How Do You Put Out A Subterranean Fire Beneath A Mountain Of Trash?　via FiveThirtyEight

Posted on 2016/05/12 by

The Bridgeton Landfill, about 20 miles northwest of St. Louis, is in many ways a typical pile of trash. Bridgeton is a layer cake of garbage and dirt at the bottom of an old limestone quarry, all of it covered with a frosting of clay, plastic liner, soil and grass. But for the last six years, there’s been something wrong at the core of Bridgeton — a wrongness that has led to lawsuits, angry neighborhood activists and national media attention. It’s confusing and scientifically strange — and all those problems are exacerbated by the nearby presence of a big old pile of nuclear waste.

Down beneath the layers of trash bags, banana peels, Chinese takeout cartons, diapers and dirt, the Bridgeton Landfill has become very hot. Normally you’d expect the process of decomposition to heat the interior of a landfill to around 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Parts of the Bridgeton landfill, in contrast, have reached temperatures as high as 260. That 120 degrees is the difference between a healthy landfill, decomposing merrily along, and one in which the systems of safe waste management are falling apart.
[…]
And then there’s the bit about the radioactive waste. Bridgeton is not the only landfill with a hot spot, but it is the only one with a hot spot that’s around 1,200 feet away from about 8,700 tons of radioactive barium sulfate — a byproduct of uranium processing. It came from a factory in St. Louis that produced uranium for the first self-sustained nuclear chain reaction. That material, mixed with dirt, is part of the layers that make up the nearby West Lake Landfill. The Environmental Protection Agency, which manages West Lake as a Superfund site, believes that if the radioactive waste becomes hot, it could release cancer-causing radon gas into surrounding neighborhoods. Suffice it to say there are many reasons people want Bridgeton Landfill to cool down.

Unfortunately — despite an April 28 announcement of an agreement between the EPA and Republic Services, the company that owns Bridgeton — that’s not going to be easy. Bridgeton may be a typical pile of trash, but this is no typical trash fire. The heat exists 40 to 140 feet below the surface, in places where Republic Services believes no oxygen is present. It exists in places that are wet, soaked with leachate. Those are not conditions where fire should exist, by most common-sense standards.
[…]

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Is it safe to dump Fukushima waste into the sea? via The Guardian

Posted on 2016/05/12 by yukimiyamotodepaul

Japan has called for hundreds of thousands tonnes of irradiated water from the nuclear plant to be released into the Pacific Ocean. Karl Mathiesen looks at the potential impacts

More than 1,000 tanks brimming with irradiated water stand inland from the Fukushima nuclear plant. Each day 300 tonnes of water are pumped through Fukushima’s ruined reactors to keep them cool. As the water washes through the plant it collects a slew of radioactive particles.

The company that owns the plant – The Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) – has deployed filtration devices that have stripped very dangerous isotopes of strontium and caesium from the flow.

But the water being stored in the tanks still contains tritium, an isotope of hydrogen with two neutrons. Tritium is a major by-product of nuclear reactions and is difficult and expensive to remove from water.

Now, Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) has launched a campaign to convince a sceptical world that dumping up to 800,000 tonnes of contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean is a safe and responsible thing to do.

NRA chairman Shunichi Tanaka has officially called on Tepco to work towards a release. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) last year also issued a callfor a release to be considered and for Tepco to perform an assessment of the potential impacts. For its part, Tepco has said there are no current plans to release the water. But the Associated Press (AP) reported that company officials are saying in private that they may have no choice.

[…]

To put it in context, the natural global accumulation of tritium is a relatively tiny 2,200 PBq. The isotope has a half life of 12.3 years and is only created naturally on Earth by a rare reaction between cosmic rays and the atmosphere. By far the largest source of tritium in our environment is the nuclear weapons testing programme of last century, which dumped a total of 186,000 PBq into the world’s oceans. Over time this has decayed to roughly 8,000 PBq. Another significant source of tritium are nuclear power stations, which have long dumped tritium-contaminated water into the ocean.

“I would think more has been put into the Irish Sea [from the UK’s Sellafield plant] than would ever be released offJapan,” said Buesseler. So far, the Fukushima disaster has seen 0.1-0.5 PBq leaked or released into the Pacific.

Even if all of the contaminated water were released into the ocean, it would not contain enough tritium to be detectable by the time it dispersed and reached the US west coast about four years later, said Simon Boxall, an oceanographer at the University of Southampton.

“In the broad scale of things, if they do end up putting the material in the Pacific, it will have minimal effect on an ocean basin scale,” said Boxall. “In an ideal world, we wouldn’t be in this situation. But the question is, what is the safest way forward? In many ways this is a pragmatic solution.”

But Boxall said there may be local effects – especially on the already heavily impacted fishing industry – as the contaminated water would take time to disperse.

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事故から３０年“放射能”と闘うベラルーシ via 日テレNEWS

Posted on 2016/05/12 by yukimiyamotodepaul

キーワードでニュースを読み解く「ｅｖｅｒｙ．キーワード」。１２日のテーマは「３０年の経験に学ぶ」。諏訪中央病院・鎌田實名誉院長が解説。

先月、チェルノブイリ原発のあるウクライナの隣国・ベラルーシを訪問した鎌田さん。３０年前の原発事故当時、風向きの影響で放射性物質が流れ着いて大きな被害を受けたベラルーシでは、どのように放射性物質から子どもたちを守ってきたのか、現地を取材した。

ポイントは３つ。「保養」「放射線量の見える化」「検診」。どれも私たちも学ぶべき大切なことだった。

(略）

■保養

また、ゴメリ州の中でも被害の大きかったベトカ地区の行政担当で、ベトカ地区執行委員会・セルゲイ副会長（４６）は語る。

「ここでは事故後すぐにいろいろな影響があることがわかっていましたから、無料で（年に）２回、子どもたちを保養させました。いまは線量が減っていますが、年に１回は子どもたちの健康のため、汚染されていない地域に行かせています」

その上で、「放射線量を気にしないで過ごせる場所で、子どもたちの心と体のストレスを緩和する効果が期待できるのでは」と話していた。

（略）

ミンスク国立医科大学放射線医学部・アレキサンドラ部長「（Ｑ食べ物の測定はよくやりましたか？）１９８６年から今も続けています。なぜなら、まだ食品から内部被ばくする可能性がありますから」

内部被ばくを防ぐためには、事故から３０年たっても食品の測定は欠かしてはいけないと話していた。

■検診
原発事故後に生まれた女性に話を聞いた。

鎌田さん「甲状腺検査はしましたか？」
女性「今も毎年、定期検査を受けています」

鎌田さん「体内被ばくも調べていますか？」
女性「はい、年に１回」

甲状腺がんに詳しい医療放射線研究センターの医師が語る。

医療放射線研究センターのユーリー・ジェミチク腫瘍学部長「放射線量が低いところでも、甲状腺がんになることがあります。ただ、子どもの甲状腺がんは十分に治療できることがわかっています。できるだけ定期的に、医師に診てもらうことが必要です」

ベラルーシでは、原発事故から３０年たった今でも保養を大事にし、食品などの放射線量を測定して見える化を行い、検診も欠かさず行うという徹底した対策がとられていて、市民を慎重にケアしていた。

全文は事故から３０年“放射能”と闘うベラルーシ

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Kyushu Earthquake: Lessons Not Learned From Fukushima: Report By Hiroko Aihara Fukushima Journalist via laborvideo

Posted on 2016/05/11 by

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PA Township Legalizes Civil Disobedience via Reader Supported News

Posted on 2016/05/11 by

By Tim DeChristopher, Tim DeChristopher’s Blog

This is a press release from the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund about a groundbreaking strategy of resistance by a small Pennsylvania town trying to defend itself from the fossil fuel industry.

rant Township, Indiana County, PA: Tonight, Grant Township Supervisors passed a first-in-the- nation law that legalizes nonviolent direct action to stop frack wastewater injection wells within the Township. Pennsylvania General Energy Company (PGE) has sued the Township to overturn a local democratically-enacted law that prohibits injection wells.

If a court does not uphold the people’s right to stop corporate activities threatening the well-being of the community, the ordinance codifies that, “any natural person may then enforce the rights and prohibitions of the charter through direct action.” Further, the ordinance states that any nonviolent direct action to enforce their Charter is protected, “prohibit[ing] any private or public actor from bringing criminal charges or filing any civil or other criminal action against those participating in nonviolent direct action.”

Grant Township Supervisor Stacy Long explained, “We’re tired of being told by corporations and our so-called environmental regulatory agencies that we can’t stop this injection well! This isn’t a game. We’re being threatened by a corporation with a history of permit violations, and that corporation wants to dump toxic frack wastewater into our Township.”

Long continued, “I live here, and I was also elected to protect the health and safety of this Township. I will do whatever it takes to provide our residents with the tools and protections they need to nonviolently resist aggressions like those being proposed by PGE.”

In 2013, residents in Grant Township learned that PGE was applying for permits that would legalize the injection well. Despite hearings, public comments, and permit appeals demonstrating the residents’ opposition to the project, the federal Environmental Protection Agency issued a permit to PGE.

Finding themselves with no other options, residents requested the help of the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF). Grant Township Supervisors, with broad community support, passed a CELDF-drafted Community Bill of Rights ordinance in June 2014. The ordinance established rights to clean air and water, the right to local community self-government, and the rights of nature. The proposed injection well is prohibited as a violation of those rights.

PGE promptly sued the Township, claiming that it had a “right” to inject within the Township.

The case is ongoing. Last year, in October 2015, the judge invalidated parts of the ordinance, stating that the Township lacked authority to ban injection wells. Three weeks later, in November 2015, residents voted in a new Home Rule Charter. The rights-based Charter reinstated the ban on injection wells by a 2-to-1 vote, overriding the judge’s decision.

[…]

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給食タケノコから基準超す放射性物質検出　宇都宮 via 朝日新聞

Posted on 2016/05/11 by kojimaaiko

宇都宮市教委は１１日、市立横川西小学校（児童数５３９人）で１０日に提供した給食のタケノコから、基準値の最高２・３倍の放射性物質が検出されたと発表した。いまのところ健康被害の報告は受けていないという。栃木県などが流通状況を調べている。

県などによると、市内の男性が県北部の出荷制限区域で採ったタケノコを「県内産」として卸売業者に販売。仕入れた青果店が１０日、学校側に納入し、自校調理でタケノコごはんにして児童と教職員が食べた。卸売業者は自主回収する。男性は「出荷制限区域と知らなかった」と話しているという。

学校が委託して月１回程度実施している簡易検査で基準値（１キロあたり１００ベクレル）を超える疑いが出たため、１１日に県に報告。県の精密検査で１キロ当たり１３１～２３４ベクレルの放射性セシウムが検出された。簡易検査は調理と並行して実施するため、給食後に判明した。

続きは　給食タケノコから基準超す放射性物質検出　宇都宮

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サミット中、福島第一原発の作業休止　東電「リスク減らす」via 東京新聞

Posted on 2016/05/11 by kojimaaiko

　東京電力は、二十六日、二十七日に開かれる主要国首脳会議（伊勢志摩サミット）の開催中、福島第一原発での、原子炉冷却や汚染水処理、パトロールなど止められない作業以外の、汚染水タンク建設などの作業を休止することを決めた。東電は「要人が集まるサミットの期間中、なるべくリスクを減らしたいと当社の判断で決めた」と説明している。
東電によると、作業休止は三月末、東電の福島第一廃炉会社の会議で決定。現場を担う作業員の一人は「テロ対策と聞いた。何かトラブルが起きたら問題になるのを避けるためではないか。東京五輪やパラリンピックの期間中も、作業自粛になるのでは」との見方を示した。
作業休止期間中は休業補償は出ないケースが多いとみられる。別の作業員は「休業補償は出ない。作業の休止前と再開前は点検になることが多く、これでは作業が全然進まない」と話した。東電の広報担当者は「余計なニュースが起きないようにということで、国からの要請はない」と説明している。

全文は　サミット中、福島第一原発の作業休止　東電「リスク減らす」

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浜岡原発停止５年　御前崎前市長・石原茂雄さん「金なる木 甘えあった」via 東京新聞

Posted on 2016/05/11 by yukimiyamotodepaul

「原発はお金がなる木だった」。中部電力浜岡原発（静岡県御前崎市）の全炉の運転が、政府の要請で停止してか ら十四日で五年。全国の原発停止の発端となったものの、その後の国内の原発を巡る動きは迷走している。浜岡原発に携わってきた同市の石原茂雄前市長 （６９）に思いを聞いた。

　－浜岡原発停止から五年間を振り返って。

　東日本大震災後の二〇一一年五月五日朝、中電から海江田万里経済産業相（当時）が原発を視察すると突然の連絡が入った。視察に立ち会ったが、安全 対策に問題ないと判断した印象を受けた。ところが翌六日夜、総理官邸から、菅直人首相（当時）が浜岡の停止について発表する、との電話を受けた。あまりに 唐突で、なぜ浜岡だけが危険なのかと思った。国策として応援してきたのに、浜岡だけを止めるのは納得できなかった。かなり興奮し、関係機関に暴言を吐い た。東京のために一番近くの浜岡を止めるのかと疑った。

　冷静に考えると震災以降、原発の安全神話は完全に崩れた。国は、国民の生命や財産を守ろうと判断し、浜岡を止めたと思う。そのおかげで浜岡の安全対策が進んだ。首相の判断は重要だったと感じている。

（略）

　－原発の存在とは。

　多くの先人が言うように、原発は「お金がなる木」だった。市長就任時、周りから財政豊かで市政運営が楽だとうらやましがられた。確かに原発のおか げで恵まれていた。今となっては、その甘え体質をなくさないといけない。予算の無駄遣いなどが目立ち、新たなアイデアを生み出すことも少ない。旧浜岡町時 代からの悪癖として続いている。自分も甘えていたかもしれないと反省している。

　－再稼働の判断は。これからも原発は必要か。

　再稼働は、活断層の調査や安全対策を確認し、まず原子力規制委員会が判断する。その後は、県や国が納得できる説明責任を果たす義務がある。最終決 定は市民に託されるが、住民投票で白黒付けることなく、じっくりと話し合うことが大切だと考えている。原発はずっと存在する。新市長は再稼働推進の立場だ が、課題は山積しており、厳しい判断が迫られる。

全文は浜岡原発停止５年　御前崎前市長・石原茂雄さん「金なる木 甘えあった」

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Hibakusha: Paving the way toward the abolishment of nuclear weapons via The Mainichi

Posted on 2016/05/11 by yukimiyamotodepaul

“Using nuclear weapons constitutes the worst type of crime against humanity.”

[…]

A non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in the area of peace education in Malaysia had organized the symposium, to which Taniguchi had been invited by former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

The Malay Peninsula is the area where the former Imperial Japanese Army launched a surprise land attack on Dec. 8, 1941 — thereby commencing its Southern Operations.

Taniguchi recalls that when he heard the news of this military success, he had happily screamed, “Fantastic!”

Regarding his speech in Malaysia, he found himself wondering: “Will it be possible to convey my message in a country where, historically, Japan acted as an aggressor?”

It was with a sense of unease, then, that Taniguchi showed the symposium participants a photograph of his back — which had become scarred all over from burns sustained by heat rays from the blast — and talked about his horrifying experience in the atomic bombing.

Taniguchi was 16 years old when the blast occurred in Nagasaki — at which time he had been delivering newspapers some 1.8 kilometers from its epicenter. In addition to the burns on his back, he also sustained other serious injuries.

“I hope to see a world without nuclear weapons as soon as possible,” Taniguchi stated to the assembled group. “This means no more hibakusha — and no more wars.”

After the symposium finished, numerous young people came up to shake his hand.

“I am glad I was able to speak directly about my experience,” Taniguchi said — his anxiousness clearly having dissipated.

A representative committee member of the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, or Nihon Hidankyo, Taniguchi, has visited more than 10 countries around the world thus far to recount his experience. This was his first time, however, to speak in another Asian country.

One of the symposium participants asked him frankly, “Are you a victim or an aggressor?”

Another commented, “We shouldn’t be seeking to blame people. Rather, we should be working together toward peace.”

Reaffirming his stance on the matter, Taniguchi noted, “War encompasses both perpetration and injury. And what this ends up leading toward is an enormous cost to be paid.”

He added, “All of this is symbolized by the atomic bomb, which is something that we must eradicate.”

Read more at Hibakusha: Paving the way toward the abolishment of nuclear weapons

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Progress on US legacy cleanup via World Nuclear News

Posted on 2016/05/11 by yukimiyamotodepaul

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and Department of Defense have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) outlining their respective roles in the cleanup of radium and other unlicensed radioactive materials at military sites. Meanwhile, workers at the Y-12 National Security Complex have completed a project to remove over 2000 containers of legacy wastes two years ahead of schedule.

[…]

Waste removal milestone for Y-12

Removal of 2247 containers of mixed wastes from the Y-12 National Security Complex in Tennessee has been completed more than two years ahead of a September 2018 deadline.

Disposition of the material is part of a larger effort to dispose of legacy waste materials, which is a high priority for the US Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).

Mixed waste is defined as material consisting of hazardous and radioactive wastes. The majority of the wastes – about 2100 containers – removed from the Y-12 complex consisted of solid residues that did not require further treatment to meet disposal requirements. The remainder – solid wastes and organic solutions stored in bottles – required multiple treatment and processing steps to reduce the uranium content and where necessary to stabilize or solidify the wastes to meet transportation and disposal requirements.

Out of total of 193 waste shipments, 187 were sent to Energy Solutions’ Clive facility in Utah, while six were sent to an “off-site federal facility”.

The Y-12 complex is operated by Consolidated Nuclear Security on behalf of the NNSA.

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