SPEEDI or not SPEEDI?

September 3, 2013

Panel urges SPEEDI use in nuclear emergency

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20130903_19.html

An accident investigation committee says the Japanese government's system for predicting the spread of radiation may have helped the evacuation of residents.

More than 40 Atomic Energy Society of Japan experts have been examining the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident that occurred on March 11, 2011.

They have been analyzing data provided by Tokyo Electric Power Company and reports by the government and the Diet.

The panel said the government's decision not to use the SPEEDI system at the onset of the accident was appropriate. It says not enough information about the source of radiation was available at the time.

Atomic energy experts said, however, that the system may have been useful in choosing appropriate evacuation routes if necessary data had been available.

The panel concluded that better use of the system should be considered in the event of a similar accident.

The results supported a government committee investigating the accident that also concluded the SPEEDI system may have been useful.

However, an investigation committee appointed by the Diet concluded that SPEEDI forecasts are not accurate enough to be used for planning evacuation routes.

Sep. 3, 2013 - Updated 04:02 UTC