Fukushima Daiichi Status Updates

Radioactivity in water near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has remained low and stable from 26 April to 9 May 2015, according to the regular update and sea area monitoring results provided by Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) to the IAEA. 

Tokyo Electric Power Corporation (TEPCO) will soon also be providing significantly more of its radiation monitoring data online for easier analysis.  How and when this data will be disclosed is outlined in this document.

Results of groundwater analysis have shown no significant change of radioactivity in sampled groundwater at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, according to a regular report on release and post-release monitoring of "groundwater bypassing" which was circulated by Japan on 1 May  to  all missions in Tokyo. 

The report covers the record and monitoring  data for  groundwater releases at Fukushima Daiichi on the 5th, 11th, 17th, 23rd and 30th of April. It also  includes measurements taken by Tokyo Electric Power Corporation (TEPCO) during and after the groundwater releases, as well as detailed analysis by a third-party institution of the same groundwater. The results show that the radioactive levels of sampled groundwater are substantially below the operational targets.

Japan's Tokyo Electric Power Corporation (TEPCO) has identified and categorized all possible risks that might have an impact outside the site boundary of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station following the detection of a puddle of highly contaminated water discovered at the rooftop of the Unit 2 record building on 24 February 2015. Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs distributed information on the result of the comprehensive risk review to all embassies, consular missions and international organizations in Japan today.

The risk review identified 190 target items, 124 of which were classified either as countermeasure in practice, needing follow-up observation or needing no additional measures. Of the remaining 66 items, 21 were classified as needing necessary countermeasures, one of which needed immediate countermeasures, and 45 were classified as needing further examination.

The background and nature of the comprehensive risk review is explained in page 4 of the attached document.

Radioactivity in water near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has remained low and stable from 19 to 25 April 2015, according to the regular update and sea area monitoring results provided by Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) to the IAEA. The update also provides a chart of sampling tests for caesium-137 and caesium-137 taken around the waters of Fukushima from 10 December 2013 to 25 April 2015.

The next update from the NRA is scheduled to be released on 12 May 2015.

Radioactivity in water near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has remained low and stable from 12 to 18 April 2015, according to the regular update and sea area monitoring results provided by Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) to the IAEA.

Radioactivity in water near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has remained low and stable from 5 to 11 April 2015, according to the regular update and sea area monitoring results provided by Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) to the IAEA.

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) is conducting a comprehensive review to identify all the possible risks that might have an impact outside the site boundary of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, according to information recently submitted by Japan to the IAEA. The comprehensive review process follows the detection of a puddle of highly contaminated water at the large carry-in entrance rooftop of the Unit 2 Reactor Building on 24 February, which is a potential source of inlets to the drainage system.

In an an interim report released on 9 April, TEPCO also made available the details of the reviewing process, which aim to identify risks that might involve leakage of water or scattering of dust. After risks are identified, they will be classified into five categories: 1. Need further examination, 2. Countermeasures necessary to be taken, 3. Countermeasures in practice, 4. Follow-up observation (after implementing countermeasures) in practice, 5. No need for additional measures.

As for the risks classified as "Countermeasures necessary to be taken", suitable countermeasures will be considered and their implementation will start subsequently. In addition, risks will be regularly reviewed and the result of the review announced.

For further information about the detail of this reviewing process, please see this document.

Radioactivity in water near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has remained low and stable from 29 March to 4 April 2015, according to the regular update and sea area monitoring results provided by Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) to the IAEA.

Radioactivity in water near the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant has remained low and stable from 8 to 14 March 2015, according to the regular update and sea area monitoring results provided to the IAEA by Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA).

In addition, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has recently provided the following information:

• Schedule of Main Targeted Events at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
• A short technical note regarding contaminated water purification.
• A survey report regarding fish and shell fish measurements.
• A statement indicating that 90% of the stored contaminated water is scheduled to be treated by the end of May 2015.

TEPCO also released a statement on its website regarding the fourth anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami.

Radioactivity in water near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has remained low and stable from 1 to 7 March 2015, according to the regular update and sea area monitoring results provided by Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) to the IAEA.

Radioactivity in water near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has remained low and stable from 22 to 28 February 2015, according to the regular update and sea area monitoring results provided by Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) to the IAEA.

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 which is contained in full at the end of the report.

First, this assessment refers to the third International Decommissioning Peer Review Mission to Japan that took place from 9 to 17 February 2015.  The objective of the Mission was to provide an independent review of the activities associated with revisions to the planning and implementation of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant decommissioning.  A Preliminary Summary Report from the Mission is available here.

The IAEA assessment further looks at the sea area radioactivity monitoring results and other related information that has been made available.  The IAEA considers here that the situation in the marine environment is stable but should continue to be monitored.

The assessment indicates that the Agency considers that systems are in place and are being implemented that prevent food and agricultural products with levels of caesium radionuclides in excess of the national regulatory limits from entering the food supply chain. 

Finally, 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.

On 18 February 2015, Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) identified measures for Mid-term Risk Reduction at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The document is also available on the NRA's website here, here and here.

Radioactivity in seawater near the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant has remained low and stable from 15 to 22 February 2015, according to the regular update and sea area monitoring results provided by Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) to the IAEA.  An analysis of the seawater from the area around the outside of the port of Fukushima Daiichi was also received.

The Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has posted a news release on its website containing measurements of contaminated water which was detected on Sunday, 22 February 2015.

Additionally, the NRA has provided the IAEA with information about a newly-discovered but unrelated puddle of highly contaminated water at the Unit 2 Reactor Building. More information on the puddle of rainwater was posted on TEPCO's website.

Radioactivity in water near the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant has remained low and stable from 8 to 14 February 2015, according to the regular update and sea area monitoring results provided by Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) to the IAEA.

TEPCO has also posted a document with pictures from the recent IAEA visit.  The full images are available here.

Additionally, Japan's Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA) provided the IAEA with two news releases from TEPCO,  a news release on INES Rating Not Applicable to Contaminated Water Leakage in H4 Tank Area at Fukushima Daiichi NPS on 19 August 2013, and another news release on Permission for Changes in Reactor Installation of Units 3 and 4, Takahama Nuclear Power Station, Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc.

Radioactivity in water near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has remained low and stable from 1 to 7 February 2015, according to the regular update and sea area monitoring results provided by Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) to the IAEA.

Radioactivity in water near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has remained low and stable from 25 to 31 January 2015, according to the regular update and sea area monitoring results provided by Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) to the IAEA.

Radioactivity in water near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has remained low and stable from 18 to 24 January 2015, according to the regular update and sea area monitoring results provided by Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) to the IAEA.

The NRA also provided a progress report on its mid- and-long term roadmap for decommissioning and contaminated water management.

On Friday 23 January 2015, TEPCO announced that they were extending the deadline (originally set for March 2015) for the completion of the treatment of accumulated contaminated water. The following press release and information sheet provide more information.

Measurements of seawater obtained in the vicinity of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power station remained low and stable between 11 to 17 January 2015, according to the regular update and sea area monitoring results provided by Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority to the IAEA.

The recently reported deaths of two workers - one in Daiichi and the other in Daiini - have both been classified as accidents and not related to any radiological exposure.

The following news stories have further information:

http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/2015/1247504_6844.html
http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/2015/1247513_6844.html

Measurements of seawater obtained in the vicinity of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power station continued to show low and stable results between 4 to 11 January, according to the regular update and sea area monitoring results provided by Japan¹s Nuclear Regulation Authority to the IAEA.