Fukushima Daiichi operator should not handle shutdown, says governing party

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

Fukushima Daiichi operator should not handle shutdown, says governing party

Justin McCurry in Osaka
theguardian.com, Thursday 31 October 2013 09.43 GMT

The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant should be stripped of responsibility for decommissioning the wrecked facility, according to Japan's governing party, as the utility prepares for the most dangerous phase yet in the cleanup operation.

Among the options outlined in a proposal by the Liberal Democratic party (LDP) is a new decommissioning unit that is financially independent of Tepco. Another option is the formation of a government-affiliated administrative agency.

The proposal comes amid mounting criticism of Tepco's handling of problems at the plant, including leaks of radioactive water.

The firm is expected to begin removing 1,300 spent fuel assemblies from the remains of the reactor No 4 building towards the middle of next month. Some nuclear experts have warned that even a slight mishap involving the fuel rods could result in huge releases of radiation into the air and sea.

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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/oct/31/japan-fukushima-daiichi-decommissioning-tepco

[longship]

1. I don't know if they have much choice in the matter.

Another earthquake could collapse the badly damaged building and the spent fuel pools. That would likely be a very much greater catastrophe.

I think that those warning about the fuel removal are correct. I hope that some solution that's safe can be found. But any way one looks at it, those fuel rods will have to be dealt with one way or another.

I agree that TEPCO should be pulled out of the decision making process.

[Bennyboy]

2. I've started a FUKU news thread....

here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023909069 so we can compile stories there.


I gotta tell ya this scares the shit outta me. if not TEPCO who? (Hallliburton?) And if this is screwed up by the company that built, designed, operated the plant and that has been lying every day since the meltdown, what are the chances this will turn out well? Pretty slim.

[kristopher]

3. The (nuclear LOVING) LDP wants to relieve TEPCO of financial liability

So I wouldn't be surprised if that isn't the fundamental basis for reconsidering who is involved in the project to move the fuel.

Tepco refuses to fund outside cleanup
Utility leaves ministry holding ¥30 billion bill; exemption eyed
BY KAZUAKI NAGATA OCT 29, 2013

Tokyo Electric Power Co. is refusing to reimburse the Environment Ministry for more than ¥30 billion that was spent to decontaminate land hit by radioactive fallout from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant, the ministry said Tuesday.

Under the special decontamination law adopted in August 2011, the state is responsible for leading and initially financing the decontamination effort, but it can ask Tepco, responsible for the Fukushima crisis, to pay the bill later.

Tepco has paid ¥6.7 billion so far, while the Environment Ministry has sought ¥40.4 billion.

The ministry said Tepco is unwilling to pay for work not directly involving decontamination. For instance, the bill includes costs related to public relations and research and development.

The ¥6.7 billion Tepco has paid ...

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/10/29/national/tepco-refuses-to-fund-outside-cleanup/#.UnKm0ygyHdk

Documents show government tacitly accepts TEPCO’s refusal to pay for cleanup
October 27, 2013

Tokyo Electric Power Co., operator of the embattled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, declared early this year that it will not repay radioactive cleanup costs in Fukushima Prefecture, forcing taxpayers to shoulder the burden, The Asahi Shimbun has learned.

The government, which did not release TEPCO’s statement, apparently accepts the refusal, in a tacit understanding to prevent the cash-strapped utility from being driven into bankruptcy.

Documents obtained by The Asahi Shimbun through a freedom of information request showed that TEPCO in February made clear its intention not to pay the full cleanup costs.

Under a special measures law designed to deal with radioactive waste, TEPCO is required to pay back costs involved in the decontamination operation that the government shouldered. The government is decontaminating areas around the plant that are highly polluted with radioactive substances.

The Environment Ministry...

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201310270048

LDP wants government to cover Fukushima decontamination costs
October 29, 2013
By SAWAAKI HIKITA/ Staff Writer

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party will propose that the government cover part of the costs for decontamination work around the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant and all expenses to build intermediate storage facilities for radioactive debris.

The decontamination costs alone are estimated at more than 5 trillion yen (about $50 billion).

Under the current law, Tokyo Electric Power Co., operator of the crippled nuclear plant, must foot the entire bill for decontamination work and compensation to residents by borrowing funds from the government. TEPCO is also required to decommission the reactors at the plant with its own funds.

But LDP officials decided that it would be impossible for TEPCO to cover all the costs. They warned that if the current system is maintained, the reconstruction of Fukushima communities could be delayed.

“While paying attention to the discussions in the party...

Japan OKs fuel removal from pool at nuclear plant
October 30, 2013

Japanese regulators on Oct. 30 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 Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power 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 ...

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201310300091