Yet another photo angle shows Ft. Calhoun's dry cask storage on elevated "island" amidst rising flood waters

This photo, left, which appeared in the Omaha World-Herald, shows yet another angle on the "independent spent fuel storage installation" (ISFSI), or dry cask storage, at Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant. It is the rectangular bunker-like structure in the upper right of the photo, on the small island of dry land surrounded by muddy flood waters. It is clear that the dry cask storage is behind a flood barrier, but not the (now-collapsed) Aqua Dam (the thicker, black water-filled rubber wall around the main reactor complex). However, the dry cask storage is located on elevated ground, although flood waters are predicted to deepen still. If the foot vents on the dry casks were to be blocked by flood water or debris, the convection air currents could be disrupted; those air currents are needed to keep the irradiated nuclear fuel cool within.

OPPD photo reveals flood waters approach dry cask storage, although it is still on higher ground

Undated OPPD photoThis undated photo from the Omaha Public Power District (OPPD), left, seems to confirm NRC Region IV spokesman Victor Dricks' words, that the dry cask storage installation at the Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant containing high-level radioactive waste is not located behind the Aqua Dam that had been protecting other vital areas at the atomic reactor, at least until a worker punctured it and it deflated. The dry cask storage is on the small island of dry land to the left of the main reactor complex in the photo; the now-collapsed Aqua Dam surrounds the main reactor complex. Although the dry cask storage appears to be behind a flood barrier, it is not behind the Aqua Dam. Water seems to have gotten behind the flood barrier around the dry cask storage, but the dry casks appear to still be on higher ground -- although flood waters are still rising on the Missouri River. Beyond Nuclear is concerned that if flood water rises high enough, it could block the foot vents on the dry casks, disrupting convection air currents, causing the irradiated nuclear fuel to overheat. Dricks' words about the supposed inherent safety of the dry casks against flooding is troubling given such risks. (see entries below) 

Tepco to try again at radioactive water decontamination

NHK World reports that Tokyo Electric Power Company will try again to restart its experimental filtration system for cleaning the vast amounts -- now well over 100,000 tons -- of highly contaminated radioactive cooling water that is accumulating onsite at Fukushima Daiichi. The system abruptly failed after only five hours of operation just over a week ago, as radioactive particle filters quickly became saturated given the high levels of contamination. Areva of France is reportedly involved in the filtration scheme. Tepco has completely run out of storage room for the highly contaminated cooling water, and it is feared the hazardous liquid will overflow uncontrollably and spill into the ocean as the raining season gets underway. Several weeks ago, Japanese authorities actually intentionally dumped "lower" contaminated water into the ocean, in order to free up space to store much more highly contaminated cooling water.  The intentional dumping angered neighboring countries like South Korea and China; Japan later apologized to them. While Tepco hopes to reuse the filtered water for additional cooling operations at Fukushima Daiichi -- in order to avoid using "virgin" water -- its interim storage and ultimate disposal plans for the intensely radioactive filters has not been announced.

Update on June 27, 2011 by admin

In separate coverage, NHK World reports that the failed radioactivity filters were U.S. made, and that only 1,850 tons of the well over 100,000 tons of highly radioactively contaminated water has thus far been decontaminated despite many, largely unsuccessful, days of "test runs."

Fukushima Daiichi Unit 3 storage pool for high-level radioactive waste one big chemistry experiment

A late April Tepco underwater image, taken by a robotic camera, showing the debris-clogged Unit 3 storage pool for high-level radioactive wasteNHK World reports that Tokyo Electric Power Company is adding boric acid to the water of the Unit 3 pool for high-level radioactive waste in order to counteract the corrosive effects of alkaline chemical attack on irradiated nuclear fuel aluminum storage racks. A massive hydrogen explosion in mid-March sent large chunks of concrete debris into the pool, which have likely since leaked alkaline chemicals into the water. If the racks were to fail, nuclear fuel could reconfigure into a critical mass, sparking a chain reaction in the pool.

More questions about Ft. Calhoun's dry cask storage: NRC admits high-level radioactive waste not protected against flood waters

Image from Cartoradiation's website of dry cask storage next to Missouri River flood waters at Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant, NebraskaQuestions are coming from various sources regarding the status of the dry cask storage of high-level radioactive waste at Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant in Nebraska, given the historic and potentially still rising floodwaters on the Missouri River. A French website (with English text), "Cartoradiations," asks many questions about the status of Ft. Calhoun's dry cask storage, while also providing rare photos of its installation five years ago, and its location relative to various flood defenses and the rising river waters. (Note, however, that Cartoradiations is incorrect in stating that dry cask storage is designed with security against terrorist attacks in mind, it is not; also, Ft. Calhoun's current dry cask storage installation likely holds closer to 200 tons of irradiated nuclear fuel, not 2,000 tons). Hawaii News Daily also has questions, and points out the irony of Areva of France's having provided the dry casks at Ft. Calhoun, while also providing the quickly overwhelmed radioactive water filtration system at Fukushima Daiichi. The Iowa Independent got confirmation from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission that Ft. Calhoun's dry cask storage is not located within primary flood protections. The article quotes NRC spokesman Victor Dricks as saying “They are not within the flood protection barrier...There’s no reason for them to be. Those are large, sealed canisters that are bolted down — no risk with the floodwaters.” This explanation contradicts Beyond Nuclear's understanding of basic dry cask storage design. Vents at the foot of dry casks allow a stream of cooling air, via convection currents, to flow over the exterior surface of the inner steel canisters actually holding the thermally hot irradiated nuclear fuel. The heated air then exits the cask via a vent at the top. However, any blockage of the foot vent -- as by Missouri River flood waters at the Ft. Calhoun dry cask storage facility -- could cause the irradiated nuclear fuel to overheat, beyond the design specifications of the dry casks.