Plans revised for Fukushima clean-up

December 26, 2013

Plan revised for Fukushima debris disposal

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

Japan's government says it will take more time than originally scheduled to dispose of debris from the 2011 massive quake and tsunami in Fukushima prefecture.

The Environment Ministry had planned to complete the disposal by the end of next March in 11 municipalities in evacuation areas in the prefecture. These areas do not include high-radiation zones near the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

But the ministry on Thursday announced a revised proposal, saying that it has yet to secure enough intermediate storage facilities.

The ministry wants to move most of the debris from 4 municipalities, including Minami-soma City, to storage facilities by the end of next March.

Timelines for achieving similar goals have been set for 4 towns and villages at the end of March 2015, as well as for other 2 towns, at the end of March 2016.

It plans to discuss with the municipalities the new proposed timelines for the completion of the disposal.

The ministry also revised its estimate for the amount of debris generated in the 11 evacuation areas at around 802,000 tons.

Dec. 26, 2013 - Updated 10:11 UTC

Plan revised for cleaning up some Fukushima areas

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20131226_34.html

Japan's Environment Ministry says it will be at least three years late in completing the clean-up of radioactive substances in some evacuated areas near the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant.

The ministry announced on Thursday that it will complete cleaning operations at evacuated areas in 2 municipalities by March 2016 and in 4 other municipalities by March 2017.

The schedule is based on the condition that locations can be secured for the temporary storing of soil accumulated during the clean-up.

The ministry reviewed the clean-up operations in 6 of the 11 municipalities in which the government is directly involved.
Under the ministry's original plan, the work was due to be finished by March next year, except for areas where officials say it will be difficult for quite some time for evacuees to return home.

Operations in the 6 municipalities are far behind schedule because of delays in securing local agreements on temporary locations for storing contaminated soil.

Environment Minister Nobuteru Ishihara said the ministry has drawn up a more realistic schedule after consulting with local municipalities.

He said the ministry will give priority to houses and infrastructure as they are vital for making it possible for evacuees to return home.

Dec. 26, 2013 - Updated 09:08 UTC