Japan to bring water temperatures under control at Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant by year's end; lowering temperatures below boiling point at reactors would reduce danger of further meltdown, release of additional radioactivity from fuel rods inside

Rachel Carter

VIENNA , September 19, 2011 (Associated Press) – A Japanese government minister says his country plans to bring water temperatures under control at the reactors of the tsunami-stricken Fukushima nuclear plant by the end of this year.

Goshi Hosono's announcement confirmed plans from Japan giving a rough time frame for "Step 2" of the cleanup at the plant. Lowering temperatures below the boiling point at the reactors would reduce the danger of further meltdown and release of additional radioactivity from the fuel rods inside.

Hosono also said Monday that the International Atomic Energy Agency plans a mission in October to help plan further decontamination of the accident region.

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