Nuclear power safety in question (again)

Nobody likes to hear the words "nuclear power plant accident" and "cover-up" in the same sentence, especially when it turns out that a critical condition lasted for 15 minutes, and the reactor was effectively uncontrollable for the entire time.

It was revealed yesterday that the private company managed to hide what happened in 1999 at the Hokurikuden nuclear power plant in Shikamachi, Ishikawa Prefecture.

Asahi notes that officials of the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry described the incident as "extremely grave."

Yomiuri: Hokurikuden hid accident at N-plant

Hitoshi Fujisawa, who is community safety section chief at the town government office (yes, they do have such people working hard to make all of us feel safe, I suppose) was upset:

"I was shocked to hear the news," Fujisawa said. "It's an accident that never should have happened. I'd like to hear the explanation again with the deputy mayor and decide what the town should do on the issue."

Kenichi Doshita, 52, who represents a group of plaintiffs in a lawsuit demanding the Shika nuclear power plant No. 2 be shut down, said: "It's outrageous that the company hid a potentially lethal accident, and it's only natural for citizens to think the company is hiding something more. We're now more distrustful. We don't believe the company when it says it will disclose information."

Yomiuri: Local govts angered by cover-up

Comments

Pandabonium said…
And some think only "diamonds" are forever....
5:56 pm, March 17, 2007
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