NRA to question TEPCO executives about safety policies at nuclear power plants
The Nuclear Regulation Authority, or NRA, held a meeting on Wednesday and discussed a recent series of problems at nuclear plants operated by TEPCO.
At the No. 5 reactor of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant in Niigata Prefecture, the utility found warping at 18 locations in tubes that send water through fuel assemblies in a spend fuel pool.
TEPCO reported that the workers may have warped the tubes by using excessive force to move fuel assemblies.
NRA Chariman Shunichi Tanaka said that TEPCO has a systematic problem and that he cannot dispel concerns over its safety awareness.
Source: NHK
Local governments agree to radioactive waste survey
Local municipalities will allow the central government to conduct surveys for building temporary facilities to store soil tainted with radioactive fallout.
The municipalities reportedly say the central government must know that allowing surveys does not mean that they will allow building of the facilities. They also reportedly say the ministry must now explain the details and progress of the surveys.
Source: JiJi Press
Source: NHK
Source: The Daily Yomiuri
Municipalities worried current nuclear safety measures still inadequate
15 of 34 municipalities surveyed by NHK said they had asked power utilities and storage site operators to take new steps to make facilities earthquake-proof and improve cooling systems.
10 municipalities said they want spent fuel storage facilities immediately removed from their jurisdictions. Another 11 said storage for a certain period is unavoidable.
14,400 tons of the more than 17,000 tons of spent fuel currently stored remain in pools at nuclear plants nationwide, some 70% of their storage capacity.
In Ibaraki Prefecture, north of Tokyo, Tokai Village chief Tatsuya Murakami says nuclear fuel recycling has not seen progress in 50 years despite predictions. He said it is wrong to cling to a policy that is not feasible.
Source: NHK
35 Rebuilding projects not linked to disaster halted
Source: The Japan Times
Japan’s Atomic Energy Commission to draft new policies on nuclear waste disposal
Source: NHK
Tohoku Electric and Shikoku Electric aim to hike rates next year
Source: JiJi Press
Anti-nuclear political party led by Shiga Governor aims to end nuclear dependence in Japan by 2022
Source: JiJi Press
Source: The Japan Times
Nuclear Regulatory Authority may investigate J-Power’s Oma nuclear plant for underground faults
Source: JiJi Press
Prime Minister Noda wants to paint pronuclear power LDP as giant step backward
Source: The Japan Times
Animals in evacuation zones holding on
Source: The Japan Times
23 
244
