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October 3, 2012

NRA: No judgment on reactors resumption

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20121003_29.html

The head of Japan's new Nuclear Regulation Authority, or NRA, says his authority will not make judgments on whether currently idled nuclear reactors should be allowed to be restarted after safety checks.

Shunichi Tanaka told reporters on Wednesday that the NRA should be in a position to enforce scientific and technical regulations and check whether nuclear plants satisfy safety standards.

Tanaka noted that his authority is responsible only for judgments on nuclear safety.

He added that plant operators and the state government should take on the task of deciding on the resumption of reactors and building consensus with local communities.

The NRA is expected to provide an outline of new safety standards by next March as a precondition for restarting halted reactors.