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. 

2015.09.09

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.

2015.09.07

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.

2015.08.25

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.

2015.08.18

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.

2015.08.13

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.

2015.07.28

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.

2015.07.21

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.

2015.07.14

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). 

2015.07.07

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.

2015.06.30

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.

2015.06.16

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.

2015.06.09