No.61 Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Site Inspection

This time, based on a request from the National Mayors' Association, we have accepted a site visit to the nuclear power plant. After applying for the mayor's position, I was able to participate on November 2, 2016.
On the day, we moved from Koriyama Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen to J-village by bus from the National Mayors' Association, received a lecture on radiation and radioactive materials from Mayor Tatsuya of Soma City, listened to precautions from a representative of Tokyo Electric Power, changed into disaster prevention clothing, and headed to the site.
First, I confirmed my identity at the access control facility, received a temporary visitor card, passed through the radiation inspection gate, and was then loaned a personal dosimeter before finally entering the premises.
Due to anti-terrorism measures and security reasons, photography is prohibited on the premises and the entry of cameras and other devices is restricted. Therefore, the only place I was able to take photos myself was J-village, and the site photos were provided later by Tokyo Electric Power Company.
The inspection of the site was conducted from inside the bus. We first passed by the multi-nuclide removal facility (ALPS), then confirmed the exterior of Units 1 to 4, and proceeded through the corridor between Units 2 and 3 while observing the frozen soil impermeable wall. When we were close to the reactor building that had collapsed due to the hydrogen explosion, a sense of tension swept over everyone.
We visited the fuel tanks on the seaside that were damaged by the tsunami, passed by Units 5 and 6, which were not affected by the tsunami and are in a cold shutdown state, and finally got off the bus to tour the seismic isolation important building. This is where the emergency response headquarters is located, and it is at the forefront of decommissioning work, with 40 to 50 people present at all times. Here, too, the entrance check and radiation inspection gate were strict.
The inspection lasted about 2 hours, and the radiation levels of interest are as follows.

Maximum value at the hotspot near the main gate between J-village and the First Nuclear Power Plant: 6.2μSv (micro sieverts) /h (unit omitted, measurement taken inside the vehicle)

• In front of ALPS on campus 0.8
• Location about 50 meters away from Reactor Unit 1, further location about 150 meters away, 2
• In front of Reactor Unit 4 12
• Nuclear Power Plant Unit 3 Front Maximum Value 277
• Nuclear Power Plant Units 5 and 6 Front 1.6
• My personal accumulated exposure dose during the inspection: γ (gamma) radiation 0.01 mSv (millisieverts), β radiation 0.00 mSv

The radiation levels have reportedly decreased significantly since the initial accident, except for some areas within the site. The entire site is covered with mortar, and it is said that no new radioactive materials are being dispersed. Most workers were not wearing protective clothing such as Tyvek suits, except for those very close to the reactor, and were mostly in regular work attire with masks and gloves. We visited without wearing masks, dressed in standard disaster prevention clothing. The ALPS system, which experienced issues shortly after installation, is now functioning normally, and the frozen soil impermeable wall to stop new groundwater inflow has been completed on the ocean side, with most of the mountain side also finished, except for some parts.
Overall, the impression is that the reactor is in a stable cold shutdown, and while there are unresolved issues such as the method for handling fuel debris towards decommissioning, I felt that progress is being made steadily. Above all, I was surprised that I could get so close to the reactor for an inspection.
Bad situations are reported quickly, but good situations seem to be reported less often, and I feel that the current status of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant is not being accurately conveyed to the public.
As Mayor Tachi mentioned, it is important to "correctly fear radiation and wisely avoid it." This is a national project that will take 30 to 40 years until decommissioning, and I believe it is essential for us to understand it properly and keep a close watch on it.
The J-village, which serves as a base for responding to the nuclear accident, has been decided to be reused as a training facility in conjunction with the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and it is said that it will be restored by 2018. It seems that worker accommodation facilities will gradually be relocated to Naraha Town, where evacuation orders have been lifted, and many newly built apartments were visible along National Route 6. During this inspection, it was confirmed that recovery is progressing in this regard, as cafeterias and convenience stores for workers are operating in areas like Tomioka Town, which is a preparation area for lifting evacuation orders.