Fukushima Fishermen Angry About Having To Suspend Fishing, Want To Start Full-Scale Fishing

PREFECTURAL MONITORS INSPECT WATER LEAK SITE Experts and local government officials have inspected the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant compound to assess the risk of contaminated groundwater leaking into the sea. They are members of the Fukushima prefectural government's council to monitor the process of decommissioning the plant by its operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company. On Tuesday, they inspected an underground tunnel believed to be filled with highly radioactive wastewater. They also checked how embankments are being reinforced between one of the reactors and the sea to prevent groundwater from reaching the ocean. But the reinforcement work has led to a rise in the groundwater level. This is further escalating the risk of contaminated water overflowing into the sea. After the inspection, many council members voiced frustration with Tokyo Electric's approach of dealing with problems as they occur instead of taking preventive measures. Plant chief Akira Ono promised to quickly implement whatever steps are possible, and to see things from the perspective of the general public rather than the utility's. Aug. 6, 2013 - Updated 09:42 UTC FUKUSHIMA STEPS UP TAINTED WATER MONITORING The government of Fukushima Prefecture in northeastern Japan has stepped up monitoring of seawater around the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The prefecture took the move after the plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company, admitted last week that groundwater contaminated with radioactive substances was leaking into the sea. The government increased the number of sampling sites from 2 to 6 and monitoring frequency from once every 3 months to every month. About 185 liters of seawater is to be sampled at each of 6 points from the plant's port to 3.5 kilometers offshore to analyze levels of 4 radioactive substances, including cesium and tritium. A ship of the prefecture left a port in Iwaki City, south of the plant, for monitoring on Wednesday. Shunji Watanabe, the chief of Fukushima's radiation monitoring section, says the prefecture has stepped up its activities to conduct its own monitoring of the sea. He says research results will be released as soon as possible. Jul. 31, 2013 - Updated 08:57 UTC TEPCO:UNDERGROUND WALL NOT EFFECTIVE AGAINST LEAKS The operator of the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant has confirmed that an underground wall is unable to keep contaminated groundwater from seeping into the sea. Officials of the Industry Ministry estimate that 300 tons of groundwater pass through the contaminated area before flowing into the Pacific Ocean every day. Engineers with Tokyo Electric Power Company have hardened the soil along the coast to create a 100-meter-long underground wall. They injected chemicals into the ground to a depth of 16 meters. But it is technically difficult to harden the soil up to 1.8 meters from the surface. The workers recently dug a well just inside the wall to see how the level of underground water has risen due to the construction of the wall. They found that the water level in the well was about 60 centimeters higher than the top of the wall. The operator began pumping up contaminated groundwater on Friday, as a temporary measure to lower the water level. Aug. 10, 2013 - Updated 16:19 UTC http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/ TEPCO TO ADMIT LAX RISK CONTROL AT FUKUSHIMA PLANT The operator of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is poised to acknowledge its lax risk management of radioactive water. They recently revealed that contaminated groundwater at the plant is leaking into the sea. NHK has learned that Tokyo Electric Power Company officials will make the admission on Friday in their first quarterly report. This is a required progress assessment on their in-house reform plan crafted in March. The report will point out that TEPCO has failed to sufficiently consider specific measures to handle the roughly 2 tons of radioactive water in an underground utility tunnel at the plant. The water is believed to be one of the sources of contamination for groundwater leaking into the sea. The company disclosed a detailed analysis on the tainted water in its nuclear accident report publicized one year ago. TEPCO will also own up to its lack of willingness to voluntarily explain the high density of radiation found in groundwater in observation wells. The company failed to release the findings right away. It waited until data and responses had been compiled. The firm will admit that it has sloppy risk management, and that the company has a different view on safety from the public. The report will stress the need for TEPCO to forge ahead with reform and boost monitoring by outside parties. TEPCO crafted the reform plan to review the safety consciousness and accident response systems at all levels of the firm's employees. Jul. 25, 2013 - Updated 20:46 UTC