Japanese government withholding release of Fukushima “worst case” scenario in hopes of reviving its nuclear industry

With the approach of the first commemorative anniversary of Japan’s March 11^th triple disaster, The Japan Times (02/08/2012) reports that the Japanese government is still withholding from public release its Fukushima reactor accident consequence calculations for the "worst case" scenario “so shocking” that it would have caused mass panic throughout Japan particularly in Tokyo.

A special advisor to Japan Prime Minister Naoto Kan, Professor Hiroshi Tasaka, who has a doctorate in nuclear engineering, was part of the select group of Japanese experts who reviewed the secret “worst case” scenario drafted by the Japan Atomic Energy Commission in the midst of the nuclear catastrophe. The report identified that the biggest public health risk was not from the exploding and melting reactors themselves but fires and explosions involving the 1,500 super radioactive “spent” fuel assemblies stored in pools above and outside of the containments structures for the General Electric Mark I Boiling Water Reactors.  Under the secret scenario, Professor Tasaka said that based on Japanese radiation protection protocols, the government was  to advise and assist the 13 million people in Tokyo to voluntarily “migrate” from the densely populated city which is located 150 miles away from the nuclear accident.

With only two of Japan's 54 nuclear power plants currently operational, Professor Tasaka said, "at this stage, all of the risks should be put on the table."

In a similar Washington Post story (02/07/2012), communications from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission commenting on its "worst case" Fukushima scenario revealed that while the federal agency was telling the US public that there was no risk to public health here, they chose not to publicly disclose that they were not ruling out dangerous levels of radioactive iodine reaching populations in Alaska.