"Two Reactors Ran at Full Capacity for Months Without Final Clearance"

"JAPAN -- Two reactors shut down for regular inspections have now been running at full capacity for months despite not receiving the final clearance from the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA).

The No. 3 reactor at the Tomari nuclear power plant in Hokkaido and the No. 1 reactor at the Oi nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture are still technically in 'control operation,' the final procedure for regular safety maintenance.

Normally, a control operation, in which the reactor gradually reaches full capacity for a load performance test, takes one month to complete.

The two reactors have now been in full operation for four months in this 'test' mode."

Asahi Shimbun had the story July 7, 2011.