Fishermen are angry

February 26, 2015

Fukushima fishermen slam TEPCO over latest toxic water leak

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20150226p2g00m0dm043000c.html

FUKUSHIMA, Japan (Kyodo) -- Fishermen in Fukushima Prefecture criticized Tokyo Electric Power Co. on Wednesday following the revelation of another leak of radioactive water into the ocean from the crippled nuclear plant and the utility's failure to take immediate measures despite learning of the possibility of a leak last spring.

"I don't understand why you (TEPCO) kept silent (about the leakage) even though you knew about it. Fishery operators are absolutely shocked," Masakazu Yabuki, chief of the Iwaki fisheries cooperative, told a meeting with TEPCO officials.

To curb the amount of toxic water building up at the complex, TEPCO sought approval from local fishermen for its plan to pump up tainted groundwater from wells at the plant -- before it mixes with water in reactor buildings with even higher radiation levels -- and dump it into the ocean after processing it. But the latest mishap could further delay implementation of the plan.

TEPCO said Tuesday that contaminated rainwater accumulating on the rooftop of the No. 2 reactor building has flowed into the ocean through a gutter every time it has rained.

The level of radioactive cesium in rainwater samples collected last week stood at 29,400 becquerels per liter, while that of beta ray-emitting substances, such as strontium, measured 52,000 becquerels, according to the plant operator.

But Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the situation is "completely under control" and radiation levels in the ocean outside an enclosed port area adjacent to the plant are well below the legal limits.

Any negative impact of radioactive water on the environment is "completely blocked," the government's top spokesman told a press conference.

Fukushima Gov. Masao Uchibori said during Wednesday's meeting with TEPCO officials that it is "regrettable that a problem which causes anxiety to people in Fukushima has occurred, and that information was not disclosed immediately," adding that local municipal officials and experts will conduct on-site inspections.

Hiroyuki Sato, the chief of the Soma Futaba fisheries cooperative, also slammed TEPCO, saying the incident "destroyed trust" between the operator and local fishermen.

TEPCO said it has been aware since April that radiation levels in water running in the gutter were high, but it failed to identify the source of contamination and did not take measures to prevent the water from leaking.

Shunichi Tanaka, chairman of Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority, urged the plant operator to disclose such information promptly.

In a separate incident, TEPCO said recently that highly contaminated water leaked into the nearby bay through a different gutter, but the company claimed the water did not flow into the ocean outside the bay. The cause and the amount of water leakage remain unknown.