Fukushima Daiichi NPS Prompt Report 2015

Report notes drop in radiation dose levels, other progress

FUKUSHIMA, Feb. 18, 2015-The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) praised the steps taken to progress towards the safe decommissioning of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, after a week-long on-site review, the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) announced today.

"Japan has made significant progress since our previous missions," team leader Juan Carlos Lentijo told a press briefing at the conclusion of the review.  "The situation on the site has improved - progressive clean-up has led to reduced radiation dose levels in many parts of the site."

Lentijo, who is IAEA's Director of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology, led a team of 15 international experts, conducting their review from Feb. 9-17. It was the third such review conducted by the IAEA since the March 2011 accident. In particular, Lentijo acknowledged TEPCO's creation last April of the Fukushima Daiichi D&D Engineering Company (FDEC) as a good step to clarify responsibility and accountability for the decontamination and decommissioning effort.

Naohiro Masuda, who heads FDEC as TEPCO's Chief Decommissioning Officer said: "The IAEA peer review has acknowledged our progress at Fukushima Daiichi, such as in the management of radioactive waste and contaminated water, removal of spent fuel assemblies and reduction of dosage on the site and in the vicinity.  The IAEA has also given us valuable points for improvement and we look forward to their continued advice."

Summary Report Delivered

The IAEA group delivered a "Preliminary Summary Report" to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The report noted progress in many areas, including:

·Establishment of the Nuclear Damage Compensation and Decommissioning Facilitation Corporation as a national authority to develop a guiding strategy for the decommissioning -a joint effort of TEPCO and the Government of Japan.
·Creation of FDEC.
·Completion of the removal of spent fuel from Unit 4
·Improvement and expansion of systems to clean contaminated water, and the upgrading of storage tanks
·Operation of an underground water bypass system
·Overall cleanup of the site, reducing the radiological dose to workers

With respect to the last of those items, the report points out not only "the implementation of measures to reduce occupational exposure and to keep radiation dose in the vicinity of the site below annual limit for the public", but also the "improvements of various aspects related to the marine monitoring and assessment of potential radiological impact."

The IAEA acknowledged that the decommissioning of the site remains complex, and noted the same challenges TEPCO has addressed in its own progress reports:

·Management of water at the site
·The long-term management of radioactive waste
·The removal of spent fuel, damaged fuel, and the nuclear debris from the three damaged reactor cores.

Accountability to Public

Regarding TEPCO's accountability towards the public, the report urges that the ministry and TEPCO "help lay audiences understand the relevance of the information by basing it on the health and safety aspects of both the workforce and the public, as well as protection of the environment." Improvement in communication with the public, both within and outside Japan, has been a priority for TEPCO as part of its Nuclear Safety Reform Plan, and continues to be a focus of its independent advisory group, the Nuclear Reform Monitoring Committee.

IAEA will deliver its final report on this review by the end of March, and TEPCO will make that report available on its website.

Photos and overview material of the review may be seen at: http://photo.tepco.co.jp/en/date/2015/201502-e/150217-01e.html

The IAEA Preliminary Summary Report, 17 February 2015 is posted at IAEA homepage:https://www.iaea.org/sites/default/files/missionreport170215.pdf

IAEA's press release: https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/iaea-team-completed-third-review-japans-plans-decommission-fukushima

About TEPCO

Tokyo Electric Power Company, Inc. (TEPCO) is Japan's largest power company, supplying energy to the greater Kanto area, including Japan's two most populous cities, Tokyo and Yokohama. Its 34,000 employees are committed to providing safe, reliable power to its 29.0 million customers, diversifying energy resources to ensure sustainability, and contributing to economic growth while fully meeting its responsibilities after the Fukushima Daiichi accident.
TEPCO Website: http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/index-e.html
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