Fukushima spilling containimate water 'for years''
“Workers at the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant have told the ABC that contaminated water has most likely been seeping into the sea since the disaster two-and-a-half years ago. Japan's nuclear watchdog has described the leaks as a 'state of emergency'
“Workers have told ABC's AM program that they do not have much faith in Tokyo Electric Power Company's (TEPCO) ability to handle the situation and they claim another accident is inevitable.
“TEPCO has been trying to stop the leak of 300 tonnes of radioactive groundwater every day … Suzuki-san is a 12-year TEPCO veteran and a former Fukushima site foreman. He says the leaks of contaminated water into the Pacific began in 2011. 'TEPCO probably knew this but did nothing because they didn't want to cause an outcry,' he said.”
ABC.net.au, August 12.
Taiwan: Aging nuclear plant leaking radioactive water
“An aging nuclear power plant in Taiwan has been leaking radioactive wastewater for three and half years, according to a report released by the government’s watchdog this week. The report by Control Yuan said spent fuel rod storage pools at the have leaked since December 2009.
“The pools of the two reactors leaked 15,370 milliliters and 4,830 milliliters respectively, it said. Radioactive materials such as Caesium-137, Cobalt-60, Manganese-54, and Chromium-51 were detected in water collected at the site.
“The First Nuclear Power Plant, on the northern coast, began commercial operation in 1979 The report said operator Taiwan Power Co had failed to find the causes and the leaks continue.”
TheHindu.com, August 10.
“The Quebec environmental group Societe pour vaincre la pollution (SVP) says that train disaster in Lac-Mégantic has left extremely high levels of carcinogens in the Chaudiere River.
“Their tests found that levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are an astonishing 394,444 times higher than the legal limit for surface waters mandated by the provincial government. They found levels of arsenic that are 28 times higher than government standards.
“The Environment Ministry and the Transportation Safety Board have conducted their own tests, but have not released the results. The shipper and the railroad have not provided any public information about the chemicals in the tank cars, which exploded on July 6, killing nearly 50 people.”
Climate and Capitalism, August 13