NISA briefing - Fukushima Daiichi

NISA kept pushing the morning briefing later but it finally went off at 10:30 local. Here are the highlights:

No. 6 plant is still on the diesel. No. 5 is on the grid; TEPCO and NISA want No. 5 on the grid today if possible and work is underway.

Work restarted at 7 AM local to get the AC power to No. 3 and No. 4.

Work restarted at 8 AM local to get the AC power to No. 2 and No. 1. No. 2 is still the priority.

No explanation for the smoke from No. 3 was given, although it is noted that at present the emission from this plant is white.

Spent fuel pools: Before noon local the assessment will be made as to whether or not Tokyo firefighters can spray No. 3 for about an hour, and also another decision will be made as to whether the concrete truck with 50 foot boom can be used on No. 4 or if the water cannon will have to be used.

The latest release of the charts detailing radiation levels and samples show no significant changes.

NISA views the detections of fission products in the seawater (Cobalt, Iodine-131, Cesium-134 and 137) as probably safe although the government is reviewing the details; it notes the sample was taken only at one point, and since the public is at least 20 km from the plant this in itself should pose no immediate health threat.

SO THEN, that's all that spokesman Hidehiko Nishiyama of NISA had in his prepared remarks. We expect a briefing by Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano this morning local time and the imminent publication of several status documents. Details on those very likely shortly.

9:45 PM Eastern Monday 3/21
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