Disaster damage may reach $235 billion

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World Bank: Disaster damage may reach $235 bil.

The World Bank says damage from the Great East Japan Earthquake may reach as high as 235 billion dollars. That amount far exceeds the losses from the Kobe earthquake in 1995. The bank says disruption to production networks, especially in the automobile and electronics industries, could pose longer-term problems. The damage from the March 11th quake is more than double the 100 billion dollars caused by the Kobe quake in western Japan 16 years ago. The World Bank says Japan's GDP growth will slow. But the slowdown will likely be temporary, and growth should start picking up in the second half of 2011 when reconstruction efforts get underway. But, the problems at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant and the economic impact from rotating electricity cuts were not factored into the calculation. The bank says it is still too early for a full assessment. Read more at www3.nhk.or.jp

 

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Global Warming Regulations & Recession

EPA Global Warming Regulations Could Send Economy Back Into Recession, Report Says

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EPA Global Warming Regulations Could Send Economy Back Into Recession, Report Says

By Matt Cover

(CNSNews.com) – Regulation of greenhouse gasses by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) could reverse the very modest economic recovery and even send it back into a recession, a report from the National Center for Public Policy Research finds.

“These regulations,” author Dana Joel Gattuso wrote, “will have a more severe impact on energy costs, U.S. jobs, household income, and economic growth than cap-and-trade legislation would have had. Furthermore, the regulations could reverse the economy's direction toward recovery and push us back into an economic slump.”

EPA has considered regulating the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses under the Clean Air Act, which the Supreme Court gave the agency the power to regulate greenhouse gasses in the name of fighting air pollution.

EPA has not yet enacted the types of greenhouse gas regulations Gattuso’s paper warns of, but the agency has announced that it plans to do so in the near future.

“EPA will propose standards for power plants in July 2011 and for refineries in December 2011 and will issue final standards in May 2012 and November 2012, respectively,” EPA said in a December 2010 press release.

Gattuso also reported that GHG regulations would cost the economy jobs, worsening an already bad employment situation. Particularly hard hit would be African-Americans, who would bear a disproportionate share of the job losses caused by the EPA’s anti-global warming regulations.

“The U.S. economy will also stand to lose millions of jobs as energy prices soar and industry is forced to cut back or invest overseas,” the report said.

“Furthermore, the rules will have an unjust and disproportionately large impact on minorities, increasing the number of African Americans in poverty by 20 percent,” it added.

The report also analyzes Republican and Democratic legislation that would attempt to stop the EPA from issuing GHG regulations during a period of economic hardship and a fragile recovery.

The first bill Gattuso reviews is the joint effort from Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) that would bar the EPA from using its newfound authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate GHGs.

“Many members of Congress — Democrats as well as Republicans — are supporting legislation to prevent Obama from expanding the Clean Air Act and imposing more economic costs on Americans,” Gattuso reported.

“Among the Democrat co-sponsors of the legislation are Representatives Dan Boren (D-OK), Collin Peterson (D-MN), Nick Rahall (D-WV) and Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV).”

The Inhofe-Upton bill would completely prevent the EPA from ever using its Clean Air Act authority to regulate greenhouse gasses. Manchin said such an approach was necessary because Congress declined to pass a separate regulatory scheme for greenhouse gasses in 2010.

“It's time that the EPA realizes it cannot regulate what has not been legislated. Our government was designed so that elected representatives are in charge of making important decisions, not bureaucrats,” Manchin said in a statement March 4.

“The simple fact is that the EPA is trying to seize more power than it should have, and must be stopped,” he added.

Gattuso also examined competing legislation offered by Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) that would delay EPA’s power to regulate by two years, calling it an exercise in kicking the can down the road.

“The problem with this ‘kick the can down the road’ approach is that it impedes job creation and economic growth by furthering regulatory uncertainty. Also, it does nothing to stop the EPA from imposing regulations without voter approval. Americans emphatically said no to cap-and-trade legislation,” Gattuso said.

“Telling the EPA to wait two years before it overrides the will of voters is not acceptable and would invite EPA over-reach and encroachment on congressional authority in the future,” he added.

Gattuso concluded that the Inhofe-Upton effort was the only legislation that would successfully prevent the EPA from enacting economically damaging regulations.

“The Energy Tax Prevention Act would rein in the EPA, put Congress back in control, and steer our economy toward a complete and healthy recovery — not for two years but permanently.”

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Workers Removed As Smoke Rises

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Workers Removed From Japanese Nuclear Plant As Smoke Rises

By Eric Talmadge and Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press

Japanese rescue workers prepare to sift through debris during a search in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Monday, March 21, 2011 following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the northeast coast of Japan. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Fukushima, Japan (AP) - Plant operators evacuated workers from Japan's tsunami-stricken nuclear complex Monday after gray smoke rose from one of its reactor units, the latest of persistent troubles in stabilizing the complex after it was damaged in a quake and tsunami.

Smoke rising from the spent fuel storage pool of the plant's Unit 3 prompted the evacuation, Tokyo Electric Power Co. spokesman Hiroshi Aizawa said. The problem-plagued Unit 3 also alarmed plant officials over the weekend with a sudden surge of pressure in its reactor core.

Japanese officials had reported some progress over the weekend in their battle to bring the radiation-leaking Fukushima Dai-ichi plant under control after it was damaged during the massive March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated northeast Japan. But the crisis was far from over, with the discovery of more radiation-tainted vegetables and tap water adding to public fears about contaminated food and drink.

The toll of Japan's triple disaster came into clearer focus Monday after police estimates showed more than 18,000 people died in the quake and tsunami, and the World Bank said rebuilding may cost $235 billion.

The safety of food and water was of particular concern. The government halted shipments of spinach from one area and raw milk from another near the nuclear plant after tests found iodine exceeded safety limits. But the contamination spread to spinach in three other prefectures and to more vegetables -- canola and chrysanthemum greens. Tokyo's tap water, where iodine turned up Friday, now has cesium. Rain and dust are also tainted.

Early Monday, the Health Ministry advised Iitate, a village of 6,000 people about 30 kilometers (19 miles) northwest of the Fukushima plant, not to drink tap water due to elevated levels of iodine. Ministry spokesman Takayuki Matsuda said iodine three times the normal level was detected there -- about one twenty-sixth of the level of a chest X-ray in one liter of water.

In all cases, the government said the radiation levels were too small to pose an immediate health risk.

But Tsugumi Hasegawa was skeptical as she cared for her 4-year-old daughter at a shelter in a gymnasium crammed with 1,400 people about 80 kilometers (50 miles) from the plant.

"I still have no idea what the numbers they are giving about radiation levels mean. It's all so confusing," said Hasegawa, 29, from the small town of Futuba in the shadow of the nuclear complex. "And I wonder if they aren't playing down the dangers to keep us from panicking. I don't know who to trust."

The World Bank said in report Monday that Japan may need five years to rebuild from the catastrophic disasters, which caused up to $235 billion in damage, saying the cost to private insurers will be up to $33 billion and that the government will spend $12 billion on reconstruction in the current national budget and much more later.

All six of the nuclear complex's reactor units saw trouble after the disasters knocked out cooling systems. In a small advance, the plant's operator declared Units 5 and 6 -- the least troublesome -- under control after their nuclear fuel storage pools cooled to safe levels. Progress was made to reconnect two other units to the electric grid and in pumping seawater to cool another reactor and replenish it and a sixth reactor's storage pools.

But the buildup in pressure inside the vessel holding Unit 3's reactor presented some danger, forcing officials to consider venting. The tactic produced explosions of radioactive gas during the early days of the crisis.

"Even if certain things go smoothly, there would be twists and turns," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano told reporters. "At the moment, we are not so optimistic that there will be a breakthrough."

Growing concerns about radiation add to the overwhelming chain of disasters Japan has struggled with since the 9.0-magnitude quake. The resulting tsunami ravaged the northeastern coast. All told, police estimates show more than about 18,400 died. More than 15,000 deaths are likely in Miyagi, the prefecture that took the full impact of the wave, said a police spokesman.

"It is very distressing as we recover more bodies day by days," said Hitoshi Sugawara, the spokesman.

Police in other parts of the disaster area declined to provide estimates, but confirmed about 3,400 deaths. Nationwide, official figures show the disasters killing more than 8,600 people, and leaving more than 13,200 people missing, but those two lists may have some overlap.

The disasters have displaced another 452,000, who are living in shelters.

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State Dept. Offers Radiation Antidote

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State Dept. Offers Radiation Antidote to Workers

By Staff, Associated Press

Washington (AP) - The State Department is offering potassium iodide to its staff in Japan as a precaution against a possible radiation release from the tsunami ravaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

In a travel warning released early Monday, the State Department advises its employees to refrain from taking the compound at this time. The government says it is making potassium iodide available "out of an abundance of caution" to its personnel and family members, and the compound should only be consumed after specific instruction from the U.S. government.

Operators evacuated workers from Japan's tsunami-damaged nuclear plant Monday after gray smoke rose from the plant's reactor Unit 3.  The smoke raises concerns about the water level in the pool needed to keep the fuel from overheating and releasing even greater amounts of radiation.

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Power restoration delayed at Fukushima

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Power restoration delayed at Fukushima nuke plant

Work to restore power and recover the cooling systems at the stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was suspended on Monday after smoke rose from the damaged reactors. Grayish smoke continued billowing from the plant's No.3 reactor building for more than 2 hours on Monday afternoon. What looked like steam later rose out of the No.2 reactor building. The developments prompted the Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, to order all personnel indoors, leading to a suspension of work to restore power to reactors No.1 to No.4. Radiation levels rose near the plant's front gate, about 1 kilometer west of the reactors. The radiation readings surged to 1,932 microsieverts per hour as of 6:30 PM Monday, compared to 494 microsieverts 50 minutes earlier. TEPCO now says restoring power to the No.2 reactor's central control room will be delayed until Tuesday at the earliest. Water-spraying operations were also called off, even though the utility had been preparing a new high-capacity vehicle to help douse the reactors. TEPCO says radiation levels began declining within the compound at around 8PM on Monday. As of 5 AM Tuesday, the levels stood at 273.9 microsieverts per hour. The government's nuclear safety agency says the brief spike in radiation was most likely caused by easterly winds, and that conditions appear to be stabilizing. Read more at www3.nhk.or.jp

 

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Radioactive substance found in sea water

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Radioactive substances found in sea water

Radioactive substances have been detected in sea water samples taken near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Tokyo Electric Power Company checked the amount in a bucket of water that was taken from an area 100 meters south of the plant water outlet on Monday afternoon. It said the water contained higher levels of radioactive materials. Iodine 131 was 126.7 times higher than the legal level, cesium 134 was 24.8 higher, and cesium 137 was 16.5 times higher. Cobalt 58 was below the legal limit. The electric company said it only conducted the test once and cannot tell the effects on marine life and sea water in the area. The company said it will carry out more tests in wider areas. Read more at www3.nhk.or.jp

 

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Disaster briefings for foreign media

Govt begins disaster briefings for foreign media

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Govt begins disaster briefings for foreign media

The Japanese government has begun daily briefings for foreign media on the situation at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant and quake-relief efforts. The move comes in response to rising concerns overseas about radioactive leakage from the troubled nuclear plant. The first such briefings for reporters from overseas were held at the prime minister's official residence on Monday. Speaking through a translator, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Tetsuro Fukuyama and nuclear safety agency officials explained the efforts to bring the damaged nuclear plant under control. They also spoke about radiation levels in various locations. Questions asked by the overseas reporters covered how the disaster has affected the Japanese economy and what impact it will have on the country's future nuclear policy. A US journalist welcomed the Japanese government's decision to share more information, but stressed the need for quick updates on radiation levels to respond to high global concerns. Read more at www3.nhk.or.jp

 

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Higher radiation maybe related to smoke

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Govt: Higher radiation may related to smoke

Japan's nuclear safety agency says white smoke from the No. 2 reactor of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant is likely to have caused short-term radiation levels to spike. The smoke was seen rising from the roof of the troubled reactor on Monday evening, forcing workers at 4 damaged reactors to temporarily evacuate. Tokyo Electric Power Company said radiation about one kilometer west of the No.2 reactor jumped to 1,932 microsieverts per hour at 6:30PM. The figure was 494 microsievertes 50 minutes earlier. But it says the reading fell back to 380 microsieverts 3 and a half hours later. The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said the smoke could be steam from the spent fuel rod pool and that some spent rods may be broken, causing radioactive substances to leak into the pool. The agency said the wind was blowing westward when the higher level was detected. Read more at www3.nhk.or.jp

 

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Ban: Situation at plant remains serious

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Ban: situation at nuclear plant remains serious

UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon says the situation at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant remains very serious. Ban told reporters in Cairo on Monday that the damaged nuclear plant presents a strong warning to the global community. He said he still believes that nuclear power is the cleanest energy. But he called for countries to review and enhance safety standards at their nuclear plants. He said that he's in close contact with Prime Minister Naoto Kan and International Atomic Energy Agency head Yukiya Amano, and is receiving constant updates on the Fukushima plant. Ban said he is certain the Japanese people will swiftly reconstruct the disaster-stricken areas. Read more at www3.nhk.or.jp

 

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5 radioactive materials detected

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5 radioactive materials detected

Tokyo Electric Power Company says some of the nuclear fuel at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has apparently been damaged, as higher levels of radioactive materials have been detected in the vicinity. The utility on Monday released the results of a radiation survey carried out at the plant on Saturday. Officials detected in the air 5 radioactive materials that are generated by nuclear fission. The level of iodine 131 was 5.9 milibecquerels per cubic centimeter. That's about 6 times the permissible level for workers without protective masks. The density of the other substances was also higher than usual, but within safety standards. The utility says the radiation is likely to have come from the damaged reactors, and added that it will check radiation levels daily. The company also says it has no plan to halt efforts to restore power and pour water into reactors, as these activities pose no risk to workers as long as they wear protective masks. Read more at www3.nhk.or.jp

 

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