The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (NISA) indicated that proper protocol to govern certain aspects of the required maintenance plan such as the maintenance frequency and its contents was not formulated for the maintenance system of the main facilities(seven facilities)*1 which are needed to maintain the stable cold shutdown of the water injection system for the reactor pressure vessels and primary containment vessels. During the FY2011 inspection, NISA pointed out that this failure to establish proper protocol is a violation of "Chapter 132 (Maintenance) in Safely Regulation". As a result, on March 19, we received an instruction document*2 from NISA.
The nature of the regulation violated was indicated by NISA as follows:
On Chapter 132 of the safety regulation, it is ruled that a maintenance method via equipment /facility and a maintenance plan which outlines the maintenance method (if necessary, includes preparation of consumables) should be formulated based on the manual.
During an inspection of the main facilities (seven facilities) essential to maintaining a stable cold shutdown of the water injection system for the reactor pressure vessels and primary containment vessels, it was found that some parts of the required maintenance plan had not been formulated and a management system for consumables and spare parts was lacking. As a result, NISA ruled that some of the essential processes were not followed during the maintenance of the seven facilities resulting in a safety regulation breach.
(Previously announced on March 19)
We have compiled a report regarding the cause of the safety regulation violation and countermeasures which was submitted to NISA today.
END
○ Attachment
Response to the safety regulation breach during the first FY2011 safety investigation at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (PDF 198KB)
*The aforementioned attachments are only available in Japanese.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
*1 Main facility (7 facilities)
(1) Water injection system for reactor pressure vessels and primary containment vessels,
(2) Function of primary containment vessels to prevent a hydrogen explosion
(3) Spent fuel pool,
(4) Injection system of boric acid solution for reactor pressure vessels and primary containment vessels,
(5) High-level concentrated contaminated water decontamination facility, accumulation system (tank), spent sludge storage facility, cesium absorption tower and affiliated facility (transfer pipes, transfer pumps),
(6) Building where high-level concentrated contaminated water accumulates (including leaked water),
(7) Electrical system.
*2 Instruction document
"Breach of safety regulations at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (instruction)"
(March 15, 2012, NISA, No.4)
*We have provided a Japanese press release version of the instruction document received from NISA. However, at this time we have reserved the right to provide an English version due to potential misunderstandings that may arise from an inaccurate rendering of the original Japanese text. We may provide the English translation that NISA releases in our press releases. However, in principle we would advise you to visit the NISA website for timely and accurate information.
