Experts: 30 years till Japan can close nuke plant

[The Straight Story]

Experts: 30 years till Japan can close nuke plant

TOKYO (AP) -- A Japanese government panel says it will take at least 30 years to safely close the tsunami-hobbled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, even though the facility is leaking far less radiation than before and is considered relatively stable.

The plant, site of the world's worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl in 1986, was severely damaged by Japan's March 11 earthquake and tsunami. It suffered power outages, meltdowns and explosions that released radioactive material and forced tens of thousands of people to flee the area.

While officials say the plant, about 150 miles (240 kilometers) northeast of Tokyo, is now relatively stable, an expert panel named by Japan's Atomic Energy Commission said it would likely take 30 years or more to safely decommission it. The panel made the estimate in the draft of a report to be completed by the end of the year. The draft was posted on the commission's website over the weekend.

Plant workers are still struggling to contain radiation leaking from the plant, although the amount is far less than before.

http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/A/AS_JAPAN_NUCLEAR_CRISIS?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-11-01-12-07-39

[Old and In the Way]

1. I would guess there's a * attached to this declaration.

* provided that the area does not have more earthquakes or tsunami's of this or greater magnitude.

[bananas]

2. When a government panels says "at least 30 years", it will be double that or more. nt