Revision of evacuation guidelines in case of nuclear accidents

June 5, 2013

Nuclear evacuation guidelines updated

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20130605_18.html

Japan's nuclear regulator has decided further details of its guidelines for local residents in case of a nuclear plant accident.

In February the Nuclear Regulation Authority decided on a revised version of the guidelines. The review came after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant accident in March, 2011.

The new guidelines expanded the necessary evacuation area, or the area where residents must stay indoors, to a 30-kilometer radius around a nuclear plant.

It also says iodine tablets should be distributed to households within 5 kilometers of a plant in advance of a possible accident.

Iodine helps prevent the thyroid gland from absorbing radioactive substances.

On Wednesday an NRA meeting decided that municipalities within 5 kilometers of a plant will have doctors inform residents about the use and storage of iodine tablets before distributing them.

It also decided that the municipalities will identify residents who may suffer from the side effects from the tablets before distribution.

Municipalities outside the 5-kilometer radius will be ordered to store necessary amounts of the tablets for emergency.

However, municipalities can distribute the tablets to residents outside the 5-kilometer radius if quick distribution would be difficult due to geography.

Concerning monitoring radiation levels, the regulator decided that the central government, instead of relevant municipalities, will be in charge. The government will set up a monitoring center near each plant and instruct municipalities and the plant operator to gather data to be used for the government to analyze.

Municipalities within 30 kilometers of a plant must now incorporate the latest decision into their disaster preparedness programs.