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Press Release (Jan 13,2012)
Application for the approval of alteration in Nuclear reactor facilities security regulations regarding the aging management of Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Station Unit 1
TEPCO's Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Station Unit 1(Boiling water reactor,
rated output 1.1GW) started commercial operation in April 1982 and will be
in operation for 30 years at April 20, 2012.
Regarding this Unit 1, TEPCO was to conduct a technical aging evaluation*3
and draw out a long-term maintenance administration policy*4, according to
the "Regulations regarding the installation and operation of practical
generation nuclear reactors"*1and the order documents*2 which we received
on 22 October 2008 from the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) of
the Ministry of Economy, trade and industry (METI), which orders TEPCO to
conduct aging management.

Under such circumstances, due to the Tohoku-Chihou-Taiheiyo-Oki Earthquake
on 11 March 2011, the "Act on Special Measures Concerning Nuclear
Emergency Preparedness" was applied to the Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power
Station, and according to this, we are conducting recovery works in order
to maintain stable cold shutdown. Among the devices and structures that
were extracted by a conventional evaluation that are essential from the
point of view of safety, we have conducted technical evaluation focused on
aging, regarding the facilities that are essential for maintaining cold
shutdown. In addition, we have drawn out a long-term maintenance
administration policy based on this evaluation, and today we applied for
the approval of alteration in Nuclear reactor facilities security
regulations.

Attachment: Outline of the technical aging evaluation and long-term
            maintenance administration policy of the Fukushima Daini
            Nuclear Power Station Unit 1
            
*The aforementioned attachment is only available in Japanese. We apologize
 for any inconvenience this may cause.

*1 "Regulations regarding the installation and operation of practical
    generation nuclear reactors"
 
     "Regulations regarding the installation and operation of practical
      generation nuclear reactors" (1978 MITI No.77) states that, by the
      30th year of operation, the owner must conduct technical evaluations
      focused on aging, regarding the facilities that are essential for
      security of safety of the nuclear facilities, and draw out a
      ten-year plan (long-term maintenance administration policy) based on
      this evaluation in order to secure safety of the nuclear facilities.

*2 order documents
   
   "Implementation of aging management regarding practical generation
    nuclear reactor facilities (order)" 
                                              (17 October 2008, NISA No.3)

In applying 1, 2 and 3 listed below, we require you (TEPCO) to follow the
attached "Guideline for the implementation of aging management regarding
practical generation nuclear reactor facilities". 

   1.Implementation and review of technical evaluation and settlement and
     alteration of long-term maintenance administration policy regarding
     the aging of nuclear reactor facilities according to article 11-2 of
     the "Regulations regarding the installation and operation of
     practical generation nuclear reactors".
   2.Periodical evaluation of the nuclear reactor facilities according to
     article 7-5 of the "Regulations regarding the installation and
     operation of practical generation nuclear reactors" (those that will
     be implemented as a part of aging management).
   3.application for approval and for approval of alteration of the
     security regulations according to article 16 clause 1 of the
     "Regulations regarding the installation and operation of practical
     generation nuclear reactors", application for approval of alteration
     of the security regulations according to article 50 clause 3-2
     section 2 of the "Enforcement regulations of Electric utility
     industry law" (1995 MITI No.77) and the attachment of documents
     related to this application for approval of alteration, according
     to article 51 clause 3 of the "Enforcement regulations of Electric
     utility industry law".

*3 Technical aging evaluation
    To extract incidents that should be focused from the point of view of aging,
    from all the aging incidents that is happening or may happen to the devices
    and structures that are important in view of securing safety, and to
    conduct evaluation of the soundness of the devices and structures,
    confirm whether the present administration is effective, and to extract
    additional measures if necessary 

 discussions regarding aging management (before Tohoku-Chihou-
            Taiheiyo-Oki Earthquake)

·Regarding the aging management of nuclear facilities, In 1996 the
 authorities presented the "general view of aging management" and the
 electric power utilities were required to Implement technical evaluation
 and settle long-term maintenance administration policies on a voluntary
 basis, and the authorities were to evaluate the validity of this.
·In 2003, the "Regulations regarding the installation and operation of
 practical generation nuclear reactors" stated that Implementation of
 technical evaluation and settlement of long-term maintenance
 administration policies were required before 30 year passes from the day
 of the commencement of operation, as well as a review within every 10
 years from then on.
·In 2004, "aging management committee" was launched by the authorities in
 order to improve aging management. In December 2005, a guideline was
 drawn out according to the discussions of this committee, and in January
 2006, reporting of technical evaluation and long-term maintenance
 administration policies were obligated by the "Regulations regarding the
 installation and operation of practical generation nuclear reactors".
·In August 2008 the "Regulations regarding the installation and operation
 of practical generation nuclear reactors" was revised, and in October
 the guidelines for the implementation of aging management was revised.
 Through this revision, aging management was improved since the approval
 of a long-term administration policy with additional items extracted by
 the technical aging evaluation was required.

*4 long-term maintenance administration policy
    ·Items and schedule of maintenance administration decided taking into
     account the items extracted that should be added to the securing
     measures in the next 10 years, according to the results of technical
     aging evaluation.