More radiation-tainted water could be dumped into the Pacific from a second Japanese nuclear plant, the government said Wednesday. Operator Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) was considering releasing the contaminated water from its Fukushima Daini plant, said the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency. The plant was safely shut down even though it was hit by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. But the tsunami brought in seawater, which became contaminated later on the compound. The amount of the contaminated water at the plant is estimated at 3,000 tons. It contains radioactive substances such as manganese-54, cobalt-58 and cobalt-60 that are believed to stem from corroded pipes, Jiji Press reported. Radioactive substances such as iodine and caesium have not been detected, Jiji said. The operator reportedly hopes to dump the contaminated water in order to prevent it from corroding facilities at the plant. The operator has already held unofficial talks with the agency, local municipalities and fishermen to discuss the matter, Jiji said.
