nuclear-news

Fukushima nuclear reactor No 4: spent fuel pool still a high danger

Japan Times: Unit 4 fuel pool continues to alarm scientists and gov’t officials around the world — ‘Intense criticism’ from some senior US officials  http://enenews.com/japan-times-unit-4-fuel-pool-continues-to-alarm-scientists-and-govt-officials-around-the-world-intense-criticism-from-some-senior-us-officials
By ENENews 
Title:   Global help urged to avert reactor 4 pool fire | The Online 
Source: Japan Times 
Author: ERIC JOHNSTON
Date: Sep. 8, 2012
The risk of a fire starting in reactor 4′s spent-fuel pool at the Fukushima No. 1 plant continues to alarm scientists and government officials around the world, prompting a leading U.S. nuclear expert to urge Japan to tap global expertise to avert a catastrophe.
[…]

During a trip to Japan in late August and early September, [Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds Energy Education nonprofit organization] met with Diet members, lawyers and citizens’ groups to discuss conditions at the wrecked power station and told an audience in Kyoto on Monday that fears over the spent-fuel pool in reactor 4 remain high.

[…]

concerns persist among experts worldwide that reactor 4′s pool is still at risk of boiling dry. If this were to occur, it would necessitate a massive and immediate evacuation of the surrounding area.

[…]

But the state of the fuel pool and the lack of preparations to deal with a possible fire has drawn intense criticism not just from experts like Gundersen but also from some senior officials in the U.S…

September 10, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Fukushima 2012