Draft for guidelines approved by NRA

Nuclear regulator approves new guidelines

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20130410_19.html

Japan's nuclear regulator has approved a draft set of safety guidelines electric power companies must follow in the event of emergencies such as natural disasters.

The Nuclear Regulation Authority on Wednesday approved the draft for guidelines to be adopted by July. Members of the group, together with experts, compiled the requirements over a period of about 6 months.

The rules call for utilities to enforce stricter rules in dealing with serious accidents such as earthquakes and tsunami. Most of the rules are preconditions that will need to be met in order to restart idled reactors.

Regulators say operators of older reactors must replace power cables with non-flammable ones and install backup pipes to cool reactors in case of emergencies.

Utilities must also build quake-resistant facilities that can house command headquarters in case of nuclear accidents. The facilities must store enough equipment and food for workers to operate without outside support for at least one week.

Plants with boiling-water reactors like those at the Fukushima Daiichi will have to install "filter vents" that can release pressure in containment vessels while limiting emissions of radioactive substances.

Power companies will also be asked to build breakwaters and waterproof nuclear plants as part of safety measures against tsunami of maximum scale that could strike.

The new guidelines will be modified after taking the public's opinion into account. Attention is focused on how regulators will apply the rules to screen idle reactors awaiting resumption.