Japan : The IAEA conducted its 2nd review of safety aspects of the handling of ALPS treated water at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) delegation visited Japan to conduct a review of the safety aspects of the handling of ALPS treated water at TEPCOs Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) from November 14 to 18.

From November 14 to 18, seven IAEA officials including Mr. Gustavo Caruso, Director and Coordinator for the Fukushima ALPS project, in the department of Nuclear Safety and Security of the IAEA and nine international experts (from Argentina, China, France, Republic of Korea, Marshal Island, Russia, United Kingdom, United States and Vietnam), visited Japan as part of an ongoing review of safety aspects of the handling of ALPS treated water at TEPCOs FDNPS.

This is the second review mission of safety aspects conducted based on the Terms of Reference (TOR) on a comprehensive framework for a review of the handling of ALPS treated water signed in July 2021 with the IAEA. The first mission was conducted from February 14 to 18 this year.

During the IAEA officials and international experts assessed and reviewed the safety of the discharge ALPS treated water into the sea based on IAEA international safety standards. The summary of the meeting and the site visit to TEPCOs FDNPS is as follows.

1. Meeting with METI and TEPCO

The following eight items were reviewed. These items were also discussed in the first review mission.

Crosscutting Requirements and Recommendations

Characterization of discharge and source term

Safety Related Aspects of Systems and Processes for Controlling Discharges

Radiological Environmental Impact Assessment

Regulatory Control and Authorization of Discharges

Source and Environmental Monitoring Programmes

Involvement of Interested Parties

Occupational Radiation Protection

In particular, the delegation reviewed technical aspects related to the contents of "Application Documents for Approval to amend the Implementation Plan for Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Specified Nuclear Facility" and revised Radiological Environment Impact Assessment (REIA) Report submitted by TEPCO to the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) on November 14 of this year based on the IAEA safety standards. These documents include changes to the organizational structure for managing the discharge and improvements in the radionuclides to be measured in the treated water.

The points raised by the IAEA review as well as its observations provided in other meetings will be reflected in TEPCO's review of the REIA Report to further enhance its contents.

The report of the review mission is expected to be issued by the IAEA at the beginning of 2023.

. Site visit to the FDNPS

On November 16, Mr. Caruso, other IAEA officials and international experts visited the TEPCOs FDNPS to conduct on-site review of the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) which is a group of tanks used for measurement and confirmation of the concentration of radioactive materials contained in the treated water before dilution and discharge, and the progress of the construction work in the harbor area where for facilities for dilution and discharge of the treated water are to be installed, all of which are subject to the review.