« on: July 18, 2007, 04:48:50 AM »
KASHIWAZAKI, Japan–Authorities suspended the operation of a nuclear power plant after damage from a deadly earthquake on the nation's northwestern coast raised new concerns about the safety of Japan's accident-plagued nuclear power industry.
"It is difficult to allow you to operate the plant in this situation under the fire laws. I order a ban on its use," Kashiwazaki Mayor Hiroshi Aida said today.
Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Akira Amari told Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) yesterday it must not resume operations at the plant until it has made a thorough safety check. Nuclear power plants around Japan were ordered to conduct inspections.
The plant, which generates 8.2 million kilowatts or about 30 per cent of Japan's electricity, has been plagued with mishaps. In 2001, a radioactive leak was found in the turbine room of one reactor.
and
It was announced only 12 hours later that the magnitude-6.8 quake also caused a leak of about 1,200 litres of water containing radioactive material. Officials said the water leak was well within safety standards. The water was flushed into the sea.
The company also said a small amount of radioactive materials cobalt-60 and chromium-51 had been emitted into the atmosphere from an exhaust stack.
Later yesterday, it said 50 cases of "malfunctioning and trouble" had been found. Four of the plant's seven reactors were running at the time of the quake, and they were all shut down automatically by a safety mechanism.
Officials said there was no harm to the environment, but acknowledged it took a day to discover about 100 drums of low-level nuclear waste that were overturned, some with the lids open.
It seems that officials are worried wildlife in the local waters might have an adverse reaction to the released radioactivity and that the affected wildlife might end up destroying Tokyo and the Honshu electrical grid.
Logged
Holden McGroin LLC makes every effort to provide accurate and complete information. Since humor, irony, and keen insight may be foreign to some readers, no warranty, expressed or implied is offered. Re-writing this disclaimer cost me big bucks at the lawyer’s office!
