IAEA Ends Survey on Fukushima N-Plant Water Release

Tokyo, Feb. 18 (Jiji Press)--An International Atomic Energy Agency team completed on Friday its investigation into the safety of the planned release into the sea of treated water containing radioactive tritium from the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. The task force plans to release the results of its investigation as early as April. According to the Japanese industry ministry, the IAEA will continue to examine the safety and compile a report summarizing the results of its investigation before the planned start of the treated water release in spring next year. "This is a significant step forward in the task force's work aimed at assessing their adherence to the IAEA safety standards which contribute to high levels of safety worldwide," Lydie Evrard, IAEA deputy director-general and nuclear safety head, told a virtual press conference. The team began its investigation Monday, conducting interviews with officials of relevant Japanese ministries and agencies as well as Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. <9501>, the operator of the plant, which suffered a triple reactor meltdown after being rocked by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and hit by a huge tsunami in March 2011. The member experts examined whether the procedural safety is secured technically for the water release and also visited the plant in Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan, to inspect work to collect treated water samples. At an IAEA laboratory, they will measure levels of radioactive substances contained in the water samples using the same method adopted in Japan to verify the safety of such water. Acknowledging strong concerns in and outside the country over the proposed water discharge, the Japanese government aims to highlight its safety by winning the IAEA's endorsement, pundits said. END