Cablegate: Visit to Japan,S Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power

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ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 270754Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8650
RHMCSUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 8961
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RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 9999

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 006730

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DOE/NA4: SAOKI, JGLASER, DOE/NA24: SCHIENMANN, MKRUPA,
RHIBBS, DOS/ISN/WMDT: TLEHRMAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2016
TAGS: ENRG JA PARM PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: VISIT TO JAPAN,S KASHIWAZAKI-KARIWA NUCLEAR POWER
STATION, DISCUSSION OF PHYSICAL PROTECTION

Classified By: Joyce B. Rabens EST MC Reasons 1.4 B/D

1. (SBU) Summary. On November 15, EmbOffs visited the
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station on the western coast
of Japan, operated by TEPCO. Embassy staff were provided a
tour of unit 6, one of two Advanced Boiling Water Reactors
(ABWR) onsite. In addition to a general description of the
facility operations, TEPCO reps provided an update on the
physical protection systems onsite and changes in recent
years to enhance the security infrastructure. End Summary.

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General Facility Information
----------------------------

2. (SBU) Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station has 7
Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs)--two of which are advanced BWRs
(ABWRs)--with the total power generating capacity of 8,212
MWe. This is the largest power station in the world. The
station is located in the Niigata Prefecture on the coast of
the Sea of Japan. Fresh fuel arrives onsite approximately 4-5
times per year. Low-level waste is stored on-site for a
period of a few years, and then shipped to Rokkasho for
reprocessing.

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Physical Security Measures
--------------------------

3. (C) TEPCO reps noted that INFCIRC/225/Rev. 4 required
changes to their physical protection systems. As a result,
the facility operators established two protection areas
around units 1-4 and 5-7. They noted that there is only one
entry gate onto the site, through which all pedestrian and
vehicular traffic is checked. The operator has installed a
police vehicle on-site 24/7 with armed guards (installed
after 9/11). Additionally, a police patrol (also armed) is
conducted around the outer perimeter, which spans 4.2 sq km.
On the coastal side, the Coast Guard is now stationed right
at shore--a new development since October 2005, following the
new physical protection amendments. Communications have been
established between the police guards and the Coast Guard.
Training exercises are conducted with the local police
approximately twice per year. To date, no exercises have been
held between the police and the Coast Guard, though they
expect to begin such exercises in the near future.

4. (C) TEPCO noted that the 2005 physical protection
amendments (iaw INFCIRC/225/Rev. 4) required TEPCO to address
increased physical protection measures, and while the Coast
Guard repositioning is a new development, most of their
physical protection systems were already in place. They
demonstrated their access control systems for personnel and
vehicular traffic, including a double-fence perimeter,
defined protection areas, motion sensors connected to cameras
along the outer perimeter, identity checks and biometrics
monitors. The site also has developed (or is developing) a
design-basis threat (DBT), and is still considering other
physical protection measures, including plans for 24/7
security surveillance around the outer perimeter and along
each of the protection areas.

5. (SBU) Finally, the TEPCO reps stated that while they are
not currently involved with Japan,s national emergency drill
conducted annually by the Cabinet Office, they plan to
conduct similar emergency drills at the local level with
authorities and residents in the surrounding area. The
frequency of such emergency drills remains to be decided.
SCHIEFFER

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