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remove those fuel rod assemblies. If they are not removed, and another earthquake causes the structure to collapse, the risk of removing the assemblies will seem like a very worthwhile risk.

In planning to remove the assemblies, they are attempting to remove the far more dangerous risk of an unfixable disaster that is far more destructive.

It's important to remember that. Fukushima is already a disaster. It has the potential to be an even worse disaster. Removing the fuel rod assemblies from Reactor 4 will help prevent that worse disaster.

Nuclear power generation is not safe. It cannot be made to be safe.

Pretty scary stuff already happening today: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014624680

What's needed is a nuclear ENGINEERING company overseeing the cleanup. The problem is money.

Here's Arnie Gundersen's latest. In this one he mentions a few of the companies qualified for this work:

http://fairewinds.org/media/radio/arnie-interviewed-paradigms-wbkm

MP3
http://fairewinds.org/podpress_trac/web/2786/0/ArnieGundersen.mp3

to a podcast right now. Or, you could just list the companies for me, if you remember them.

I think he also says C2 and MH Hill. It's at the 1:30 mark.

Bechtel's history is most certainly one spotted with scandal. The companies historical ties to despotic governments and its poor record with the Boston Big Dig doesn't inspire a lot of confidence in me, really. It's also associate with political support of some pretty questionable candidates. I wouldn't put a lot of confidence in their doing a good job.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bechtel

I can't find the other two, but I think you're probably referring to CH2M Hill, another major US engineering company. They've been involved in the debacle of cleaning up the Hanford, Washington nuclear facility. After reading the below, I'm not sure I trust them to handle Fukushima properly.

But having a company on the verge of bankruptcy in charge of deciding what should be done and how it should be done is a perfect prescription for disaster.

Case in point: Deep Sea Horizon.

task under these circumstances, and all of the major engineering companies have their own issues. If the current plan works, then there will be a successful removal. If not, then the risk remains of a total collapse of the structure.

Again, the risks involved with removing the fuel rod assemblies are overweighed by the risks of leaving them in place. At this point, engaging a different engineering company to do this crucial job would simply move the risk down the road once more. It will be a risky operation, no matter who does it. But, the risk of a major earthquake collapsing the entire structure is a real one, and the result of that would make it impossible to mitigate later.

The whole thing is a huge disaster. No question about it. But, hiring a global engineering company is no assurance of success, either. Their records are not terrific, either.

"Do over" is out of the question. I'd still like a second opinion on the details.

For the REST of the cleanup, can we agree that TEPCO is out of it's league?

Truly. I haven't seen any statements from those major engineering companies about what they would do, either. If I were any of them, I would not want anything to do with this disaster. The downside outweighs the possible benefits for those companies.

The problem is that this whole thing is beyond anyone's experience and may not even be possible to mitigate effectively. That is why:

Nuclear power generation is not safe. It cannot be made to be safe.

I've been saying that since the late 1950s. Nobody has listened. Now, we're reaping the whirlwind.

is as good as any"

Sorry, not buying.

That's because you have no idea who to recommend. I don't know, either.

I haven't seen any alternative plans put forward to handing the fuel rod assembly removal. Have you?

Good engineering is not cheap.

BTW: Did you know that Japan is going forward with plans to build more reactors? And that they've ruled out entombing the reactors because that would interfere with those plans? The current plan is to level the site as quickly as possible for PR purposes.

Right now, it's a matter of whether they can extract the fuel rod assemblies. They're about to get started. Let's see what happens.

Like most things, I don't look at this from an emotional perspective. Yes, Japan plans more reactors. I think that's a stupid, stupid decision, but I understand why they're doing it. It's a densely populated island that needs a lot of electrical power. They're making short-term decisions, based on that. The wrong decisions, but there it is.

I can't influence what Japan does. I can't influence what happens with nuclear power generation in the U. S. either. I've been trying for decades, without any effect.

So, I watch what happens. That's about the extent of what I can do, unfortunately.

What I don't do is declare doom and gloom. I haven't found it useful in any situation. It's just an emotional response to things we can't control, and serves no functional purpose.

And I'm not certain anyone is competent to propose an alternative. That's the issue, as far as I'm concerned.

But they do have good Engineers and that's what's needed.

This disaster unfold since day1, At the time i said this is much worse than they are letting on, Well that's now been proven x100,So as a seafood lover I've come to the conclusion that my seafood intake will have to end, Reports of salmon with problems are coming in from vancouver,Starfish turning to mush in Washington state,Rarely seen species washing up dead on So.Cal beaches,And the PTB's best answer is" Wow we don't understand whats happening" Well I have a thought or two on whats happening-Fukushima.

should never have started splitting atoms to boil water to begin with. On paper it is the cats meow but in reality it has the potential to cause great harm. Accidents do happen and when they happen to a nuclear power plant things can go wrong in a big way, quickly.
Lets hope that this operation comes off without a hitch. I don't even want to think of what ifs in this case. Fukushima should also be used as a perfect example of why we must shut them all down. No matter the cost in doing so. The only completely under control nuclear power plant is one that has been shut down and mothballed. IMO

They should never have been built. I also know that they will not be shut down.

kinda like reverse fracking...




Tikki

Nuclear power safety. I fear we have not heard a whisper from them because they were gutted by Reagan and do nothing more than shuffle papet any more...God how far this country has fallen under Republican rule.

What bad luck.

Been almost a year now... just checking in.