TEPCO Was Sending the US NRC the Survey (Contamination) Map of Fukushima I Nuke Plant From March 2011

It was only late April that TEPCO admitted to the existence of the "survey map" which plotted the radiation levels on the plant compound, supposedly for the workers to avoid "hot" debris scattered around the reactor buildings and turbine buildings.

But Kyodo News says TEPCO had started sending the map to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission more than one month before they made the map public. It means TEPCO started sending the map to the NRC in mid to late March, practically right after the accident started on March 11, 2011.

What's more, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency started receiving the map a day after TEPCO had started sending it to the NRC, and the Agency had kept it quiet until TEPCO admitted to the existence.

Kyodo News (2/12/2012):

東電、原発線量マップまず米側へ　公表の１カ月以上前

TEPCO had given the radiation map of the plant more than one month before the company made it public

　東京電力が昨年４月下旬に発表した福島第１原発敷地内の放射線量マップ（サーベイマップ）は、公開の１カ月以上前に東電から米原子力規制委員会（ＮＲＣ）に提供されていたことが１１日、分かった。東電によると、サーベイマップは更新して逐次送っていた。経済産業省原子力安全・保安院には米側への提供の翌日になって報告を開始したという。

It was revealed on February 11 that the radiation map of the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant compound ("survey map") that TEPCO had made public in late April last year had been provided to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) more than one month prior. According to TEPCO, the survey map was sent as it was updated. The company started to send the report to the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry one day after the company had started providing the information to the US agency.

　第１原発事故では公表の遅れが問題になった文部科学省の緊急時迅速放射能影響予測ネットワークシステム（ＳＰＥＥＤＩ）の試算データや、気象庁の放射性物質拡散予測データが、米側や国際機関には早い段階から提供されていたことが判明している。

In the Fukushima I Nuke Plant accident, it has been revealed that the SPEEDI data from the Ministry of Education and Science and the dispersion simulation data of radioactive materials by the Japan Meteorological Agency had been provided to the US and the international agency [IAEA, who got the data from JMA] from early on, but were not made public in Japan until much later.

On April 24, 2011, Kyodo News reported that TEPCO admitted to the existence of the "survey map". If I remember right, TEPCO only admitted after the "rumor" had spread, supposedly originated from the workers at the plant, that such a map existed.

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Ministry of Education's Radiation Map for Tokyo and Kanagawa

"Radiation? What radiation?" must be the message from the Ministry which has been doing the aerial survey of radiation in Tohoku and Kanto.

They did Tokyo and Kanagawa from September 14 to 18, using one helicopter that flew 10 times over the area. The radiation detection device on board the helicopter measured gamma radiation from the radioactive materials deposited on the ground from 150 to 300 meters off the ground. The measurement of about 300 to 600 meters radius below the helicopter is then averaged out. Here's the report by the Ministry (PDF).

As far as I know, there is no plan for the national government to conduct the ground-level measurement outside Fukushima Prefecture.

First, let's take a look at Tokyo.

Air radiation level at 1 meter off the ground:

Many residents have been measuring the radiation on the ground level in Tokyo, so have many organizations. Their measurement suggests much lighter blue colors for the eastern most one-quarter of Tokyo.

Cesium-134 and-137 deposition:


And Kanagawa.

Air radiation level at 1 meter off the ground:


Cesium-134 and -137 deposition:

Yokohama residents must be laughing at the Ministry's map, after over 100,000 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium was detected on top of an apartment building.

What matters more in places like Tokyo and Kanagawa is the identification of hot spots and ultra-hot spots, which can only be done on the ground level. Measuring from the air and averaging out doesn't make sense, but then, that's how the government wants it done. It is not interested in details. The Tokyo Metropolitan government isn't interested in knowing the details either. Residents there are on their own.

The areas that have been mapped by the Ministry of Education so far:

Air radiation level at 1 meter off the ground:



Cesium-134 and -137 deposition:



Again, here's Professor Hayakawa's map:

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OT: Radiation Contamination Perceived by Different Parties (Joke)

Radiation contamination maps of perception, created by people at the blog called "Bearded Pirates (あごひげ海賊団）" and posted on 9/8/2011, look pretty accurate for mapping the perception of contamination.

Contamination as perceived by people in Tohoku: Fukushima and part of neighboring prefectures. This is very close to what is being reported in the mainstream media, by the way.


Contamination as perceived by people in Kanto: almost entire Tohoku and northern Kanto.



Contamination as perceived by people in Hokkaido: almost entire Tohoku, Kanto, and Chubu. It stops right about Lake Biwa.


Contamination as perceived by people in Kansai: entire Kanto and Tohoku, half of Chubu, and 2/3 of Hokkaido.

Contamination as perceived by people in Okinawa: almost entire Japan except for Kyushu and part of Shikoku and Chugoku.


Contamination as perceived by people outside Japan: entire Japan


Contamination as perceived by Japanese politicians: area around Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant.


Contamination as perceived by people at TEPCO:

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1000 Millisieverts/Hr Debris Outside Reactor 3 at #Fukushima I Nuke Plant

These poor workers at the plant don't even need to go inside the Reactor 1 reactor building to get exposed to high radiation.

1000 millisieverts is 1 sievert.

Mainichi Shinbun (5/21/2011), citing information from TEPCO's press conference on May 11:

東京電力は２１日、福島第１原発３号機の原子炉建屋南側の屋外で、毎時約１０００ミリシーベルトの放射線を出すがれきが見つかったと発表した。東電によると、コンクリート片や紙状の物質が積み上がったもので、屋外でのがれきではこれまでで最高の線量という。

TEPCO announced on May 21 that the debris that emits 1000 millisieverts/hour radiation was found outside the reactor building of the Reactor 3, on the south side. According to TEPCO, it is a pile of concrete bits and paper-like materials. It is the highest radiation ever found on the debris outside the buildings.

And here's the latest contamination map ("survey map") from TEPCO, released on May 11. The debris is located between the Reactor 3 building and the concrete pump (that they call "elephant"). The radiation of 1000 millisieverts/hr was measured on the surface of the debris:

You can view all the past maps here.

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#Fukushima I Nuke Plant: Contamination Map (Survey Map) by TEPCO

TEPCO has put the Survey Map (radiation contamination map) online. Maps for March 23, 31, April 7, 12, 14, 17, 23 are available for your viewing pleasure.

Maps in English:

http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/f1/index3-e.html

Maps in Japanese:

http://www.tepco.co.jp/nu/fukushima-np/f1/index3-j.html

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#Fukushima I Nuke Plant: NHK WORLD English Screws Up Big Time, Reporting "Radioactive Debris on the Nearby Mountainside"

Although it is possible that TEPCO is hiding that one, but as far as the official news goes which NHK reports dutifully, there is no 300-milli-sievert/hr debris on the mountainside but that's what NHK WORLD reported already, both in news video and on the article on their website.

As if a highly radioactive debris flew from the Reactor 3 and landed on the mountainside. I've found some English sites already quoting NHK as saying exactly that.

The original Japanese version of the news only talks about the debris located near the Reactor 3 reactor building, on the side that faces mountains - i.e. west. There's also an "ocean-side", the side that faces the ocean - i.e. east.

Oopsy.

I guess the NHK translator doesn't know the plant orientation yet, and neither do the editors. Thus, NHK World inadvertently joined foreign news organizations spreading "false and malicious rumors"..

From NHK World (4/24/2011) "TEPCO discloses radiation map":

... Radiation levels around the Number 3 reactor building, which was damaged by a powerful hydrogen explosion, are higher than in other locations, and 300 millisieverts per hour of radiation was detected in debris on a nearby mountainside.

In the accompanying video, the announcer reads exactly the same text with absolutely no hesitation or doubt.

And this is the original Japanese news, from NHK Japanese:

...激しい水素爆発があった３号機の原子炉建屋周辺は、ほかよりも全般に放射線量が高く、山側のがれきからは１時間当たり３００ミリシーベルトの高い放射線量が検出されています。

(My translation) Radiation level is higher around the Reactor 3's reactor building that suffered a powerful hydrogen explosion. From debris found on the side of the Reactor 3 building facing the mountain, 300 milli-sievert/hour radiation was detected.

I have sent an email to NHK WORLD warning them of the translation mistake. Maybe I should call them and warn that they are spreading a "false rumor" to the entire English-speaking world...
　

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#Fukushima I Nuke Plant "Contamination Map" Emerges, Sort Of...

(UPDATE: Sankei Shinbun has the TEPCO Map. h/t anon)



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These maps are not created by TEPCO but by the Japanese MSM based on the TEPCO's map, which may have more precise numbers and more locations (see the Kyodo article in my previous post).

But the masses don't need to know, say TPTB, so we are fed with half-a_s maps made by the MSM.

First, the map made by Yomiuri Shinbun. It shows the approximate radiation levels at 12 different locations out of "230" locations where the radiation is measured (according to Yomiuri). The numbers are in milli-sievert/hour:

Here's one by Asahi Shinbun. Slightly better, as it shows more locations, but there are no precise numbers. Again, the numbers are in milli-sievert/hour:

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#Fukushima I Nuke Plant: "Radiation Contamination Map" of the Plant Exists, But TEPCO Hasn't Released It to Public

It is for the human workers who have to dodge highly contaminated debris (like the 900 milli-sievert/hr one that TEPCO found on April 20 but was not reported by Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency until April 23) strewn all over the plant, and it is posted at J-Village (in Hirono-machi, Fukushima Prefecture), a staging area for the operation for the Fukushima I Nuke Plant. It is regularly updated, and is submitted to the government authorities including NISA.

According to the Kyodo News article linked below, there are other highly radioactive places on the plant compound that measure 300 milli-sievert/hr, 100 milli-sievert/hr.

Remember the Packbots from iRobots that went inside the Reactor buildings (1, 2, and 3)? The Packbots didn't go in from the south door of the Reactor 1 building because the radiation at the south door had measured 270 milli-sievert/hr the previous day. So the bots cannot enter if the radiation is that high, but the workers are obliged to dodge the debris with even higher radiation and continue to work. One unlucky worker got to remove the 900 milli-sievert/hr concrete piece.

Unconvincingly, however, the Kyodo article claims the high radiation level on the compound will not derail the schedule of the roadmap that TEPCO has announced.

I've read on several Internet message boards in Japan about how the workers have been doing their best to avoid the debris and water puddles on the compound because of the very high radiation, and how the dosimeter starts beeping right away just by standing in front of the Reactor buildings. I guess they weren't the "baseless rumors" after all, and it seems the workers are more expendable than the bots.

I'm waiting for another wonderful leak by the independent, freelance journalists in Japan, who will post this map online soon. Or TEPCO can wisen up quickly and post the map on their site.

From Kyodo News Japanese (updated at 5:20AM JST 4/24/2011; the article appeared on 4/23/2011; translation is mine):

福島第１放射線汚染マップ判明　大量被ばくの恐れ続く

Radiation Contamination Map exists for Fukushima I Nuke Plant; Fear of Serious Radiation Exposure Continues

　福島第１原発事故で、東京電力が建屋周辺約１５０カ所の放射線量を計測した結果として作業員に情報提供している「汚染マップ（サーベイマップ）」の詳細が２３日、判明した。第１原発敷地内の詳しい線量が分かったのは初めて。

The details of the "Contamination (Survey) Map" was revealed on April 23, which TEPCO shares with the workers at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant. The Map shows the result of the measurement of radiation levels at 150 locations around the buildings within the plant compound. It was the first time that detailed radiation levels on the plant were known.

　２０日夜までのデータを記載したマップによると、３号機原子炉建屋付近に毎時９００ミリシーベルトという極めて 高い放射線量のがれきがあるなど、高濃度の放射性物質を含む水の移送配管や敷地内に残るがれきからは依然として、各所で１００ミリシーベルト前後の線量が 観測されていることがうかがえる。東電が事故の収束に向けて明らかにした工程表への影響はないとみられる。

According to the map that shows the data as of April 20 evening, there was a debris near the Reactor 3's reactor building with the extremely high radiation reading of 900 milli-sievert/hour. The map also indicates the high radiation readings of about 100 milli-sievert/hour for the pipes that transport the highly contaminated water and debris on the ground. [However, the high radiation levels] are not likely to affect the TEPCO's road map for winding down the accident.

　マップは作業員を大量被ばくの危険から守るため、東電が定期的に更新している。経済産業省原子力安全・保安院など関係機関に提出されているほか、事故対応拠点となっているＪヴィレッジ（福島県広野町など）で掲示されている。

The map is regularly updated by TEPCO in order to protect the workers from the danger of large radiation exposure. It is submitted to the related government agencies including METI's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA), and is posted at J-Village (Hirono-machi, Fukushima Prefecture) that serves as a staging area for the operation for the plant accident.

The article lists the radiation levels of several locations (so Kyodo reporters must have the map..):

　９００ミリシーベルトの線量が観測されたのは３号機西側の消火系配管付近にあったコンクリート片。東電は２３日、このがれきを２０日に発見、翌日に撤去したと発表。その際、作業員が３・１７ミリシーベルトの被ばくをした。

900 milli-sievert/hour from a piece of concrete near the pipe for the fire extinguishing system on the west side of the Reactor 3 building. TEPCO announced on April 23 that the concrete piece was found on April 20, and was removed by a worker the next day; the worker suffered 3.17 milli-sievert exposure.

　３号機脇には３００ミリシーベルトのがれきもあった。２号機のタービン建屋や立て坑にたまった高濃度の放射性物質を含む水の移送配管表面は７５～８６ミリシーベルト。この汚染水が送り込まれる集中廃棄物処理施設の配管では１６０ミリシーベルトにもなっていた。

300 milli-sievert/hour from a debris on the side of the Reactor 3 building.

75 to 86 milli-sievert/hour on the surface of the pipe that transport the water with high concentration of radioactive materials from the Reactor 2's turbine building and the pit.

160 milli-sievert/hour on the pipe in the Central Waste Disposal Facility where the contaminated water is being transported.

　線量計測が行われているのは１～４号機周辺。４号機付近は１～３号機に比べてやや低く、０・４～１・１ミリシーベルトだった。また敷地東側の海に近い取水設備付近でも１５ミリシーベルトに達していた。

The radiation measurements are done near the Reactors 1 through 4. The radiation level around the Reactor 4 was slightly lower than around the Reactors 1 through 3, at 0.4 to 1.1 milli-sievert/hr. At the water intake facility near the ocean (east of the plant), the radiation level was 15 milli-sievert/hr.

　がれきは水素爆発で吹き飛んだ原子炉建屋の壁や設備など。計測は１週間に５日程度実施され、朝から夜にかけて３～５回、それぞれ１０分ほどで数カ所の地表と空間線量を測っている。

The debris are the walls and the reactor facilities/equipments that were blown off by the hydrogen explosions. The radiation measurements are done 5 days a week, 3 to 5 times a day from morning till night, 10 minutes each to measure the radiation levels on the ground and in the air at several locations.

　がれきの撤去は、環境への放射性物質飛散の恐れや、深刻な被ばくの危険性がある。東電は遠隔操作の重機を使って撤去作業を進めているが、完了までに半年程度かかる見込みで、当面は高線量の場所を避けながらの復旧作業が続く。

Removal of the debris could spread the radioactive materials into the environment, and could cause serious radiation exposure for the workers. TEPCO is using the remote-controlled heavy equipment to remove the debris, but it is expected to take about 6 months to complete the removal. For the time being, the workers will have to dodge the high radiation area and continue their effort to stabilize the plant.

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