Sendai restart plan attracts lots of comments

August 20, 2014

Sendai nuclear plant safety approval attracts 17,000 public comments

JIJI

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/08/20/national/sendai-nuclear-plant-safety-approval-attracts-17000-public-comments/#.U_ScT2Onq1s

The Nuclear Regulation Authority said Tuesday it has received some 17,000 comments from the public on a draft paper that claims two reactors at Kyushu Electric Power Co.’s Sendai nuclear power station satisfy new safety standards.

Public comments must be included in the final paper on the outcome of the NRA’s safety screening of the Nos. 1 and 2 reactors at the power station in Kyushu. The final version is due out as early as September.

The NRA announced its draft report on July 16 and accepted public comments for 30 days through Friday.

The report covers a basic plan about changes to the reactors that would bring them in line with the new safety standards, which are designed to prevent crises like the March 2011 triple meltdown at Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power station.

The two reactors at the Sendai plant will clear NRA examinations if the regulator approves Kyushu Electric’s construction and engineering plans for implementing the changes to the reactors and revision of its safety procedures in the event of a severe accident.

But approval is unlikely to come anytime soon, because the power company cannot submit revised construction and engineering plans earlier than the end of Septem

August 19, 2014

NRA receives 17,000 comments about plant restart

Aug. 19, 2014 - Updated 12:44 UTC+2

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20140819_30.html

Japan's nuclear regulator has received about 17,000 comments from the public on restarting a nuclear plant in southwestern Japan.

Last month, the Nuclear Regulation Authority approved a draft safety plan for restarting the reactors at the Sendai plant in Kagoshima Prefecture. The NRA said the assessment prepared by Kyushu Electric Power Company satisfied its stricter safety requirements for nuclear facilities.

The NRA invited the public to send comments on the draft for 30 days until last Friday. NRA officials said some people complained that the regulator's measures for dealing with earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are inadequate.

They said some people also commented that the NRA should look into evacuation plans for residents although these are not included in its current remit.

Officials are studying the opinions to reflect them in the final report. But a senior official at the NRA's secretariat said on Tuesday that he can't predict when they will finish the work as there were so many responses.

The plant is unlikely to be restarted before December due to Kyushu Electric's delay in submitting some of the necessary documents. The operator must also obtain the approval of local municipalities to restart the reactors.