Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire

Major Energy and Environmental News and Commentary affecting the Nuclear Industry.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Tepco Installs Barrier to Prevent Sea Contamination

Tepco Installs Barrier to Prevent Sea Contamination 

TOKYO—Tokyo Electric Power Co. on Saturday began installing a steel barrier at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant to prevent highly radioactive water from leaking into the Pacific Ocean, as Japan's trade minister became the first member of the government to visit the site since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

Earthquake in Japan

Workers had already plugged a leak of highly radioactive water from the plant's No. 2 reactor, but the company said it is taking further precautionary measures by installing steel sheets in the ocean nearby to block a seawater intake pipe. The company also plans to deploy "silt fence" barriers around the pipe to further guard against contamination.

2 comments:

  1. The plugging of the leak was done 1-3 days before this report. The plans of a silt fence are yet to be done. What about the days prior to the plugging where the leaks have been reported to be occurring and before the installation of the silt fence plan? I have been following this up almost everyday, especially for the safeguards that people along the Pacific Ocean who live on fishing should take. Fortunately or unfortunately, messages include: radio active material will easily dissipate into the ocean or there is still a very low level of radioactive materials found in sea water.... Please give us realistic, concrete and consistent data. Thanks a lot for the help.

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  2. I frankly wonder how effective the silt fence technique will be. I understand that they are using makers in the water to detect radioactive spread. Beyond that, its clear that there has been radioactive loading in the ocean.

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