NYT on Reactor No. 4: “Risk of another colossal radiation leak” if cooling problems arise, experts say — “Tepco has been racing to fortify crumpled outer shell”
Title: Inquiry Into Fukushima Plant Suggests Worse Damage
Source: NYTimes
Author: HIROKO TABUCHI
Date: March 29, 2012
[...] The spent fuel rods stored at the No. 4 reactor pose a particular threat, experts say, because they lie unprotected outside the unit’s containment vessel.
Tokyo Electric has been racing to fortify the crumpled outer shell of the reactor, and to keep the tank fed with water.
But should a problem also arise with cooling the spent fuel, the plant could run the risk of another colossal radiation leak, experts say. [...]
Read the report here
See also:
Related Posts
- Reuters: Major new leak at Japan’s nuclear plant — Frozen pipe burst in Reactor No. 4 — Tepco checking other reactors for similar problems February 1, 2012
- AP: Integrity of Reactor No. 4 building a major concern among experts — Collapse of spent fuel pool could be even worse than 3 reactor meltdowns February 3, 2012
- Kyodo: Tepco to try and get No. 4 fuel pool cooling system running again Sunday June 30, 2012
- Tepco on risk at Unit No. 4: Spent Fuel Pool can withstand up to a lower-6 intensity quake without collapsing May 11, 2012
- Tepco sends emergency email to journalists: Leakage at Reactor No. 4 — “They assume the water is from the well of the reactor” February 1, 2012
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Seriously, "groundwat er", think, pacific ocean, tides, twice daily......
sending...
And the unit 3's reactors sfp is???
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ive too wondered why no attention has been put on R3, the most heavily damaged and crippled of the 6. SFP and core are LONG GONE. They're floating around the world and ending up in you and I
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Perhaps that was the first colossal radiation leak that is only being announced now by mentioning there may be another…..
where is the firing squad?
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Blown sky high IMHO
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Drove through Tacoma yesterday Tacoma…. thought of you while driving all day through Washington and Oregon`s massive rain out. I kept wondering how much rads were deposited from the sky.
I guess we can only hope to survive it at this point.
Survive it while watching others around us frolicking to and fro in the rain storms.
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hi taco, i'm glad you are still lurking here!
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Still missing.
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Everything in Fukushima is apparently "outside containment" as all the containment vessels have failed. The scope of this disaster has been minimized by the Japanese Gov and ignored by the US Gov. One year into this disaster and little progress toward cleaning up the mess. VERY good to see the NYtimes covering the mess though. NO progress in our country toward unloading our overloaded spent fuel pools. Total apathy.
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If they are mentioning that there is a 'risk', we can assume that it is happening now.
I note that 'predictions' have an amazing way of coming true, when some matters are discussed in the MSM. They've had the information for a year…why release it now? Possibly because even a completely ignorant person might start to notice that something is not right with the world?
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@Milk & Cheese, I agree.
I had to the look at the date of the article twice because I thought “why is this old news being put up”? Sad that to many readers of NY Times this “old news” is “new news” to them. Why indeed is the NY Times discussing this issue now? I fear you are right Milk & Cheese. The spent fuel pool in #4 may finally be beyond any rescue.
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Agreed
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NYT coverage of the issues is fairly complete, and the major problems are all covered, even though they downplay them all. For instance, if the weakened Building 4 falls down, we will hane "another leak". Sure, sure. Just another little bitty leak. Also, by the way, where DID all that water they pumped through their broken containments go? Pacific Ocean, perhaps. And if there are holes in the containments, is it possible that the coriums have also left the containments? Wake up, USA! This concerns you to.
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Exactly: where is the water? They did make SOME progress by recirculating SOME of the water. We hear a whole lot of blah blah blah about the recirculation and filtration of cooling water, about Sarry and Kurion towers and desalination. My question is: how much water do they still ADD to what they recirculate? Of the 22,000 liters per hour that get pumped IN, how much comes out for treatment? How much NEW water is added? For every liter of new clean water they ADD that means a liter of radioactive steam into the air or radioactive water into the groundwater and sea.
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Apparently they literally have a farm of mega poisoned water containers. We had an article here recently with pictures of it….
And we know that's really just for show. We cannot trust the Japanese Govt and TEPCO to admit to just how much really simply went straight, and is still going straight into our beautiful Pacific Ocean.
I think we should be able to count on Japan as our neighbor. But in a way I AM very grateful to have some distance from this mess unlike say Korea and China and sadly Hawaii who I think are simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
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It's going to be hard for govts and people who have survived massive nuclear bombings, detonations, and fall out from decades of testing to see reactor melt-throughs as all that much of a concern. We are at, what, over 6 billion people now on the planet and the population has doubled since the creation of nuclear weapons and energy? Both the Japanese and the Americans have been irradiated to the max, yet their countries appear to be strong, their populations intact. Russia survived Chernobyl, as did Europe. Cancer, and all the other rises in disease we see today are easily attributable to any other number of causes, especially toxins, stressful living, etc., though most of us here think they are unnecessary suffering and deaths caused by energy waste. More children will die from parasites in unclean water in third world countries than will get thyroid cancer from Fukushima in wealthy Japan. The price of "progress", as these governments see it is a lower number of dead, not a greater number. Their fear is the running out of energy and power, not the poisons that are caused by creating and using that energy and power. For them, these are acceptable casualties in a war on nature in a misguided belief that waging and winning such a war is preferable. All of us here want a safer, cleaner form of energy. For the energy industries and the governments that are hand in hand with them, a million deaths from nuclear waste is the price for being able to turn on the lights. Their assumption is that there is not a better energy source, their assumption is that without them, the world would sit in darkness. Their assumption is that they are leading humanity rather than exploiting it. Their assumption is that without those million deaths, there would be untold other millions or billions instead without a seemingly reliable source of energy. They will lie because they believe they must cover up this hard truth, as they see it. How do we turn such thinking.
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Excellent post Vic. If the events in Fukushima over the past year have not turned such thinking, none of us would survive for long the kind of event which would. The thinking is so absolute that it will take a massive, worldwide calamity to change it. Pretty scary!
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And, that is what scares me.
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Vic,
They just want to make money. Nuclear like any other con, it is only about the money. Nuclear is a net consumer of energy.
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True. Electricity and Energy are commodities traded on the stock market.
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You and I share similar thoughts Vic. I get as pissed and concerned as anyone else while balancing the *reality* that we have seemed to *exist* in radiation despite the dangers and concerns. Always thinking though… I have noticed of late the medical announcement of EVEN MORE AUTISM than ever before. Personally, I think autism is the greatest marker of radiation contamination. I do think that the brain`s development process in a fetus is affected by radiations effects, causing perhaps a type of mutation which translates as Autistic. It was the youtube videos of the Chernobyl and Fallulah kids which to me, the majority of them seem autistic to me. Of course they may be medicated but there is a vacant detachment I have noticed which to me looks autistic.
given the radiation which has been present, to me, it is beyond coincidental that we are seeing rises in autism. 1 in 88 kids are effected. Something is going really sideways here.
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Interesting observation, Anthony. I will watch those again ith that in mind. I understand the thinking of those who are doing this. I understand people wanting conveniences so ignoring the issues created by having them. But, i want it known. I want it known that this amount or that amount of people will die because i turened on my electricity today. I want it known that we could be choosing a different path. It's the covering it up that is the final betrayal.
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excellent comments Vic. I wish the answers on how to shake people out of their apathy were available.
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VicfromOregon
On the one hand I agree with your analysis about the cost-benefit calculus imposed when considering the costs of these energy forms.
On the other hand I think that a lot of this thinking is predicated upon an elaborate rationalization aimed at legitimizing the extant power-relationships across the globe.
Agricultural, chemical and energy industries are all complicit in grossly profiting from their poisoning and exploitation. Each of these industries rationalizes their operations using the logic of cost-benefit analysis you describe.
Unfortunately, the systems that exist and allow these industries to thrive (as well as their stockholders) are destroying the ecosystem for sustainable human habitation.
It really doesn't matter what rationalizations exist or even the present legitimacy of their cost-benefit analyses when OUR FUTURE SURVIVAL IS AT RISK as our fresh water, our fertile soil, our air, our atmosphere, and our DNA are RAPIDLY DEGRADED.
If we don't start RECOGNIZING and CONFRONTING the perils we face, we simply are not going to make it as a species.
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I agree wholeheartedly, majia, and the one rationalizaton allows them all to be created – the ends justify the means – except we here think that the ends aren't such good ones while most people do. They trust the thinking of the rationalizers, themselves often rationalizers, and i'm just wondering if we don't need to address that thinking error as much as addressing the dangers of our present energy sources. I worked with women and children for years who were sexually exploited, addicted, tortured, raped, homeless, and none of that horror was enough to make them stop the abuse – their tolerance for abuse was so high that it was normal for them. I could point out the terribleness of their plight all i wanted, but, for them to be empowered to make change, i needed to help them lower their tolerance for abuse. Then, all the rest could follow. There is a similar thinking/belief error that runs through this issue of nuclear energy also, something that allows for the rationalization. What might that be? Anyone?
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Yeah, it's the quality of that species with a dual mind. Fire is good for us. Energy is good for us. We try to push away the "negative" aspect from the "positive" aspect. We cannot see the consequences, if somethings turms out to be right for us in the first case. But in the second case? That is where the fear starts and that is where the work of companies start. All kind of companies, like the churches, dictators, religious leaders with all their communities behind them. Our energy-managment has a religious aspect. And now as we all fear the future, it is our own decision whether we will make the step into a more fearless (and more courageous) future or remain in comfortable numbness.
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Vic – What might that similar thinking/belief error be? Many of us here on this site have watched the erosion of all our country's (US for me) major institutions. They have all been corrupted by greed, profit, and attempts at acquiring power. For a lot of us this has happened on our watch. Can we trust that our elections are held fairly anymore? How many of us believe that our government acts on our behalf? Do our religious institutions always teach and follow a righteous path? Are our educational institutions committed to developing well rounded, questioning people instead of just good workers? Like your clients, a lot of us have been ground down into despair, guilt, and hopelessness. Could a lot of the country be thinking, why fight a corrupted, dangerous system of producing electricity when it provides such comfort to me. We have no chance of winning and, besides, maybe another accident would take us out of our misery. I'm not saying this type of thinking applies to everyone but it may be what's causing the disinterest in more than a few.
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Well, dang it! Buffalojam. That's about how i feel everyday and i keep working to find the holy grail
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And what a species.
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Comments on a Higgins site
It's Over says:
March 17, 2012 at 2:22 am
So the game is over now.
No more need for fighting.
The battle was lost before it started.
The deadly atoms of Hell were scattered deep around the globe, since the being of time. We lived for thousands of years in safety until, “nuclear power” was developed.
Man has done what Satan expected him to do. Be seduced and deceived into thinking that the atom could give man great power and endless power.
Unfortunately, man was blind to the fact that nuclear power requires the creation of Hell on earth. All consuming energy that always kills indiscriminately. Those pieces of Hell around the globe, will give off death for billions of years!
Satan has proven that man was indeed the most sorry creation of God. So pointless a being, man has become. He kills everything including himself…all for what? Nothing that’s what! Absolutely killing for nothing but, ego.
So, now we wait and watch, as Hell envelops the Earth and everything on it. It can’t be buried or washed off. It can’t be covered up or hidden. The demons have been unleashed by the hand of man!
Too bad, we had it all going for us and we gambled it all for power…..pathetic beings….
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March 30 Expert: Nuclear Power Is On Its Deathbed
A new report from a University of Vermont researcher says the cost of the safety measures needed for nuclear energy will eventually make the power source economically unviable.
http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2012/03/30/expert-nuclear-power-is-on-its-deathbed
Too bad it's too late for millions who have and WILL die from these damn Death Machines.
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We lived for thousands of years in safety until, “nuclear power” was developed.
Thanks to Einstein and the USA.
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Military Industrial Complex is to blame they decided to squash Thorium for Plutonium, simply stated.
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Not that I'm condoning the use of Thorium Molten Salt reactors as safe, clean, energy but Japan would not be suffering to the current extent if these had been MSR's. JMHO NO NUKES.
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@ Dear Jones & MSB—I've said it before, and I'll say it again: The "discovery" of the power of splitting the atom was and is part of the evolution of mankind. It is our next, and IMMEDIATE evolutionary challenge.
Coming to the point of 'discovering" nuclear power, energy is as natural as a toddler first learning to stand up on two feet.
Nuclear power mandates that we evolve in consciousness to a degree which at least approximates the god-like-power of the Universe. The USA has not evolved to that point. The MIC has not evolved, both represent the old, unevolved consciousness of domination.
But I can't blame Einstein, nor Oppenheimer, nor many of the others. It is up to us to work to evolve a much higher level of consciousness.
I don't know if we will make it, if we will adapt to what is mandated for our continued growth and survival; but I deeply, deeeply believe this is the direction we must try to go. So, good luck to all of us, and don't forget tumwilbergrr's (sorry-sp?) admonition to us… (paraphrase)
—be kind to one another for we are all in this precarious position together—
May we find blessings for our difficult road ahead!
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From the horses mouth:
"The discovery of nuclear chain reactions need not bring about the destruction of mankind any more than did the discovery of matches. We only must do everything in our power to safeguard against its abuse" A.E.
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NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS ABUSE IT.
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Dont really like that quote. Splitting the Atom started a whole chain of MAJOR problems. It's like what Outnow at HP says about men and machines. It's a testosterone type of thing. And Outnow is a man!! Ol' Albert again with a better quote.
"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex. It takes a touch of genius – and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction"
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Albert Einstein also called nuclear energy "a menace."
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@dave14139
You make an excellent point on the spent fuel problem in the USA, “Total Apathy”.
I live in the State of Illinois, USA, which has the most nuclear reactors and stored spent fuel than any other state in the USA. Sorry to sound like a broken record to those who have read those words from me before. It just seems that the problem in Illinois is hardly ever mentioned anywhere. Most people who know anything about nuclear know about New York’s Indian Point, Vermont’s Yankee, and California’s San Onofre but the problem in Illinois is huge. So I try to “represent” for my state. (Just an FYI, when you pronounce “Illinois” the “s” at the end is silent.)
The third largest City in the USA, Chicago, located in the State of Illinois, sits on the shore of Lake Michigan, one of the 5 Great Lakes and one of the largest sources of fresh water in the world. In addition to the 11 operating reactors in Illinois, residents need to consider other nearby nuclear plants as well. Across the lake and also on the shore of Lake Michigan, in the lovely State of Michigan is where two nuclear power plants sit. One of them, Entergy’s plant named Palisades, is one of the four most unsafe nuclear plants in the USA. Palisades is apparently also one of the oldest operating nuclear plants in the world, which just recently received a 20 year extension on its operating license.
There is no solution for the spent fuel so we need to stop making more of it. Will something eventually go catastrophically wrong with one of the nuclear power plants that encircle the greater Chicago region? Will one of the spent fuel pools, which have no containment structure, so we don’t have to worry about containment failing, be damaged and melt down? How could it happen? Well to me it seems that each nuclear accident if unique and the circumstances that cause problems don’t ever seem to be the same.
continued…
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…continued
In Illinois we have tornados, especially in the spring. If the building that holds the spent fuel pool is hit by a significant tornado it could damage the spent fuel pool and start a meltdown. I see this as a real possibility and don’t know why the structures have not been hardened to protect against an EF-4 or EF-5 tornado. The population of Chicago and its surrounding suburbs is approximately 7.5 million people. There is no way to evacuate 7.5 million people.
Want to know more about Nuclear Illinois and see a bonus picture of me, ha, well a partial picture?
Go to http://neis.org/ “Nuclear Energy Information Service” the watchdog in Illinois. The video clip on the Home page is of the “NEIS Fukushima Disaster Anniversary Event” at the time 2:41 is a picture of part of me holding up my sign, “Illinois #1 in Nuclear Reactors & Radioactive Waste” the other side says “Chernobyl, Fukushima, Illinois” I also attended the two day symposium which I have yet to type up a summary and post here, will do someday. It was excellent.
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I'm so proud of you enough45!! I saw you there! Can't wait to read your report too. Good Job and STAY STRONG!!
Did you happen to hear about San Onofre's meeting the other day? CaptD attended and posted this UPDATE yesterday afternoon:
San Onofre Update:
http://www.sanclementegreen.org/?q=node/239
We first listened to Councilman Larry Agran give his opening remarks which turned out to be the best description ever, giving a total overview of nuclear power right down to why we need to shutdown San Onofre in a thoughtful and responsible manner as soon as we can. After a heartfelt standing ovation the meeting was opened to public comments. The first speaker was Dr. Nelson Mar, PhD., one of the original designers of the power plant who cited many reasons to be concerned. Doctors and experts in the fields of radiation spoke convincingly, mothers spoke compassionately, activists spoke informatively. Edison was left speechless and they declined to make any comments until they had a chance to figure out how to spin this one.
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@enoughalready45
Excellent post.
In the news clip, it was said that Illinois has the most nuclear reactors and the highest electric bill.
That's important.
As another example, I heard South Carolina has high electric bills and they have several nuclear power plants, too.
Another lie that nuclear energy is cheap.
Nuclear energy isn't cheap in any way.
It's also very telling that the EPA gross beta count graphs for Chicago are always blank, and there are no EPA monitors in South Carolina!
Sounds like someone is hiding something?
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Great comment CaptD !!
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I'll bet your right TL, about them HIDING THINGS. And I agree. Great report CaptD!!
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In the US, we have a structural problem caused by the way utility monopolies are regulated. State utility regulatory commissions routinely let utilities make a fixed profit on their investments. If nuclear power plants cost $15 billion, more than any other type of plant, so what? The utility gets to charge enough to pay off their loan, plus make a much larger profit based on their higher costs. I contend that utilities invest in nukes not because they produce cheaper power, but because nukes are the most expensive way to make electricity! And the public gets to pay the extra cost of nuke power on their electric bills, help with the loans, insurance, eventual waste disposal. And we all get to breath, eat, and drink radiation forever. NATIONALIZE NUKES! Investors in utilities with nukes participate and profit on EVIL. Wind and solar, please. Backed up, perhaps, with fuel cell generators. We don't need nuclear energy. Shut 'em down.
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You are 100 percent correct. NATIONALIZE NUKES! Corporations are extensions of government. Energy should be the domain of government. There should be NO profit in providing energy to a society. Profit comes in what you DO with that energy. The profits of the nuclear industry are EVIL. Renewables are GOOD.
Government can give billions of dollars to renewable energy technology instead of nuclear technology. let's get going in the right direction.
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I just tweeted that great report. Thanks for posting it 45
#Fukushima: Heros In Illinois Protesting Nuclear Power!! http://www.wgntv.com/videogallery/68747357/News/chicagoans-mark-tsunami-anniversary
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Looking forward to reading it.
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Thanks Whoopie & They Lie
I hadn't seen CaptD's report–Love it!
In addition to Illinois having high electricity rates the energy companies export 20% of the energy produced in this state. I recall that some portion of that 20% export is from nuclear. I have to find the exact information again from the Department of Energy, I think it has been reworded since last I read it so it does not leap out to the reader. So we take on the burden and risk of nuclear power, pay high rates, keep radioactive waste in storage and the energy company makes money exporting some of the electricity it generates.
I have to move out of this state!
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Echos of "NYT: There are Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq." Something about this piece smells like radioactive sulfur.
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OK, I just can't let this one go without comment: "Tepco has been racing to fortify crumpled outer shell” of Building 4. Makes TEPCO sound like heroes, doesn't it? But "Racing" is just not what TEPCO does. The TEPCO response to the Fuku Crisis has been TEPID. They have only looked in one of the 3 destroyed reactors, with seemingly no plans to examine the other 2 reactors. TEPCO claims these reactors to be in "cold shutdown", but have to admit that they are actually TOO HOT to get near enough to look at with an endoscope! Care to revisit the "cold shutdown" claims, TEPCO?
Let's review what TEPCO has really accomplished over the last year: They have been dumping water into 3 reactors that have big holes in the bottom, and into 3 containments that have big holes in the bottom. This water has left the 3 reactor buildings, which have big holes in the bottom. All of this water has just flowed right out into the Pacific Ocean! All that TEPCO has really accomplished in one year is the pollution of the Pacific Ocean for about a million years! Great work, TEPCO!
Would someone please nationalize this stupid, incompetent company! It's time for another TEPCO President to resign, and perhaps the government to resign as well. The banks are making their new loans to TEPCO contingent on restarting the nukes. TEPCO is toast! Not one of you banks will ever get so much as one yen of your new investment back!
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Well said Philip, TEPCO IS a collossel FAILURES
All due to their honor to shareholders as they are
unwilling to do what is required to save the world.
– grumble –
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Many thanks truthseek! I, for one, think anyone who invests in a nuke utility is partipating in a horrible EVIL. TEPCO must be nationalized soon. When this happens, I hope the shareholders of TEPCO and their EVIL banker backers do not get EVEN ONE YEN of their investment back. Humanity must step up now, and take over the effort to keep Fuku from becoming the ELE it promises to be with continued TEPID response from the utility and government.
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“Tepco has been racing to fortify crumpled outer shell” (using a blue plastic tarp)
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tepco news site should have been updated by now, no news is not good news
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so they were/are cementing the sea-bed basin in front of the plant. my guess is so that the basin can be used as a wash tub for the waste. this is just one of the thousands of sickening things going on right now at that site. if this were a movie, i would puke, get up and leave the theatre!
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Cementing the sea floor in front of Fukushima 1. Hope they hurry up–you can see the bright color of Fukushima radiation in some of the waves hitting the beach near the nuclear plant. Oh Joy. Japan must STOP dumping all the reactors effluent (water with high radiation from trying to cool the corium..)which is poisoning the environment. Does anyone have an idea of the WORSE case amount of radiation Fukushima 1 can spill into the ocean? Think its best to go by worse case..for safety sake..then back down from that with true data.
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All nuclear plants must be shut down, since the nuclear industry can't stop the spewing of radiation from damaged reactors. Leaders of nations, it's your responsibility to do this.
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Let's not forget the NRC report that #4 SFP burned from the 14th of March onwards last year. TEPCO are making this shit up…
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Don't you just love nuclear power plants???? INSANITY. STILL no progress in USA toward emptying our spent fuel pools or long term storage of the waste. Gov just keeps extending the licenses for plants not designed to operate longer than 40 years. NUTS.
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