New task force for leaks : 8 teams in Tokyo, 4 in Fukushima

TEPCO sets up task force for water leaks

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20130826_35.html

Tokyo Electric Power Company says it will set up a task force to manage radioactive water leaks at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

TEPCO President Naomi Hirose told reporters on Monday that he will directly oversee the task force. He called the leaks an urgent and pressing issue for the utility.

The task force will have 8 teams at the company headquarters in Tokyo, and 4 at the crippled plant.

The teams will include officials from company divisions. A leader will gather information from all teams, and address potential risks.

TEPCO has been criticized for mishandling problems because of insufficient information-sharing between divisions.

The utility will invite Japanese and foreign experts as technical advisors for the task force. Vice President and nuclear division chief, Zengo Aizawa, will be stationed in Fukushima.

TEPCO also announced measures to prevent leaks of radioactive wastewater from storage tanks.

TEPCO says the leaks may have come from open valves connected to barriers surrounding the tanks. The company says the valves will be closed from now.

The company will also install water gauges on all tanks.

In addition, tanks with bolted plates will be replaced with those more resistant to leaks.