Gov't still trying to convince Fukushima people

 June 8, 2014

Fukushima evacuees oppose nuclear waste facilities

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20140608_15.html 

Evacuees from Fukushima Prefecture have expressed concern over a government plan to use a site in their town for the final disposal of nuclear waste.

The debris and other types of waste were collected during cleanup work in areas contaminated by the Fukushima Daiichi plant nuclear accident in March 2011.

The Environment Ministry plans to dispose of waste containing up to 100,000 Becquerels per kilogram of radioactive materials at a private-sector waste disposal facility in Tomioka Town.

About 70 evacuees living in Iwaki City attended a briefing session on the disposal plan on Sunday.

Ministry officials explained that ash and other waste that could easily leak radioactive substances will be covered with cement at a facility in Naraha Town before being brought to Tomioka Town.

They also said that water to be generated from the prospective site will be removed if it contains more than the permitted amount of radioactive substances.
They said the water will not be released until the levels of these substances fall below the official limits following decontamination.

Some evacuees asked why the government had come up with such a plan when they are trying to return to their hometown. Others requested a framework that will allow the residents to monitor the facilities themselves.

The officials responded that they will proceed with the plan while seeking the residents' understanding.

The ministry plans to hold briefing sessions for evacuees until June 15th in the prefecture and other locations.

Jun. 8, 2014 - Updated 08:14 UTC