July 13: Fukushima Refugees and Fukushima Madness

From Kalamu ya Salaam's information blog
http://kalamu.posterous.com/environment-fukushima-mon-amour-separate-s-h

"To date, 80,000 people living within a 12 mile radius of the Fukushima complex have been displaced. it is certain that they will never be able to return in their lifetimes. and the ring of fire around the disaster site is expected to grow wider with time. in truth, there has yet to be an accurate accounting of the long-term impact from the radioactive soil within this zone surrounding the accident site. neither is there a system in place to regulate or monitor the sale and distribution of contaminated food products. at the moment the question of how much this disaster will cost and who will pay for it should be the least of anyone’s concern...."

Ex-SKF Observes, "#Radiation in Japan: As It Is Being Spread Almost Willfully, The Country Is Getting Unhinged
http://ex-skf.blogspot.com/

"I have a distinct feeling that Japan is getting totally unhinged...."


MAJIA HERE: MEANWHILE the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission wants to reconsider safety standards but not at cost to the industry, at least as reported by Reuters...
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/13/us-usa-nuclear-idUSTRE76C4BO20110713

(Reuters: excerpted) - The U.S. nuclear industry's top cop is to weigh major changes in how it regulates the country's 104 reactors after Japan's Fukushima disaster, a move that will help shape the future of the power source and could lead to significant cost increases.

A task force recommended the Nuclear Regulatory Commission look at a fundamental shift in how it plans for catastrophes like the earthquake and tsunami that swamped the Fukushima plant in March, the world's worst nuclear disaster in 25 years.

Now it's up to the five-member commission to decide which ideas to accept and how quickly to proceed in an industry where plant retrofits can run into the millions.

"Done poorly, they could significantly increase costs in the current operating fleet without improving safety one iota," said Margaret Harding, a former vice president at GE-Hitachi responsible for quality, and now an industry consultant.

"Done well, and they will get at the real issues, eliminate the vagueness in the regulation, and improve safety. Getting it right will not be easy or quick," Harding said.

MAJIA HERE: If you have been following Fairewinds' updates, you realize that the NRC is a lame agency that FAILS TO ENFORCE ITS OWN REGULATIONS. Propublica, The New York Times, and others have also reported on this laxness

NRC Waives Enforcement of Fire Rules at Nuclear Plants

http://www.propublica.org/article/nrc-waives-enforcement-of-fire-rules-at-nuclear-plants/single

Nuclear Agency Is Criticized as Too Close to Its Industry http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/08/business/energy-environment/08nrc.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

Lax inspections by Nuclear Regulatory Commission criticized

http://www.startribune.com/nation/121447024.html

NRC criticized for lax oversight
http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/05/08/1183364/nrc-criticized-for-lax-oversight.html