It's a global disaster that warrants global help and cooperation, imo.

[Bennyboy]

3. Cleverly worded

the Japanese are going it alone with TEPCO. obviously.

[bananas]

5. They finally accepted US help on Friday

http://rt.com/news/fukushima-tepco-us-aid-139/

TEPCO accepts US offer to aid dangerous Fukushima cleanup

Published time: November 02, 2013 19:39
Edited time: November 04, 2013 17:16 Get short URL

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has accepted Washington’s offer to help with the cleanup and decommissioning of Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. The move comes as TEPCO prepares for the major operation of removing fuel rods from Unit 4.

TEPCO president Naomi Hirose said the decision was made Friday when US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz visited the nuclear plant.

“Secretary Moniz and I became consistent through our talking today with the necessity of further strengthening cooperation, to contribute to the nuclear power and decommissioning industry not only between the two countries but throughout the world, by sharing and accumulating technology and knowledge towards the stability and decommissioning of the power station,” Hirose said in a statement published on TEPCO’s website.

In 2012, Japan and the US created a bilateral commission to strengthen engagement on civil nuclear issues.

A Japan-US commission is set to meet in Washington, DC on Monday to exchange opinions on Fukushima emergency response and regulatory issues.

<snip>

That news report is from Saturday, so the bilateral commission meeting should have happened two days ago.

[Control-Z]

8. Thanks, bananas.

Have you noticed that Fukushima threads can bring out the worst in some people?

I just hope that the best and brightest are doing all that can be done at this point and any positive news that comes along is appreciated.

[bananas]

10. You're welcome. Here's an article from Thursday (Halloween) where they still hadn't accepted.

Reading between the lines it sounds like Moniz used LNG as a bargaining chip.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/us-energy-chief-offers-japan-aid-nuke-cleanup-20737047

US Energy Chief Offers Japan Aid With Nuke Cleanup

TOKYO October 31, 2013 (AP)
By ELAINE KURTENBACH AP Business Writer
Associated Press

U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said Thursday that he expects deepening cooperation with Japan over the high-stakes cleaning up and decommissioning of the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant.

<snip>

Japan has looked to the U.S., with its abundance of shale gas, as a supplier of more affordable natural gas to help meet energy shortfalls due to the closures of its nuclear plants.

The U.S. has restricted exports of such gas for the sake of energy security, though it recently approved plans for a liquefied natural gas terminal that is expected to process LNG for shipment to Japan.

Moniz cautioned that such supplies will still take some time, given the need for further regulatory approvals.

"We are working as fast as we can but hopefully LNG will flow to Japan within the next few years," he said.

[bananas]

6. They recently accepted help from France, but still rejecting help from other countries.

Russia also keeps offering them help but they keep saying no.

This is an international disaster, they shouldn't be allowed to continue fucking this up.

[Control-Z]

9. 100% in agreement.

"This is an international disaster, they shouldn't be allowed to continue fucking this up."

The day it happened I expected worldwide assistance and cooperation. Like with the trapped Chilean miners. I'm stunned it has taken this long.

[Bennyboy]

4. Now to the truth....

David Suzuki has issued a scary warning about Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant, saying that if it falls in a future earthquake, it's "bye bye Japan" and the entire west coast of North America should be evacuated.

The "Nature of Things" host made the comments in a talk posted to YouTube after he joined Dr. David Schindler for "Letting in the Light," a symposium on water ecology held at the University of Alberta on Oct. 30 and 31.

An excerpt of the talk shows Suzuki outlining a frightening scenario that would result from the destruction of the nuclear plant.

"Fukushima is the most terrifying situation I can imagine," he said.

"Three out of the four plants were destroyed in the earthquake and in the tsunami. The fourth one has been so badly damaged that the fear is, if there's another earthquake of a seven or above that, that building will go and then all hell breaks loose.

"And the probability of a seven or above earthquake in the next three years is over 95 per cent."

Suzuki said that an international team of experts needs to go into the Fukushima plant and help fix the problem, but said the Japanese government has "too much pride to admit that."


http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/11/04/david-suzuki-fukushima-warning_n_4213061.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false

[bananas]

7. David Suzuki is absolutely right. nt