Japan Raises Severity Rating Of Country’s Nuclear Crisis

A satellite image shows Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant in Japan. (AP/DigitalGlobe)

The Los Angeles Times reports that U.S. government nuclear experts believe there’s now a hole or crack in the wall of the spent fuel rod storage pool in Unit 4 of the crippled Fukushima power plant, a problem the Union of Concerned Scientists says “has no precedent.”

USA Today reports that in essence there are three outcomes. In the best case scenario, the plant is ruined, but high radiation releases are avoided. Under option two, a significant amount of radiation is released from spent fuel ponds, but contamination is limited to the area around the plant. The third and worst case scenario is a full meltdown, where the nuclear fuel pellets melt through all of the containment structures at the reactor and release radioactive materials into the earth and possibly the atmosphere.

We speak with nuclear power critic Arjun Makhijani, president of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research.

We welcome comments from all of our listeners. Post below. Please stay on topic and be civil. Comments may be moderated by us, but you are solely responsible for the content of your comments.

Robvg

Please ask your visitors two questions: 1) if they have any information on why one of the reactors was not restarted to provide emergency power for pumps and cooling? and 2) why was the ship to shore power connection at the dock facilities adjacent to the plant not used to supply emergency power to the plant from a ship, submarine or barge?
laura

Hi Robin,

I’m in contact with one of the members of the Royal Family of Japan, her title translates as “Princess”. As I’m worried about radiation, and living conditions in Tokyo currently, I invited her, her friends or family to come to my house on the West Coast, I have two spare bedrooms, and a relatively large, comfortable home. She has politely declined the offer, as having a firm commitment not to leave Japan during a time of need. Rather her family is sticking out the conditions which include tremendous after shocks, sporatic power, and they are donating large sums of money. My offer still stands.