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Page added on February 5, 2014
Japanese government seeks approval to dump Fukushima groundwater into sea
The government on Monday sought approval of a nationwide fisheries federation to dump groundwater at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear complex into the sea on condition that the water’s contamination level is far below the legal limit.
During talks with the head of the National Federation of Fisheries Co-operative Associations, industry ministry officials explained that they plan to set “strict” operational procedures for the pump system to allay the concerns of fishermen who think the move could deal a blow to their business.
Groundwater will be pumped out before it gets mixed with highly radioactive water accumulating at the basement of reactor buildings, and will be directed to the adjacent Pacific Ocean.
7 Comments on "Japanese government seeks approval to dump Fukushima groundwater into sea"
Makati1 on Wed, 5th Feb 2014 2:17 am
They’ve been doing this since the ‘accident’ but can no longer hide it from the public. THAT is why they are asking permission. Not that they will stop, but it is all propaganda by the nuclear industry to keep the world from shutting down all of the nukes and not building any more.
SilentRunning on Wed, 5th Feb 2014 4:17 am
It seems like a sensible idea to keep fresh water from getting contaminated. Far better to do that then to let it mix with the contaminated ground under the reactor, and THEN flow into the ocean.
BTW: Tepco has so far removed over 260 fuel assemblies from fuel pool #4. Still no nuclear calamities, and every fuel rod removed makes the situation a little bit better contained.
http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/removal4u/index-e.html
Davy, Hermann, MO on Wed, 5th Feb 2014 1:16 pm
1. Makati1 on Wed, 5th Feb 2014 2:17 am
They’ve been doing this since the ‘accident’ but can no longer hide it from the public. THAT is why they are asking permission. Not that they will stop, but it is all propaganda by the nuclear industry to keep the world from shutting down all of the nukes and not building any more.
Good one Makati! But I will say in a time of depletion and a coming energy decent nuclear energy is vital to a soft landing somewhere below. Unless a quick collapse is better. I just wonder how we are going to maintain all these Fukushimas around the world in a quick collapse scenario . They are all full to the brim with spent fuel!
SilentRunning on Wed, 5th Feb 2014 4:17 am
It seems like a sensible idea to keep fresh water from getting contaminated. Far better to do that then to let it mix with the contaminated ground under the reactor, and THEN flow into the ocean.
BTW: Tepco has so far removed over 260 fuel assemblies from fuel pool #4. Still no nuclear calamities, and every fuel rod removed makes the situation a little bit better contained.
OK, so they have #4 problem managed as far as we can tell or they will admit. I understand the problem is with the others that they can’t even approach! They do not even know exactly what is going on in the others that are too hot to approach.
J-Gav on Wed, 5th Feb 2014 5:10 pm
“Strict operational procedures” my ass!
Kenz300 on Wed, 5th Feb 2014 5:27 pm
TEPCO and the government of Japan have not been open and honest about this disaster from the very first day. They can not be trusted now………….
Anything they do needs to be monitored by outside experts and outside media………….
Ken Glick on Wed, 5th Feb 2014 8:50 pm
I am mistrusting of the term “far below the legal limit” because that limit is probably set in regards to human contact, whereas delicate ecosystems within the ocean may be far more susceptible to the radioactivity.
SilentRunning on Thu, 6th Feb 2014 2:12 am
Ken Glick wrote:
>I am mistrusting of the term “far below the legal limit” because that limit is probably set in regards to human contact, whereas delicate ecosystems within the ocean may be far more susceptible to the radioactivity.
You have to understand that sea water is already radioactive with gamma ray emitting Potassium-40. It always has been. There is a low level background radiation level that you, I and every other living organism has been embedded in since life began.
Yes, there is a level of radiation that will lead to increased cancers. Yes, there is a level above that that will kill you from radiation sickness and burns. But we have a pretty good idea what those levels are.
BTW: I don’t know if you are aware of it, but every time you take an airplane ride in a jetliner, you are exposing yourself to increased radiation. Some cities, like Denver, have increased natural radiation.