Fukushima
Across the Pacific, Dr. Buesseler applies his expertise on radionuclides in the ocean to irradiated water stored at the Fukushima nuclear plant. Buesseler is lead writer in a Japan Times story beneath the headline, “More data needed before ocean release of Fukushima water.”
Regulators in Japan have approved the discharge of more than 1 million tons of contaminated water that is stored in 1,000 (and counting) tanks at the failed plant.
Speaking to the planned discharge, Buesseler and colleagues write: “We would argue that there is insufficient information to assess potential impacts on environmental and human health and issuing a permit at this time would be premature at best.”
Also at Fukushima, the Associated Press is reporting that the wrecked plant’s operator again is postponing the removal of highly-radioactive, melted fuel from its damaged reactors because of failures of a remote-controlled, robotic arm.
Back on our side of the Pacific, we wonder how and when Edison will move the waste it has dumped on the beach at San Onofre and whether a robotic arm, or anything else, will be able to retrieve the thin, metal waste canisters from their concrete tomb.
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