Fukushima Daiichi Status Updates

On 1 December 2015, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report?on?the discharge record and the sea water monitoring results at the Fukushima?Daiichi?Nuclear Power Station?during November, which the Ministry of?Foreign Affairs has sent to all missions in Tokyo.

The report contains information on discharges from the?subdrain and?groundwater drain systems, as well as on groundwater bypassing conducted?during the month of November. In both cases, in advance of the action,?TEPCO analyzes the quality of the groundwater to be discharged and?announces the results. These results confirm that the radiation level of?sampled water are substantially below the operational targets set by TEPCO.

At the same time, TEPCO has also posted a document on its website?concerning the current work environment and future improvements onsite.

Japan has provided the IAEA with a report?summarizing the events and highlights on the progress related to recovery operations at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The IAEA had provided its assessments, which is contained in full at the end of the report.

At the time of writing this report, TEPCO had started operations to pump groundwater from the sub-drains and ground water drain and have reached agreement with many stakeholders to discharge groundwater to the seas after treatment and monitoring to ensure ?the concentrations of radionuclides are within the stipulated discharge limits. TEPCO has also completed construction of a seaside wall to reduce outflow of groundwater into the ocean.?TEPCO expects these countermeasures to reduce groundwater ingress into the reactor buildings and to reduce the accumulation of contaminated water needing storage and treatment.?.

The IAEA assessment addresses these countermeasures and acknowledges?that the discharge of treated groundwater and completion of the final section of the seaside impermeable wall were achieved through extensive communication and engagement with many stakeholders and the public.?A copy of the final report 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 notes that the regular sea area monitoring results published by the NRA shows that the levels of radionuclides in the marine environment remain stable. The IAEA encourages the continuation of sea area monitoring, particularly now that authorized discharges of treated groundwater into the ocean have started.

The IAEA also noted that preliminary results from the 2015 seawater proficiency test exercise demonstrated that results of sampling from Japanese laboratories are at a par with that of the IAEA and two other independent laboratories.?

Finally, the assessment indicates that the IAEA??continues to acknowledge that systems are in place and are being implemented to prevent food and agricultural products with levels of caesium radionuclides in excess of the national regulatory limits from entering the food supply chain. Food restrictions continue to be revised and updated as necessary, in line with food sampling and monitoring, and this indicates the continued vigilance of the authorities in Japan and their commitment to protecting consumers and trade.?

Based on the information that has been made available, the Joint IAEA/FAO Division understands that the measures taken to monitor and respond to issues regarding radionuclide contamination of food are appropriate, and that the food supply chain is under control.?

Results of groundwater and sea water monitoring analyses have shown no significant change of radioactivity in sampled groundwater and sea water at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, according to the report on the discharge record and the sea water monitoring results, which was provided by Japan on 2 November to all missions in Tokyo.

The report covers the record and monitoring?data of the discharge of groundwater from the subdrain and groundwater drain systems in September and October, as well as the discharge of groundwater for bypassing in October. It includes measurements taken by Tokyo Electric Power Corporation (TEPCO), as well as detailed analyses by a third-party institution. The results of analysis show that radiation levels have been substantially below the operational targets.

The report also includes the results of analysis of sea water sampled during the operations, which showed that the radiation level of sea water has remained low, and no significant change in radioactivity had been observed.

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 October?to?all missions in Tokyo.?

The report?covers the record and monitoring?data for?groundwater releases at Fukushima Daiichi on the?1st,?9th, 16th, 23rd?and 30th?of September. 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.

Radioactivity in water near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has remained low and stable from 6 to 8 September 2015, according to the?regular update?provided by Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) to the IAEA. Limited samplng was undertaken ?from 9-12 September in Point T-2-1 (1.3 km from the plant)?because of bad weather.

At the same time, NRA?also released a report from TEPCO on leakages of water from dikes in tank areas storing contaminted water at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station between 9 and 14 September. The report states that there was no effect on the ocean through this incident. NRA has instructed TEPCO to continue monitoring the situation and to appropriately manage the water in the dikes taking into account this incident.

Radioactivity in water near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has remained low and stable from 1 to 5 September 2015, according to the regular update?provided by Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) to the IAEA. No samples were taken from 23 August to 1 September 2015 because of bad weather,?also according to the update.?The weekly sea area monitoring report is?no longer part of the regular update to the IAEA but are now all?separately available from?.

Tokyo Electric Power Corporation has pledged to seriously consider the report's guidance in its brief public comment about the release of the IAEA Fukushima report.?

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 provided its assessments, which are contained in full at the end of the report.

In this assessment, the IAEA acknowledges the successful removal of the fuel handling machine from the Unit 3 spent fuel pool by TEPCO. This will allow TEPCO to prepare for removal of the remaining rubble and the spent fuel assemblies from the Unit 3 spent fuel pool. Removal of the fuel is scheduled to start in Fiscal Year 2017.

In addition, the IAEA notes measures to control groundwater ingress, as well as acknowledges TEPCO’s removal of the highly contaminated water from the trenches of Units 2 and 3, which reduces the risk of contaminated water leakage.

TEPCO is also encouraged by the IAEA to continue to review and strengthen its internal and external communication procedures and information disclosure and dissemination to media and the public at large, in line with the advice related to communication matters given by the past IAEA Decommissioning Missions. Details of TEPCO’s communication measures are presented in its 24 August 2015 report.

Regarding the generation of hydrogen gas inside high integrity containers as cited in a previous IAEA assessment in May 2015, IAEA takes note of TEPCO’s investigation which states that the possibility of ignition of hydrogen gas generated in the containers by water radiolysis has been assessed to be low. It also takes note of the measures introduced to address the related issue of liquid level increase inside the containers due to hydrogen gas accumulated in the slurry, resulting in some cases in leakage through the lids. TEPCO is taking steps to prevent leakage, in line with measures suggested during the expert visit in April 2015.

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

Finally, the assessment indicates that the Joint FAO/IAEA Division understands that national regulatory limits for levels of caesium radionuclides in food remain in force, and the authorities in Japan are continuing to implement a programme of food monitoring.

Radioactivity in water near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has remained low and stable from 16?to 22?August 2015, according to the regular update?and sea 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 9 to 15 August 2015, according to the regular update and sea area monitoring results provided by Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) to the IAEA.

In its most recent update to the IAEA, Japan has shared?a document?from TEPCO outlining the details about an accident that occurred with a worker on the weekend who unfortunately died, as well as??a news release?concerning the status of water management onsite.

At the same time, radioactivity in water near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has remained low and stable from 2 to 8 August 2015, according to the?regular update?and?sea area monitoring results?provided by Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) to the IAEA.

In another report issued on?3 August, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs presented information to all consulates and missions in Japan on the?release record and the post-release sea water monitoring results of "Groundwater bypassing" at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station in July. Detailed analysis?of the results of groundwater?by TEPCO, Japan Atomic Energy?Agency, as well as a third party analytical institution, have shown that?the radioactive levels of sampled water have been substantially below operational targets.

Radioactivity in water near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has remained low and stable from 28 June to 4 July 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 July to 11?July 2015, according to the regular update?and sea area monitoring results?provided by Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) to the IAEA.

At the same time, ?information from?TEPCO?on the overflow of rainwater from Drainage K into the sea outside the port of Fukushima was?circulated by?Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to consular missions and international organizations in Japan. The report confirms that,?on the morning of 16 July, some of the rainwater?overflowed into the sea outside the port due to heavy rain. The overflow tapered off as?the rain stopped and while measurements of radioactivity rose temporarirly is sea water samples just outside Drainage K, levels outside the port conitnuesto remain low. TEPCO is continuing to monitor the situation and implementing current shifting work to the drainage channels.

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

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Radioactivity in water near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has remained low and stable from 28 June to 4 July 2015, according to the regular update and sea area monitoring results provided by Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) to the IAEA.

Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also released a regular report -- sent to all consular missions and international organizations in Japan -- on the release record and post-release?sea water monitoring results of groundwater bypassing at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station for the month of June. As?in similar past reports, the results show that radioactive levels of sampled water are substantially below operational targets set by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO).?

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Radioactivity in water near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has?remained low and stable from 21?to 27 June 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 announced that removal of the highly contaminated water into an underground tunnel housing pipes and cables outside the Unit 2 turbine has been completed. Removal of the remaining water at Unit 3 will begin shortly pending government approval.

Radioactivity in water near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has?remained low and stable from 7 ?to 13?June 2015, according to the regular update?and sea area monitoring results?provided by Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) to the IAEA.

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Radioactivity in water near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has?remained low and stable from 31 May to 6 June 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 had provided its assessments, which is contained in full at the end of the report.

The IAEA assessment refers to?the final report of the International Decommissioning Peer Review Mission to Japan that took place from 9 to 17 February 2015 was published on 14 May 2015. The scope of this Mission -- and the follow-up expert visit on 17-21 April 2015 -- covered the majority of issues pertaining to current and forecast conditions, radiation worker protection, and actions taken by the Japanese government. A copy of the final report is available?here.??

At the time of writing this report, nearly all of the stored water, already treated for the removal of cesium, had been treated for the removal of strontium-90. Approximately 70 per cent of the stored water has also been treated for the removal of the other radionuclides as well, while the remaining 30 per cent would still require additional treatment. The assessment?notes?that the water thus treated would still contain tritium and storage of treated contaminated water containing tritium in above ground tanks is a temporary measure while TEPCO develops a more sustainable solution. The IAEA is aware of the recent news carried by the media on discovered water leaking and will seek additional information from counterparts in Japan to continue assessment of developments.

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.

Finally, 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.

Radioactivity in water near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has?remained low and stable from 17 to 23 May 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 10 to 16 May 2015, according to the regular?update and?sea area monitoring results?provided by Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) to the IAEA.