NRA will revisit current safety guidelines

Nuclear body to study measures outside 30km zone

Aug. 20, 2014 - Updated 10:57 UTC+2

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20140820_25.html

Japan's nuclear regulator plans to revise its current safety guidelines concerning accidents. It says it will study measures for cases of radioactive materials spreading beyond the 30-kilometer zone around nuclear plants.

The current guidelines were compiled after the Fukushima Daiichi accident. They call for people within roughly 30 kilometers of a nuclear plant to leave or seek shelter indoors in the case of an accident.

But measures beyond that zone remain an issue for the regulator. Experts pointed out the possibility of residents suffering internal radiation exposure from plumes that spread beyond the 30-kilometer area.

The Nuclear Regulation Authority on Wednesday decided to begin a study on which areas outside the 30-kilometer zone should be issued with warnings to stay indoors or take other safety measures. It will also discuss criteria for such measures.

The nuclear body also decided to set evacuation zones for nuclear fuel recycling facilities on a case-by-case basis, rather than setting a uniform standard.

The revision of NRA's safety guidelines could increase the number of municipalities that are required to prepare nuclear safety measures.