Miyagi: Radioactive waste mostly below "government standard"...

October 24, 2016

Radioactivity level of waste diminishes

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20161024_11/

Japan's Environment Ministry officials say they have found that radioactivity levels of waste materials from the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident have significantly decreased.

Officials checked the radioactivity of plants, soils and other waste stored in the northeastern prefecture of Miyagi, which neighbors Fukushima.

The waste had radioactivity higher than the government-set level of 8,000 becquerels per kilogram. The central government is responsible for the disposal of such waste.

But about 2,500 tons have not been designated as high-level radioactivity waste. Local people did not apply for designation mainly because it could create the impression that the area is dangerous.

Environment Ministry officials say the radioactivity levels of about 2,000 tons, or 77 percent of such waste, is now below the government standard.

Miyagi prefectural officials say they want to discuss with municipality leaders next month how to dispose of low-level radioactive waste.

They say they need to consider the fact that the levels of radioactivity have decreased more than 5 years after the nuclear accident.