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WSJ: Tepco “hasn’t analyzed the chances of an accident destroying or cracking the pool”

Published: May 25th, 2012 at 7:59 pm ET
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Japan Nuclear Operator Conducts Check on Risky Unit
Wall Street Journal
By PHRED DVORAK
May 25, 2012

[Tepco] said it took extra steps this week to check the soundness of one of its riskiest reactor buildings, in response to growing public unease over the possibility of further accidents at the facility.

The investigation—the first of its kind to take place at Fukushima Daiichi since three reactors spun out of control 14 months ago—also underscores how unclear conditions at the plant remain, and how deep the distrust in Japan’s nuclear industry runs.

[...]

Tepco [...] only conducted this week’s tests because of widespread concerns voiced over the structure’s safety, he added.

[...]

Tepco says that, although it hasn’t analyzed the chances of an accident destroying or cracking the pool, it has made some preparations all the same. Because the fuel rods have been cooling for more than a year, even if the water-circulation system shuts off it should take about three weeks for the heat from the rods to boil off enough water that radiation starteds leaking out, Tepco estimates.

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Published: May 25th, 2012 at 7:59 pm ET
By
Email Article Email Article
48 comments

Related Posts

  1. Wall St. Journal: First investigation of Unit No. 4 finds “slight buckling in an outside wall” — Tepco claims it’s far from pool and no danger May 25, 2012
  2. Tepco prepares to film Spent Fuel Pool No. 4 — “You can vaguely discern the fuel rods” says worker February 10, 2012
  3. TEPCO: Nuclear fuel rods in No. 4 spent fuel pool are “confirmed to be damaged” — First time damage revealed at any pool April 13, 2011
  4. TEPCO claims explosion at No. 4 spent fuel pool may have prevented rods from melting down April 28, 2011
  5. NHK: Fuel rods to be removed from No. 4 fuel pool — Concerns about sea water damage — Special container so fuel doesn’t going critical — Test date not revealed ‘for security reasons’ July 13, 2012
May 25th, 2012 | Category: Spent Fuel Pool No. 4
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48 comments to WSJ: Tepco “hasn’t analyzed the chances of an accident destroying or cracking the pool”

  • Centaur Centaur
    May 25, 2012 at 8:19 pm

    "Because the fuel rods have been cooling for more than a year, even if the water-circulation system shuts off it should take about three weeks for the heat from the rods to boil off enough water that radiation starteds leaking out, Tepco estimates."

    Is that realistical? Chris? Anyone? :/


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    • chrisk9
      May 26, 2012 at 10:00 am

      I do believe that you can calculate an exact timeline without knowing more information about the status of the pool. If it drained considerably, or was critical for any time at all then no one can estimate exactly how long it would take to boil.

      Something did happen in this fuel pool, but we have never been told the real story. Any change in the fuel rods and geometry would change the cooling dynamics. A normal fuel pool is constantly cooled with make up water and filtered. I have seen one situation where normal cooling was interrupted and they were motivated to solve the problem quickly.

      Bottom line is this is not a normal fuel pool and 3 weeks is just a guess.


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  • Whoopie Whoopie
    May 25, 2012 at 8:26 pm

    I have to commend WSJ for reporting what no other news agency DARES TO REPORT these days. Here's another in a long stream of articles where the WSJ has come through with the truth. WHERE ARE ALL THE OTHER NEWS AGENCIES? In Bed with Nuclear????


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    • Whoopie Whoopie
      May 25, 2012 at 8:31 pm

      Then again…what has taken so long? No reply needed.


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      • MaidenHeaven MaidenHeaven
        May 25, 2012 at 8:48 pm

        They are all lined up in their lead lined beds Whoopie. And yes what took so long? Why now?

        And how bizarre that Tepco would *admit that they hadn't checked the integrity of the building? Not only is it simple common sense but every country checks the integrity of All buildings after a natural or man-made disaster. Wasn't it the NRC or some agency that just recently claimed that it had been checked & that there were no concerns?

        There are international standards that they at least pretend to follow. Others have suggested & I agree this is a distraction. Had there been truly such dire risks with SPF 4 every country would be adding their resources. What we do not see is what is being done at the other 14 Reactors that are in severe condition. And that is probably where the real concerns lie.


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        • Tacomagroove
          May 25, 2012 at 9:09 pm

          maybe they are running out of suicide workers…?

          What ever happened with the thousands of dead tepco employees in the fukushima hospitals rumors…?

          My point.

          Every person that steps foot on site for a period of 2 hours is likely dead by now…

          Doing such surveys is likely impossible…


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          • MaidenHeaven MaidenHeaven
            May 25, 2012 at 9:32 pm

            Tacomagroove I was debating that as I commented. I have the images from nucklchen's video showing workers on R4. But thought that there had been at least one report that they could not check R4 or the SPF. Just was not sure if I had indeed seen something to that effect.

            Good point…

            If indeed emergency work is being done at other sites & if the U.S. is helping it will be done at a whole different level of professionalism that what we have seen at Daiichi

            I believe that the U.S. is deeply involved in making sure that an ELE does not occur. No matter the arrogance or beliefs that they can protect themselves. They know enough…that they would have to do whatever it takes to make sure that it didn't happen.


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    • eyechix eyechix
      May 26, 2012 at 1:53 pm

      We need to step up our game people, its now or possibly never: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJm5tah3xPU


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      • HoTaters HoTaters
        May 26, 2012 at 2:21 pm

        And "who knows" if there was DU in the recent fire at that chemical processing plant? Get real! Where's the beef? Where's the evidence?

        Putting information like that out and insinuating there was DU in the mix that burned is fearmongering, plain and simple.

        If you want to put things on that level on your own radio program, then fine. But please don't post links to it here.

        You need to start backing up these claims with some evidence. Your bio touts your "award winning" research skills. Please apply some of those skills to the information you put out on the web.

        I'm saying this because I think you're instilling a lot of unneeded fear in people. I don't know what motivates that, but it has the potential to be harmful to people. Please moderate your own comments on this like "who knows" if there was DU in the recent chemical plant fire.

        The situation is already bad enough as it is, without insinuating it is even worse, and doing so w/o providing factual or reasonable evidence.

        This is not meant as a personal attack, but please let's bring some sound reasoning to our public "rants."

        Again, where's the beef?


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        • HoTaters HoTaters
          May 26, 2012 at 2:24 pm

          I'm sorry if I sound a bit agitated. I do get a bit agitated when I read/hear/see things that I consider to be "over the top." Maybe it helps build audience members among the people who thrive on "conspiracy theories" w/o factual evidence.

          The really good "conspiracy theory" talk show hosts can and do provide evidence for their claims.

          All I ask is that you think about it, and how these comments come across. Is it your intention to cause unwarranted fear in people who are just trying to get along during these trying times?


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        • Spectrometising
          May 26, 2012 at 4:36 pm

          I have read your rant HoTaters and talking about this is relevant in any thread.
          Earlier today i noticed this (Off topic stuff.) in the "post your radiation monitoring" section started to contain long threads of radiation monitoring that was not created by the poster.
          Serial posts with the words HAARP in it and the word "magentometer"…can you believe it? Fair enough if they owned their own HAARP Magnetometer. That would be on topic.
          Are they getting paid to do this? Simply bored?
          I post my data there and i am not getting paid. I don't get an income or accolades from it. If someone notices my research/personal tests, i want criticism on how i can improve it. This is my payment and my reward. I could go on like yourself.
          Had to notice and completely agree. :-)


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          • HoTaters HoTaters
            May 27, 2012 at 11:48 am

            My BS sniffer gets aroused when I read OT posts that appear to be shameless self-promotion by people who can profit by making "news" about this disaster. It really raises my hackles when inaccurate information is promoted w/o evidence, i.e. let's promote a scarey story to get people to listen. Then plastering links to the scarey storey all over the web with a "hook" to gain viewers/listeners is unprofessional IMHO, and poor journalistic practice.

            There's a difference between researchers who publish, bloggers who truly want to inform, sites like Enenews, and those who shamelessly self-promote and are running their own personal agenda.


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      • HoTaters HoTaters
        May 26, 2012 at 2:27 pm

        Yes, this is OT here, but so was your post.

        Please have a look at what Kevin Blanch has to say in the video below (reply to Whoopie's post).

        That's the way to get the job done IMHO.


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        • HoTaters HoTaters
          May 26, 2012 at 2:37 pm

          I'm sorry, Admin, this is really OT. We all need to start posting the non-related things at the forum, or at appropriate article links, right? I'm as guilty as anyone else on this.

          We all need to have more respect for helping Admin to keep things organized here, IMHO.


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  • Whoopie Whoopie
    May 25, 2012 at 8:51 pm

    Nuclear Update an Open letter to the N.R.C.from a leukemia victim Kevin d. blanch
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3ea6bLt9…
    STOP with the political theater and hyperbole, and let's face the truth and do something before it is too late


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  • Heart of the Rose Heart of the Rose
    May 25, 2012 at 8:59 pm

    Hi,Whoopie ..the link is not working.


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    • Whoopie Whoopie
      May 25, 2012 at 9:21 pm

      GO READ THE COMMENTS! I'm coming away with a whole new perspective on this woman the NRC/OBLAMMA appointed and that damn H.Reid.
      LEARNING AS I GO – cuz truthfully, I know nothing about this whole thing with the Nuke Industry.
      READ!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3ea6bLt9Tk&feature=em-uploademail


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      • Whoopie Whoopie
        May 25, 2012 at 9:23 pm

        EXAMPLE: "I don't think they EVER intended for it to be a repository for the nation's Nuke waste. That was a cover story for a project to locate the country's most catastrophe-proof, concrete & steel hardened underground "something".
        URS, Shaw, Inc. & Areva Fed. Serv. got the lion's share of the 90+ billion we paid to build SOMETHING MAGNIFICENT underground – BUT WHAT? USA Rep. Serv. runs the joint now. What are they RUNNING?"
        WOWZER! We should search all this OUT…URS, Shaw. I know nothing about them.


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        • Whoopie Whoopie
          May 25, 2012 at 9:25 pm

          what the hell are they RUNNING THERE? What the hell is happening at Yucca Mtn? amazing shit in comments.
          "I'm out" as The Sharks say. see ya tomorrow.


          Report Comment

          • MaidenHeaven MaidenHeaven
            May 25, 2012 at 9:48 pm

            Will have to look more into it tomorrow, but recognized Shaw Inc, aka Shaw Group & ShawCor Ltd. | Energy Services • Global Solutions

            ShawCor Ltd is a global energy services company, specializing in products and services for the pipeline and pipe services, and petrochemical and industrial segments of the oil and gas industry and other industrial markets. ShawCor operates through seven wholly owned business units: Bredero Shaw, Flexpipe Systems, Shaw Pipeline Services, Canusa CPS, Guardian, DSG-Canusa and ShawFlex[1]. Manufacturing, service facilities and sales offices, staffed by more than 5,800 employees, are located in over 20 countries around the world.

            The Shaw Group is a Fortune 500[1] corporation headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The company has approximately 27,000 employees all over the world with 5.9 billion dollar revenue in 2011. Its core competencies are Engineering, Procurement, and Construction, piping, energy, chemical, and fossil and nuclear power.

            They are also a member of the canadian council of chief executives under ShawCor Ltd. This group of international companies has GE Canada, Suncor, Walmart, Sears, Shell, Pfizer, Ford as well as banks ect. ect. ect. At least 144 companies. Companies also include making solar wind et. too.

            Whoopie could you please put this in the Off topic forum so we do not *lose it. And Thank you.


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        • HoTaters HoTaters
          May 26, 2012 at 2:33 pm

          Whoopie, I must respectfully disagree with you on this. I worked on the project for several years. On one of the grant funded scientific studies.


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          • HoTaters HoTaters
            May 26, 2012 at 2:35 pm

            I mean, it was intended to be a nuclear waste storage repository. There was a LOT of funding that went into the studies. I'm 100% sure it wasn't intended to be built for some purpose other than a nuclear waste repository. Not unless TPTB are spending hundreds of billions on scientific studies as "cover" for their activities.

            I seriously doubt that's happening.


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  • Sickputer
    May 25, 2012 at 9:14 pm

    "even if the water-circulation system shuts off it should take about three weeks for the heat from the rods to boil off enough water that radiation starteds leaking out, Tepco estimates."

    SP: Tepco estimates aren't worth much after nearly 15 months of lies. Nobody trusts them and nobody believes them…not the yakuza, not the Diet, not the Japanese people, and especially not me.

    They tell us they will begin filtering strontium from the coolant water in September. Too bad about the 18 months this bone-seeking isoptope has been poisoning Japan and the world. When will the Japanese prime minister and the royal family bow to the world and ask for international help? What kind of leaders would stand by and watch their people die. Very tragic this false pride of Japanese leaders.

    "Tibetans look at a person who holds himself above others, believing he is better than others and knows more, and they say that person is like someone sitting on a mountain top: it is cold there, it is hard, and nothing will grow. But if the person puts himself in a lower position, then that person is like a fertile field."
    Allan Wallace


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  • anne anne
    May 25, 2012 at 10:07 pm

    ADMIN: The headline of this post by enenews.com is not showing at the top left of the web page as the latest headline when you first reach this web. This is true of the next article also.


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  • Jebus Jebus
    May 25, 2012 at 10:22 pm

    What single most thing has the Earth evolved to shield all life from, for over four and a half billion years, that has allowed all life to flourish?


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  • CaptD CaptD
    May 26, 2012 at 3:09 pm

    I believe this "new" survey by TEPCO is because they and their Japanese Regulators are beginning to "accept" that they can no longer do anything they want and thumb their noses at the rest of the Planet!

    IT ONLY HAS TAKEN ABOUT 15 MONTHS, and has been a Trillion Dollar Eco-Disaster…


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