Tohoku EPCo Environmental Action Report 2006

Thermal power stations and the other facilities are working on regional environmental preservation by complying with the laws and regulations concerning environmental preservation during operation as
well as concluding Voluntary Agreement for Environmental Pollution
Control and Environmental Preservation Agreement with local
governments concerned. Taking into account the characteristics of
each local government and local community with respect to general
environmental issues such as atmosphere, water quality, waste,

noise, and greening, the Voluntary Agreement for Environmental

Pollution Control provides the stricter values than those of the regulatory standards of the central and local governments, and the results of measurements are regularly reported to the local governments.
There were no unusual problems associated with the laws and
regulations and agreements in FY2005.

Mechanism of Thermal Power Plant and Major Environmental Preservation Measures

The main air pollutants discharged from a thermal plant are sulfur
oxide (SOx), nitrogen oxide (NOx), and soot and dust. We are making efforts to control emissions through the fuel measures including
the use of high-quality fuel and the facility improvement measures
including the installation of denitrification facilities, electrostatic precipitators, and flue gas desulfurization facilities, as well as through

the complete combustion management while seeking prevention of

air pollution by implementing the operation measures such as monitoring of emission sources.
As a result of these efforts, the emission intensity in FY2005
amounted to 0.31 g/kWh for SOx and 0.36 g/kWh for NOx, respectively, achieving the worlds top-level actual results.

Emissions of SOx and NOx per Electricity Generated

Outline of Air Pollution Control Measures

Air Pollution Control Measures

0.31 0.36

Tohoku EPCo Environmental Action Report 2006

Waste Water Management Measures

by Thermal Power Stations

Thermal Effluent Measures

There are two types of waste water discharged from thermal power
stations: plant waste water associated with operation; and domestic
waste water. Our measure to prevent water pollution is to treat each
waste water so as to meet their respective waste water standard.
Plant waste water is collected into a storage tank for coagulation,
sedimentation, and filtering, and domestic waste water is purified.

In constructing power stations and other structures, the environmental impact assessment (environmental assessment) for both
during construction work and after commencement of commercial
operation is conducted, and the environmental preservation measures are taken in order to minimize the impact on the surrounding
environment.

Environmental Assessment Associated with

Replacement Plan of Sendai Thermal Power Station
We have a project plan to phase out the existing facilities in Sendai
Thermal Power Station and to construct 446,000 kW capacity class

The thermal power stations and nuclear power stations cool down
the steam used in a steam turbine by using seawater taken out
through the intakes and release thermal effluent from the discharge
channels. Each power station reduces the environmental impact on
the surrounding offshore area by employing a release system according to the characteristics of such area.

of high-efficiency combined cycle power generation facilities on that

site with a view to strengthening the competitiveness of thermal
power sources as well as to reducing CO2 emissions.
For this replacement plan, the procedure of the environmental
assessment has been proceeded with since FY2004 under the Environmental Impact Assessment Law and the Electricity Utilities Industry Law. The procedure for the environmental impact assessment methodological report has been completed and at present the
environmental impact is being predicted and evaluated through the
survey of the present states of air environment, water environment,
and landscaping, etc.

Flow of Environmental Assessment for Power Station

The central and local governments

Implementation of the project

Finalization of the environmental

impact assessment statement

Results of the environmental impact

assessment (assessment statement)

Proposal for the results of the environmental

impact assessment (preliminary statement)

Implementation of the environmental

impact assessment

Decision on the implementation method

of the environmental impact assessment

Proposal for implementation method of the environmental

impact assessment (the methodological report)

Project planning and

characteristics of the community

Residents

Tohoku EPCo Environmental Action Report 2006

The nuclear power stations adopt the design allowing for a margin
of safety in the design phase of each equipment as well as fail-safe
system*1 and interlock system*2 to prevent the troubles due to malfunction and operation mistakes.
In addition, for security of safety, we ensure prevention of trou-

ble occurrences, prevention of trouble escalation and of development into an accident, and prevention of release of radioactive
substances to the surrounding environment by adopting the concept of defense in depth.

Mechanism to Secure Safety

Improved qualification
of operation, maintenance
and repair personnel

Safety of nuclear power stations

Strict quality control,

careful check and
inspection

Design of defense in depth

Prevention of trouble occurrence

Prevention of trouble
escalation and of development
into an accident

For the purpose of verifying assurance of health and safety of

neighboring residents of the nuclear stations, concentrations of radioactive materials on marine-soil, soil, agricultural crops, marine
products, etc. are regularly measured by those nuclear stations in
addition to the measurement of the amount of radiation in the vicinity to ensure that there are no impacts of the release of radioactive
materials from the nuclear power stations on the surrounding area.
The results of the measurement are reported to the local governments under the safety agreement as well as reviewed, assessed,
and verified by the Engineering Society for Environmental Survey
and Measurement and the Monitoring and Evaluation Conference
consisting of academic experts, and other bodies.
Furthermore, the measured data on the stack monitors, monitoring posts, and discharge channel monitors in the nuclear power stations are transmitted to the local governments and disclosed and at
the same time, published on the local governments and our websites for more people to deepen their understanding of a nuclear
power generation.
These monitoring data is disclosed on the websites of the Miyagi Nuclear Power Center (http://www.miyagi-gc.gr.jp/) and Aomori
prefectural government (http://www.gensiryoku.pref.aomori.jp/).

Prevention of release
of radioactive substances
to the surrounding environment

Efforts Toward Asbestos Suffering Issues

Taking it into consideration that health damage due to asbestos has
become a serious social issue since June 2005, Tohoku EPCo has
formed in-house a conference of parties concerned on measures
against asbestos suffering, and is developing a policy to cope with
asbestos issues and making surveys on asbestos-containing spray
coating, asbestos-containing products, etc. in a well-planned manner. We also announced the results of surveys on asbestos in August 2005, and posted an interim report on our website in March
2006. Based on the results of resurveys on buildings, etc., we will
remove asbestos-containing spray coating and asbestos-containing
products in a well-planned manner.

Tohoku EPCo Environmental Action Report 2006

Short History of PCB-Related Problems

Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), as an oil that has superior insulation and incombustibility properties, had been widely used until
around 1965 as insulating oil for electric equipment and other purposes. However, after its effects on living bodies and environment
were pointed out with the occurrence of Kanemi Rice-Bran Cooking Oil Poisoning in 1968, the production of PCB was ceased in
1972 and manufacturing, import, and use of PCB were prohibited in
1974.
Though after that it became an obligation to strictly store the
equipment using PCB, the long term storage over 30 years has
raised concern about potential environmental pollution due to loss
of equipment and PCB leakage, calling for urgent need for the development of a system and the promotion of prompt treatment.
Consequently, in July 2001, Law Concerning Special Measures
for Promotion of Proper Treatment of PCB Waste (the Law Concerning Special PCB Measures) came into force and detoxification
of PCB was to be promoted by the collective efforts of all of the central and local governments and companies.

Storage and Management Status of PCB Equipment

We notify the regulatory authorities controlling storage places such
as the prefectural governors every year of the storage and other
status of PCB equipment in our possession, under the Law Concerning Special PCB Measures.
The equipment in storage is properly managed within our facilities under the provisions of the Law while the equipment in use is
also ensured to have no impact on the surrounding environment
through periodical inspection tours, checks, and other means.
At the same time, the equipment in use is removed at every opportunity. Furthermore, considering that the leakage of insulating oil
from the pole mounted transformers has occurred due to the equipment damage caused by lightnings and typhoons, the rust on the
bottom of the equipment, etc., and some of such equipment contain
a trace quantity of PCB, we conduct the planned inspection and replacement of the pole mounted transformers as preventive maintenance measures while taking the measures for improvement of
these equipment including change of the specification of such
transformer into salt-tolerance.
In the case of the leakage of insulating oil, the leaked oil and the
surrounding soil are immediately collected and properly stored and
managed in our facilities. In addition, we not only immediately report about leakage to the central government and the local governments involved but also explain to those who have the land rights of

Outline of the Plan of the Recycling Facility

such area and the neighboring residents the quantity and area of
leaked oil, measures to be taken such as recovery of soil, etc., as
well as whether PCB is contained or not and subsequent measures
to be taken.

Detoxification and Recycling Plan

Tohoku EPCo is now constructing Tohoku EPCo Sakata Recycling
Center where post mounted transformers containing a trace quantity of PCB will be made harmless and recycled, and plans to start
the treatment in FY2007 and complete the treatment by 2016 as the
time limit prescribed by law. The construction will be under way
with top priority given to the ensuring of safety and environmental
protection, while continuously obtaining understanding from local
residents.
On the other hand, as for those transformers that used PCB as
insulating oil from the beginning, efforts to make them harmless are
under way such as early applications for registrations with treatment
companies because such transformers will be outsourced for treatment at the wide-area treatment facilities now under construction
under the initiative of the central government.
Furthermore, the report by the Japan Electrical Manufacturers
Association submitted to the central government showed in July
2002 that a trace quantity of PCB had been contained in the electrical equipment such as transformers which had not been used in
themselves any PCB, and given that the strategy for handling these
equipment is under consideration by the national investigative committee, we will cope with this treatment matters based on the results
of such consideration.

Sakata Kyodo Power Co., Ltd.

Sakata Storage Center of Tohoku EPCo

Sakata Recycling Center of Tohoku EPCo

Tohoku EPCo Environmental Action Report 2006

PRTR (Pollutant Release and Transfer Register) is a system under

agement and control of emissions into the environment, by grasping
which information about the emissions to the environment of the poemissions and other data for the chemical substances used in powtential hazardous chemicals and other related information are reporer stations and other facilities and reporting such data to the govted by the intended business firms and then announced by the governments under the law as well as recording and grasping informaernments to the public, in the light of voluntary emissions reduction
tion on purchase, use, inventory level, etc. of the said substances.
by such business firms.
The Amount of Emissions and Transfer of Specific Chemical Substances (for FY2005)
In our country, the Law Concerning the Grasping, etc. of Emissions into the Environment of Specific Chemical Substances and the
Ethylbenzene (paint)
4.1
0
0
0
0
Promotion of Improvements in the
Xylenes
(paint)
11.4
0
0
0
0
Management Thereof (the Law for
Promotion of Grasp and ManageThiourea (pipe corrosion inhibitor)
0
0
0
0
0
ment of Chemical Substances)
Toluene (fuel for generation, paint)
3.8
0
0
0
0
was enacted in July 1999 and the
Hydrazine (feedwater treatment agent)
0.0001
0.3
0
0
0
figures of aggregated results have
been announced by the Ministry of Benzene (fuel for generation)
0.0002
0
0
0
0
Economy, Trade and Industry and
Manganese and compounds thereof (waste water treatment agent)
0
0
0
0
0.5
the Ministry of Environment since
FY2001.
Tris phosphate (turbine control oil)
0
0
0
0
0
We are working on proper man-

In constructing power stations, measures such as the preparation

and improvement of green tracts in the premises of the power stations have so far been taken to actively promote the reconciliation
between the environmental preservation and the local community.
In addition, we are making efforts to reduce the environmental impact from waste water, noise, etc. during construction work of power
facilities while seeking to form facilities taking natural environment
and landscaping into account.

Security of Water Flow to Maintain Rivers

In the downstream of a hydroelectric station dam, in order to mitigate the impact of water reduction caused by power generation,
harmony with river environment is pursued by securing the specific
volume of water if certain conditions apply, in consultation with the
authorities concerned.

Formation of Green Tracts in Harmony

with Surrounding Environment
Our power stations promote environmental harmony with the vicinity
by creating green tracts on their premises.

Power Transmission and Transformation Facilities

In constructing transmission lines, we seek to give due consideration to the landscape of the national parks around the transmission
lines through such means as low gloss coating on the steel towers
as well as low reflection coating on transmission lines as required.
As for construction of new and additional substations, we try to
form equipment in consideration of noise and take measures to reduce environmental impact by adopting low-noise transformers, etc.

onments.
In addition, the poles in harmony with environment such as color poles in harmony with natural environment and small diameter
poles in harmony with urban space are used while taking advantage of economical efficiency and easiness of maintenance of the
power distribution lines using support materials.

Prevention of Soil Contamination

Power Distribution Facilities
Power distribution lines are installed underground with a view to creating desirable towns promoted by the central government that
takes into account the urban landscape and comfortable life envir-

Tohoku EPCo has tried to comply with laws and regulations, and
taken all possible measures for environmental management. At
present, we have no facility subject to investigation under the soil
contamination prevention law.