recent report by a French research institute. The Institute for Radiological Protection
and Nuclear Safety said the amount of the isotope that flowed into the ocean from the
Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant between March 21 and mid-July reached an estimated
27.1 quadrillion becquerels. A quadrillion is equivalent to 1,000 trillion. Of the amount,
82 percent had flowed into the sea by April 8, according to the study, which noted that
the amount released as a result of the disaster triggered by the March 11 earthquake and
tsunami was unprecedented. The report also said the Pacific was polluted at an
exceptional speed because the plant stands in a coastal area with strong currents,
though it said the impact of the contamination on marine life in remote waters is likely
to wane from autumn. But the institute warned that a significant degree of pollution
would remain in waters off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo.
Radioactive cesium-137 has a half life of around 30 years.
Source:
Limerick Township, Pennsylvania reported a loss of greater than 25 percent of
emergency sirens for greater than 1 hour, October 29. Forty eight of the 185 off-site
sirens were not functioning due to loss of power related to significant heavy snowfall,
according to the report filed with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The
Limerick nuclear plant licensee has notified the NRC resident inspector, and state and
local government officials. The loss of greater than 25 percent of the sirens is
considered a Major Loss of Emergency Preparedness Capabilities, the NRC said.
Source:
conditions. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) reported that at about 6:18
p.m. October 29, the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station in Londonderry
Township, Pennsylvania, received notification that 25 of 96 emergency notification
system off-site sirens were not functional. The loss of greater than 25 percent of the
sirens is considered a Major Loss of Emergency Preparedness Capabilities. The loss of
off-site sirens was due to loss of electrical power caused by significant heavy snowfall,
the NRC said. It indicted the licensee stated compensatory measures were in place
should their be a need to notify areas affected by the lost sirens. The licensee has also
notified state and local authorities, and will notify the NRC resident inspector.
Source:
Regulatory Commission (NRC) October 28 issued preliminary findings from their
investigations of two events that occurred during the past year at Palisades nuclear
power plant in Covert Township, Michigan. One, in May, involved a piece of
emergency equipment improperly maintained and another, in October 2010, where the