It's like the thief you caught red-handed turned out to be a police officer

[kristopher]

Accusations of public opinion manipulation by NISA have damaged trust

Revelations that the government's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) may have attempted to manipulate public opinion on nuclear energy have badly damaged the credibility of the nuclear regulator. It's like the thief you caught red-handed turned out to be a police officer.

Chubu Electric Power Co. and Shikoku Electric Power Co. have said that in the past, NISA asked them to have insiders attend government-sponsored symposia on a "pluthermal" project and only ask panelists non-damaging questions.

If NISA, whose role is to examine the structure and equipment of nuclear power plants and ensure their safety, has in fact attempted to lead public opinion, it is a serious problem. To restore the public's trust, the government must get to the bottom of this scandal and review the role of NISA.

Leading to these new revelations was the news that Kyushu Electric Power Co. asked insiders and subsidiary companies to send e-mails supporting resumption of halted reactors at its Genkai Nuclear Power Plant in Saga Prefecture to a TV program.

The Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry took the ...

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/perspectives/news/20110730p2a00m0na002000c.html


Errors in nuclear plant data highlight checking system insufficiencies

The discovery of errors in data incorporated in a report on the No. 3 reactor at the Genkai Nuclear Power Plant in Saga Prefecture illustrates problems with its operator's checking system and the government regulator's ability to examine safety data.

Ironically, the errors came to light on July 6, the very day Prime Minister Naoto Kan announced that the government would conduct "stress tests" on all nuclear reactors across the country.

The errors will adversely affect the operations of all nuclear power stations across the country, casting a damper on the planned stress tests from the outset.

"I'm deeply sorry. I take it seriously that the mistake has been pointed out," Kyushu Electric Power Co. Vice President Haruyoshi Yamamoto said July 22 as he visited top officials of the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA).

The errors have dealt another serious blow...

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/perspectives/news/20110723p2a00m0na015000c.html