Government Report Calls for 28 Nuclear Safety Steps

The Yomiuri Shimbun - Daily Yomiuri Online - Associated Press - June 9, 2011

In a report submitted to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the government has called for a drastic revision of nuclear reactor design standards, including the development of air-cooling devices and a reconsideration of the location of temporary storage pools for spent nuclear fuel rods.

The report concerning the accident at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami was submitted to the IAEA on Tuesday.

The report included 28 proposals to strengthen the safety of nuclear plants, drawing on lessons from this year's earthquake-triggered nuclear crisis.

The Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) the same day instructed electrical utility companies that operate nuclear power plants to take emergency measures to prevent hydrogen explosions and secure sufficient equipment to measure radiation levels.

The report may significantly affect the operations of about 50 nuclear reactors in the nation, observers said.

The report condemned Japan's nuclear regulators for having failed to update their safety measures, saying that both plant operators and the government should reflect on whether they have seriously made efforts to respond to new knowledge and findings sensitively and quickly to improve safety.

The report listed 28 measures that power companies, the central government and local governments should take to enhance nuclear plant safety.

As for measures that should be taken by power companies, the report suggested that they reconsider their assumptions on damage likely to be caused by tsunami and establish multiple back-up power sources for emergencies. The installation of watertight doors and other equipment to prevent power generators and switchboards from being submerged was also suggested.

Regarding the cooling functions of reactors and spent fuel storage pools, the report suggested that plant operators install larger and more earthquake-resistant water tanks for emergency water injection. The report also suggested that an air-cooling system be developed for use in case the injection of cooling water becomes impossible. Measures to remove hydrogen also should be enhanced so that explosions of reactor buildings, such as those that rocked the Fukushima plant, may be prevented.

The report said one factor in the difficulty of responding to the accident at the Fukushima plant was that the six reactors at the plant were designed to share certain safety facilities, such as an emergency power generator. The report called for making it possible to implement completely independent responses for each reactor unit when a severe accident occurs.

As for measures to be taken by the central and local governments, the report suggested NISA be separated from the industry ministry. The report called for a comprehensive review of the central government's regulatory and administrative organs, including the Cabinet Office's Nuclear Safety Commission.

Referring to the System for the Prediction of Environmental Emergency Dose Information, known as SPEEDI, the government said in the report that it would fully utilize the system to forecast the effects of radioactive materials and promptly disclose data obtained from the system.

The government also will clarify roles of the central and local governments and the scope of wide-area evacuations in nuclear emergencies, the report said.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T110608006170.htm