(Japan) Investigation of faults under nuclear plant to resume

[kristopher]

Investigation of faults under nuclear plant to resume
BY EISUKE SASAKI STAFF WRITER
2011/10/18

The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) will reopen its investigation into whether Tohoku Electric Power Co.'s Higashidori plant in Aomori Prefecture is sitting on active seismological faults.

Studies of faults underneath Higashidori, as well as faults at Hokkaido Electric Power Co.'s Tomari plant in Hokkaido and the Japan Atomic Power Co.-operated Tsuruga plant in Fukui Prefecture, were suspended following the nuclear accident at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.

Tohoku Electric has insisted that the faults "would not trigger seismic activity in the future" and pose no safety risks to the single reactor plant, which is currently suspended for routine maintenance, but some experts at NISA are unconvinced.

In response to a study that showed displacement of geological layers, possible evidence of an active fault, the utility said it resulted from localized and rapid swelling of clay. The firm launched a fresh excavation last year to back its claim.

That excavation ...

http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201110170399.html