Fukushima Daiichi Status Updates

On 21 February 2014, Japan provided the IAEA with an update on radioactivity in seawater at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (NPS).

This update on the daily monitoring by TEPCO of seawater near Fukushima Daiichi NPS indicates that the concentrations of all radionuclides (i.e. Cs-134, Cs--137, total Beta and H-3) were relatively stable from 10 to 18 February 2014 at the sampling points T-1 and T-2-1. The sampling points T-1 and T-2-1 near the Fukushima Daiichi NPS are sentinels to assess effects on the environment by incidents including a leakage of contaminated water. The Nuclear Regulation Authority has been closely observing the results of TEPCO's monitoring of seawater at these sampling points.

The updated information also provides details on the incidents of water leakage at the Fukushima Daiichi NPS that was reported by TEPCO to the Nuclear Regulation Authority of Japan (NRA) on 15 and 16 February 2014.

The NRA also provided an update on the sea area monitoring results for radioactivity obtained from sea water samples taken at a distance of two to 200 kilometers from TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi NPS.

On 17 February 2014, Japan has provided the IAEA with a comprehensive report on the events and highlights related to the recovery operations at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The complete report is followed by IAEA comments and assessments of the material.

Primary conclusions from the Agency assessment of the material have not changed from the previous report and states that:

• In general, it is expected that the situation onsite will remain very challenging as the recovery operations progress. Based on the information that has been made available, the IAEA considers that all members of the public are safe and that the food supply is safe and is being appropriately managed.
• The Agency welcomes the Japanese Government's issuance of this information to the IAEA Member States and the public, detailing the current status of the recovery operations. The IAEA will continue to share such valuable information as it is provided.

In addition the Japanese Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) provided another news release on action related to TEPCO's fuel removal from Unit 4.

On 13 February 2014, the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) of Japan provided the IAEA with an update on radioactivity in seawater at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (NPS).

The update on the daily monitoring by TEPCO of seawater near Fukushima Daiichi NPS indicates that the concentrations of all radionuclides (i.e. Cs-134, Cs-137, total Beta and H-3) were relatively stable from 3 to 9 February 2014 at the sampling points T-1 and T-2-1. The sampling points T-1 and T-2-1 near the Fukushima Daiichi NPS are sentinels to assess effects on the environment by incidents including a leakage of contaminated water. The NRA also provided an update on the sea area monitoring results for radioactivity obtained from sea water samples taken at a distance of two to 200 kilometers from TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi NPS.

On 5 February 2014, the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) of Japan provided the IAEA with an update on radioactivity in seawater at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (NPS).

This update on the daily monitoring by TEPCO of seawater near Fukushima Daiichi NPS indicates that the concentrations of all radionuclides (i.e. Cs-134, Cs-137, total Beta and H-3) were relatively stable from 27 January to 2 February 2014 at the sampling points T-1 and T-2-1. The sampling points T-1 and T-2-1 near the Fukushima Daiichi NPS are sentinels to assess effects on the environment by incidents including a leakage of contaminated water. The NRA has been closely observing the results of TEPCO's monitoring of seawater at these sampling points.

The NRA also provided an update on the sea area monitoring results for radioactivity obtained from sea water samples taken at a distance of two to 200 kilometers from TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi NPS.

TEPCO has also announced the decommissioning of Unit 5 and 6 of the Fukushima Daiichi NPS as of 31 January 2014. The formal application to decommission the two Units was submitted by TEPCO on 18 December 2013 to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in accordance with Article 9, paragraph 1 of the Electricity Business Act. For more information on this issue please refer to TEPCO's announcement, Decommissioning of Units 5 and 6 at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.

In addition, based on an investigation, TEPCO has provided some images and videos that confirmed cracks in the "deformed fuel assemblies" in the Unit 4 Spent Fuel Pool. (Visuals can be accessed here and here).

On 30 January 2014, the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) of Japan provided the IAEA with an update on radioactivity in seawater at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (NPS).

This update on the daily monitoring by TEPCO of seawater near Fukushima Daiichi NPS indicates that the concentrations of all radionuclides (i.e. Cs-134, Cs-137, total Beta and H-3) were relatively stable from 20 to 26 January 2014 at the sampling points T-1 and T-2-1. The NRA also provided an update on the sea are monitoring results for radioactivity obtained from sea water samples taken at a distance of two to 200 kilometers from TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi NPS.

A document released by the Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also mentions the report submitted by Japan In December to the IAEA on events and highlights on the progress related to the recovery operations at the Fukushima Daiichi NPS.

TEPCO has also provided a document outlining some of the robotics that are being developed to assist in decontamination of the reactor buildings and translated a document detailing their technique to measure the height of the water level in the Unit 2 suppression chamber. (Higher resolution images are available here).

On 22 January 2014, the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) of Japan provided the IAEA with an update on radioactivity in seawater at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (NPS).

This update on the daily monitoring by TEPCO of seawater near Fukushima Daiichi NPS indicates that the concentrations of all radionuclides (i.e. Cs-134, Cs-137, total Beta and H-3) were relatively stable from 13 to 20 January 2014 at the sampling points T-1 and T-2-1. The sampling points T-1 and T-2-1 near the Fukushima Daiichi NPS are sentinels to assess effects on the environment by incidents including a leakage of contaminated water. The Nuclear Regulation Authority has been closely observing the results of TEPCO's monitoring of seawater at these sampling points.

The NRA also provided an update on the sea area monitoring results for radioactivity obtained from sea water samples taken at a distance of two to 200 kilometers from TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi NPS.

TEPCO has also posted photos and a video on the water leakage on the first floor near the main steam isolation valve at Unit 3 Fukushima Daiichi NPS and it can be viewed here.

On 15 January 2014, the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) of Japan provided the IAEA with an update on radioactivity in seawater at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (NPS).

This update on the daily monitoring by TEPCO of seawater near Fukushima Daiichi NPS indicates that the concentrations of all radionuclides (i.e. Cs-134, Cs-137, total Beta and H-3) were relatively stable from 6 to 12 January 2014 at the sampling points T-1 and T-2-1. The sampling points T-1 and T-2-1 near the Fukushima Daiichi NPS are sentinels to assess effects on the environment by incidents including a leakage of contaminated water. The Nuclear Regulation Authority has been closely observing the results of TEPCO's monitoring of seawater at these sampling points.

The NRA also provided an update on the sea area monitoring results for radioactivity obtained from sea water samples taken at a distance of two to 200 kilometers from TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi NPS.

In addition, the NRA released an information circular from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, providing details on a web announcement by TEPCO on the cause of steam emanating from the top of Unit 3 Reactor Building at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi NPS, and which also indicates no abnormality there.

A document on Monitoring Air Dose Rates From a Series of Aircraft Surveys 30 Months After the Fukushima Daiichi NPS Accident was posted by the NRA and is available here.

On 9 January 2014, the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) of Japan provided the IAEA with an update on radioactivity in seawater at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (NPS).

This update on the daily monitoring by TEPCO of seawater near Fukushima Daiichi NPS indicates that the concentrations of all radionuclides (i.e. Cs-134, Cs-137, total Beta and H-3) were relatively stable from 25 December 2013 to 6 January 2014 at the sampling points T-1 and T-2-1.

The sampling points T-1 and T-2-1 near the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station are sentinels to assess effects on the environment by incidents including a leakage of contaminated water. The Nuclear Regulation Authority has been closely observing the results of TEPCO's monitoring of seawater at these sampling points.

In addition, the NRA provided an update on the sea area monitoring results for radioactivity obtained from sea water samples taken at a distance of two to 200 kilometers from TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi NPS.

On 27 December 2013, the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) of Japan provided the IAEA its latest F1 Issues brief.

The issues brief noted that water leaked from a dike in the H5 tank area on 21 and 22 December 2013. In this case, "water" means that rainwater in the dikes surrounding storage tanks has been contaminated by radioactive material found within the dikes. Water levels inside the dikes in the H4 and H4 East tank areas decreased substantially on 24 December 2013, compared with the levels on 20 December 2013.The cause of the decreased water levels has been under investigation by TEPCO.

The NRA provided a report on the daily monitoring by TEPCO of seawater at the sampling pointsT1, T-2 and T-2-1are shown in the tables. The concentrations of all radionuclides (i.e. Cs-134, Cs-137, total Beta and H-3) did not vary remarkably in the time period from 16 to 24 December 2013 at these sampling points. See details of monitoring results here.

In addition, the IAEA has been informed that the Nuclear Emergency Response Headquarters has decided on 20 December 2013 Preventive and Multi-Layered Measures for Decommissioning and Contaminated Water Management, which are summarized here.

As a part of the cooperation between the IAEA and the NRA on marine monitoring, two IAEA experts in marine monitoring observed the seawater sampling near Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (NPS) on board an NRA vessel at sea on 7 November 2013, and subsequently visited TEPCO's Analysis Facility at the Fukushima Daiichi NPS on 8 November 2013. This NRA video provides highlights of the observation mission by IAEA experts.

The NRA informed the IAEA that the next report on F1 Issues will be published in the second week of January 2014.

The Japanese Government has provided the IAEA with a report that summarizes the events and highlights the progress related to recovery operations at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The IAEA has provided its assessments on some aspects of this information which is contained in full at the end of the report.

In general, it is expected that the situation onsite will remain very challenging as the recovery operations progress. Based on the information that has been made available, the IAEA considers that all members of the public are safe and that the food supply is safe and is being appropriately managed.

The Agency welcomes the Japanese Government's issuance of this information to the IAEA Member States and the public, detailing the current status of the recovery operations. The IAEA will continue to share such valuable information as it is provided.

The Japanese Government has also provided a TEPCO presentation that has been translated into English. This presentation contains a large volume of radionuclide monitoring information providing both the maximum values measured on-site and the most recent measurements that were available at the time the presentation was prepared. Readers interested in further measurement information can find more available on the official TEPCO website.

The report can be accessed here: Events and Highlights on the Progress Related to Recovery Operations at Fukushima Daiichi NPS | Evaluation of the Impact on the Ocean.

On 19 December 2013, the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) of Japan provided the IAEA with a Comprehensive Radiation Monitoring Plan which covered a period of over 18 months from 2 August 2011 to 1 April 2013.

In addition, the NRA provided a report on the implementation of sea areas monitoring that assessed and reported on the radiation effects caused by the accident at Fukushima Daiichi NPS. This document provides information of the monitoring organizations involved in this task, the sea areas monitored, and the results from the measuring the concentration of radioactive materials in seawater, sediment and marine biota.

The NRA also submitted further information to the IAEA on the sampling points for sea area monitoring for this year.

As of 13 December 2013, TEPCO has made changes to its dose evaluation process for the site boundary which are outlined in the document available here.

In addition, TEPCO provided a progress report covering the historical data of radioactive density recorded in their ground water sampling programme around the east side of Unit 1-4 Turbine Buildings, which can be accessed here.

On 11 December 2013, the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) of Japan provided the IAEA with an update on radioactivity in seawater at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (NPS).

This update states that the concentrations of Cs-134, Cs-137, total Beta and H-3 were relatively stable from 25 November to 1 December 2013 at the Nuclear Power Station, as well as cooperative activities with the IAEA on marine monitoring.

In addition, the NRA provided an update on the monitoring report for radioactivity obtained from sea water samples taken at a distance of two to 200 kilometers from TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi NPS. During the period of 2 to 8 December 2013, the monitoring points, T-1 and T-2-1, located at the shoreline and directly adjacent to the NPS, indicated that the concentrations of all radionuclides (i.e. Cs-134, Cs-137, total Beta and H-3) were relatively stable.

The NRA also issued a news release on its activities to monitor removal of fuel from Unit 4.

On 4 December 2013, the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) of Japan provided the IAEA with an update on radioactivity in seawater at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (NPS).

This update states that the concentrations of Cs-134, Cs-137, total Beta and H-3 were relatively stable from 25 November to 1 December 2013 at the Nuclear Power Station.

In addition, the NRA provided an update on the monitoring report of sea area radioactivity obtained from samples taken in the vicinity of TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi NPS and in the open sea.

On 27 November 2013, the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) of Japan provided the IAEA with an update on radioactivity in seawater at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (NPS).

This update states that the concentrations of Cs-134, Cs-137, total Beta and H-3 were relatively stable from 18 to 24 November 2013 at the nuclear power station.

In addition, the NRA provided an update on the monitoring report of sea area radioactivity obtained from samples taken in the vicinity of TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi NPS and in the open sea.

To provide and track specific details on the transfer of fuel from the spent fuel from Unit 4 of the Fukushima Daiichi NPS that commenced on 18 November 2013, a new section on the TEPCO website is now available.

TEPCO has also provided information on the review that was undertaken following the operation of fuel removal from the Unit 4 spent fuel pool in a document dated 25 November 2013 titled Work Procedure Review Following Unused Fuel Removal at Fukushima Daiichi NPS Unit 4. Details are available here.

A series of photos and videos of the transfer process of the unused fuel removal at the Fukushima Daiichi NPS Unit 4 can be accessed at the following links:

• http://photo.tepco.co.jp/en/date/2013/201311-e/131120-01e.html
• http://photo.tepco.co.jp/en/date/2013/201311-e/131121-01e.html
• http://photo.tepco.co.jp/en/date/2013/201311-e/131122-01e.html
• http://photo.tepco.co.jp/en/date/2013/201311-e/131126-01e.html
• http://photo.tepco.co.jp/en/date/2013/201311-e/131127-01e.html

The Japanese Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) today provided the IAEA with a news release on its recent actions related to the fuel removal from the reactor building of Unit 4 of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, as well as a progress report from TEPCO also related to the fuel removal at this Unit.

On 14 November 2013, the Japanese Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) issued a news release in which it detailed requirements that NRA provided TEPCO for undertaking fuel removal from the spent fuel storage pools in reactor buildings to the Common Spent Fuel Pool, under the Act on Regulation of Nuclear Source Material, Nuclear Fuel Material and Nuclear Reactors. Details of the implementation plan can be accessed at NRA Actions Towards TEPCO Fuel Removal.

On 13 November 2013, the Japanese Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) provided the IAEA an update on radioactivity in seawater at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (NPS).

The report notes that on 9 November 2013 TEPCO found contaminated water was leaking from the dike surrounding H6 Tank Area in Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. Information on this leakage can be found on Seawater Monitoring Near Fukushima Daiichi NPS.

The NRA report also states that the concentrations of Cs-134, Cs-137, total Beta, and H-3 were relatively stable from 4 to 10 November 2013 at the nuclear power station - Seawater Monitoring Near Fukushima Daiichi NPS.

In addition, the NRA provided an update on the monitoring report of sea area radioactivity obtained from samples taken in the vicinity of TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi NPS and in the open sea.

The Government of Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) announced on 19 November 2013 the NRA's enhanced sea area monitoring measures in the area within a 30 kilometre radius from the Tokyo Electric Power Company's (TEPCO) Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, as well as the initiation of a comparative analysis of the seawater monitoring data gathered by TEPCO and the NRA. The enhanced measures include additional monthly measurements (commencing 21 November 2013) and the establishment of seven additional sampling points, where radionuclides will be analysed, including Cs-134 (detection limit: 0.001Bq/L), Cs-137 (detection limit: 0.001Bq/L), Sr-90 (detection limit: 0.01Bq/L), H-3 (detection limit: 0.5Bq/L), K-40 (detection limit: 1Bq/L). The NRA had already been undertaking seawater monitoring beyond a 30 kilometre radius from TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.

Following the 15 November 2013 contaminated water seepages reported earlier, the NRA provided on 19 November 2013 the results of TEPCO's daily seawater monitoring at a point near the Tank Area. Further information and a map can be found here.

In addition, TEPCO provided further details of the leakage.

The NRA reported that the concentrations of all radionuclides (i.e., Cs-134, Cs-137, total Beta and H-3) were relatively stable from 11 to 17 November at the sampling points near the Nuclear Power Station.

On 18 November 2013, the NRA provided the IAEA an update, noting that on 15 November 2013, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) announced the results of an investigation that surveyed the lower portion of the reactor Unit 1 vent pipes at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (NPS).

At Units 1, 2 and 3 at the NPS, it had been assumed that the cooling water, injected into the reactors, was leaking from the primary containment vessels to the reactor buildings, but the specific location of the leakage had not been identified. In response, investigations have been conducted to identify the cause of the leakage. TEPCO has identified precise locations of leakages of contaminated water from the primary containment vessel of Unit 1.

In its 18 November 2013 update, the Government of Japan referred to the discovery as "a significant step forward towards decommissioning, since the cause of the leakage of the contaminated water was confirmed." The Government of Japan will further investigate the situation in detail and expects that the decommissioning process would be accelerated. The foregoing information is posted on the TEPCO website.

Further information was also provided on the robotic boat technology and measurement methods used to investigate leakage at Unit 1:

• Background information
• Results from the first day of investigation
• Results from the second day of investigation
• Higher resolution images

The Government of Japan also informed the IAEA on 18 November 2013 that TEPCO was scheduled to begin removing fuel from the Unit 4 reactor that day and moving it to the Common Spent Fuel Pool. In addition, the actions, which are to be taken by the Nuclear Regulation Authority of Japan (NRA) with regard to the fuel removal, are described on the following NRA webpages:

• http://www.nsr.go.jp/english/data/131115-1.pdf
• http://www.nsr.go.jp/english/data/131114-1r.pdf

TEPCO provided further detailed information about the fuel removal procedure, as well as a summary of the safety measures currently in effect for the Spent Fuel Pool removal process at Unit 4.

On 6 November, the IAEA received an update from the Japanese Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) on the daily monitoring by TEPCO of seawater near the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station that indicates the concentrations of radionuclides, including Cs-134, Cs-137, as well as total Beta and H-3, measured at the sea sampling points within a 2 kilometre radius of the plant site, were relatively stable from 28 October to 3 November 2013.

In addition, the NRA provided the latest sea area monitoring results obtained from samples taken in the vicinity of TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station and in the open sea.

On its company website, TEPCO provides detailed information on the Unit 4 Spent Fuel Pool removal process, as well as a photograph of the transport container used to move the spent fuel after its removal from the Unit Four Spent Fuel pool.

On 30 October 2013, the Japanese Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) provided the IAEA with its most recent update on radioactivity in seawater at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (NPS).

The NRA report notes no significant increase in the concentrations of Cs-134 and Cs-137 and total Beta in the designated sampling points, even after the rainwater flowed over the dikes on 20 October 2013 due to continued heavy rains.

In addition, the NRA provided the latest sea area monitoring results obtained from samples taken in the vicinity of TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station and in the open sea.

On 28 October 2013, TEPCO also issued a report related to maintenance of one of the water systems, as well as a document providing an overview of countermeasures that were put in place in preparation for Typhoon Francisco.

On 23 October 2013, the Japanese Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) provided the IAEA with an update on radioactivity in seawater at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (NPS).

The NRA report notes no significant increase in the concentrations of Cs-134 and Cs-137 in the designated sampling points as compared to the previous week, even after the typhoon that passed over the Nuclear Power Station in the period 14-16 October 2013.

In addition, the NRA provided a monitoring report of sea area radioactivity obtained from samples taken in the vicinity of TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi NPS and in the open sea.

At the same time, TEPCO has issued a report detailing specific counter measures implemented due to the heavy rain several days ago.

On 17 October 2013, the Japanese Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) provided the IAEA with an update on radioactivity in seawater at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (NPS).

The NRA report notes that on 9 October 2013, TEPCO found that the concentrations of Cs-134 and Cs-137 in sampling seawater obtained from inside the screen silt fence at Unit 2 of TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi NPS increased compared with the previous results. The NRA provided a link to this TEPCO data.

In addition, the NRA provided a monitoring report of sea area radioactivity obtained from samples taken in the vicinity of TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi NPS and in the open sea.

On 9 October 2013, the Japanese Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) provided the IAEA with an update on current levels of radioactivity in seawater as of 8 October 2013.

The NRA also issued a press release on 9 October 2013 that reports the leakage of contaminated water from a desalination system in use at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, which led to the exposure of six workers.

The NRA provided these links to the TEPCO website which provide further details of TEPCO's report submitted to the NRA:

• http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/2013/1231306_5130.html
• http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/2013/1231302_5130.html
• http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/2013/1231301_5130.html
• http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/2013/1231300_5130.html
• http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/2013/1231292_5130.html
• http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/2013/1231288_5130.html

The NRA also provided the IAEA with a report providing sea water radioactivity monitoring data as of 8 October 2013.