Head of U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission: “There is no water in the spent fuel pool and we believe that radiation levels are extremely high”
March 17th, 2011Via: AP:
The chief of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission said Wednesday that all the water is gone from one of the spent fuel pools at Japan’s most troubled nuclear plant, raising the possibility of widespread nuclear fallout. But Japanese officials denied the pool was dry.
“There is no water in the spent fuel pool and we believe that radiation levels are extremely high, which could possibly impact the ability to take corrective measures,” NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko said at a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing.
If Jaczko was correct, this would mean there was nothing to stop the fuel rods from heating and ultimately melting down. The outer shell of the rods could also ignite with enough force to propel the radioactive fuel inside over a wide area.
That country’s nuclear safety agency and Tokyo Electric Power Co., which operates the six-unit Fukushima Dai-ichi complex, denied Jaczko’s statements that the water is gone from the pool.
Utility spokesman Hajime Motojuku said the “condition is stable” at Unit 4, which was shut when the earthquake and tsunami hit last week.
After the hearing, Jaczko left some wiggle room. If he is wrong, it would represent a very embarrassing moment for the U.S. government.
“My understanding is there is no water in the spent fuel pool,” he said. “I hope my information is wrong. It’s a terrible tragedy for Japan.”
Jaczko said the information came from NRC staff and experts in Tokyo who are working with the utility in Japan. He said NRC staffers continue to believe the spent fuel pool is dry. “They believe the information they have is reliable,” he said.
