Bags of radioactive soil found damaged at 78 sites

June 17, 2015

Bags of contaminated soil damaged at storage sites

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/nuclear.html

Jun. 17, 2015 - Updated 00:25 UTC+2

A survey by the Environment Ministry has found that bags containing soil and debris from decontamination efforts in Fukushima Prefecture are damaged at dozens of initial storage sites.

The ministry last year examined 580 sites that hold soil, grass and other materials tainted with radioactive substances from the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant accident. The survey didn't cover evacuation zones.

Ministry officials say bags and water-proof sheets were found to be damaged at 78 sites. At 113 sites, part of the ground where bags had been placed had crumbled due to rain or other causes.

The officials say there were no leaks of contaminated soil to areas outside the holding sites. But the survey underlines the challenge of ensuring safety while keeping waste at such sites for extended periods.

Officials plan to transfer waste now at such initial storage sites to an intermediate storage facility currently under construction in an area straddling 2 towns within the prefecture.

But construction has made little progress because in many cases negotiations with landowners have stalled.

Ministry officials say they will regularly examine the initial storage sites and cooperate with local governments on steps to stem the leak of contaminated materials.