FEPC Updates On The Japanese Nuclear Crisis, Through March 23, 2011

Update to Information Sheet Regarding the Tohoku Earthquake
The Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan (FEPC) Washington DC Office

As of 10:00AM (EST), March 23, 2011
 Radiation Levels
o At 6:30PM (JST) on March 23, radiation level at main gate (approximately 3,281
feet from Unit 2 reactor building) of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station:
249 micro Sv/hour.
o Measurement results of environmental radioactivity level around Fukushima
Nuclear Power Station announced at 7:00PM on March 23 are shown in the
attached PDF file. English version is available at:
http://www.mext.go.jp/english/radioactivity_level/detail/1303962.htm
o For comparison, a human receives 2,400 micro Sv per year from natural radiation
in the form of sunlight, radon, and other sources. One chest CT scan generates
6,900 micro Sv per scan.
 Fukushima Daiichi Unit 1 reactor
o At 2:33AM on March 23, amount of seawater injection has increased by using
water supply system in addition to water extinction system (from 2 cubic meter
per hour to 18 cubic meter per hour).
o At 2:00PM on March 23, pressure inside the reactor core: 0.376MPa.
o At 2:00PM on March 23, water level inside the reactor core: 1.7 meters below the
top of the fuel rods.
o At 2:00PM on March 23, pressure inside the primary containment vessel:
0.345MPaabs.
o As of 2:00PM on March 23, the injection of seawater into the reactor core
continues.
o As of 7:00PM on March 23, external power generation is connected through Unit
2 and the functionality of the electric devices is being checked.
o At 4:07PM on March 22, TEPCO began to inject seawater into the spent fuel
storage pool, until 5:01PM (approximately 18 tons in total)
o At 4:20AM on March 23, the temperature of the spent fuel pool: 123.8 degrees
Fahrenheit.
o At 2:00PM on March 23, pressure inside the reactor core: -0.036MPa.
o At 2:00PM on March 23, water level inside the reactor core: 1.25 meters below
the top of the fuel rods.
0.11MPaabs.
continues.
o As of 7:00PM on March 23, approximately 58 tons of water in total has been
injected into the spent fuel storage pool.
o As of 7:00PM on March 23, external power generation is connected and the
functionality of the electric devices is being checked.
o At 10:46PM on March 22, lighting was restored in the Central Control Room.
o At 9:10AM on March 23, pressure inside the reactor core: -0.104MPa.
o At 9:10AM on March 23, water level inside the reactor core: 1.8 meters below the
o At 9:10AM on March 23, pressure inside the primary containment vessel:
0.1MPaabs.
o At 11:00AM on March 23, TEPCO began to inject water into the spent fuel pool,
until 1:20PM (approximately 35 tons in total).
o At 4:20PM on March 23, black smoke was emitted from the secondary
containment building. (Under investigation)
continues.
o As of 7:00PM on March 23, approximately 3,927 tons of water in total has been
shot to the spent fuel storage pool.
o At 5:17PM on March 22, TEPCO began to shoot water aimed at the spent fuel
pool, until 8:32PM, with a specialized vehicle normally used for pumping
concrete (approximately 150 tons in total).
o At 10:00AM on March 23, TEPCO began to shoot water aimed at the spent fuel
pool, until 1:02PM, with a specialized vehicle normally used for pumping
concrete (approximately 130 tons in total).
o As of 7:00PM on March 23, approximately 535 tons of water in total has been
shot to the spent fuel storage pool.
o At 7:41PM on March 22, it was confirmed that power supply was completely
switched form diesel generator to external power.
o At 2:00PM on March 23, the temperature of the spent fuel pool: 102.2 degrees
Fahrenheit.
o At 7:41PM on March 22, it was confirmed that power supply was completely
switched form diesel generator to external power.
Fahrenheit.
Our official sources are:

 Office of The Prime Minister of Japan
 Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA)
 Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) Press Releases
 Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
o At 2:30PM (JST) on March 21, it was announced that radioactive nuclides have
been detected from the sampling of seawater near the seawater discharge point of
Unit 1 to 4 (south side). The details of radioactive nuclides, concentration, and the
maximum permissible water concentration set by the government are as follows:
Radioactive Maximum Permissible Water

Concentration (Bq/cm3)
Nuclides Concentration (Bq/cm3)
Co-58 5.955 x 10-2 1 x 100
I-131 5.066 x 100 4 x 10-2
I-132 2.136 x 100 3 x 100
Cs-134 1.486 x 100 6 x 10-2
Cs-138 2.132 x 10-1 3 x 10-1
Cs-137 1.484 x 100 9 x 10-2
o At 03:30PM on March 22, radiation level at main gate (approximately 3,281 feet
from Unit 2 reactor building) of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station: 277.5
micro Sv/hour.
o Measurement results of environmental radioactivity level around Fukushima
Nuclear Power Station announced at 7:00PM on March 22 are shown in the
attached PDF file. English version is available at:
http://www.mext.go.jp/english/radioactivity_level/detail/1303962.htm
o At 11:20AM on March 22, pressure inside the reactor core: 0.227MPa.
o At 11:20AM on March 22, water level inside the reactor core: 1.8 meters below
0.175MPaabs.
continues.
0.11MPaabs.
Fahrenheit.
o As of 4:00PM on March 22, roughly 40 tons of water in total has been injected
into the spent fuel storage pool.
continues.
0.100MPaabs.
o At 2:10PM on March 22, the Tokyo Fire Department began to shoot water aimed
at the spent fuel pool.
o As of 4:00PM on March 22, roughly 3,742 tons of water in total has been shot to
the spent fuel storage pool.
continues.
o As of 4:00PM on March 22, roughly 255 tons of water in total has been shot to
the spent fuel storage pool.
Fahrenheit.
power supply has been switched from Diesel Generator.
o At 11:00AM on March 22, the temperature of the spent fuel pool: 77 degrees
Fahrenheit.
functionality of the electric devices is being checked (Spent fuel pool is being
cooled by the power supplied from Diesel Generator of Unit 6).
 Fukushima Daiichi Common Spent Fuel Pool
Fahrenheit.
o At 04:30PM (JST) on March 21, radiation level outside main office building
(approximately 1,640 feet from Unit 2 reactor building) of Fukushima Daiichi
Nuclear Power Station: 2,015 micro Sv/hour.
o At 06:30PM on March 21, radiation level at main gate (approximately 3,281 feet
from Unit 2 reactor building) of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station: 1,932
micro Sv/hour.
o Measurement results of ambient dose rate around Fukushima Nuclear Power
Station announced at 1:00PM and 4:00PM on March 21 are shown in the attached
two PDF files respectively.
0.16MPaabs.
continues.
0.12MPaabs.
Fahrenheit.
o At 6:22PM on March 21, steam was emitted from the secondary containment
building. (Under investigation)
continues.
o At 9:30PM on March 20, the Tokyo Fire Department began to shoot water aimed
at the spent fuel pool, continuously until 3:58AM on March 21 (roughly 1,137
tons in total).
0.120MPaabs.
o At 3:55PM on March 21, gray smoke was emitted from the secondary
containment building.
o At 4:49PM on March 21, the gray smoke changed to white smoke, but the volume
of the smoke was unchanged.
o At 6:02PM on March 21, it was confirmed that the emission of smoke had ceased.
continues.
o As of 7:00PM on March 20, about 3,742 tons of water in total has been shot to the
spent fuel storage pool.
o As of 7:00PM on March 21, activities for connecting an external power supply are
underway.
o At 6:22PM on March 20, 10 Self Defense Force vehicles began to shoot water
aimed at the spent fuel pool, until 7:43PM (roughly 81 tons in total).
o At 6:37AM on March 21, 12 Self Defense Force vehicles and TEPCO began to
shoot water aimed at the spent fuel pool, until 8:41AM (in total about 91 tons).
TEPCO used one high pressure water cannon supplied by the US Army.
o As of 7:00PM on March 21, roughly 83 tons of water in total has been shot to the
spent fuel storage pool.
o As of 7:00PM on March 21, activities for connecting an external power supply are
underway.
Fahrenheit.
o At 7:27PM on March 20: cold shutdown
Fahrenheit.
o From 10:37AM to 3:30PM on March 21, roughly 130 tons of water in total has
been injected into the spent fuel storage pool.

As of 12:30PM (EST), March 19, 2011
o At 10:30PM (JST) on March 19, radiation level outside main office building
Nuclear Power Station: 2,854 micro Sv/hour.
o Measurement results of ambient dose rate around Fukushima Nuclear Power
Station announced at 4:00PM and 7:00PM on March 19 are shown in the attached
two PDF files respectively.
0.18MPaabs.
o As of 9:00PM on March 19, the injection of seawater continues into the reactor
core.
o Recovery work of power supply is to be scheduled.
o At 9:05PM on March 18, access to the substation for reserve power supply from
external transmission line was completed.
o As of 1:30PM on March 19, the work for laying the electric cable from the
substation to the load site is being carried out.
o At 4:30PM on March 19, water level inside the reactor core: 1.3 meters below the
0.135MPaabs.
core.
o Activities for connecting the commercial electricity grid are underway.
o At 0:30AM on March 19, Tokyo Fire Department began to shoot water aimed at
the spent fuel pool, continuously until 01:10AM.
0.210MPaabs.
o At 5:30PM on March 19, Tokyo Fire Department began to shoot water
continuously aimed at the spent fuel pool.
core.
o As of 9:00PM on March 19, activities for recovering the external power supply
are underway.
o No official updates to the information in our March 19 update have been provided.
o As of 9:00PM on March 19, activities for recovering the external power supply
are underway.
o At 5:00AM on March 19, pump for Residual Heat Removal (RHR) started up
and cooling of spent fuel storage pool has started.
o At 6:00AM on March 19, the temperature of the spent fuel pool was measured at
155.8 degrees Fahrenheit.
o At 9:15AM on March 19, making 3 holes in the roof of reactor building to prevent
hydrogen from accumulating has been completed.
o At 6:00PM on March 19, the temperature of the spent fuel pool was measured at
o At 4:22AM on March 19, the second unit of emergency diesel generator started
up.
o At 5:11AM on March 19, Fuel Pool Cooling (FPC) pump started to circulate the
water of spent fuel pool.
o At 9:15AM on March 19, making 3 holes in the roof of reactor building to prevent
hydrogen from accumulating has been completed.

• Fukushima Daiichi Unit 4 reactor

o No official updates to the information in our March 16 update have been provided.
o Through visual surveys from the helicopter flying above the Unit 4 reactor
secondary containment building on March 16, it was observed that water
remained in the spent fuel pool. The helicopter was measuring radiation
levels above Unit 4 reactor secondary containment building in preparation
for water drops. This report has not been officially confirmed.

• Office of The Prime Minister of Japan
• Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA)
• Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) Press Releases
o At 6:40AM (JST) on March 16, a radiation level of 400 milli sievert per hour was
recorded outside the west side of the secondary containment building of the Unit
3 reactor at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
 At 6:40AM on March 16, a radiation level of 100 milli sievert per hour
was recorded outside the west side of the secondary containment building
of the Unit 4 reactor at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
o At 8:47AM on March 16, a radiation level of 150 milli sievert per hour was
recorded outside the secondary containment building of Unit 2 reactor of
Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
was recorded between the exteriors of the secondary containment
buildings of Unit 2 reactor and Unit 3 reactor of Fukushima Daiichi
Nuclear Power Station.
was recorded outside the secondary containment building of Unit 3 reactor
of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
 At 8:47AM on March 16, radiation level of 100 milli sievert per hour was
recorded outside the secondary containment building of Unit 4 reactor of
o At 10:40AM on March 16, a radiation level of 10 milli sievert per hour was
recorded at the main gate of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
o At 4:10PM on March 16, a radiation level of 1530 micro sievert per hour was
recorded at the main gate of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
o For comparison, a human receives 2400 micro sievert per year from natural
radiation in the form of sunlight, radon, and other sources. One chest CT scan
generates 6900 micro sievert per scan.
o At 6:55AM on March 16, the pressure inside the reactor core was measured at
0.17 MPa. The water level inside the reactor core was measured at 1.8 meters
below the top of the fuel rods.
o At 8:37AM on March 16, white smoke was observed emanating from the vicinity
of the secondary containment building.
o At 11:32AM on March 16, the Japanese government announced that the
possibility of significant damage to the primary containment vessel was low.
183 degrees Fahrenheit.
o At 5:45AM on March 16, a fire occurred in the vicinity of the third floor of the
secondary containment building.
o At 7:26AM on March 16, no flames or smoke was observed and thus it was
concluded that the fire extinguished on its own accord.
 Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant and Accompanying Facilities
o As of 12:00PM on March 15, power generation of all facilities was restored to the
commercial electricity grid from backup power generation systems. It was
confirmed that no fire, damage to equipment, injuries to personnel occurred.
Radiation levels were measured at a normal level of safety.
o At 10:22AM (JST) on March 15, a radiation level of 400 milli sievert per hour
was recorded outside secondary containment building of the Unit 3 reactor at
recorded at the main gate of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
recorded on the site of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
o As of 10:00PM on March 14, the pressure inside the reactor core was measured at
0.05 MPa. The water level inside the reactor was measured at 1.7 meters below
o At 6:14AM on March 15, an explosion was heard in the secondary containment
building. TEPCO assumes that the suppression chamber, which holds water and
stream released from the reactor core, was damaged.
o At 1:00PM on March 15, the pressure inside the reactor core was measured at
0.608 MPa. The water level inside the reactor was measured at 1.7 meters below
o At 6:14AM on March 15, smoke was discovered emanating from the damaged
secondary containment building.
o At 9:38AM on March 15, a fire was discovered on the third floor of the secondary
containment building.
o At 12:29PM on March 15, TEPCO confirmed extinguishing of the fire.
 Fukushima Daini Unit 1 reactor
o At 7:00PM on March 14, TEPCO confirmed cold shutdown.
o As of 12:00AM on March 16, TEPCO continues to cool the reactor core.
o At 7:00PM on March 14, TEPCO confirmed cold shutdown.
o At 12:15PM on March 14, cold shutdown.
o At of 7:15AM on March 15, cold shutdown.
o At 9:37PM (JST) on March 14, a radiation level of 3130 micro sievert per hour
was recorded at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
recorded at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
o As of 12:00AM on March 15, the injection of seawater continues into the primary
containment vessel.
o At 12:00PM on March 14, in response to lower water levels, TEPCO began
preparations for injecting seawater into the reactor core.
o At 5:16PM on March 14, the water level in the reactor core covered the top of the
fuel rods.
o At 6:20PM on March 14, TEPCO began to inject seawater into the reactor core.
o For a short time around 6:22PM on March 14, the water level inside the reactor
core fell below the lower measuring range of the gauge. As a result, TEPCO
believes that the fuel rods in the reactor core might have been fully exposed.
o At 7:54PM on March 14, engineers confirmed that the gauge recorded the
injection of seawater into the reactor core.
o At 8:37PM on March 14, in order to alleviate the buildup of pressure, slightly
radioactive vapor, that posed no health threat, was passed through a filtration
system and emitted outside via a ventilation stack from Fukushima Daiichi Unit 2
reactor vessel.
o At 11:01AM on March 14, an explosion occurred at Fukushima Daiichi Unit 3
reactor damaging the roof of the secondary containment building. Caused by the
interaction of hydrogen and oxygen vapor, in a fashion to Unit 1 reactor, the
explosion did not damage the primary containment vessel or the reactor core.
o As of 12:38AM (JST) on March 15, the injection of seawater has been suspended.
o As of 1:24AM on March 14, TEPCO commenced the cooling process after the
pumping system was restored.
o At 10:15AM on March 14, TEPCO confirmed that the average water temperature
held constant below 212 degrees Fahrenheit.
o At 7:13AM on March 14, TEPCO commenced the cooling process.
o As of 3:52PM on March 14, the cooling function was restored and the core
temperature was stabilized below 212 degrees Fahrenheit.
o As of 12:15PM on March 13, reactor has been cooled down and stabilized.
o At 3:42PM on March 14, cooling of the reactor commenced, with TEPCO
engineers working to achieve cold shutdown.
• Radiation Levels
o At 9:37AM (JST) on March 14, a radiation level of 3130 micro sievert was
recorded at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
o At 10:35AM on March 14, a radiation level of 326 micro sievert was recorded at
the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
o Most recently, at 2:30PM on March 15, a radiation level of 231 micro sievert was
recorded at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
o As of 12:00AM on March 15, the injection of seawater continues into the primary
containment vessel.
o At 12:00PM on March 14, in response to lower water levels, TEPCO began
preparations for injecting seawater into the reactor core.
o At 5:16PM on March 14, the water level in the reactor core covered the top of the
fuel rods.
o At 6:20PM on March 14, TEPCO began to inject seawater into the reactor core.
o For a short time around 6:22PM on March 14, the water level inside the reactor
core fell below the lower measuring range of the gauge. As a result, TEPCO
believes that the fuel rods in the reactor core might have been fully exposed.
o At 7:54PM on March 14, engineers confirmed that the gauge recorded the
injection of seawater into the reactor core.
o At 8:37PM on March 14, in order to alleviate the buildup of pressure, slightly
radioactive vapor, that posed no health threat, was passed through a filtration
system and emitted outside via a ventilation stack from Fukushima Daiichi Unit 2
reactor vessel.
o At 11:01AM on March 14, an explosion occurred at Fukushima Daiichi Unit 3
reactor damaging the roof of the secondary containment building. Caused by the
interaction of hydrogen and oxygen vapor, in a fashion to Unit 1 reactor, the
explosion did not damage the primary containment vessel or the reactor core.
o As of 12:38AM (JST) on March 15, the injection of seawater has been suspended.
• Fukushima Daini Unit 1 reactor
o As of 1:24AM on March 14, TEPCO commenced the cooling process after the
pumping system was restored.
o At 10:15AM on March 14, TEPCO confirmed that the average water temperature
held constant below 212 degrees Fahrenheit.
o At 7:13AM on March 14, TEPCO commenced the cooling process.
o As of 3:52PM on March 14, the cooling function was restored and the core
temperature was stabilized below 212 degrees Fahrenheit.
o At 7:05PM on March 17, a police water cannon began to shoot water aimed at the
spent fuel pool until 7:22PM.
o At 7:35PM on March 17, five Self Defense Forces emergency fire vehicles shot
water aimed at the spent fuel pool, until 8:09PM.
o As of 12:15PM on March 13, reactor has been cooled down and stabilized.
o At 3:42PM on March 14, cooling of the reactor commenced, with TEPCO
engineers working to achieve cold shutdown.
• Radiation Levels
o At 9:20AM (JST) on March 17, radiation level at elevation of 1,000ft above
Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station: 4,130 micro sievert.
o At 9:20AM on March 17, radiation level at elevation of 300ft above Fukushima
Daiichi Nuclear Power Station: 87,700 micro sievert.
o At 11:10AM on March 17, radiation level at main gate (approximately 3,281 feet
from Unit 2 reactor building) of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station: 646.2
micro sievert.
o At 7:50PM on March 17, radiation level outside main office building
Nuclear Power Station: 3,599 micro sievert.
o For comparison, a human receives 2,400 micro sievert per year from natural
generates 6,900 micro sievert per scan.
o Since 10:30AM on March 14, the pressure within the primary containment vessel
cannot be measured.
0.40MPaabs.
0.23MPaabs.
o At 6:15AM on March 17, pressure inside the suppression chamber was observed
to fluctuate.
o At 7:00AM on March 17, pressure inside the suppression chamber: 0.22MPa.
o At 9:48AM on March 17, a Self Defense Forces helicopter made four water drops
aimed for the spent fuel pool.

FEPC Updates On The Japanese Nuclear Crisis, Through March 23, 2011

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FEPC Updates On The Japanese Nuclear Crisis, Through March 23, 2011

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Update to Information Sheet Regarding the Tohoku Earthquake

The Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan (FEPC) Washington DC Office

Our official sources are:

Radioactive Maximum Permissible Water

Our official sources are:

Our official sources are:

• Fukushima Daiichi Unit 4 reactor

Our official sources are:

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