Fukushima news

[Bennyboy]

16. Fukushima Daiichi operator should not handle shutdown, says governing party

From this thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/112756406

Fukushima Daiichi operator should not handle shutdown, says governing party
Source: The Guardian

Justin McCurry in Osaka
theguardian.com, Thursday 31 October 2013 09.43 GMT

The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant should be stripped of responsibility for decommissioning the wrecked facility, according to Japan's governing party, as the utility prepares for the most dangerous phase yet in the cleanup operation.

Among the options outlined in a proposal by the Liberal Democratic party (LDP) is a new decommissioning unit that is financially independent of Tepco. Another option is the formation of a government-affiliated administrative agency.

The proposal comes amid mounting criticism of Tepco's handling of problems at the plant, including leaks of radioactive water.

The firm is expected to begin removing 1,300 spent fuel assemblies from the remains of the reactor No 4 building towards the middle of next month. Some nuclear experts have warned that even a slight mishap involving the fuel rods could result in huge releases of radiation into the air and sea.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/oct/31/japan-fukushima-daiichi-decommissioning-tepco