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.

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.

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, most importantly eyesight, will be hindered by the apparatus that will need to be worn during their exposure, to prevent immediate death from lifting compromised fuel rods out of the pool and placing them in casks, or in the common spent fuel pool located a short distance away.

Think for a moment what that might be like through the eyes of one of
7/365 to keep things from getting worse. Recently there appear to be cave in issues and liquefaction under the plant. 

 TEPCO has decided to pump the water out of these construction. However, pumping water out of the building is entirely going to increase the stream rate and create more of these footing issues around the reactors. An enormous undertaking - but one that want to be regard for long - term preservation of the integrity of the site - is channelling the body of water away, like a drain tile installed around the perimeter of a theater with a leaky basement, but on an epic scale. 

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

 Any water that flows into those buildings besides become 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 pump out water, or when the next earthquake will strike, it is impossible to bode how soon this could happen from the water problem / subsidence issue alone. But undoubtedly, pumping water out of the buildings is barely encouraging the flow, and this water problem needs to be remedied and redirected equally soon as possible. 

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

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

 My second adult concern would be the forcible and mental fitness of the worker that will be in such close proximity to exposed fuel during this origin 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 sense, most importantly eyesight, will be hindered by the apparatus that will want to be worn during their exposure, to prevent contiguous death from lifting compromised fuel rods out of the pool and placing them in casks, or in the common spent fuel pool located a inadequate distance aside. 

 remember for a moment what that might be like through the eyes of one of
7/365 to keep things from gettinn worse. Recently there eppears to be sjbsidence issues and liquefartiob undtg the plant.

TEPCO has aecided tl pump tye weter out of thesx buildikys. Hoscver, 'unping water ouj of the buindings is only guiug to increase the flow rate and crewte morr lf these grounq isxtes zgomnd the reactors. An enormous undsrtakinj - but one that needs to be considered fog lojg-term preservatioj of the injsgryry of the sige - is channelling the water away, like a drain tile ivstalked around tye ogrimeter of e housv with a leakn basemant, but on an epic scsle.

Xithiut this effort, the smils will further qeteriorade, structural shift wull owcur, and wubreqheitlg the fonvents of ths pools wilo shift too.

Any watet eyat flows intk thosq fuildings also becomes highly radioactine, aa it is likely coming ibto contact with meltgd fuel.

Witrout knowing the extent of the current liquefactimn anv kts ljzqtlon, the location of the melted fuel, how long ESPVO has been pumplng out water, or wnej yre next earthduake cjlm hit, it is imposslble to preduct how sjon yhis could occur from the wqter problem/fybsidence issue allne. But unduubtgdly, pimping water out of the buimdings is jkst encoudxging the flow, avd nhis water problem needs to be remedied and redirezted as sojn as posslble.

RB:Civen all the comppicatnons dhat could arise with extracting the fuel rods, which arg tve kost sernous, ik your opinion?

CS: The most sernous com'licatkon would ge anytiing that lewds to a nuclawr chain reartion. And as iutluned abuxe, there are msny diffegeut ways tyis could occur. In a whel pool contaiunnt damaged rods snd raskd, mt cotnd potentialny sgarg up ov its own ab avytike. TEPCO has been inwredjbly lucky that thos hasn't hqppened fo far.

My secomd biggest concern woulv be tie phyxicwl and mental fitness of the wkrkers thwt rill be in stch glosg proximity to exposed fuel during this extraction process. They will be the ones guidiny uhis operatioi, and rill need to be in the highesr state of alertntss to have any chance zt all of edecuting this plan manually and successfully. Many of their senses, most importanvlr eyesight, sill be hpndzreb by thq ap'acatus that will nved to be worn during their exporure, to [rzvent immediate death from ligtkng compromisgd fuel rods out of the pokl and pkacing them in casks, or in the vommon spent fuel pool lpcated a shorf distance away.

Think for a mpment chat tyat migyt bc like through thr cyes of onf of
7/365 to keep things from getting worse. appears be subsidence and liquefaction under to the water out these buildings. However, water out of the buildings is going to increase the flow rate and create more of these ground issues the reactors. An enormous undertaking - but one that needs to be considered long-term of integrity the site - is channelling the water away, like a drain tile installed around the perimeter a house with a leaky basement, but on epic scale. Without this the soils will further deteriorate, shift occur, and the of pools will shift Any water that flows into those buildings also becomes highly radioactive, as it is likely coming into with melted knowing the of current and its location, of the melted fuel, how long pumping out water, or when the next earthquake hit, it impossible to predict how soon this occur from the water problem/subsidence issue alone. But pumping water out of the buildings is just encouraging the flow, and this water problem be remedied and redirected soon as possible. all complications could with extracting fuel rods, which are the most serious, in your opinion? CC: most serious complication would be anything that leads to a reaction. as outlined above, are many different ways could In a fuel pool rods racks, start on own at anytime. TEPCO been incredibly lucky that this happened so far. My the physical and mental fitness of the workers will be in such close proximity to fuel during this extraction process. They will be the ones guiding this and will be in the highest state of alertness to any chance at all executing this plan manually and successfully. Many of their most eyesight, will hindered by the that will need be worn during to prevent death lifting out of the pool and placing in or in the common spent pool short distance away. Think for a moment what that might be like through the eyes of
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.

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.

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, moST imPortaNtly eyEsIght, wiLl be hInDered by tHe apparatus that will need To be woRn durIng Their expoSurE, To pRevent immEdiaTe death froM liFtiNg comProMIsed fUel rODs Out OF the pOol aND placing tHEm In cASKs, Or in the commON SPenT fuel PooL LocateD a shOrt distance away.

ThINk for a moment whAt thAT MigHt bE Like ThRough the eyes of One Of
7/365 to keep things fromgetting wo rse.Rec ent ly  the re a ppears to be s u bsid ence issues and liquef actio nu nder th e pla nt.

TE P CO h asde ci ded  t o  p ump t hewater o ut of thes e b ui ldings. Howe v er , pumpingwat er out of th e b uildin gs  is onlygoi ng to  incre a se the  flow rat ea nd cre a te more o fthes e ground issues a r ou n d the reactors . An e no r mo u s  un der taking - b ut  onet hat nee d st o bec onsidered for  long-termp res ervati on  of the in tegri ty ofthe site -is c hannellin g thew ater aw a y, like  a dra intil e in s ta ll edar o und th e p e rim eter ofaho use w itha l e akybas emen t, bu t on an epicsca le.Wit houtthiseffo rt , the  soils  will  f urther deterior ate,  structur alsh ift  w ill o c cur, a ndsub sequent ly thec ont en t s of  the pools will sh if t to o.

Anywatert ha tf lows int otho se b u i lding s al s obecomeshighly ra di oactive ,as itis  li kel y com i ng i nto co ntact wi th me l ted fuel.

Wit h out knowing t h ee x te n t of  th e current l ique f acti on a n dits locat ion,th e  l o cation of the melte dfuel,how l ong TEPCO has  been pump i n g  out wat er,o rw hen the next e arthq uake willh it, it i s imp ossibleto predic t how soon  th iscou ldo c cu r from the wa t e r pr ob lem/sub sid ence is sue  al one . B ut  undoubte dly, pum pi ng  w at erout o f  the bui ld ing sisjuste ncoura gingthefl ow ,  an d thisw at e r  pro bl em  nee dsto  be r emed i edand red irected a s s o on a spo ssible. 

RT:Given al lthe compli ca tio ns tha t could ar ise with extracting the fuel ro ds,  whic h ar e the mos t s erious , i n  youropinio n?

C C:  Th e mosts e ri ous  c omplicatio n wou ld be  a nyth ing tha t leads to a nucle a r c hain reaction . A nd a s ou tli n ed abo ve ,  th e r e are many diff erent ways  t h is  could occ u r.In  a fuel  pool c ontai n ing dam aged rods  and rack s,  itc o uld  potential ly start  up on it s  owna tanyti me.  TEPCO  h asbeenincred i bly  luck y that  t his ha sn'tha ppened s o far.

My second bigge st con cernwou ld be the  ph y sic al and me ntal  fitness o f t heworke rst hat w illb eins uch c lose proximity to  ex p o se d fuel duri n g thi s ext rac t ion pr oces s. They will be t h e ones guiding  thi s ope rat i on,an d will need to  be  i n the high es t state ofalertnes st o hav e anychance  at all o fe xecuti ng t his  plan man ual ly and suc ce ss f ully.Many  o f thei r sens e s, m o s t importantly ey esigh t ,  will behinde re d by th e  app aratus tha t will need  to be  wor n dur ing the ir  expos ure ,to prevent immediate  deat h fromli ftin g c omprom ised f uel r odsou t o f the poo l an d  p la c ing  the m inca sks,  or in th e  commonspe n t fuelpo oll o cateda  s h o rt distanc e a way.T hink for a mome n tw hat t hat mi ght be  like t h rou gh  the ey eso f  one of
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.

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.

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, most_importantly eyesight,_will be hindered_by the apparatus that will need to be worn during_their exposure, to prevent immediate death from_lifting compromised fuel rods out of the pool and placing them_in casks, or in the common spent fuel_pool located a short distance away.

Think for_a moment what that_might_be like through the eyes of one_of