Additional water treatment equipment at Fukushima Daiichi, a judgment against Tokyo Electric Power Co. and low-level waste storage highlighted the news from Japan this week.
Recent developments related to the TEPCO nuclear plant severely damaged in 2011 include:
Plant Readies Additional ALPS Capacity
TEPCO is preparing additional treatment equipment that should significantly expand its ability to decontaminate water at Fukushima Daiichi this fall. The Asahi Shimbun reported Thursday that a second train of ALPS multi-nuclide removal equipment will begin testing in September. Once online, it will double the capacity of ALPS to 1,500 metric tons per day. Additionally, the Japanese government is funding an improved version of the system that TEPCO plans to introduce in October.
TEPCO Found Liable for Evacuee Suicide
On Tuesday, a district court ordered TEPCO to pay $472,000 to the family of a 58-year-old woman who committed suicide during a temporary visit to her home in Fukushima Prefecture in July of 2011. Jiji Press reported that the family argued she became depressed after evacuating, and that the Fukushima Daiichi crisis contributed to her death.
Towns Agree to Waste Storage
Two towns in Fukushima Prefecture have agreed to host disposal sites for radioactive debris collected during decontamination efforts in the countryside surrounding the plant. In exchange, Futaba and Okuma will receive $2.89 billion from the Japanese government to revitalize their communities, the Asahi reported. Their elected leaders agreed to accept construction of the intermediate storage facilities, although the deal still requires support from local landowners.