Civic groups against restarting Sendai plant

May 23, 2014

Civic groups against restart of Sendai plant

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20140523_06.html

Civic groups are urging the government of Kagoshima prefecture in southern Japan to rethink plans to restart a nuclear plant. They cite the risks of volcanic eruptions near the facility.

Representatives of 7 groups from Kagoshima and Tokyo visited the local government office on Thursday.

They submitted a petition with 3,000 signatures against restarting the Sendai nuclear power station. Kyushu Electric Power operates the plant in Kagoshima.

Their visit came a day after a court in central Japan ruled against plans to restart the Ohi nuclear plant, citing insufficient safety measures.

The Sendai plant is at the top of a list of facilities across the country undergoing safety checks, one precondition for restarting.

The civic groups insist the nuclear regulator has not considered the risk of volcanic rock and ash reaching the plant if a nearby inactive volcano named Aira Caldera erupts.

They say pyroclastic flows are believed to have reach area where the plant now stands some 30,000 years ago.

The operator of the plant needs approval from the prefectural government as well as the host city before turning reactors back on. Some neighboring municipalities are requesting more information on the plan and power to approve it.

Wednesday's ruling on the Ohi plant could encourage surrounding municipalities to get more involved in plans to restart reactors.

May 22, 2014 - Updated 20:40 UTC