VISIT TO JAPAN,S KASHIWAZAKI-KARIWA NUCLEAR POWER

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. -------------- 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. -------------- 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