Chemical tests from new oil near DeepWater Horizon site matches last year’s BP oil spill samples. (Pictures and fly over video inside)

As reported on August 20, 2011 (read previous blog, New sub sea oil plumes found near the Deepwater Horizon oil platform) the oil sheen sitting nearly on top of the Deepwater Horizon rig (the location of the last year’s catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico) is quickly expanding.

On Wings of Care, California nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of wildlife, wild habitat, and natural ecosystems, flew over the reported oil sheen and the pilot Bonny Shumaker stated that the oil “stretched for miles with one continuous sheen stretching for nearly 10 miles.” (Pictured above.  Credit: Press-Register/Jeff Dute).

To view the August 30, 2011 fly over of the oil spill (Credit: On Wings of Care) click below:

Robert Bea, an internationally prominent petroleum engineer and professor emeritus at the Berkeley campus of the University of California indicates that he feels that the primary source of the oil with the highest probability is the Macondo well/Deep Water Horizon rig.

“(It) looks suspicious. The point of surfacing about 1 mile from the well is about the point that the oil should show up, given the seafloor at 5,000 feet – natural circulation currents would cause the drift,” Bea said. “A Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) could be used to ‘back track’ the oil that is rising to the surface to determine the source. This should be a first order of business to confirm the source.”

On August 26, 2011- BP, the US Coast Guard, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, representatives from the states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida as well as the GCIMT (Gulf Coast Incident Management Team) came together in New Orleans, LA to participate in a standard visual wellhead inspection via Remote Operated Vehicles of the Macondo Well (MC 252) and the relief well.

In the video- there were small, intermittent bubbles rising from cement ports at the base of the wellheads. These bubbles were determined to be nitrogen bubbles, a residual byproduct of the nitrifed foam used in setting the wells but no oil or hydrocarbons were found indicating a breach of the cement plug and/or the areas of the Macondo Well.

Yet samples of the sheen were  analyzed by Louisiana State University researchers and tests showed it was a chemical match to the 4 million+ barrels of sweet Louisiana crude that gushed from BP’s exploding well.

Scientists suggest that perhaps it was trapped within the riser pipe or the rig itself which is still sitting at the bottom of the Gulf which could result in trapped oil floating out of the wreckage.

Another option is that the bacteria degraded the oil on the seafloor and the lighter fractions were released and floated to the surface although that oil would be considerably more weathered.

Now the questions are directed towards BP once again- how much oil is trapped, why has the wreckage not been salvaged  and why has there not been a concentrated efforts on ways to clean up the ocean floor (and subsequently; add oxygen back into the dead zones?)

Copyright (c) August 31, 2011. All rights reserved.

New sub sea oil plumes found near the Deepwater Horizon oil platform. (Picture inside)

While BP continues to assure Gulf Coast residents that the MacondoWell/ Deepwater Horizon oil spill that devastated our coastline less than a year and a half ago has been capped since September 2010 is no longer leaking any oil, recent reports and flyover pictures of approximately subsea oil plumes, 300 feet wide and separated from the next one by about that same distance, running roughly south to north near the Macondo Well (image left,  Credit: Jonathan Henderson and Tarik Zawia) are showing otherwise.

There are several theories behind the fresh oil and, forewarning, none of them are pretty.

The 1st first theory is that the cap that was placed on the well is leaking.  Although BP ignores this concern, it is still a very real possibility. Especially after Japan’s multiple severe earthquakes. It is logical to assume that considering the massive damage and the crippling of Japan’s nuclear plants- that the vibration of the earthquake could have reached the Gulf of Mexico and knocked loose the already fragile plug.

A 2nd theory, is that all of the oil BP that sunk to the seafloor due to nearly 2 million gallons of toxic Corexit 9500 & 9527A dispersant is beginning to break free and rise to the surface and blacken the coastline with fresh oil.  However, according to civil engineer and petroleum expert, Marco Kaltofen, oil that has been lying on the seafloor for several months would be much significantly more weathered than the fresh oil that is currently spotted.

Along the same theory, it is also possible  that the broken riser pipe and oil rig platform has trapped oil inside of it and it is slowly making its way to the surface.

A 3rd theory is that this 6 miles long and rainbow-colored oil sheen is coming from  Green Canyon Block 463, which is near the Macondo well site, officials state that its “probably”  silt from a subsurface shallow water pool. Records for that well indicate that it was drilled through a shallow lens of groundwater. The company is awaiting the results of tests on samples of the material and something tells me that we are going to waiting on those test results for a loooong time.

A 4th theory is that the oil sheen is contributed by BP’s Thunder Horse oil platform in the Mississippi Canyon  on August 16, 2011 where a  0.000108 gallons of oil was released but, let’s be real, that is less than half a CC and would not be enough to create a 6 mile long oil sheen. BP has admitted that “a silvery oil sheen measuring 2 feet by 30 feet has been reported on the surface” there, and they have supposedly sent vessels to monitor the situation.

A 5th theory, and this is by far the most concerning, is that oil may be coming from cracks and fissures in the seafloor caused by months of high-impact work  of BP failed capping attempts of the Maconda Well.  If this is the case,  there is a possibility of hundreds of little cracks and fissure (picture the seafloor cracks like a broken windshield) and  to the extent of my knowledge, there is no known way to cap the cracks and fissures which means the oil would continually leak into the Gulf of Mexico.

Either way, there is new oil in the Gulf of Mexico and it is, coincidentally, near the Deepwater/Macondo oil platform.

Unfortunately and dishearteningly, while  everyone is pointing fingers in attempt to escape responsibility for the leaked oil and no reports show that there are any intentions of cleaning it up; the Gulf of Mexico and her inhabitants are – once again- at the mercy of big oil.

Copyright (c) August 20, 2011. All rights reserved.

The reward is not worth the risk; Just Say No to new driling in the Gulf of Mexico.

The chant of, “Drill baby Drill”  and hungry looks towards the Gulf of Mexico happens a lot more often that what I would like.

In fact, I wish we would not allow any additional drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and would prefer that our current oil producing rigs were up to code in safety regulations and passed the audits of a 3rd party independent agency (something that President Obama should have pushed for  while he held our oil fields on a moratorium; but refused to acknowledge.)

Why, such a strong (and controversial; given my political leanings) statement?

First hand damage assessment of 2 oil spills that affected Florida within a 14 year period

Back during the  Maconda/BP oil spill in 2010 where 4.9 million barrels (read: 260 Olympic swimming pool worth) of oil polluted the Gulf of Mexico, I drew on my journalism strength and became an investigative reporter for my self produced investigative channel,  ClearWater Perspective, and participated in backstage teleconferences with BP, TransOcean, EPA, NOAA, MMS and the Coast Guard.

Additionally, I had close friends fly over and report on the oil spill and encounter harmed, innocent, wildlife who either swam into the oil and toxic dispersant or who ate off the oiled covered shores or were residing in a nearby tree branch when BP engaged their aerial dispersing.  The results were horrifying and something that I truly will never forget.

If you have a moment, please click into this video. A friend of mine made it with pictures of the real damage of the BP oil spill.  Warning: this is not suitable for children.

The reality of the oil spill became very real to me and contrasting and comparing my first hand experience with living near Tampa Bay  back in during the oil spill in 1996 (where 300,000 gallons of heavy oil and another 33,000 gallons of jet fuel spilled after a collision in West Central Florida) convinced me that it is only a matter of time until Florida suffers a backlash comparable to Louisiana.

Seeing the not so lucky wildlife and economic damage and how it negatively impacted the  fishermen, shrimpers, tourism industry, realtors, wedding planners, coastal businesses and coastal communities and wrecked havoc on our innocent wildlife made me vow to not allow a 3rd mistake of reckless and greedy drilling happen in our beautiful Gulf of Mexico.

Its’s like the saying– “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. ” — Fool me thrice and I should have known better than to expect that  big oil’s operations were ‘under control” and being properly scrutinized for safety precautions.

Florida is the most at-risk state in the event of another oil spill. (Economic and residential)

People of NW Florida have seen first hand, how public perception can hamper our local economy.

Florida’s main draw is tourism. When people think that Florida has oil-laden beaches; they will be less likely to come down for vacation or buy Gulf seafood; if they feel that it was tainted with oil and toxic dispersant. This change of perception, as has been proven with the 2010 oil spill, can cause a detrimental effects to the very way of life as Floridians have known to grow and love.

As stated above, many community factors suffer and have the potential to increase unemployment, causing people to vacate their home in search for income; whether it be by selling their home the conventional way or short selling their home; resulting in the housing industry value to decrease directly related to the increase in the unemployment rate.

But the possible oil spill damage doesn’t end there… (Military impact)

As many know, there is a huge military mission off of Tyndall AFB, Eglin AFB, Duke AFB and Hurlburt AFB and Pensacola NAS that run alongside the Gulf of Mexico.

The influx of news reporters and clean up crew would be too invasive for our military zone.

At this point in the game; the US cannot afford to take too many chances with nationals security.

But wait there’s more… (Loop Current, possible oil seepage to South Florida, East Florida and the Eastern Seaboard)

If there was an oil spill off the West Coast of Florida, the oil (and toxic dispersant that big oil will use to sink the oil into the water column so nobody can see it) has a chance of getting swept into the Loop Current which is a current (diagramed left) that transports warm Caribbean water through the Yucatan Channel between Cuba and Mexico.

The current flows northward into the Gulf of Mexico, then loops southeastward just south of the Florida Keys (where it is called the Florida Current), and then just west of the westernmost Bahamas.

Here, the waters of the Loop Current flow northward along the U.S. coast and become the Gulf Stream and run northward, up the East Coast of Florida.

The Loop Current was a big concern of many Floridians during the 2010 oil spill as a handful of times, oil/toxic dispersant became dangerously close to the loop current (some reports show that small traces of oil were pushed into the loop current but weathered before it impacted land) but were swept away by ever changing warm and cold water eddys.

However, next time- we may not be so lucky.

Turn to renewable alternative energy as a primary source for our energy needs

Instead of investing in new equipment and new deep water drilling techniques to search for a resource that will eventually extinguish- let’s put that money towards the wave of the future and a renewable resources that we can draw off of for years to come.

Projects such as  energy efficient construction, offshore wind farms, solar landfills, geothermal and aqueduct electricity can help us curb our dependence on oil.

If the US reallocated the money they have towards new drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and put it towards alternative energy; we could pave the way for a new future where ultimately- we become dependent on ourselves and not at the hand of our Environment, the Middle East or even Brazil (where Obama promised we would be their biggest customer earlier this year).

The reward is not worth the risk

While I understand that drilling is needed and I fully support state’s sovereignty for wanting to drill (and am in support of drilling in places where the general consensus welcomes the drilling).

As a born, raised and currently residing Floridan. I say the reward is NOT worth the risk for new drilling to take place in the Gulf of Mexico. Not when our wildlife, food chain, fisheries, tourism industry, coastal communities, military intelligence and the entire coastline of Florida is at risk.

Especially when it has been proven that there is no way to adequately prepare for a hurricane and the precautions needed to be taken to avoid churning the oil sunken into the water column and spewing the oil onto coastal communities) until only days before the hurricane comes into the Gulf of Mexico (as remembered with the lack of hurricane preparation during the 2010 hurricane season).

If Mexico wants to drill; we cannot stop them but, more than likely, any spill in their area will not travel into the Gulf of Mexico because of the placement of eddys. Let them destroy their own country; if they so desire.

As for the United States,  I advise that we stay on the side of environmental conservation as well as to look to alternative energy as our sustaining life force as that can be renewed so we can pass on our energy capability to our children instead of banking on a non renewable source of energy that will leave our future generations in the dark.

Copyright (c) August 1, 2011. All rights reserved.

Restoring sediment is key to Gulf revival. BP will play a miniscule part in economy recovery.

Restoring the flow of sediment to essential wildlife habits in the Gulf Coast wetlands and barrier islands after last year’s oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico are one of the biggest challenges officials face, says the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force (GCERTF) at it’s 5th meeting on Monday in Galveston, Texas.

Sediment, technically speaking, is  nutrient-filled sand and rock and as many know, is the structural foundation of the Gulf’s ecosystem and ensures the health of the barrier islands and wetlands which not only provides a safe haven to turtles, birds, fish and other wildlife but also provides a natural barrier from storms for people who live along the Gulf coast during hurricane season.

According to the Center for American Progress: “The Gulf region suffers the most coastal land loss of any region in the United States.” Louisiana alone, which holds 40 percent of wetlands in the continental United States, loses wetlands equivalent to the area of the size of a football field every half hour —about 80 percent of all wetland losses. By 2030 the Gulf States risk a total of $350 billion in environmental losses and risk from rising sea level, land subsidence, and hurricane damages if no action is take to restore the coast.”

Terrence Salt, principal deputy to the assistant secretary of the Army, said sediment flow has decreased due to management of upstream rivers and land conservation practices. For example, the Mississippi River — a major source of freshwater and sediment to the Gulf of Mexico, its islands and wetlands — has about half the sediment it originally had, he said.

Combine the natural loss of sediment with the chemical damage to our barrier islands by the spilled oil and toxic corexit dispersant and this becomes a very serious problem.

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, who is also a member of the task force, said funding for the projects of merely $1 billion BP has agreed to dedicate toward Gulf restoration.

$1 billion is not a lot considering that each of the 5 states that run alongside the Gulf of Mexico will get only $100 million for their projects. Sand and habitat restoration is extremely expensive.

While something is better than nothing; $100 million is only a drop in the bucket to the type of environmental damage that occurred from BP’s horrific oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico last year.

The Department of the Interior and the Department of Commerce will each get an additional $100 million.

$300 million will be distributed accordingly to other “crucial projects” but were not elaborated upon in the meeting.

It is also important to note that while this $1 billion is going to current economic damage; the long term damage of the Corexit 9500 & 9527A dispersant has not been established.

Knowing BP and their run with giving out $5000 claims to fishermen in an attempt to keep them from suing in the future- I have a feeling that this is going to be the last bit of money we will see from BP.  If somebody knows otherwise; please contact me at theheartofamerica@hotmail.com.

The final GCERTF meeting scheduled for 2011 will be on August 29, 2011 in Biloxi, Mississippi with the task force presenting their reports of environmental damage and strategy for resolving the issues by October 2011.  Leaving only 4 months to determine the long term  environmental damage of the toxic oil and dispersant.

Copyright (c) June 28, 2011. All rights reserved.

BREAKING NEWS: Japan’s radioactive emissions are DOUBLED the initial claim.

Yesterday, 06/06/2011- Japan announced that the radioactive emissions from the stricken Fukushima Daiichi totaled 770,000 terabecquerels (more than double the initial estimated amount 370,000 terabecquerels) putting officials on the defensive about whether they have delayed the release of information to the public.

This seems to be a sticky pattern with the Japanese government as not only were they wrong about the radioactive emissions quantity but also that of the stability of the nuclear plant reactors as it was continually (ad nauseum) repeated that the reactors were “stable” yet last month, the government finally acknowledged that 3 out of the 6 plant reactors have suffered nuclear fuel rod and inner containment vessel meltdown to the floor of the reactor.

In addition, the indpenedent Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said  the reactor pressure vessel  at one of the plant’s reactors appeared to have been compromised as early as 5 hours after the quake.

2 “minor” facts that Japan and United States Government officials glossed over while feeding the People with the line that there are “relatively no” negative health effects.

Even at the time of the first estimate in April, Japan’s Nuclear Industrial Safety Agency, another independent government panel as well as our very own Denise Haywald of The Heart of America  called the nuclear radiation reading too low.

The commission relied on a computer model that uses radiation measurements taken at various distances from a nuclear accident. The model produces an estimate of the radioactive material escaping from the source.

However, as Heart of America has pointed out; there was ignorance towards the damage of the reactors radioactive cores and full potential for melt down. When taking these factors into consideration, the nuclear radiation level is expected to double, if not triple.

More disturbingly, I have not heard of any new health update or evacuation zone information from the Japanese or the US government which makes me question if the government is really on the side of the people or taking efforts to avoid a mass panic.

Copyright (c) June 7, 2011. All rights reserved.

If oil rigs are pulled from the moratorium; they MUST be in compliance with safety regulations and big oil subsidies MUST stop.

I agree that we need to kick start our own oil drilling and that we should extend the drilling permits of the oil companies restricted by the oil moratorium but we also need to do other things such as end big oil subsidies and seriously look into wind, solar and geothermal energy simultaneously.

However- it is essential that all oil rigs placed in the moratorium are in compliance with the new BP oil safety regulations as well as confirmed by a 3rd party contractor in order to resume drilling.

I DO NOT agree with addtl drilling in the Gulf of Mexico as we have seen the catastrophic events resulting from an oil spill. Not too mention that the oil has the potential to impact NW Florida and our military mission at large as well as has the potential to get into the loop current and travel up the East coast of Florida and the US.

I support get our oil rigs back up and running in the Gulf (that is; if they are truly 100% compliant with new safety regulations) as we depend on that oil the rigs produce but I do not agree with putting in any new oil rigs in the Gulf.

There are other areas to drill and if the local residents want it and the drilling does not pose a safety risk or a military mission risk- then by all means should we consider it.

In the meantime; it is imperative that we look into alternative energy and become energy independent. Drilling is not the full answer as it is a known fact that drilling is not renewable; therefore, we will eventually run out of that resource.

Let’s look at long term solutions while we are lowering our gas costs so that gas does not get above $4/ gallon ever again.

Read more about the reasoning behind eliminating big oil subsidies and how the consumer will reap the benefits.

https://theheartofamerica.wordpress.com/2011/02/05/case-in-point-eliminate-big-oils-subsidies-and-royalties-reduction-of-national-debt-encourage-alternative-energy-and-give-back-money-to-the-american-taxpayers/

Read more about the independent 3rd agency that CG Adm Thad Allen and Bureau of OEM supports.

https://theheartofamerica.wordpress.com/2011/02/16/cg-adm-thad-allen-and-bureau-of-oem-support-an-indepenent-drilling-regulatory-agency/

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Soil Liquefaction (moving ground) in Japan

Does anybody know what type of ground the Fukushima Reactors are built upon?  If it is purely sand and this continues (which is possible with as many earthquakes/after shocks that keep happening)- this could cause structural damage to the plant facilities.

Please pray for Japan. Thank you! ♥

BREAKING NEWS: Japanese’s nuclear debris to wash up on shores of California & Hawaii later this morning.

BREAKING NEWS: Japanese debris from the earthquake/tsunami is likely to make landfall in California and Hawaii later this morning. There IS radiation on the debris but officials say, not enough to impose a health concern. Either way, if you see it washing up on the beaches- do not touch it and instead call your state’s emergency operations center.

For a list of Cali’s EOC- http://www.cesa-cal.com/files/Roster-County-Offices-of-Emergency-Services-CAHF-2007-07.pdf

Hawaii EOC information: 650 South King Street
Honolulu, HI 96813 (808) 723-8960

Japan’s Nuclear Reactors- Count by Count & HoA’s Cause for Concern Rating

As of April 2, 2011.

HoA’s Cause for Concern is based on a 1-10 scale.

Reactor No. 1

Hidehiko Nishiyama, an official with Japan’s nuclear and industrial safety agency,said that Japanese authorities’ data indicates only 3% damage to the unit.

Workers are preparing to inject nitrogen into the No. 1 reactor  in an order to prevent another explosion caused by a buildup of hydrogen.  (A hydrogen explosion — an indicator of possible core damage — blew the roof and upper walls off the building housing the reactor on March 12.)

A Tokyo Electric official said that iodine-131 levels in ground water from a pipe near the No. 1 reactor had 10,000 times the standard limit. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano addressed this confusion in a press conference later Friday, noting that a “constant amount of radiation” appeared to be getting into the groundwater and noting that further tests are forthcoming.

Water levels in an exposed maintenance tunnel leading from the No. 1 unit’s turbine building had dropped 1 meter from its previous measure which is a concern to many as the water levels need to stay stable to avoid a meltdown.

Reactor 1’s  core has been damaged, but its containment vessel was not with the later being a relief as the containment vessel is a concrete and steel structure that keeps radioactive material inside the reactor.

Lighting and power has been restored to the No. 1 units’ control room, though the overall power supply is less than desired.

Fresh water was injected both into the unit’s reactor core and its spent nuclear fuel pool on Sunday 03/27/11, said an official with the Tokyo Electric Power Co.  This is in place of the saltwater that had been used for the same purpose, to cool nuclear fuel rods in the reactor and spent fuel pools. Besides its cooling purposes, experts hope the fresh water will help flush out salt to allow better operation of the cooling system.

Work resumed on Sunday to pump water out of the basement of the No. 1 unit’s turbine building. Earlier tests indicated the presence of radioactive material in this pooled water, though not at nearly as high levels as those in the turbine building basements of the Nos. 2 and 3 reactors.

Tsunehisa Katsumata, chairman of Tokyo Electric Power Company that runs the nuclear power plant, said Wednesday, “Looking at current conditions, there are no (future) options other than decommissioning” Reactor 1, meaning that the reactor would never produce electricity again.

Heart of America (HOA)s CAUSE FOR CONCERN RATING: 7

Reactor No. 2

NEW::: A 20 cm (8 inch) crack in a 2 meter deep, concrete lined basint was found leaking water into the sea, measuring 1,000 millisieverts of radiation per hour, more than 330 times the annual average and can result in vomiting and up to a 30 percent higher risk of cancer, TEPCO poured concrete into the pit to stop the leak, but water prevented it from hardening and the leak had yet to be stopped.

Today, a planned 2 day project to install a camera in an exposed maintenance tunnel to help pinpoint leaks in reactor #2 began.

According to my on the ground sources, No. 2 reactor core has suffered a 33% meltdown.

Currently, there is a plan to inject nitrogen into the No. 2 reactor in order to prevent a buildup of hydrogen that might cause an explosion in an effort to not repeat March 15th’s explosion.

Workers have been pumping freshwater into Reactor 2 damaged unit’s reactor core and spent fuel rod chamber.  The building housing of Reactor 2 has said to be only slightly damaged.

Lighting has been restored to Reactor 2s’ control room, though the overall power supply is less than desired.

Radiation levels in pooled water tested in the No. 2 nuclear reactor’s turbine building are 100,000 times normal, utility company and government officials said Sunday, correcting an earlier finding of 10 million times normal. The reading applies to radioactive iodine-131, which has a half-life of eight days.

Iodine-134, which loses half its radioactive atoms every 53 minutes, was at less than a detectable amount, officials said, correcting an earlier figure of 2.9 billion becquerels per cubic centimeter.

Statements on the Caesium 137 and the detailed information on the 3 levels of Plutonium were, conveniently, not mentioned by the Japanese government.

Damage is “suspected” in Reactor 2 unit containment vessel which keeps the radiative components from spilling into the environment although the amount of damage is inconclusive. It is said by the Japanese government that even though the temperature and pressure levels are “unknown,” the containment vessel pressure is considered “stable”.

Katsumata said Wednesday that, “looking at current conditions,” the No. 2 reactors would be decommissioned — meaning it would never be used to produce electricity again.

Heart of America (HOA)s CAUSE FOR CONCERN RATING: 10

Reactor No. 3

The No. 3 reactor has been of particular concern, experts have said, because it is the only one to use a combination of uranium and plutonium fuel, called MOX, considered more dangerous than the pure uranium fuel used in other reactors.

The building of the No. 3 reactor was “severely damaged” after an explosion caused by the buildup of hydrogen gas in Reactor 2. Its core reactor is also damaged and its fuel rods are either partly or fully exposed.

As to its pool of spent nuclear fuel, reports are that the pool was “possibly damaged” and the water level has been low which is one of the reasons for the repeated spraying.

Currently, there is a plan to inject nitrogen into the No. 3 reactor in order to prevent a buildup of hydrogen that might cause an explosion in an effort to not repeat March 15th’s explosion in Reactor 2.

The water levels in the exposed maintenance tunnel leading from the No. 3 unit’s turbine building has decreased by 1.5 meters and have pooled in the underground tunnels by Reactor 3.

Authorities took measure to drain the tunnel to prevent the water from overflowing and entering the environment.

On Friday, officials stated that the draining process was a confirmed success.

However, it has been noted that the Plutonium, Iodide and Caesium has been found in the atmosphere in “small” doses yet officials refuse to give exact measurement.

The cooling pool where the spent fuel is stored may also have been damaged and workers used a concrete pump to douse the spent fuel pool with water on Tuesday 03/29/11.

Fresh water is being being pumped  into the No. 3 reactor core and the spent nuclear fuel pool. This replaces the seawater that had been used previously. The aim of using fresh water is to cool down nuclear fuel and flush out accumulating salt that might hinder the reactors’ existing cooling systems while preventing corrosive action as was noted in Reactor 2.

Work continued to be halted in the basement of the No. 3 unit’s turbine building, as authorities tried to work around contaminated water pooled there.  Plans are being devised on safely and efficiently removing that tainted water.

The Japan Atomic Industrial Forum, an industry trade group that is tracking official accounts of the cleanup efforts at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, said the pressure of the No. 3 reactor’s containment vessel has changed their assessment to “unknown”.

Tsunehisa Katsumata, chairman of Tokyo Electric Power Company that runs the nuclear power plant stated,  “Looking at current conditions,  there are no (future) options other than decommissioning” Reactor 3 meaning that the reactor would never produce electricity again.

Heart of America (HOA)s CAUSE FOR CONCERN RATING: 9

Reactor No. 4

Fresh water was injected both into Reactor 4’s reactor core and its spent nuclear fuel pool on Friday 04/01/11 with a concrete pump. This is in place of the saltwater that had been used for the same purpose, to cool nuclear fuel rods in the reactor and spent fuel pools. Besides its cooling purposes, experts hope the fresh water will help flush out salt to allow better operation of the cooling system.

Workers restored power in the reactor’s control room Tuesday, 03/29/11 — a move that officials say could be a key step in efforts to bring cooling systems back online.

This reactor was offline in a scheduled outage so the reactor’s water level and pressure was considered “safe” when the earthquake hit. Still, it has had several major problems since then, including a March 15 fire that damaged the building that houses the reactor.

The nuclear fuel rods were in the unit’s spent fuel pool which is considered “possibly damaged” but not in the reactor itself.

Tsunehisa Katsumata, chairman of Tokyo Electric Power Company that runs the nuclear power plant stated,  “Looking at current conditions,  there are no (future) options other than decommissioning” Reactor 3 meaning that the reactor would never produce electricity again.

Heart of America (HOA)s CAUSE FOR CONCERN RATING: 6

Reactor #5

Reactor No. 5  was not in operation at the time of the earthquake and are in “cold shutdown” according to the Japanese government..

The reactors were shut down for a scheduled outage when the quake hit and there are no major issues with the reactors and cores themselves.

The cooling systems in the pools of spent nuclear fuel are thought to be functioning, though there are continued concerns about keeping power running to the systems.

Three holes were punched in each building earlier to relieve pressure and prevent a feared hydrogen explosion.

Heart of America (HOA)s CAUSE FOR CONCERN RATING: 2 unless the power fails or hydrogen builds up.

Reactor No. 6

Reactor No. 5  was not in operation at the time of the earthquake and are in “cold shutdown” according to the Japanese government..

The reactors were shut down for a scheduled outage when the quake hit and there are no major issues with the reactors and cores themselves.

The cooling systems in the pools of spent nuclear fuel are thought to be functioning, though there are continued concerns about keeping power running to the systems.

Three holes were punched in each building earlier to relieve pressure and prevent a feared hydrogen explosion.

Heart of America (HOA)s CAUSE FOR CONCERN RATING: 2 unless the power fails or hydrogen builds up.

Copyright (c) April 2, 2011. All rights reserved.

BREAKING NEWS: 3 types of Plutonium and Caesium 137 has been found in addition to Iodine 131 near Japanese reactors and what can be taken to counteract.

Not only has  radioactive iodine 131 been detected outside the Fukushima nuclear plant but 3 types of potent Plutonium and Caesium 137, has been found at 5 different points inside the plant grounds.

Officials are declining to indicate which types of Plutonium has been found which is concerning as the half life on Plutonium can range anywhere from PU-233’s 20 minute half life to PU-239’s half life of 24,000 years.

In comparison, Iodine 131 has a half life of 8 days and is expected to disappear in a few weeks.  Caesium 137, which has a half-life of 30.17 years is more of a concern of mine as it poses a health threat for far longer.

Back in 1986, the Chernobyl accident report stated that highly contaminated areas were defined as those with over 1490 kilobequels (kBq) of caesium per square metre. Vegetables and fruits from soil with 550 kBq/m² were destroyed.

In Japan, the highest contaminated level was 6400 kBq/m², about 35 kilometres away, while caesium reached 1816 kBq/m² in Nihonmatsu City and 1752 kBq/m² in the town of Kawamata.

“Some of the numbers are really high,” says Gerhard Proehl, Head of Assessment & Management of Environmental Releases at the International Atomic Energy Agency.

There are many dependents to note that indicate the severity of the caesium as sandy soil releases it but clay containment binds it. Analysis has not been done on the different areas to see what type of land mass has come into contact with the caesium.

Either way, people need to be on the lookout for iodine 131 and caesium 137 contamination.

As well as the Japanese, US & Canadian government needs to be proactive in setting up testing and analysis to ensure as little contamination breach as possible. Our lives may very well depend on it.

Caesium 137 is water-soluble and the biological behavior of caesium is similar to that of potassium and rubidium.  

Once it enters the body, caesium centralizes in muscle tissues.

Experiments with dogs showed that a single dose of 3800 μCi/kg (approx. 44 μg/kg of caesium-137) is lethal within three weeks.

Good news- If caseium is accidentally swallowed (in the case of drinking containment tap water/milk or vegetables/fruits) , it can be treated with the chemical called Prussian blue, which binds to it chemically and then speeds it expulsion from the body.

Copyright (c) March 29, 2011. All rights reserved.