Arab News Japan

TOKYO: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has published its third Review of Safety Related Aspects of Handling ALPS Treated Water at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station and says it will closely monitor Japan’s actions.

The third report describes IAEA’s planned activities for the analysis and data corroboration of source monitoring of the ALPS treated water, environmental monitoring, and occupational radiation protection for workers at the Fukushima power station. 

The IAEA says the government of Japan “remains committed to making efforts to promote better understanding in the international community regarding the handling of ALPS treated water” and will continue to provide necessary information to the IAEA.

The first report, published on April 29th, 2022, described the details of IAEA’s review mission to METI and TEPCO conducted in February, related to eight different technical areas, including the characterization of discharge, the safety-related aspects for controlling discharges, and the radiological environmental impact assessment. 

The second report, published on June 16th, 2022, described the details of IAEA’s review mission to the Nuclear Regulation Authority conducted in April, related to five technical topics, including the responsibilities and functions of the government, major principles and safety objectives, and authorization process. 

ALPS treated water is water that is modified by an Advanced Liquid Processing System to ensure that the concentration of the radioactive materials other than tritium meet the regulatory standards for safety. 

It is planned that ALPS treated water will be sufficiently diluted before being discharged into the sea so that concentration of all radioactive materials, including tritium, will be far below the regulatory standards for safety.