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Fwd: Japanese Criticality Accident Information
For those of you not already approaching information overload.
Mike ... mcbaker@lanl.gov
>X-Lotus-FromDomain: INEL
>From: "Valerie L Putman" <VPUTMAN@inel.gov>
>To: vlp@mr-ed.inel.gov
>Date: Fri, 1 Oct 1999 08:09:30 -0600
>Subject: Japanese Criticality Accident Information
>X-RCPT-TO: <121934@mail-48.lanl.gov>
>
>http://www.cnn.com has a nuclear energy and/vs. safety vote.
>
>There are just too many articles to process all at once! Most information is
>sensationalized and completely non-technical, and much of it is contradictory.
>More substantive emails follow, but check out these websites soon, before they
>are replaced:
>
> http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/Press/P_release/1999/prn1299.shtml
> http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/Press/P_release/1999/japan_incident.shtml
>
> http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/news9-99/news.html#story2
> http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/news9-99/news.html#story1
> http://search.news.yahoo.com/search/news_photos?p=japan+nuclear&c=&n=10
>
> http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/index-e.htm
>
>
>
>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/aponline/19990930/aponline185721_000.htm
>
> http://www.foxnews.com/world/093099/japan_marian.sml
> http://www.foxnews.com/world/093099/japan_nuclearfrance.sml
> http://www.foxnews.com/world/093099/japan_nuclearside_fno.sml
> (what 33 process accidents in US? I counted 7!)
> http://www.foxnews.com/world/093099/japan_nuclearuk.sml
> http://www.foxnews.com/world/093099/japan_nuclear.sml
>
> http://home.kyodo.co.jp/cgi-bin/conciseStory#19991001832
> http://home.kyodo.co.jp
>
>
>http://asia.yahoo.com/headlines/011099/news/938775600-91001110041.newsasia.
>html
>
>http://asia.yahoo.com/headlines/011099/news/938765280-91001080803.newsasia.
>html
>
>http://asia.yahoo.com/headlines/011099/news/938753520-91001045232.newsasia.
>html
>
>http://asia.yahoo.com/headlines/011099/news/938753160-91001044650.newsasia.
>html
>
>http://asia.yahoo.com/headlines/011099/news/938751600-91001042019.newsasia.
>html
>
>http://asia.yahoo.com/headlines/011099/news/938749440-91001034410.newsasia.
>html
>
>http://asia.yahoo.com/headlines/011099/news/938745780-91001024357.newsasia.
>html
>
>http://asia.yahoo.com/headlines/011099/news/938759160-91001062642.newsasia.
>html
> http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/19991001/ts/japan_nuclear_9.html
> http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/p/nm/19990930/ts/mdf14885.html
> http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/19990930/ts/nuclear_japan_27.html
> http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/19990930/ts/nuclear_japan_24.html
> http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/19990930/ts/nuclear_japan_22.html
> http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/19990930/ts/nuclear_japan_20.html
> http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/19990930/ts/nuclear_japan_19.html
> http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/19990930/ts/nuclear_japan_18.html
> http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/19990930/ts/nuclear_japan_17.html
> http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/19990930/ts/nuclear_japan_14.html
> http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/19990930/ts/nuclear_japan_11.html
> http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/19991001/ts/japan_nuclear_10.html
> http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/19990930/wl/nuclear_japan_6.html
> http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/19991001/ts/japan_nuclear_5.html
> http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/19990930/wl/nuclear_japan_4.html
> http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/19990930/ts/japan_nuclear_accident.html
> http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/19990930/wl/nuclear_japan_2.html
> http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/19990930/wl/nuclear_japan_1.html
> http://fullcoverage.yahoo.com/fc/World/Nuclear_Waste/
> http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/19990930/wl/japan_nuclear_glance_1.html
>
>http://asia.yahoo.com/headlines/011099/news/938733600-90930232016.newsasia.
>html
>
>http://asia.yahoo.com/headlines/011099/news/938729880-90930221832.newsasia.
>html
>
>http://asia.yahoo.com/headlines/011099/news/938719380-90930192302.newsasia.
>html
>
>http://asia.yahoo.com/headlines/011099/news/938717220-90930184755.newsasia.
>html
>
>http://asia.yahoo.com/headlines/011099/news/938712840-90930173447.newsasia.
>html
>
>http://asia.yahoo.com/headlines/011099/news/938712240-90930172426.newsasia.
>html
>
>http://asia.yahoo.com/headlines/011099/news/938712840-90930173447.newsasia.
>html
>
>http://asia.yahoo.com/headlines/011099/news/938711880-90930171846.newsasia.
>html
>
>http://asia.yahoo.com/headlines/011099/news/938711100-90930170508.newsasia.
>html
>
>http://asia.yahoo.com/headlines/011099/news/938710740-90930165902.newsasia.
>html
>
>http://asia.yahoo.com/headlines/300999/news/938707080-90930155838.newsasia.
>html
>
>http://asia.yahoo.com/headlines/300999/news/938706960-90930155619.newsasia.
>html
>
>http://asia.yahoo.com/headlines/300999/news/938699580-90930135321.newsasia.
>html
>
>http://asia.yahoo.com/headlines/300999/news/938697660-90930132122.newsasia.
>html
>
>http://asia.yahoo.com/headlines/300999/news/938679720-90930082233.newsasia.
>html
>
>http://asia.yahoo.com/headlines/300999/news/938672460-90930062111.newsasia.
>html
> http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/991001/hq.html Apparently some Ukrainians are
>worried!
> http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/991001/g8.html
> http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/991001/gu.html
> http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/991001/fz.html
> http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/991001/f0.html
>
>
>http://dailynews.yahoo.com/headlines/local/state/new_mexico/story.html?s=v/
>rs/19991001/nm/index_1.html#1
>
>
>http://dailynews.yahoo.com/headlines/local/state/arizona/story.html?s=v/rs/
>19991001/az/index_1.html#2
>
>
> http://msnbc.com/news/317493.asp?cp1=1#BODY
> http://www.msnbc.com/news/317493.asp?cp1=1
>
> http://www.cbs.com/flat/story_189822.html
> http://www.cbs.com/flat/story_189942.html
>
> http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap19991001_215.html
> http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap19991001_140.html
> http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap19991001_129.html
> http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap19990930_1595.html
> http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap19990930_1606.html
> http://abcnews.go.com/sections/world/DailyNews/japan991001_nuclear.html
> http://abcnews.go.com/sections/world/DailyNews/japannuclear990930.html
>
>http://abcnews.go.com/sections/world/DailyNews/japannuclear990930_people.html
> http://abcnews.go.com/sections/world/DailyNews/japannukes990930.html
>
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/
>
>http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/asia-pacific/newsid_462000/462826.stm
>
>http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/asia-pacific/newsid_462000/462743.stm
>
>http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/asia-pacific/newsid_462000/462380.stm
>
>http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/asia-pacific/newsid_462000/462366.stm
>
>http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/asia-pacific/newsid_462000/462090.stm
>
>http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/asia-pacific/newsid_462000/462003.stm
>(photos)
>
>http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/asia-pacific/newsid_461000/461943.stm
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_461000/461738.stm
>
>http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/medical_notes/newsid_461000/461921.stm
>
>http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/asia-pacific/newsid_461000/461446.stm
>
> http://cnn.com/audioselect
> http://www.cnn.com
> http://www.cnn.com/ASIANOW/east/9910/01/japan.nuclear.01
> http://www.cnn.com/ASIANOW/east/9909/30/nuclear.victims.ap 800rem
> exposure to
>2 workers
> http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/9909/30/radiation.sickness general info on rad
>exposure affects
> http://www.cnn.com/ASIANOW/east/9909/30/japan.nuclear.06
>
> http://www.cnn.com/ASIANOW/east/9909/30/japan.nuclear.06/#1
>
>
> http://www.cnn.com/ASIANOW/east/9909/30/japan.accidents.reut
>
>
> http://community.cnn.com/cgi-bin/WebX?13@@.ee938a1
>
>
>
>
>
> http://www.latimes.com/HOME/NEWS/ASECTION/t000087905.html
>
>
> http://www.latimes.com/HOME/NEWS/ASECTION/t000087903.html this ain
>?t
>commercial fuel!
>
> http://www.latimes.com/HOME/NEWS/ASECTION/t000087886.html
> http://www.mercurycenter.com/premium/front/docs/explain01.htm
>
>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/aponline/19991001/aponline014220_000.htm
>writer seems unaware that some parts of fuel fabrication and fuel reprocessing
>are alike
>
>http://www.foxnews.com/js_index.sml?content=/news/wires2/1001/n_ap_1001_27.sml
>
>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/aponline/19990930/aponline222658_000.htm
>
>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/aponline/19990930/aponline222555_000.htm
>
>http://www.foxnews.com/js_index.sml?content=/news/wires2/0930/n_rt_0930_259
>.sml
>
>http://www.foxnews.com/js_index.sml?content=/news/wires2/0930/n_rt_0930_227
>.sml
>
>http://www.foxnews.com/js_index.sml?content=/news/wires2/0930/n_rt_0930_217
>.sml
>
> http://news.lycos.com/stories/TopNews/19991001SUMM.asp
> http://www.lycos.com/news/flash/tokaimuranukeax.html?v=ng930&lpv=1
> http://news.lycos.com/stories/TopNews/19991001RTNEWS-NUCLEAR-JAPAN.asp
> http://ens.lycos.com/ens/sep99/1999L-09-30-01.html
>
> http://www.mainichi.co.jp/english/news/news01.html
>
>
>
>FROM Yuichi Komuro of 10/01/99 05:33am GMT
>
>Subject: next information on the accident
>
>Please note that the following information are not official. I hope these
>information will help your work.
>
>1) Operators did not observe an authorized procedure. If they observed the
>procedure, uranium solution six times more than the limited value, 2.4kg
>(solution weight ?, uranium metal weight ? Sorry I don't know.), could not put
>into the tank the accident occurred.
>
>Operators mixed uranium (U3O8 ?, UO2 ?) and nitrate aqueous solution in a
>stainless steel vessel. At that time uranium concentration and solution
>volume
>was not measured. Then the mixture was directly put into the tank by using a
>funnel. These were not authorized procedures at all.
>
>2) At 09:20 a.m. October 1, The Nuclear Safety Committee declared that the
>system became subcritical state. This is an official information.
>
>3) In this morning, boron-water was sprayed into the room the accident
>occurred.
>
>4) It can be considered that after the first nuclear excursion, the tank with
>remaining solution had been at the critical state until early in the morning.
>Until this morning, neutron monitors around the facility had indicated values
>more than that at normal condition. Just after the accident occurred, the
>maximum indication of a neutron monitor was 4.5 ms/h.
>
>5) JCO has a facility that conversions UF6 to UO2 powder for LWR (less than 5%
>uranium enrichment) and FBR (less than 20%). No conversion operation to UO2
>powder for FBR has been performed for about three years.
>
>6) The Scientific and Technology Agency of Japan tentatively evaluated
>that the
>international accidental level for the accident was "4" and the Japanese
>government informed the level value to IAEA. Reasons for "level 4" are
>(1) two
>operators received significant exposures and (2) some ordinary (common ?)
>people
>outside the facility received exposures.
>
>7) The building has no significant mechanical damage. It can be
>considered that
>FP were released from a stack. Filter could not trap FP.
>
>8) People in the circle with 350m radius have evacuated since yesterday
>afternoon. People in the circle with 10km radius should be at home.
>
>Thanks,
>Yuichi Komuro
>___________________________________
>Department of Research Reactor
>Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute
>Tokai-mura, Naka-gun,
>Ibaraki-ken, 319-1195
>JAPAN
>___________________________________
>e-mail : komuro@jrr3fep2.tokai.jaeri.go.jp
>telephone :+81-29-282-5823 (new)
>fax : +81-29-282-6763 (new)
>___________________________________
>
>
>
>
>
>
>FROM Chin W. Ma on 09/30/99 08:23pm GMT
>
>
>
>The following is the information I received from other e-mails.
>
>"I heard the following, in different segments, on TV this evening while in
>Nagoya Japan from 'experts' on TV news. The news was only translated partially
>so be careful but this may be advance news not totally correct as details
>unfold.
>
>1 The operators were adding 19% U235 from France in form of UF6 to a water
>tank.
>There was blue flash they reported.They were getting ready to make fuel
>for the
>fast reactor and this was first step.
>
>2. There was 5 Kg limit for tanks but 19 Kg was involved that should
>never have
>happened.
>
>3. Three were taken to hospital. One was able to walk while the other two were
>nearly unconscious and vomiting and were carried in.
>
>4.The company did not notify the local authorities until nearly 1 hour after
>accident. Their license said they should have done it faster. They said they
>were evacuating staff instead. There was off site release. They showed
>values
>at various Km but they were in Japanese and not translated so I do not know
>levels.
>
>more TV updates at 10pm Japanese time, 30 September..
>
>1. Japan believes a criticalty is still occurring. The Gov set up task
>force at
>5pm today to assess.They met at 9 pm tonight and gave press conference. The
>radiation level is 4.5 millisivert per hr at 7 Km at 5pm today.138
>radioactive
>substances have been detected.Levels have gone up this evening.This is at the
>Tokai uranium processing plant. UF6 was added to HNO3(nitric acid) to make the
>accident.
>
>2. People within 10km are told to say inside. 160 people within 3km have been
>evacuated.
>
>3. They are trying to assess how to get close enough to add boron .They
>do not
>know how to enter the facility yet..
>
>4. They now say 2.4kg of 19%u235 was limit but 16 kg was involved."
>
>
>
>Chin W. Ma
>
>
>
>
>
>Dear colleague
>
>The following information are very preliminary ones and please keep in
>mind that
>those may be wrong.
>
>The accident was allegedly caused by putting more fuel into a tank than
>allowed
>(about 5 times ). The fuel is uranyl nitrate solution. The enrichment is
>18.8wt% The concentration is approximately 370gU/l. The nitric acidity
>may be
>more than 1 mole/l. This fuel is for the test fast breeder reactor JOYO.
>
>The tank inner-diameter is 50 cm and 2.5cm-thickness water coolant is
>surrounding the tank at the side and the bottom. Approximately 50 liter
>solution
>was poured in the tank, which means the solution height is approximately 25.5
>cm. The tank wall thickness is 3 mm and made of stainless steel. My
>preliminary
>calculation gives keff=1.044 with MCNP and TWODANT. Exactly speaking, the
>bottom
>of the tank is slightly concave. But, detailed information is unknown.
>
>The criticality is probably continuing now even though the accident occurred
>more than 16 hours ago.
>
>If the water coolant is removed, the fuel may or may not be made subcritical
>(approximately keff=1.000).
>
>I hope this information is helpful for you.
>
>------------------------------------------
>Toshihiro YAMAMOTO
>Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute
>Dept. of Fuel Cycle Safety Research
>Criticality Safety Laboratory
>Phone:81-29-282-6743
>Fax: 81-29-282-6798
>E-mail:yamamoto@melody.tokai.jaeri.go.jp
>------------------------------------------
>
> >From Yuichi Komuro on 10/01/99 02:40 am GMT
>
>Subject: information of critical accident in Japan
>
>(Embedded image moved to file: pic09252.pcx)
>
>Schools, shops, banks, post offices are closed today due to the
>accident. JAERI
>is also closed today, but I am here. The followings are information from TV
>news and are not official.
>
>1) Early in the morning (October 1) employee of JCO tried to drain water in a
>water jacket round the solution tank in which the critical accident
>occurred and
>probably still critical. Then the system became subcritical.
>
>2) To spray the system with boron-water is under consideration.
>
>3) Three employee of JCO at a hospital have been bedridden because they
>received
>significant dose. I think two of the three received lethal exposures like the
>worker shown in Fig. 3-4, P.19, of "Nuclear Criticality Safety, Theory and
>Practice" by R. A. Knief.
>
>4) The most probable reason for the accident is a human error. In the normal
>operation, up to 5wt % uranium to be processed for pellets for ordinary
>LWR's is
>handled at the facility. On the other hand, yesterday, in the building the
>accident occurred, 19 % enriched Uranyl nitrate solution was handled. This
>material is used to make UO2 powder to be processed as MOX pellets for JOYO, a
>prototype FBR (?) in Japan. Probably operator misunderstood that uranium
>enrichment they handled was less than 5wt%. Therefore they put six time more
>volume (mass) of the solution than a limited value for the 19 % enriched
>uranyl
>nitrate solution into the tank.
>
>If I can be of further assistance, please let me know. Please forgive my poor
>English and miss spelling.
>
>Sincerely yours,
>Yuichi Komuro
>
>Yuichi Komuro
>___________________________________
>Department of Research Reactor
>Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute
>Tokai-mura, Naka-gun,
>Ibaraki-ken, 319-1195
>JAPAN
>e-mail : komuro@jrr3fep2.tokai.jaeri.go.jp
>telephone :+81-29-282-5823 (new)
>fax : +81-29-282-6763 (new)
>___________________________________
>
>
>Hey guys,
>
>A criticality accident has occurred near Hong Kong, a live feed of CNN's
>international station is discussing it.
>
> http://cnn.com/audioselect/
>
>is the link and then select the Windows media 28.8+ or Real 28.8+ feeds
>next to
>"CNN International"
>
>These discussions will give you a better understanding of criticality safety.
>
>--MD
>
>The message below was sent to various world nuclear industry
>personnel. It was
>eventually distributed via the RADSAFE listserver.
>
>Subject: Criticality accident occurred! - Urgent!!!
>Dear Sir,
>
>As you may have already known, the criticality accident has occurred at
>JCO fuel
>manufacturing company in Tokai on Sept. 30. Although the detailed cause of the
>accident has not been clarified, it is supposed that the accident has
>occurred
>during the process of the transportation of the liquid fuel, which was much
>more(16kg) then the limited critical mass(2.4kg). Three employees were
>severely
>damaged by radiation and sent to the hospital.
>
>Since the radiation rate is still high (4 mR/hr) at the boundary of the
>site, it
>is supposed that the criticality may be still continued. Nobody may not be
>able
>to approach to the plant due to high radioactivity or radiation rate. The
>people
>near by were recommended to evacuate to the
>public building or to be inside in their houses.
>
>We would much appreciate it if you could provide us the following
>information AS SOON AS POSSIBLE:
>
>(1) The possible way to stop the recriticality. Uranium with liquid acid
>may be
>still in the tank without any control device.
>(2) Any suggestion on the evacuation. The current reaction may be too
>overestimated.
>(3) Other useful information
>
>Sincerely,
>-----------------------------------------
>SUGIMOTO, Jun
>Senior Staff, Office of Planning
>Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute
>Fukoku-Seimei Bldg. 2-2, 2-Chome, Uchisaiwai-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100
>JAPAN
>tel: 81-3-3592-2105
>fax: 81-3-3592-2119
>
>
>
>
>THERE WILL BE SOMETHING AT THE NEXT ANS WINTER MEETING
>
>From: James A. Lake on 09/30/99 09:48 MDT
>Subject: Re: Special Session on Tokaimura?
>
>Will be very hard to get papers for the Transactions on short notice until the
>information on the accident is better understood. However, I think a panel
>session would be very interesting and we wouldn't need papers ahead of time.
>Monday afternoon is an excellent time. Recommend we should try to put
>something
>together for the Long Beach Program. Val Putman at INEEL has been working
>with
>me all day with DOE and the Japanese Embasy providing them with information
>(INEEL had a similar solution criticality accident in 1978 at the Idaho
>Chemical
>Processing Plant; therefore we could provide an interesting historical
>perspective).
>
>Jim Lake
>
pic09252.pcx