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On March 18th, 2011, the International Atomic Energy Agency had reiterated incorrect information that efforts to restore power to the troubled reactor units at Fukushima Power Plant had succeeded but had to publish a retraction on Friday the 19th as the Japanese military and the Tokyo Fire Department collaborated to control temperature and radiologic hazards which prevented installation of electrical cabling. Thereafter, the IAEA published a refutation of "widespread" reports of harms to human health.
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Saturday, March 19, 2011 False hopes had been raised that electric cable had been installed Thursday at the embattled Fukushima reactor units but the IAEA dampened those hopes with a clarification on Friday which was posted on their website.
The Agency posteda Japan Earthquake Update (17 March 2011, 16:55 UTC) - Clarified which remains on their website with cross outs indicating that earlier reports had been erroneous.As of Saturday March 20, power was still pending at Unit 2 while engineers struggled to control temperature and radiation levels. According to the IAEA, hopes remain that the power at Unit 2 can be hooked up by the 20th which can then act as a hub for additional electrical service at Unit 1.
As Japanese military personnel continued to douse reactors at the embattled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant with sea water, the International Atomic Energy Agency has issued a clarification of earlier reports which had indicated that Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) had successfully installed a replacement electric cable to the beleaguered second reactor. That operation has begun remains uncompleted and is ongoing. Tepco informed the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency that it would continue to spray water onto reactor three prior to restoring electric power at reacotr two.
Spraying had been halted at 11:09 UTC March 17 but resumed with different equipment . Earlier attempts to cool the reactor using Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopters was abandonded due to difficulty in approaching closely enough to the dangerously radioactive site. Thirty fire engines were moved to the site from the Tokyo Fire Department, supplementing available military equipment. It is considered to be of critical importance to cool the nuclear reactor units because the uranium and other fuels become hot and may ignite or burn through containment vessels.
Such an eventuality, although not as likely or dangerous as portrayed in popular culture such as the film China Syndrome, nevertheless poses risks to public health throughout the region. Spraying water into the reactor building is understood to ruin the nuclear power plant due to encrustation of contaminants. Fifty tons of water are scheduled for dispersal. Reactor three must be cooled before it will be possible to install the cable. The U.S. Navy has provided five high-capacity pumping systems to Japan's Nuclear Asset Management Department.
These are intended for possible use in cooling off reactor three in the event that existing pumps are inoperable. The pumps were flown via U.S. Air Force C-17 to Yokota Air Base. Subsequent to issuing its clarification regarding the electrical cabling, the IAEA noted that false information had been dissemingated in the media with regard to health impacts. A Japan Earthquake Update of 18 March 2011, 12:25 UTC)entitled "Clarification" stated " Contrary to several news reports, the IAEA to date has NOT received any notification from the Japanese authorities of people sickened by radiation contamination."
Meanwhile, wild rumors proliferate worldwide, notably that radiologic hazards were widespread, and that they could be countered by consumption of iodized table salt. "Efforts to manage Fukushima Daiichi 3" — World Nuclear News, March 18, 2011 Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency "Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) confirmed the current situation of Onagawa NPS, Tohoku Electric Power Co. Inc.;" — Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, March 18, 2011 "IAEA Update" — International Atomic Energy Agency, March 18, 2011
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GEOF BARD
URSA Consulting
5142 Hollister Ave #127
Santa Barbara
93111
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