Japan Reiterates May Consider Discharging Radiated Fukushima Water Into Ocean

[Hissyspit]

Source: Reuters

Japan reiterates may consider discharging radiated Fukushima water into ocean

TOKYO | Mon Sep 2, 2013 12:30am EDT

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's nuclear regulator reiterated on Monday that it may have to consider discharging into the ocean water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant that contains radiation below regulatory thresholds.

Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) Chairman Shunichi Tanaka told reporters there was no evidence of new water leaks at Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant, following the discovery of high radiation levels in recent days.

Tokyo Electric Power Co, the Fukushima plant's operator, is rushing to contain a radioactive water crisis from the steady accumulation of water used to cool melted fuel rods.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSBRE98102420130902

[cstanleytech]

1. So why cant they dig a trench around the facility and fill it in

with something like rubber or something to stop the flow of water both into and out of the ground?

[greenman3610]

5. That has been done with no success

Its hard to contai that much water, it keeps overtopping barriers

[cstanleytech]

7. So they are going to have to dig all around and under the entire facility

if they want to truly stop it? Ouch, thats not going to be cheap.

[questionseverything]

26. not digging,,freezing

TEPCO is preparing to build the world’s largest underground ice wall – Mining.com, Aug. 19, 2013

After admitting that between 300 to 600 tons of coolant water is leaking into the Pacific Ocean every day, Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) has decided to surround the crippled nuclear power plant with a 1.4 km long ice wall that will cost between $300-$410 million.
According to Engineering.com, sink pipes with constantly cycling coolant will surround reactors 1 through 4. Estimated time to completion is one to two years.
Ground freezing is used in mining. Cameco used freezing on its Cigar Lake mine to contain underground water, but nothing has ever been built on this scale. If completed the Fukushima artificial ice wall would be the world’s largest.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called the leaks an “urgent problem.”
The expensive ice wall will be a drop in the bucket compared to what Japanese taxpayers have already spent. To date the cost of cleaning up the Fukushima nuclear disaster is US$112 billion.

/////////////////////////

[SoapBox]

2. And?

This is a surprise?

Eventually the entire region is going to be roped off and marked, "DO NOT ENTER....Toxic".

[YOHABLO]

4. Well then they should rope off the Pacific Ocean in my opinion.

[City Lights]

21. How does one rope off the Pacific Ocean?

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

22. First, you grow a lot of hemp ... a lot ... nt

[Art_from_Ark]

36. Much of the region is already "roped off"

[NYC_SKP]

3. I imagine that they'll release it into the ocean.

It's probably less costly to pay fines, should they exist, than to remove and store the 80,000 plus gallons of water.

[Trillo]

29. Maybe,

or maybe this means they already have, and are deciding to change their public story.

[NYC_SKP]

30. The dilution factor would be about 1:4,000,000,000,000,000

if they allow it to enter the ocean.

It would be effectively nil, which is not to say it's "OK" or "not a problem", but it's probably smarter all around than the risks involved in trying to manage it any other way.

[Trillo]

32. I'd like to see an unbiased scientific model of that.

Would it be effectively nil in a worst case scenario?

If There's a meltdown, it breeches containment, buries itself down in the ground below somewhere, how many years will the reaction continue before it is fully exhausted? All this time releasing new radiation.

In this case there will be quite an accumulation over the years.

I have seen no such worst case scenarios modeled. I'm sure a few months ago I saw a headline that said the reaction will probably continue for at least 40 years or something like that.

[NYC_SKP]

33. My number is based only on the present 80,000 gallons.

And doesn't take into account local concentrations and their effects on life.

[Downwinder]

6. Will that be a "moral obscenity?"

[Lasher]

8. It will end up on the US west coast, just like their fire balloons.

I wonder if it ever occurred to anybody that it might not be a good idea to build a nuclear power plant right next to the ocean in tsunami-prone Japan?

[greiner3]

11. "...not be a good idea to build a nuclear power plant right next to the ocean in tsunami-prone Japan

Or on a major fault line (CA) or in a flood plain (along the Missouri River, I think it is), or...

[Yo_Mama]

17. The release they are talking about is not a release of the highly contaminated water

There would be next to no effect right off the Japanese coast, much less thousands of miles away on the West Coast of the US and Canada.

They're not talking about dumping the highly contaminated water.

[daleo]

24. That is what they are saying now

The tendency in these matters, though is to keep raising the bar. Plus, there should be independent monitors on site, insuring that they don't use this as cover to release more highly radioactive waste.

[bobGandolf]

34. No freaking kidding!

I love how short-sighted these morons are when they see the opportunity to make money

[wundermaus]

9. Dumping radioactive waste from Fukushima into the pacific ocean is...

more than a crime against humanity.
When the food chain collapses in the pacific ocean, kiss your ass, and every person that would have ever lived good bye.
But wait, there's more:
No, not really. There will be no more.
Ponder that for a minute and get back to me.
Or not.

The cradle of life will be poisoned and all the higher life forms on this planet will decay of cancer right along with the cesium 137.
Half life?
30 years.
Sound urgent?
Well, all the lights should be flashing and all the bells should be ringing.
Humanity has one chance to get this right.
Our odds are not good.
We better Clean This Shit Up or die.

/rant

[Control-Z]

10. Headlines should be about how to clean this up.

Now. Global cooperation.

Chemical weapons will be chump change if this is not stopped. In my opinion, of course.

[Yo_Mama]

18. Uh, reading comprehension error!

From the OP:

Japan's nuclear regulator reiterated on Monday that it may have to consider discharging into the ocean water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant that contains radiation below regulatory thresholds.

Regulatory thresholds are pretty stringent. Don't forget, whatever goes into the ocean will affect Japan far more than anyone else.

[wundermaus]

27. Fukushima Radiation Levels ’18 Times Higher’ Than Thought...

"The nuclear crisis that just won’t end has taken a dangerous turn as Japanese authorities admit radiation levels around Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant are 18 times higher than previously thought. The Fukushima nuclear crisis is becoming a case study in mismanagement as both the meltdown and continual confusion are a result of failures of communication."
More at link -
http://news.firedoglake.com/2013/09/02/fukushima-radiation-levels-18-times-higher-than-thought

[crim son]

28. See response #16. n/t

[SunSeeker]

12. Why the fuck is the world leaving this to Japan to deal with when it affects us all? nt

[Journeyman]

13. Well, that would certainly solve the problem of leaky tanks. . .

the fukushiming bastards.

Every one of 'em -- all the corporate skeezebags and every politician who serves their interests -- should be stripped to their skivvies and set to mopping up their mess with small sponges. It wouldn't solve the problem, but it would permanently remove the arsewipes who presently stand between the problem and a better understanding of it.

[defacto7]

14. Probably a stupid question but

Can't they build a water circulation unit? Use the same contaminated water over and over. It cools down when removed then throw it back in the pot and simmer some more. Why is there more water being pumped in. If there is an excess that is flowing over it means more water is being pumped in. Just recycle the hot water, cool it of and send it back in. Theoretically, there would be a diminishing water return not an increase.

But then, I no diddly squat about it.

[Downwinder]

15. Each trip through will pick up additional radiation.

It already is too hot to handle.

[Yo_Mama]

19. They are doing that

http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/roadmap/images/d130627_01-e.pdf

There's some info there, and here's some more detailed info:
http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/betu13_e/images/130828e0101.pdf

[rpannier]

16. They have lied since Day 1 about that plant and are now seeking another cheap solution

They ought to ban any food exports from Japan.
Tesco has proven they will say anything and play down any threat to keep their nuclear power industry going

[CountAllVotes]

20. Radioactive Blue Tuna testing at 100%

I read this story the other day and it seem that all of the blue tuna being caught on the pacific coast are all testing at 100% radioactivity levels. I suspect this is the case for other sea life as the blue tuna as at the top of the food chain for whales, sea lions and other sea animals that live off of the blue tuna (we'll leave humans out of this for now and I really hope that people are smart enough to not eat any blue tuna!).

Thanks for contaminating the whole damn world Japan. Why don't you get real and tell the truth, suck it up, spend that $4 billion you have in "reserves" and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT rather than "discharging it into the pacific ocean" and continuing to contaminate the entire world?

I am beyond disgusted the way this is being handled by Japan and this needs to be dealt with, not shoved off into some distant memory hole of the past!

[damyank913]

23. I'd like to know the source of that story you read...

..."all of the blue tuna being caught on the pacific coast are all testing at 100% radioactivity levels." is an extremely vague statement. I know it sounds specific because of the whole 100% thing, but it isn't.

[CountAllVotes]

25. “Absolutely Every One” Bluefin Tuna Tested In Calif. Waters Contaminated with Fukushima Radiation

Last edited Mon Sep 2, 2013, 01:07 PM - Edit history (1)

Here is one source. It seems the one I was reading not long ago said about the same thing. Sad at best.

>>“The tuna packaged it up and brought it across the world’s largest ocean,” said marine ecologist Daniel Madigan at Stanford University, who led the study team. “We were definitely surprised to see it at all and even more surprised to see it in every one we measured.”

***

http://intellihub.com/2013/05/29/absolutely-every-one-bluefin-tuna-tested-in-california-waters-contaminated-with-fukushima-radiation/

[juajen]

31. Hey, there should be international laws about poluting our oceans,

and it should start with us. No oil drilling off our coasts or in any ocean. Greed has taken over the world, and unfortunately, the powerful who could help to do something about our oceans, wonderful mountains, and terra firma. It's being left up to us, so, do everything you can, and let's just hope our voices get stronger.

We have the wind and sun that can make our energy, but the oil barons will not let go of the reins for their own health and that of their children. They only care about today, to hell with tomorrow.

[Octafish]

35. Remember ''On the Beach''?

Somehow, Nevil Shute knew.