Screening starts for 3 aging reactors Nuclear & Energy Apr. 2, 2015 - Updated 04:52 UTC-4 Japan's nuclear regulators have begun screening for restarts of 3 aging reactors on the Sea of Japan coast in Fukui Prefecture, central Japan. The reactors at the Takahama and Mihama plants are the first to undergo the screening as they approach a new 40-year age limit for operation. Members of the Nuclear Regulation Authority and other officials met on Thursday to start screening the No.1 and 2 reactors at Takahama and No.3 reactor at Mihama. Both plants are operated by Kansai Electric Power Company. To bring reactors back online, their operators must meet government requirements introduced after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear crisis to prepare them for disasters. Under the regulations, reactors can operate for 40 years in principle. Extensions of up to 20 years are allowed only when they clear both the screening for restarts and special inspections for possible deterioration. Kansai Electric officials explained at the meeting what safety steps they take. One major challenge with old reactors is preventing electric cable fires. The officials say they plan to replace hundreds of kilometers of cables per reactor with those made of flame-retardant materials or apply to them fire-resistant coatings. The officials also say they will build a new emergency operation facility for the Takahama plant. The firm originally planned to use the No.1 and 2 reactor buildings in case of emergencies at the No.3 and 4 reactors, which have already cleared screening. Radioactive water may have leaked at Daiichi plant Nuclear & Energy Apr. 2, 2015 - Updated 12:12 UTC-4 Workers at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant have found a small amount of liquid that may have leaked from a container of highly radioactive wastewater. The plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company, says the workers detected the liquid on the lid of the container at around 1 PM on Thursday. TEPCO says when the workers touched the container, a small volume of liquid leaked from a hole on the upper part. TEPCO surmised it is wastewater. The hole is to vent its gas. The resin container measures 1.5 meters in diameter and 1.8 meters in height. The wastewater comes from a system to treat contaminated water. It includes substances such as magnesium and a high density of radioactive materials. The utility says the liquid has not leaked out of a structure housing the container. The facility is made from concrete. TEPCO says it will analyze the liquid's contents and determine why it has pooled on the lid. They add that depending on the results, they will also examine more than 670 containers in the same facility. Japan releases estimates on renewable energy use Japan Apr. 3, 2015 - Updated 21:33 UTC-4 The Environment Ministry estimates that Japan will be able to double or triple its electricity output from renewable energy sources by 2030. An estimate by a private think tank commissioned by the ministry says if electricity demand were to remain at current levels, power from renewable sources could supply 24 to 35 percent of all energy needs. This is far greater than the amount supplied in fiscal 2013, when renewable resources accounted for about 11 percent of energy needs. Godzilla to be tourism ambassador of Shinjuku City Japan Apr. 4, 2015 - Updated 14:26 UTC-4 One of Tokyo's busiest commercial districts, Shinjuku City, is set to anoint iconic movie monster Godzilla as its tourism ambassador. Shinjuku officials will announce the decision to coincide with the opening later this month of a 30-story building that features a replica of the giant creature's head. The multipurpose building, which houses a 12-screen cinema complex and a hotel, is located on the site of a former theater. Godzilla looks down over the neighborhood from 8 floors up, or 50 meters above street level, which is the supposed height of the creature in early films. Shinjuku officials say they will issue a special certificate of residence to Godzilla. They plan to hold a ceremony to make the appointment official on Thursday. And they will hold events and print leaflets featuring the film icon. Godzilla first appeared in Japanese movie in the 1950s, before becoming hugely popular overseas as well. Hollywood released a new Godzilla film last year. 13 baby gray whales and 55 dolphins found dead on West Coast — “Rash of dead humpback whales in Oregon” — “Corpses of sea lions, birds, sea turtles decomposing” — Mysterious deaths probed by gov’t — “Fear for whales encountering ‘radiation hot spots’…Volunteers trained about dangers of radiation” (VIDEO) http://bit.ly/1Gf2Fga
Fukushima 4/5/15: Potential Nuke Meltdowns May Restart; *Godzilla* New Tokyo Tourism Ambassador
Screening starts for 3 aging reactors Nuclear & Energy Apr. 2, 2015 - Updated 04:52 UTC-4 Japan's nuclear regulators have begun screening for restarts of 3 aging reactors on the Sea of Japan coast in Fukui Prefecture, central Japan. The reactors at the Takahama and Mihama plants are the first to undergo the screening as they approach a new 40-year age limit for operation. Members of the Nuclear Regulation Authority and other officials met on Thursday to start screening the No.1 and 2 reactors at Takahama and No.3 reactor at Mihama. Both plants are operated by Kansai Electric Power Company. To bring reactors back online, their operators must meet government requirements introduced after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear crisis to prepare them for disasters. Under the regulations, reactors can operate for 40 years in principle. Extensions of up to 20 years are allowed only when they clear both the screening for restarts and special inspections for possible deterioration. Kansai Electric officials explained at the meeting what safety steps they take. One major challenge with old reactors is preventing electric cable fires. The officials say they plan to replace hundreds of kilometers of cables per reactor with those made of flame-retardant materials or apply to them fire-resistant coatings. The officials also say they will build a new emergency operation facility for the Takahama plant. The firm originally planned to use the No.1 and 2 reactor buildings in case of emergencies at the No.3 and 4 reactors, which have already cleared screening. Radioactive water may have leaked at Daiichi plant Nuclear & Energy Apr. 2, 2015 - Updated 12:12 UTC-4 Workers at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant have found a small amount of liquid that may have leaked from a container of highly radioactive wastewater. The plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company, says the workers detected the liquid on the lid of the container at around 1 PM on Thursday. TEPCO says when the workers touched the container, a small volume of liquid leaked from a hole on the upper part. TEPCO surmised it is wastewater. The hole is to vent its gas. The resin container measures 1.5 meters in diameter and 1.8 meters in height. The wastewater comes from a system to treat contaminated water. It includes substances such as magnesium and a high density of radioactive materials. The utility says the liquid has not leaked out of a structure housing the container. The facility is made from concrete. TEPCO says it will analyze the liquid's contents and determine why it has pooled on the lid. They add that depending on the results, they will also examine more than 670 containers in the same facility. Japan releases estimates on renewable energy use Japan Apr. 3, 2015 - Updated 21:33 UTC-4 The Environment Ministry estimates that Japan will be able to double or triple its electricity output from renewable energy sources by 2030. An estimate by a private think tank commissioned by the ministry says if electricity demand were to remain at current levels, power from renewable sources could supply 24 to 35 percent of all energy needs. This is far greater than the amount supplied in fiscal 2013, when renewable resources accounted for about 11 percent of energy needs. Godzilla to be tourism ambassador of Shinjuku City Japan Apr. 4, 2015 - Updated 14:26 UTC-4 One of Tokyo's busiest commercial districts, Shinjuku City, is set to anoint iconic movie monster Godzilla as its tourism ambassador. Shinjuku officials will announce the decision to coincide with the opening later this month of a 30-story building that features a replica of the giant creature's head. The multipurpose building, which houses a 12-screen cinema complex and a hotel, is located on the site of a former theater. Godzilla looks down over the neighborhood from 8 floors up, or 50 meters above street level, which is the supposed height of the creature in early films. Shinjuku officials say they will issue a special certificate of residence to Godzilla. They plan to hold a ceremony to make the appointment official on Thursday. And they will hold events and print leaflets featuring the film icon. Godzilla first appeared in Japanese movie in the 1950s, before becoming hugely popular overseas as well. Hollywood released a new Godzilla film last year. 13 baby gray whales and 55 dolphins found dead on West Coast — “Rash of dead humpback whales in Oregon” — “Corpses of sea lions, birds, sea turtles decomposing” — Mysterious deaths probed by gov’t — “Fear for whales encountering ‘radiation hot spots’…Volunteers trained about dangers of radiation” (VIDEO) http://bit.ly/1Gf2Fga
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