In Depth Analysis: CalculatedRisk Newsletter on Real Estate (Ad Free) Read it here.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Japan Nuclear Update

by Calculated Risk on 3/20/2011 08:29:00 PM

By request:

Note: The lack of hard information can be frustrating.

From the LA Times: Radiation levels may be falling at stricken nuclear plant

Radiation levels at the stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan are still high but may be tapering off, a senior U.S. nuclear official said Sunday.

Indications from the plant, which houses six nuclear reactors, were levels in the range of hundreds of millisieverts per hour, said Gregory Jaczko, chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
From the NY Times: Progress at Japan Reactors; New Signs of Food Radiation
Japan appeared to make moderate progress in stabilizing some of the nuclear reactors at the stricken Fukushima Daiichi power plant on Sunday, but at the same time it disclosed new signs of radioactive contamination in agricultural produce and livestock.
...
The Tokyo Electric Power Company ... appeared to have experienced a serious setback as officials said that pressure buildup at the ravaged No. 3 reactor would require the venting of more radioactive gases. But at a news conference a few hours later, officials from the power company said that the pressure had stabilized ...

The power company also said that on Sunday workers injected 40 tons of water into the storage pool containing spent fuel rods at Unit No. 2, and that firefighters began spraying water into the pool at Unit No. 4. On Saturday, firefighters sprayed water at the storage pool of Unit No. 3 for more than 13 hours.
...
The government said that power was returned to Reactor No. 2 at 3:46 p.m. Sunday, and that other reactors were also expected to gain power early in the week.
A running blog from Reuters: Japan earthquake LIVE

Earlier:
Summary for Week ending March 18th
• Some preliminary Census 2010 Housing Vacancy Data.
Schedule for Week of March 20th