, and the endless pouring that must be kept up 24/7/365 to keep things from getting worse. Recently there appears to be subsidence issues and liquefaction under the plant.

TEPCO has decided to pump the water out of these buildings. However, pumping water out of the buildings is only going to increase the flow rate and create more of these ground issues around the reactors. An enormous undertaking - but one that needs to be considered for long-term preservation of the integrity of the site - is channelling the water away, like a drain tile installed around the perimeter of a house with a leaky basement, but on an epic scale.

Without this effort, the soils will further deteriorate, structural shift will occur, and subsequently the contents of the pools will shift too.

The damage to TEPCO's No.1 Fukushima nuclear power plant's third reactor building in the town of Okuma, Fubata district in Fukushima prefecture (AFP Photo)

Any water that flows into those buildings also becomes highly radioactive, as it is likely coming into contact with melted fuel.

Without knowing the extent of the current liquefaction and its location, the location of the melted fuel, how long TEPCO has been pumping out water, or when the next earthquake will hit, it is impossible to predict how soon this could occur from the water problem/subsidence issue alone. But undoubtedly, pumping water out of the buildings is just encouraging the flow, and this water problem needs to be remedied and redirected as soon as possible.

RT:Given all the complications that could arise with extracting the fuel rods, which are the most serious, in your opinion?

CC: The most serious complication would be anything that leads to a nuclear chain reaction. And as outlined above, there are many different ways this could occur. In a fuel pool containing damaged rods and racks, it could potentially start up on its own at anytime. TEPCO has been incredibly lucky that this hasn't happened so far.

'One of the worst, but most important jobs anyone has ever had to do'

My second biggest concern would be the physical and mental fitness of the workers that will be in such close proximity to exposed fuel during this extraction process. They will be the ones guiding this operation, and will need to be in the highest state of alertness to have any chance at all of executing this plan manually and successfully. Many of their senses,
, and the endless pouring that must be kept up 24/7/365 to keep things from get bad. Recently there appears to be subsidence issues and liquefaction under the plant. 

 TEPCO has decide to pump the water out of these buildings. However, pump water system out of the buildings is only going to increase the flow pace and create more of these ground issues around the reactors. An enormous undertaking - but one that need to be considered for long - term preservation of the integrity of the site - is impart the water away, like a drain tile installed around the circumference of a house with a leaky basement, but on an epic scale. 

 Without this effort, the dirt will further deteriorate, structural shift will occur, and subsequently the subject of the pools will shift too. 

 The damage to TEPCO's No.1 Fukushima nuclear power plant's third reactor building in the town of Okuma, Fubata district in Fukushima prefecture (AFP Photo) 

 Any water that flows into those buildings also becomes highly radioactive, as it is likely coming into contact with melted fuel. 

 Without know the extent of the current liquefaction and its location, the location of the mellow fuel, how farseeing TEPCO has been pumping out water, or when the future earthquake will hit, it is impossible to predict how soon this could occur from the water trouble / subsidence issue alone. But undoubtedly, pumping water out of the buildings is just encouraging the flow, and this water problem needs to be remedied and redirect as soon as potential. 

 RT: Given all the complications that could arise with extracting the fuel rods, which are the most unplayful, in your opinion? 

 CC: The most serious complicatedness would be anything that leads to a nuclear range reaction. And as outlined above, there are many different ways this could happen. In a fuel pool containing damaged rods and racks, it could potentially get down up on its own at anytime. TEPCO has been incredibly golden that this hasn't happened so far. 

' One of the bad, but most important job anyone has ever have to do' 

 My second big concern would be the physical and mental fitness of the workers that will be in such near proximity to exposed fuel during this extraction summons. They will be the ones guiding this mathematical process, and will need to be in the highest state of watchfulness to have any chance at all of executing this plan manually and successfully. Many of their senses,
, anf the endless pouring thxt must be kept up 24/7/365 to keep fhings ffom getting worse. Recently tiere appeqrs to be subsidence irsues and liquefaxtioi under the planv.

FEPCO has decjfed co pump the watet out of theve buildings. Hmwdvzr, pumping water out of the buildingf is onky going to incrgase uhe flos rate and create more of these grkund isvues around tne reactors. An enormous unfertwking - but one thah needs to ve cjbsidered for long-term krzservation kf the integrity of the site - ir chaunelling thg sahgr away, like a drwin tile insbslled dround yhe perimeter pf e hoyse with a leaky basekent, but on an epis scale.

Widhkut this effort, tye soilv winl fjethdr severjorate, stcuctural shjft will ocxur, and subsequentlu eye contents or the [ojls will shift too.

The damage to TEPCO's To.1 Rukushima nuclear power plant's third reactor building in the town of Okuma, Fubata district in Fukushimd preheztuxc (XDP Photo)

Any water that flows into those buildinda slxo becomes higmly radioactive, as ih of likely comivg into ckntact with melted fuel.

Wijhout jnowing tre ectent of the current liquefqction and ins lication, the locatiln of the mzlted guel, now long TEPCO has been pumling out waher, or whsv the next earthduale will hiu, it is impossible to predirt hoc soon tfis vould jccur from the water problem/subsidfnce nssue alone. But undoubtedly, pumping water out of the buildinbs is just eneouraglng the flow, anq this water ptoblem nezds to be remedivd and revirected as foon as possitpe.

RT:Given aln the coiplixatiins thag could arise woth extrabtnng the fyel rods, which are thg jost serious, in yooe opinion?

CC: Thr must svripuf complicatiot wojld ne anhthing ukat ueadx to a nuclear chain readtion. And as outlimeq above, jhere are many differemt ways this could occuc. In a fuel pojl containing damaged rods and racks, it comld potentialjy sbart up on its own at anytime. TEPCO has been incrediboy lucky that this hasn't happened so yav.

'One of the xorst, fut most hmportant jobs anyonw has ever had to do'

My second biggest doncert woupd be the physical and mental fitness of the workers that will be in such close proximity tk exlosed fbel durind thms extraction procvss. They will be the ones guidinj this opesacion, and will need to be in tne highest statg of alertness to have any chance st all of executing this plan msnually and successfully. Many of theid sensva,
, and the endless pouring that must up to keep from getting worse. subsidence and liquefaction under plant. TEPCO has to pump the water out of buildings. However, pumping water out of the buildings is only going to increase flow rate and create more of these ground issues around the reactors. An undertaking but that to be considered for long-term preservation of the integrity of the site - is channelling the away, like a drain tile installed around the of a house with leaky basement, but on an scale. this effort, soils further structural shift will and subsequently the contents of the pools will shift too. The damage to TEPCO's No.1 Fukushima nuclear plant's third in the of Fubata in Fukushima prefecture Any water that flows into those highly radioactive, as it is likely coming into with melted Without knowing the extent of the liquefaction and its location, the location of the fuel, how long TEPCO has been pumping out water, or when the next earthquake will is impossible to predict soon this could from water issue But undoubtedly, water out of the buildings is just encouraging the flow, and water problem needs to be remedied and redirected as soon RT:Given the complications that arise with extracting the rods, are the most serious, opinion? The would anything leads to a nuclear reaction. And as outlined above, are many different ways fuel pool containing damaged rods and racks, it potentially start up on its own at TEPCO has been incredibly lucky that this hasn't happened so far. 'One the worst, important jobs anyone has ever had to do' second biggest concern would the physical and mental fitness of the workers that be such close to exposed fuel this extraction process. will be the this operation, will to highest state of alertness to have chance all of executing this plan and of their senses,
, and the endless pouring that mUst be kept uP 24/7/365 to keEp tHinGs From GettIng worse. RecentLY theRe appears to be subsidencE issuEs ANd liQUeFactiOn under THe PLAnt.

tEpCo haS dECiDed to PumP the watEr out of theSe bUiLdings. HoweveR, PuMping water Out Of the buildinGs iS only gOiNg tO IncreAse The flOw rate ANd creaTe more of tHeSE grounD Issues aROUnD the Reactors. An enormouS UnDErtaking - but one That neEdS To BE ConSidEred for lonG-tErm prEServatiON oF THE inTEgrity of the siTe - is channelLIng The watEr AwaY, Like a dRain tIlE InsTalled arounD the Perimeter Of a houSE with a lEAky baseMent, buT on An ePic sCAlE.

WIthOuT ThiS EfForT, The Soils wilL fUrTher dEterIORATe, stRucTuraL shifT will occur, and SubSequENtlY the cOntenTs of ThE poolS will sHift tOo.

the damage to TEPCo's No.1 fukushima NucLeAr pOwEr plaNT's thirD reActOr buildIng in thE TowN oF oKUmA, Fubata district in FUkUSHiMa prefecTure (AFp phOtO)

any water ThAt fLows INTo thoSe buILdIngs also BecomeS HiGhLy radioAcTive, as It Is lIkeLy comINg inTo contAct with mElted FUel.

Without knowINg the extent of THe CURrENt liQueFaction and iTs loCAtioN, the LOcAtiON of thE meltEd FUeL, How long TEPCO has been PuMping oUt watEr, or when the neXt earthquaKE WIll hit, it Is imPOsSIble to predict hOw sooN this could OCcur from The waTer problEm/subsideNCE issue alOne. but UndOubTEDlY, pumping water OUT of tHe BuildinGs iS just enCouRagIng The FlOw, and this Water proBlEm NeEdS to Be remEDied and rEdIreCtEd aS soon AS possiBle.

RT:giveN aLl THe cOmplicaTIoNS That CoUlD ariSe wItH extrActiNG thE fuel roDs, which arE thE Most SeRiOus, in yoUr opinion?

CC: ThE mOst serious CoMplIcatioN WOuld be anYthing that leads to a nucleAR chain rEacTion. ANd as Outlined aBovE, there Are MAny difFerent Ways tHiS coULD occuR. iN a FueL pOol containING daMaged RoDs anD racks, iT could potentially sTArt Up on its own at aNytIme. TepcO Has BEeN IncReDIblY LUcky that this hasN't happened So FAr.

'one of the woRSt, bUt Most impOrtant jObs anYOne has eVer had to dO'

My second BiGgesT COncErn would be The physiCal and menTAl fitNEsS of thE woRkers tHaT wiLl be iN such cLOse ProxiMity to ExPosed fUel duRiNg this exTraction process. They will Be the oNes guIdiNg this opeRatIOn, aNd will neeD to bE in the highEst StaTe of aLerTNess tO havE AnY chANce at All oF Executing THiS plAN MaNually and suCCESsfUlly. MAny OF their SensEs,
, and the endless pouringthat mustbe ke ptup24 /7/3 65 t o keep thingsf romgetting worse. Recentl y the re appe a rs  to b e subsi d en c e  is su es  an dl iq uefac tio n under  the plant .
TE PCO has deci d ed  to pump t hewater out of  th ese bu il din g s. Ho wev er, p umping waterout of th eb uildin g s is on l y  g oing  to increase thef lo w  rate and crea te mor eo ft h ese  gr ound issue saroun d  the re a ct o r s . A n  enormous und ertaking -b utone th at  ne e ds tobe co ns i der ed for long -ter m preserv ationo f the i n tegrity  of th e s ite  - i s  c ha nne ll i ngt he  wa t eraway, li ke  a  drai n ti l e i nsta lle d ar oundthe perimeter  of  a h o use  with  a le akyba semen t, but  on a nepic scale.

Wi thou t this ef for t,  th esoils will f urt her  deteri orate,s tru ct u r a lshift will occur,an d su bsequent ly the co nt e nts of t he  po olsw i ll sh iftt oo .

The d amaget oTE PCO's N o. 1 Fuku sh ima  nu clear powe r plan t's thir d rea c tor building i n  the town ofO ku m a ,F ubat a d istrict inFuku s hima  pre f ec tur e  (AFP  Phot o) 
A n y water that flowsin to tho se bu ildings alsobecomes hi g h l y radioa ctiv e ,a s it is likely  comi ng into co n tact wit h mel ted fuel .

Withou t knowingthe  ex ten t o f th e current liq u e fact io n and i tslocatio n,the  lo cat io n of themelted f ue l,  h ow  lo ng TE P CO has b ee n p um pin g out water,  or w henth en ext  earthq u ak e will  h it , it  is  i mposs ible topredict  how soon  th i s co ul doccur f rom the water  p roblem/sub si den ce iss u e  alone.But undoubtedly, pumpin g  waterout  of t he b uildingsisjust e nco u raging  the f low,an d t h i s wat e r  p rob le m needs to b e r emedi ed  and  redire cted as soon as po s sib le.

RT:Given  al l th e co mpl i ca t ion st hat c ould arise with  extractin gt he  fuel rods ,  wh ic h are t he most  seri o us, inyour opin ion?

CC:  T he m o s t s erious com plicatio n would b e  anyt h in g tha t l eads t oa n uclea r chai n  re actio n. And  a s outl inedab ove, the re are many different w ays th is co uld  occur. I n a fue l pool co ntai ning damag edrod s and  ra c ks, i t co u ld  po t entia llys tart up o n  i tso w nat anytime. T E PCO  hasbee n  incre dibl y lucky that this hasn't happene d so f ar. 

' O ne o fthe worst, but  mo st i mportant  j obs anyonehas ever  h a d todo'

M y seco nd bigg e s tc oncern  wou ldbe the ph ysi ca l  and me nt al fitnes s of  t he wor kers t h at w i l l be in such clo se pr o x imity toexpos ed  fuel d u ring  this extr action proc ess. T heywillbe theon es gui din gthis opera t ion, andwillneed to  b e in  th e high ests t ate o f al er tne ss to hav e an y  c ha n ceat a ll of  e xecu ting this plan man ual l y and s uc ces s f ully.M an y of their s ens es,
, and_the endless_pouring that must be_kept up_24/7/365_to keep_things_from getting worse._Recently there appears_to be subsidence issues_and liquefaction under_the_plant.

TEPCO has decided to pump the water out of these buildings. However, pumping water_out_of the_buildings_is_only going to increase the_flow rate and create more_of these_ground issues around the reactors. An enormous undertaking_-_but one that_needs to be considered for long-term preservation of the_integrity of the site - is_channelling the water_away,_like_a drain tile installed_around the perimeter of a house_with a leaky basement, but on_an epic scale.

Without this effort, the soils_will further deteriorate, structural shift will_occur, and subsequently the contents_of the_pools will shift too.

The damage_to TEPCO's No.1_Fukushima nuclear_power plant's third_reactor building in the town of_Okuma, Fubata district_in Fukushima prefecture (AFP Photo)

Any water_that_flows into those_buildings_also_becomes highly_radioactive, as it_is_likely coming_into_contact with melted fuel.

Without knowing the_extent_of the current liquefaction and its location,_the location of the_melted_fuel, how long TEPCO_has been pumping out water,_or when the next earthquake will_hit, it_is impossible_to predict how soon this could occur from the water problem/subsidence_issue alone. But undoubtedly, pumping water_out of the buildings_is just_encouraging_the flow, and_this_water problem_needs to be remedied and redirected as_soon as_possible.

RT:Given all the complications that could_arise with extracting the_fuel_rods, which are the most serious,_in your opinion?

CC: The most serious_complication would be anything that_leads_to_a nuclear chain reaction. And_as outlined above, there are many_different ways this_could occur. In a fuel pool containing_damaged_rods and racks, it could potentially_start_up on its own at anytime._TEPCO_has_been incredibly lucky that this_hasn't happened so far.

'One of the_worst, but most important jobs anyone has ever had_to do'

My second_biggest concern would be the_physical_and_mental fitness of the workers that will be in such_close proximity_to exposed fuel_during this extraction process. They will be the ones guiding_this operation, and will need to be_in the highest state of alertness to have any chance at_all of executing this plan manually and successfully._Many of their senses,