Two IAEA marine experts will visit Japan from 4 to 7 November 2014 to report on a comparison of sea water analysis between Japanese and IAEA laboratories, as well as results from a proficiency test of 30 laboratories, including 12 from Japan. The experts also will take new samples in the coastal waters near the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
The experts, David Osborn, Director of the IAEA Environment Laboratories in Monaco, and Iolanda Osvath, Head of the IAEA Radiometrics Laboratory, will take part in a news briefing at the foreign press centre in Tokyo.
The inter-laboratory comparison and the proficiency test aim to foster greater transparency and confidence in the marine monitoring results produced, and to present those results to the public in a scientifically correct and understandable way. This work is in line with advisory points on marine monitoring included in a report by the IAEA International Peer Review Mission on Mid- and Long-Term Roadmap Towards the Decommissioning of TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Units 1-4, which in late 2013 reviewed Japan's efforts to plan and implement the decommissioning of the plant.
The IAEA conducts similar exercises for analytical laboratories worldwide to help improve analytical capabilities.
The foreign press centre in Tokyo will organize a news briefing at 15.00 on 4 November 2014. To participate in the news briefing, journalists should contact the foreign press centre. In addition, Japan's Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA) will organize photo and interview opportunities on 5 November 2014 at Hisanohama port, from where the boat will leave for sea water sampling near the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. To participate in these events, journalists should call NRA at telephone number [81-3] 5114-2105 for registration and details of the arrangements.