Who to believe in Japan? US NRC, or Japanese Government?

[Mini 14]

The NRC continues to report that radiation levels in Fukushima prefecture are "MUCH higher" than is being reported by the Japanese Government.

The NRC continues to report that the rods in #4 are in meltdown, while TEPCO says they are not.

The Japanese Government says 20km is a safe evacuation zone, while the US says 80km.

Who do you believe?

The Japanese, or the US NRC?

Neither?

 

[rightwinger]

If I were there, I would get my ass out

 

[FuelRod]

Ann Currie.

 

[Mini 14]

They've now called off the water cannons.

The last two days have seemed like the Japanese are throwing up the white flag, phoning it in, and trying to make it look good. If they really believed that water will solve the problem, there is an option they haven't put forward yet (though I am sure it has been considered).

Suicide mission(s).

And I have heard that they have volunteers ready to go, if they are allowed.

But I suspect the Japanese know that there really is nothing they can do, and they are just waiting for the flash-point. Maybe they should pinpoint an optimal weather window, and just let it go?

 

[Old Rocks]

Problem is a small wind shift and that optimal point becomes hell.

 

[Oddball]

The NRC continues to report that radiation levels in Fukushima prefecture are "MUCH higher" than is being reported by the Japanese Government.

The NRC continues to report that the rods in #4 are in meltdown, while TEPCO says they are not.

The Japanese Government says 20km is a safe evacuation zone, while the US says 80km.

Who do you believe?

The Japanese, or the US NRC?

Neither?

The NRC...TEPCO has a longtime reputation of lying out their asses.

 

[American Horse]

UPDATE AS OF 11:35 A.M. EDT, THURSDAY, MARCH 17:

Nuclear Energy Institute - Information on the Japanese Earthquake and Reactors in That Region

Fukushima Daiichi
The reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi plant are in stable condition and are being cooled with seawater, but workers at the plant continue efforts to add cooling water to fuel pools at reactors 3 and 4.


The status of the reactors at the site is as follows:

Reactor 1’s primary containment is believed to be intact and the reactor is in a stable condition. Seawater injection into the reactor is continuing.

Reactor 2 is in stable condition with seawater injection continuing. The reactor’s primary containment may not have been breached, Tokyo Electric Power Co. and World Association of Nuclear Operators officials said on Thursday.

Access problems at the site have delayed connection of a temporary cable to restore off-site electricity. The connection will provide power to the control rod drive pump, instrumentation, batteries and the control room. Power has not been available at the site since the earthquake on March 11.

Reactor 3 is in stable condition with seawater injection continuing. The primary containment is believed to be intact. Pressure in the containment has fluctuated due to venting of the reactor containment structure.

TEPCO officials say that although one side of the concrete wall of the fuel pool structure has collapsed, the steel liner of the pool remains intact, based on aerial photos of the reactor taken on March 17. The pool still has water providing some cooling for the fuel; however, helicopters dropped water on the reactor four times during the morning (Japan time) on March 17. Water also was sprayed at reactor 4 using high-pressure water cannons.

Reactors 5 and 6 were both shut down before the quake occurred. Primary and secondary containments are intact at both reactors. Temperature instruments in the spent fuel pools at reactors 5 and 6 are operational, and temperatures are being maintained at about 62 degrees Celsius. TEPCO is continuing efforts to restore power at reactor 5.

Fukushima Daini
All four reactors at the Fukushima Daini plant have reached cold shutdown conditions with normal cooling being maintained using residual heat removal systems.

 

[Old Rocks]

If accurate, that is good news.

 

[American Horse]

If accurate, that is good news.

Time will tell Rocks