Fukushima "cold shutdown" is a cruel joke
They finally figured out how much water is in reactor no. 2 at the triple-meltdown site at Fukushima, Japan. They were expecting about 30 feet of water -- instead they found about two feet. Radiation levels are insanely high, of course, and the melted fuel is all over the place. It will take decades to "decommission" this disaster area.
And that's merely the third worst reactor at the site. They can't even get close enough to nos. 1 and 3 to conduct the robotic inspection. But hey, go on about your business. It's all going to be fine.
Meanwhile, it's been revealed that when the national government sent the local government radiation dispersal data in the early days of the meltdown, the local government deleted it all. This went on for four or five days. And so whatever judgments were made about evacuations, they were made without important data even being consulted -- much less released to the public.
It's reassuring to note that this sort of thing could never happen in the United States, which is why nuclear power is our future.
| Posted at 9:49 AM | Permalink |
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Comments (7)
....as the containers holding toxic radioactive slurries, buried underground in and around the Hanford site, continue to degrade and disintegrate, releasing their toxic witche's brew into the ground water. The ground water then percolates to the Columbia River.
Which is why we have the most radioactive river in North America. Flowing right by town. Ain't that great? Has anyone else noticed any sturgeon or salmon that glows in the dark?
Posted by godfry | March 28, 2012 12:19 PM
Despite the fact that the Japanese government and TEPCO were caught red-handed underplaying the severity of the Fukushima nuclear crisis, a study has found that almost a quarter of Fukushima residents hospitalized in the aftermath of last year’s devastating earthquake and tsunami were treated as having a “psychiatric disorder” because of their concerns over radiation.
http://www.infowars.com/fear-of-radiation-treated-as-psychiatric-disorder-in-fukushima/
Posted by Max | March 28, 2012 3:03 PM
I'm trying really hard to figure out how honesty and forthrightness are such a liability when government communicates with the people. I mean, it's a democracy. Isn't transparency one of the biggest things a democracy should strive for?
I must be naive.
Posted by Jo | March 28, 2012 3:41 PM
Possible that the Japanese "honor" thing precludes honest from TEPCO and government officials, but whatever the issue, this thing is screwing the opportunity for the only truly “green” energy source for the USA that will not bankrupt ratepayers.
As for Hanford, proper containment is not “rocket science” – but it was done, the huge flow of Government dollars would be reduced to a trickle – so the beat goes on.
Posted by Dave | March 28, 2012 4:40 PM
EPA just passed a new rule that power generation has to release less then 1000 pounds of CO2 per megawatt hour. The typical coal plant puts out a bit over 1700 pounds so they effectively outlawed coal plants. Natural gas does put out less then 1000 pounds but it releases 800-850 pounds of CO2 so it does qualify but we are limited by our pipelines at the moment to deliver natural gas and people wont allow those to be built. So what does that leave us?
Posted by Darrin | March 28, 2012 4:53 PM
"So what does that leave us?"
It leaves us with higher energy costs, thus less usage and eventually returning to oxcarts.
Then we'll deal with the methane gas they generate.
Posted by lw | March 28, 2012 5:21 PM
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2012/03/california-slammed-with-fukushima-radiation.html
The above link is to an article about post-Fukushima radiation levels in California . The article has many excellent links related to West Coast radiation.
Levels of I-131 are 500 times higher than normal in some places off the California coast; levels of Cesium 137 many times elevated, etc, etc.
In Japan, (and thus the ocean, the West Coast, and ultimately the whole earth), Fukushima radiation levels are increasing rather than decreasing. Yet the NRC just approved two brand new nuclear power plants in South Carolina. In the lone dissenting vote, NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko, wrote: "I continue to believe that we should require that all Fukushima-related safety enhancements are implemented before these new reactors begin operating.”
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/03/30-7
Posted by Bee | April 1, 2012 1:34 PM