JAIF issued a status report as of 9:00 March 17 (08:00:00 p.m. Wednesday March 16 ET)

Now the situation of the cooling ponds is the priority of authorities. Containing highly radioactive heat generating nuclear fuel, they require an adequate level of water to be maintained as well as pumped circulation to control water temperature. WNN reports that “Now the situation of the cooling ponds is the priority of authorities. Containing highly radioactive heat generating nuclear fuel, they require an adequate level of water to be maintained as well as  pumped circulation to control water temperature.”

“With such serious damage to the reactor buildings it is thought that radiation from further degradation of stored fuel at units 3 and 4 would be released to the environment unchecked.”

Unit 4

The water level is Unit 4 spent fuel pool remains low.

WNN reports “The presence of hydrogen as well as high levels of radiation in unit 4 strongly indicate that fuel is uncovered and suffering damage in the pond.  Efforts to inject water to unit 4’s pond were called off at 2pm on 16 March. In the previous two days the temperature of the pond had been 84ºC, but no more recent data is available.”

Unit 3

The water level in Unit 3 spent fuel pool remains low.

WNN reports “Two army helicopters made four attempts to drop seawater on unit 3, but this did not appear accurate enough to be effective. Tepco said in a news conference that radiation readings had dropped from 3.780 millisieverts to 3.752 millisieverts, so the effect at present seems marginal at best.  Eleven high pressure fire trucks are being prepared, but their operation requires the removal of some heavy debris on the ground from the various explosions the plant has suffered during its degradation over the last six days.”

Unit 2

Presssure of the pressure vessel – Unknown (run out of battery)

Radiation reading at the perimeter

1472μSv/h at 16:20, Mar. 16 (03:20 am Wednesday March 16 ET)

This les than the last reading 1937μSv/h at 14:30, Mar. 16 (01:30 am Wednesday March 16 ET)