Putin reports about mission to assess Fukushima accident damage

MOSCOW, April 15 (Itar-Tass) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin
reported on Friday about an expedition scheduled for this year, which will
assess the aftermath of the accident at the Japanese Fukushima-1 nuclear
power plant following a massive quake and tsunami.
"Russia has already sent to Japan teams of rescuers, humanitarian aid,
while now we will use our considerable scientific and practical
experience," Putin said at a session of the Board of Trustees of the
Russian Geographical Society (RGS).
According to Putin, "Russian experts will specify the characteristics
of radiation contamination in the Sea of Japan, will conduct environmental
monitoring and monitor seismic processes."
Specialists from the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation
(Rosatom), the Russian Hydro-Meteorological Service and other
organisations will make large-scale checks of water and air on Russia's
Far Easter coast for radiation levels following the accident at Japan's
Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant , the vice-president of the Russian
Geographical Society, Artur Chilingarov, told reporters on Friday.
Chilingarov, who is also first deputy head of United Russia Party's
Duma faction, said "the expedition starts on April 22 and will continue 24
days". The expedition will be sponsored by the Russian Geographical
Society.
Chilingarov said the specialists would monitor the radiation situation
in the region, checking ocean water and all that is connected with the
life of the Ocean, as well as will check air for radiation.
Earlier, Chilingarov said he would lead the expedition, which would be
held in two phases. The Pavel Gordiyenko research ship of the Society
based in the Far East will start a voyage on April 21-22 to examine
seawater along the Kuril Islands and Kamchatka. The expedition will
include experts from the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Emergency
Situations Ministry and the Hydro-Meteorological Service.
The second stage will take about three months. Bearing in mind the
information obtained in the first stage, the experts will make a complete
observation of the area. Chilingarov said they might be using even
submarines.